joyful • authentic • 100% fun

The Family Experience

Each session is tailor-made specifically for you. Therefore, I offer a limited number of sessions each year to ensure quality and attention to detail in my work and to my clients. When you contact me to book a session, know that I am all in from the start and ready to serve you in the best ways I can. I love being as involved as you need to ensure you have the best time ever! This means as many consultations as needed, styling advice, weather stalking, drawing up backup plans, location scouting, all of it.

I approach all sessions with a lot of joy, laughter, and ease. I am quick to smile and I highly encourage giggling and showing each other just how much and how you love. I once had a client tell me they were not expecting to have as much fun as they did when they stepped in front of my camera. But they had laughed so much together and the best part was it was simply about making it fun for everyone in their family. 

LIFE’S FLEETING MOMENTS ARE WORTHY OF BEING REMEMBERED. YOU DESERVE TO BE IN THAT FRAME.

Scroll

Did you fall in love with my work? Or maybe thought me as your kinda peoples? Well you're in the right place.

I truly love stories and I'd love to hear yours. Connecting with my clients I'm shooting is so very important to me. It's not just a one-time transaction. It's the beginning of a very lovely friendship. So please, write me a story, tell me how you met your partner, and what s/he/they did that made you smile so hard. It'll brighten my day too.

1. Send me a note

Family sessions are so incredibly sweet. They are perfect for families wanting more dedicated time to relax, to have fun together, and to hang out with me longer! They can happen any time of the year, it just depends on the mood/season you want to have captured. Some families opt for the new days of spring, some want to embrace the summer feelings while others choose the cooler autumn season. Even winter can be fun, especially if it coincides with snow ;)

After we chat a bit more and determine the date, we will make it official with an invoice and contract. 50% of the invoice is due to book your date. Once that's squared away, I will send you a Google calendar invite.

2. Schedule it

We nail down location*, timing, wardrobe. We figure out how much you need me involved. We can work around nap schedules as needed for the younger littles. Generally, sessions are in the morning before 10 am or within the 2-3 hours prior to sunset.

* Changes to the location that require an update to the invoice (i.e. extra mileage, parking, photo permits, etc) will be reflected in the final due amount.

3. We Plan!

It's the big day! You have your outfits planned, your hair/make-up is done (no pressure to do this, above all, you do you!), and you're excited! You've checked traffic and know where you're going (who wants to be stressed about being late?).

When you arrive, I'll come say hi and we'll chat while we walk. And then we'll start making magic together.

4. we make magic!

I will geek over all the big and little moments while editing and share sneak peeks with you within a few short days.

Once I'm done editing (typically within 1-2 weeks), I upload and deliver your beautiful gallery into your email inbox! You'll select your favoritest images and when you're ready, I'll send those faves to you for safekeeping. You can purchase any additional wall art or digitals a la carte straight from your gallery. And if you'd like to chat heirloom albums, let me know!

5. Your Photographs

1 2 3 4 5

The Family Process

Say Hello!

COLLECTIONS BEGIN AT $600.
CLIENTS' AVERAGE INVESTMENT IS $800+

Sessions include your choice location within 70 miles roundtrip from 20152. Come ready to laugh and love on your family. I'll be ready to capture all your smiles.

* Pricing assumes sessions occur in Northern Virginia and the surrounding area, within 70 miles roundtrip from 20152. Travel fees apply for locations outside this radius.

The Investment Details

Denise has been photographing my family for years as we’ve changed and grown and I love getting to display her work! She connects so well with all of her clients, especially the kids, and my daughter loves looking at all of “Ms. Denise’s pictures.”

Our house is full of love and laughter and Denise has perfectly captured those memories in her photographs. These young years fly by too fast and I will forever be grateful to Denise for helping us freeze these little moments in time!

Family

Nicole & Brian

Denise has captured our precious moments from pregnancy, newborn, 100 day celebration, first birthday, and a spring family photoshoot. She genuinely cares for her clients and families. I love the candid shots she’s able to take. She’s also very thoughtful about the locations of the photoshoots. I wish we were still living in the area so she could continue to be our family photographer.

Bump-TO-NEWBORN, Family

Heidi & James

We did our first ever family photos with Denise last month, and were we in for a surprise! We felt very comfortable and welcomed during the entire session, and she did SO well with my two little ones. She captured the sweetest moments that really embraced the essence of each of us. We are so pleased with her beautiful work! Thank you, Denise!   

Family

Nicole & Brian

Thank you so much to Denise for capturing such incredible pictures of our little family! She captured my energetic 3-year-old's personality perfectly and I will cherish these pictures forever.

Family

Monica & Roger

Denise is fantastic! She’s communicative, professional, flexible, and so talented. We scrambled last minute to schedule a shoot before a storm wiped out the cherry blossoms, and I could not be more grateful that she was able and willing to make such an effort. We got priceless photos that’ll last a lifetime. We will certainly be using Denise for any and all future photography needs!

Family

Delaney & Evan

We had a fun time with Denise for our family portrait session. She was patient and kind with my 3 year old who didn’t nap beforehand. She gave us poses and instructions that felt natural to us. She captured awesome moments and the pictures came out beautifully! Highly recommend!

Family

Vania & Nate

We did our first ever family photos with Denise last month, and were we in for a surprise! We felt very comfortable and welcomed during the entire session, and she did SO well with my two little ones. She captured the sweetest moments that really embraced the essence of each of us. We are so pleased with her beautiful work! Thank you, Denise!   

Family

Winnie & Coby

Denise does beautiful work and is a true artist! We love the tulip field photos that she took of our family. It was awful weather at the time of our session, but nonetheless she worked fast and made the best out of a difficult situation. Thank you so much, Denise! We are really looking forward to using your services for branding photos for our small business.

Family

Chrissy & Manny

Denise is professional, personable, and made us all feel at ease in front of the camera. 
One thing that really impressed me about Denise's work was her ability to capture great action shots. She was able to capture my son's energetic personality and the photos turned out beautifully. The end result of the photo shoot was stunning. Denise captured all of our personalities perfectly, and the memories that these photos represent will be treasured forever.

Family

Kelly & Shane

Amazing photography AND Denise is wonderful with kids. My son was initially a bit hesitant about the session, and she got him to open up while capturing the true heart of our family. We loved all of the photos and couldn't choose just 12 that came with the mini-session; it was easy to go ahead and buy the rest! Getting family presents this year was a snap with all of the great photos to choose from. Will definitely be using Denise Van Photography again!

Family

Erin & Nayden

Can you love your photographer as much as I love mine? Probably not.
I love her because 1. She makes me look amazing and 2. She has this way of capturing personalities in her photography. My son (pre-teen to the max) hates photos taken but she did absolutely amazing with him. She allowed him to be himself and was able to translate that into her photos. So much better than me saying, "smile right for the camera" and getting that "I don't wanna be here" child smile.

Motherhood

Corrie & A.

,,

Candid, perfectly-imperfect moments are my favorite. are they yours?

Inquire

I'm super happy you're here. In order to get more information about a session with me, please fill out this form and tell me more about yourself. I’ll be in touch!

together
joy
Let's Create some

Branding Session investment begins at $1,050.
Custom quotes available upon request for brands.

Portrait investments begins at $600.
CLIENTS' AVERAGE INVESTMENT IS $800+.