Pine Fox Photo
Story-Driven Photography Sessions for Families in Vermont
Let's document this season of life with your kiddos.
There are certain chapters of parenthood that parents often talk to me about being nostalgic for as their kids grow older. Surprisingly, it's not typically big milestones, but the smaller things. It’s how the living room always seemed to have some kind of fort in it, built out of blankets, couch cushions, or cardboard boxes.
It's teaching them to bake, and letting that double scoop of chocolate chips happen. The backyard adventures. The quiet playtime. Endless coloring and drawing and crafts. Kids in oversized goggles running barefoot across the lawn through sprinklers. The uncontrollable giggles when getting tickled that could never be replicated. Bath time soap bubbles shaped into beards and mohawks (my sister and I were famous for this), and turning the tub into a pirate ship. Or bedtime stories where they drift off before you ever reach the end.
And then one day, they've grown up. And they don't fit into your arms. That’s when photographs become a way back.
Sessions built for your family.
Sessions with me are built around kids, and the experiences and routines that are part of your life right now, rather than asking them to just smile and stay still. Kids aren’t built for that. They want to play and explore! The goal is to document whatever season of life your family is in right now.
That might mean shooting in your home or backyard, spending time in a place you already visit as a family, building the session around an activity you can all enjoy together, or exploring somewhere totally new.
When kids are given space to be kids, they become more comfortable and open up to the camera. We get to document more of their personalities and their comforts. Like how they hold a favorite stuffed animal, or how they run into your arms.
Four Families in Four Seasons
Hannah & Eric wanted something lowkey and playful for their girls! They set up a bubble blower and played for an hour together.
Amber wanted to document time with her husband and boys before their third kiddo arrived. We explored a new spot together, letting the boys run, play, and cuddle up as the sun set.
Annie & Tom knew to keep their kiddo happy on a cold December afternoon, they'd all need to stay warm! The session involved lots of cuddling, movement, play, and exploring at a nearby State Park.
Carly wanted photos of her boys playing together, so we incorporated a nearby stream into the session for the boys to play and splash in.
If this approach feels right for your family, I’d love to work together!
Your story, your way. Choose from 3 session options...
The Short Story
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The Chapter
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The Full Story
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Kids will be kids
Sometimes kids are silly and loud. Sometimes they need a hug. Sometimes they need space. All of that is okay here. There’s no expectation for them to behave a certain way or push through feelings for the sake of photos. If someone needs a break, we take one. If they want to climb back into your arms, that’s where they go. We'll redirect gently when needed :)
How this all works...
1. Choose a session length: The Short Story (45 min), The Chapter (90 min), or The Full Story (3+ hours).
2. Inquire: You reach out and tell me a bit about your crew! Ages, personalities, the general level of chaos we’re working with and ideas you have in mind.
3. Prepare together: I’ll help build a plan for the session based on your answers, including locations, outfits, lighting, etc. so everything is cohesive.
4. The session: I'll bring my camera, you'll bring your family, and we'll document this season of life for you.
5. Gallery delivery: I’ll curate and edit your images and deliver a full online gallery, ready to download, share, and print.
What clients are saying
Perfectly captured this season of our family!
"The photos Martin took so perfectly captured the current stage of our family! He clearly has extensive experience with kids, and he was so patient with our children. We have actually never hung family photos in our house before, but these photos were just so lovely that I think we will now!"
- Carly W.
Pricing and Packages
I put a lot of care into the images we create together, and I also care about being transparent about what it costs. These packages reflect the time, planning, and editing required to craft images that'll last 100+ years.
The Short Story
45-Minute Session
• One primary location + one activity or routine
• Custom session planning and guidance
• Access to my session & outfit guides
• 40+ high-resolution images
• Online gallery with unlimited downloads
• Print release for personal use
• Access to my professional printing lab
• Turnaround time: 2-3 weeks
$450
Travel included within 60 minutes of 05764
The Chapter
90-Minute Session
• Two locations + two
activities or routines
• Custom session planning and guidance
• Access to my session & outfit guides
• 80+ high-resolution images
• Online gallery with unlimited downloads
• Print release for personal use
• Access to my professional printing lab
• Turnaround time: 2-4 weeks
$650
Travel included within 90 minutes of 05764
The Full Story
3+ Hour Session
• Three locations + three or more activities or routines
• Custom session planning and guidance
• Access to my session & outfit guides
• 150+ high-resolution images
• Online gallery with unlimited downloads
• Print release for personal use
• Access to my professional printing lab
• Turnaround time: 4-6 weeks
$975
Travel included within 2 hours of 05764
If you’re not sure which option fits, that’s okay! We’ll talk it through and land on what makes the most sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will we still get photos of everyone smiling at the camera?
Yes. I always make time for a handful of those. The majority of the session is spent documenting what your family is doing together. And I’ll step in to guide when it helps, with the goal of making the camera easy to forget about.
How does travel time from one location to another work?
If we’re moving between locations, travel time doesn’t count against your session. That said, locations should be reasonably close to one another. The goal is to document a connected stretch of your day, not spend hours in the car.
What if we're farther away than the included travel range?
Each session includes travel time from me to you. For example, the Short Story covers up to an hour of travel each way. If additional travel is needed beyond that, travel time is charged at $50 per hour. So if you're 2 hours away from me, it would be $100 added to the package.
How do we know this approach is right for us?
These sessions tend to resonate with families who want to document a chapter of life rather than just smile at the camera and be done. It’s a good fit if you value candid photographs, spending intentional time together, and want images that tell a story.
Are pets welcome during photography sessions?
Dogs are absolutely welcome. I am, unfortunately, severely allergic to cats. For in-home sessions, this would require a very thorough cleaning beforehand (vacuuming, air purifiers, etc.). An Airbnb or a backyard session are great alternatives and still keep things comfortable and familiar.
Can extended family be included in the session?
Extended family can absolutely be included when everyone is participating in an activity together. If you’re ONLY looking for traditional group portraits with everyone smiling at the camera, I’m probably not the best fit. My focus is on documenting interaction.
