How the Story Unfolds
From the first hello to the physical heirloom in your hands.
“I don’t want our time together to feel like a transaction. I want it to feel like pulling up a chair at a familiar table.”
From the moment you claim your date to the day your photographs arrive on your doorstep, every step is designed to be slow, intentional, and entirely unforced. Here is how we tell your story.
How the Story Unfolds
I. The Prelude (Before the Session)
Getting to know the quiet details. The journey begins with a simple conversation. Once you secure your date, I’ll send over a gentle questionnaire. I don't just need to know names and ages; I want to know about the messy, beautiful dynamics of your household. Who is the quiet observer? Who is the wild one? What are the little quirks you never want to forget? You will also receive a custom wardrobe and preparation guide. We focus on earthy textures, comfortable layers, and clothing you can actually move, sit, and play in. No matching stiff collars. Just you, comfortable in your own skin. In addition I will send a location guide, the setting is just as important to bringing your story to life.
II. The Chapter (During the Session)
Embracing the beautiful chaos. When we meet, whether in the golden light of a field or the sanctuary of your living room, the first thing I will ask you to do is let go of your expectations. There is no pressure to perform. If the kids want to run in the dirt, we let them run. If a toddler needs a quiet moment against your shoulder, we document the weight of it. I guide you through prompts, not rigid poses. We will move through the energetic "chaos of hands and feet" and settle into the "quiet tethers" of your family. My goal is to capture the rich, chocolate-brown shadows and the warm light of your actual life, just as it is.
III. The Archive (After the Session)
From our hands to yours. In an industry where you often wait months for your memories, I do things differently. Within 14 days of our session, your complete story will be delivered to a secure, private online gallery. You can view the continuous scroll of your narrative, download your high-resolution files, and share them with your kinfolk. But the digital gallery is only half the promise. Because I believe your history deserves to live in the real world, your session includes a thank you, you will have a print credit waiting for you to bring your memories into your hands. Carefully wrapped in earthy, brown packaging, this physical piece of your story will be mailed directly to your home—something to hold, love, and pass down long after the hard drives fail.
Gathering the quiet moments, the loud arrivals, and everything in between.
Your family’s folklore is not a luxury; it is a legacy. I believe that documenting the chaotic, tender reality of your life should never feel like a stiff transaction. When you pull up a chair at The Kindred Folk Cottage, you are investing in unhurried connection, gentle guidance, and the promise that your memories will not be left to fade on a digital screen. Every chapter we document is anchored by physical, heirloom artwork—because these moments belong in your hands.
Chapter One: The Signature Storytelling Session
The classic Cottage experience, designed for unhurried connection. This is our cornerstone offering. We take our time, letting the session unfold at a natural pace. If the kids need to run, they run. If we need to sit quietly in the golden light, we sit. There is no rushing the story.
- The Time60 to 90 minutes of memory-making at a location within 30 miles of Layton.
- The Archive40+ hand-edited, high-resolution images delivered in a private digital gallery.
- The PreparationIncludes the Cottage Wardrobe Guide and our Intentional Connection Questionnaire to ensure we capture the honest dynamics of your family.
- The Tangible PromiseA $50 print credit toward fine art prints or canvases directly from your gallery.
- The Investment$450
Chapter Two: The Wanderers Minis
Short, sweet, and perfect for updating the frames on the mantel. For seasons that need a quick, beautiful update. These sessions are brief but deeply intentional, capturing the warmth and energy of your family in a condensed timeframe.
- The Time15 to 20 intentional minutes, which is ideal for shorter attention spans.
- The Archive5 digital images of your choosing from a proofing gallery of 25+ images.
- The PreparationGuided by the Cottage Wardrobe Guide and the Intentional Connection Questionnaire.
- The Upgrade MechanicYou have the option to unlock your entire gallery of 25+ images when you purchase $150 in fine art prints, or you can purchase a la carte for $35 per digital file.
- The Investment$250
Chapter Three: The Motherhood Bundle
Documenting the quiet anticipation and the beautifully loud arrival. Motherhood is not a single event; it is a profound transition. This collection is designed to gently document the journey from the first whisper of a new life to the heavy, beautiful reality of holding them.
- The GatheringsThis bundle includes three sessions: a 15-minute Pregnancy Announcement Mini, a 15-minute Maternity Mini, and an unhurried 90-minute Full Newborn Session.
- The PreparationYou receive all corresponding preparation guides and digital galleries for each individual session.
- The Tangible PromiseA $75 print credit to begin building your family's physical archive.
- The CareTo anchor this season in the physical world, you will receive a handwritten welcome note and a fine-art 5×7 print mailed directly to your home following our first session.
- The Investment$800 (Requires 25% to secure your dates, with the remaining balance split evenly and due one week before each session).
Chapter Four: The First Year Heirloom Package
A comprehensive record of your baby's most transformative year. From the quiet waiting of maternity to the triumphant celebration of their first year, this is the ultimate archival collection for your family's newest story.
- The GatheringsFour dedicated sessions, including a 15-minute Maternity Mini, a 90-minute Full Newborn Session, a 15-minute 6-Month Mini, and a 90-minute 1-Year Old Full Session.
- The PreparationIncludes all preparation guides, digital galleries, and priority booking on my calendar.
- The Tangible PromiseA $150 credit toward a simple, linen-bound fine art album, alongside a handmade Cottage gift—a set of three mini linen accordion books, perfect for tossing in a diaper bag or gifting to grandparents.
- The Investment$1,200 (Requires 25% to secure your dates, with the remaining balance split evenly and due one week before each session).
The Kinship Fund
Because documenting your family’s folklore shouldn't be a luxury reserved for a few. I believe deeply that every family deserves to have their story archived. But I also know that life is heavy, and in seasons of hardship, professional photography is often the first thing to be quietly set aside. The Kinship Fund is how we bridge that gap. It is a community-driven initiative designed to gift fully funded Signature Storytelling Sessions—complete with physical, heirloom prints—to families who are navigating difficult waters and could use a reminder of their own beautiful resilience. Here is how we take care of our own, together.
When you book a session with The Kindred Folk Cottage, you will see an option to add a $75 contribution to The Kinship Fund. 100% of this goes toward funding a storytelling session for a family in need. To honor your generosity, I will gift you an exclusive set of three 3×3 linen-wrapped accordion mini books. Featuring magnetic closures and 10 visual highlights from our time together, these tangible little keepsakes are perfect for tossing in a diaper bag or mailing to grandparents. You help me tell another family's story, and I give you a beautiful piece of yours.
Set of three 3×3 linen-wrapped accordion mini booksReserve or Inquire About Your Session
Send us a note with your family details or desired timeframe. We respond within 24 to 48 hours.
