My portrait sessions in Frederick start at $395 for about an hour, one location and 35 finished high-resolution photographs. A longer session starts at $695.

A few hundred dollars is a meaningful amount to spend on photographs. Before you book, you should know what the price covers, how the session will feel and what you'll receive afterward. Here's how my portrait sessions work, along with a few published local prices to help you compare.

What goes into your session

We start with who's coming and the photographs you'd like to have. That might be a portrait for graduation, photographs of yourself you're happy to share, or a photograph with the people who matter to you.

I help choose the location and timing around the light and the people coming. We'll also consider anything that would make the session easier, such as keeping the walk short or leaving room for children to settle in.

To explore possible settings, choose a location for your session.

You don't need to know how to pose. I'll help with where to stand, where to look and what to do with your hands. There's room to move, talk and take a moment, too. I want you to feel comfortable during the session and look like yourself in the photographs.

Afterward, I select and hand-edit the photographs, paying attention to light, color and tone. Your finished collection arrives in a private online gallery, ready to download and share.

Woman in a blue dress laughing beneath pink cherry blossoms
Room to settle in and let your expression come through.

Choosing between The Session and The Signature

The Session starts at $395 and includes:

  • About an hour at one location
  • Up to six participants, including pets
  • 35 photographer-selected finished high-resolution photographs

It's a straightforward option for an individual, a couple or a smaller family. We can make a varied set of photographs without adding another location to the plan.

The Signature starts at $695 and includes:

  • Up to two hours
  • Up to six participants at two nearby locations, or up to twelve at one location
  • The complete photographer-curated finished high-resolution gallery, with at least 60 photographs

Travel between locations is part of the two-hour coverage. The extra time can help if you'd like portraits in two different settings, several generations are coming, or you want more combinations of people. The choice comes down to what we need time for.

For The Session, additional already-finished high-resolution photographs are $20 each or $175 for the remaining finished gallery, if extras are available. See the full portrait collection details.

A few local prices to compare

These published examples show some of the portrait options around Frederick:

  • Walnut Farms Photography lists $250 for 60 minutes at one or two locations, including all fully edited digital images. The page does not specify a minimum image count.
  • Meg Farr Photography lists outdoor portrait sessions from $350 for up to an hour, with 25 to 40 high-resolution images delivered in color and black and white.
  • C. Lucas Photography lists $549, excluding applicable tax, for up to 60 minutes, 40 edited digital images and wardrobe guidance. The photographer selects the location, and physical products are purchased separately.

This is a small illustrative sample of published packages, checked October 3, 2026, not a market average or quality ranking. Prices and inclusions can change.

When comparing, look at the session length, included photographs, participant limits and any additional costs. Then spend time with each photographer's work. The expressions, light and overall feel of the photographs matter alongside the package details.

Before you book

Ask for a clear total and confirm:

  • How many finished photographs are included and who selects them
  • Whether travel, location fees or taxes apply
  • When your gallery will arrive
  • What happens if weather changes the plan
  • The cost of any additional photographs or physical products you want

If you already know you'd like a photograph displayed at home or in your business, mention it while we're planning. A frame above a sofa and a small photograph for a desk may call for different compositions. Prints and frames can be ordered separately from your gallery through Bay Photo Lab.

Have a look through my portrait work. If it feels like what you're looking for, send me who's coming, a date or two and what you'd like photographed. We'll work out a plan together.

Plan my portrait session

Sources and references

Local pricing checked October 3, 2026 against the photographers' published pages. Confirm current prices, inclusions and charges before booking.