Medically Complex Family Photography
More than photos.
I Get It. Because I've Lived It.
When Penelope was 8 years old, she was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Our entire world flipped upside down in ways I never could have imagined.
I spent 836 days watching my daughter fight through chemotherapy. I've sat in hospital rooms scrolling through my camera roll looking for recent photos of her smiling. I've desperately wanted to capture the moments where she was just BEING A KID instead of being a patient.
So I get it. I know what it's like to look at your child and see their unbelievable strength while simultaneously wishing you could freeze time and remember them like this - right now, exactly as they are.
Why These Photos Matter
For families like ours, photos aren't just something nice to have on the wall. They're anchors. They're proof that joy existed in the middle of everything hard. They're evidence that your kid laughed today, that your family found light even when things felt impossibly dark.
When I photograph your family, I'm not coming in as an outsider trying to understand what you're going through. I'm a fellow medical mom who knows what this journey costs you. I know how precious your time is. I know how exhausted everyone is. I know that some days just getting everyone dressed feels like climbing a mountain.
I offer a fully adaptive photography experience - patient, accessible, and sensitive to your specific medical needs so you can focus on loving on your children while I take care of the rest.
Please see the info below to learn more about how I can serve your family.
What do these sessions look like?
You are 100% in charge. We're not rushing through anything, we're not forcing smiles, we're just hanging out and letting things unfold naturally.
We can do your session anywhere that works for YOUR family. At home in pajamas? Perfect. Your favorite park? Let's do it. The hospital playroom? I've been there too.
I'm always thinking about what your family needs - flat terrain for wheelchairs, quiet spaces for sensory sensitivities, shade if someone's heat-sensitive from treatment. Just tell me what would make things easier and I'll either find the perfect spot or help scout locations with you.
What is your availability for a family facing a severe or terminal diagnosis?
This is my absolute top priority. I know that time isn't something you have the luxury of wasting.
When you reach out, let me know it's urgent and I will move heaven and earth to get to you within 24-48 hours. I'll shift my schedule, I'll cancel other things, I'll make it happen.
These sessions are about capturing the love that's right in front of you - nothing posed, nothing forced. Just your family being together. Because those moments matter more than anything, and you deserve to have them documented.
Please don't hesitate to call me directly if you need me right away. I mean that.
How do you handle medical equipment in photos?
However YOU want to handle it, honestly.
Some families want to show all the gear - the wheelchairs, gait trainers, feeding tubes, trachs, pulse ox monitors, ALL of it. Because it's part of their kid's story and represents how strong they are. Other families want to minimize it as much as possible. Both are completely valid.
I'm comfortable working around wires and tubes (I've had plenty of practice), and we'll talk through what feels right for your family before we even start shooting. There's no wrong answer here.
My child can’t sit up/look at the camera/smile on command. Can we still get good photos?
YES. Absolutely yes.
Honestly? Some of the most beautiful photos I've ever taken are the unposed, candid ones where nobody's looking at the camera at all. The real connection happens in between the "perfect" moments anyway.
I'm totally comfortable posing families on the floor, in bed, in chairs, in wheelchairs - wherever your child is most comfortable. I've worked with non-verbal kids who can't take direction, and that's completely fine. We'll just follow their lead. If that means I'm lying on the floor shooting up at you, great. If it means we're chasing them around the backyard, perfect.
We're not looking for perfect here. We're looking for REAL. And real is so much better.
Are you comfortable doing sessions in our home?
100% yes. Home sessions are often the BEST option for medically complex kids because everything you need is right there - all your equipment, medications, comfortable spaces, favorite things.
I can come to you and document a "day in the life" type session (which is honestly so special), or we can set up a simple portrait space wherever we can get good light in your house. A big window, your living room, your kid's bedroom - we'll make it work.
What happens if my child wakes up sick or is hospitalized on photo day?
We reschedule. No questions asked, no stress, no guilt.
Your child's health is the ONLY thing that matters. I have a super flexible rescheduling policy specifically for medically complex families because I know how unpredictable life is when you're dealing with hospital stays and treatment schedules.
Your deposit transfers to the new date, and we'll find a time when everyone's feeling better and home from the hospital. That's it. Easy.
What health precautions do you take?
I take this very seriously because I've lived it. I know that a common cold isn't just annoying for immunocompromised kids - it can be dangerous.
I will never, ever show up to your session if I have ANY symptoms of illness. Period. If I wake up feeling off on your session day, I'll contact you immediately and we'll reschedule.
I'm fully up to date on all my vaccinations (flu, COVID, everything), and I'm absolutely happy to wear a high-quality N95 or KN95 mask for your entire session if that makes you feel safer. You don't even have to ask - just let me know what you need and I'll do it. No questions, no judgment, no explanations needed.
How do you ensure siblings feel included and seen during the session?
Oh man, siblings of medically complex kids are often carrying SO much. I see them and I make sure they know it.
We'll absolutely capture their special bond with their brother or sister (because those relationships are incredible), but we're also going to give them their own time to shine. They get to pick a fun pose, choose an activity, show me their favorite thing - whatever makes THEM feel celebrated and important too.
Because they are. They're doing hard things every single day, and they deserve to be seen for who they are, not just as "the sibling."
What if my other children are rambunctious or don't want to cooperate?
Then they're being normal kids and I'm here for it!
I have loads of patience (cancer mom life prepared me well for this), and honestly some of the best photos come from the chaos. Our sessions are super flexible and slow-paced, so we can take breaks whenever we need to, have snacks, let kids run around and get their energy out.
The goal was never perfection anyway. The goal is capturing your family as you actually are - beautiful connections, real moments, and yes, even the chaos. Because that's YOUR chaos and it's part of your story.
Is your pricing different for families with complex medical needs?
I know how expensive medical life is. Trust me, I know. The bills never stop coming.
I offer flexible payment plans to all medically complex families so you can spread payments out over time in a way that actually works for your budget. We'll figure it out together.
And here's the big one: I provide completely free sessions for families with a child currently receiving care on Level 11 (Oncology/Hematology) at Stead Family Children's Hospital. I have an amazing photographer friend who did this for us and I want nothing more than to pay it forward.
Please mention your Level 11 connection when you reach out, or ask about payment plans if you need them. Cost should never be the reason you don't get to document your family's love and strength.
Do you offer gift certificates or work with non-profits?
Yes to both!
I partner with local organizations that serve medically complex families (like Why We Wave Foundation), and I'm always open to connecting with more groups doing this work.
And if family or friends want to contribute to your session as a gift, I absolutely offer gift certificates. Sometimes people want to help but don't know how - this is a tangible way they can give you something meaningful.
Just reach out and we can talk through the details of current partnerships or set up a gift certificate.