your
FAMILY
EXPERIENCE
MELBOURNE BEACH • VERO BEACH • THE SPACE COAST
sessions for families who would rather laugh than pose
Melbourne, Florida Photographer - Liz Cowie Photography
Wedding and Portrait Photography
FAMILY
You don’t need to know what to do with your hands. You don’t need to practice your smile in the mirror the night before.
I will tell you where to stand, who to hold onto, and what to do — and then I’ll step back and let your family be your family.
That’s the whole job, and it’s mine, not yours.
You just show up.
FAMILY SESSIONS BEGIN AT $450
Family sessions start at $450, and where they land from there depends on how many people are in the photos — a family of four and a twenty-person reunion are two different days of work.
Tell me who’s coming and I’ll send you an exact quote, no guessing required.
Every session includes:
• Every edited image from your session, delivered in both color and black and white
• A private online viewing gallery
• A print release, so you can print and share them wherever you like
Want to learn more?
Let’s talk about your session →
REAL FAMILY MOMENTS
Perfect Imperfection
The toddler who won’t look at the camera. The kid caught mid-sentence. The one who has decided that today is a barefoot, running-into-the-waves kind of day.
Those are the photographs you’ll still love in ten years. Not because everyone was perfectly still, but because they look like the people you actually live with. I’m not trying to turn your family into a catalog for an hour. I’d rather catch the real thing — a little windblown, slightly out of order, completely yours.
SMALL PEOPLE, BIG PERSONALITIES
Kids are unpredictable. I plan for it.
If they need to run around and be silly before they can be still, we let them run. If someone doesn’t want to stand but will happily be held, we do that instead.
I read each child and follow their lead, and I’m not above making some truly ridiculous noises to earn a real giggle.
Bring snacks. Bribes have saved more sessions than any lens I own.
REAL FAMILIES, REAL PEOPLE
Extended Families Welcome
When everyone is finally in the same place at the same time, that’s worth documenting properly. We’ll start with the whole crew, then work through the smaller combinations — each family unit, grandparents with grandkids, siblings, cousins, and just the kids.
I keep it moving so nobody is standing around waiting their turn. If you’re planning a reunion or a holiday week when everyone’s in town, tell me who’s coming and I’ll build a shot list before we start.
THE BEST LIGHT
What Time of Day is Best for Family Photos?
This is the question I’m asked most, and the answer is always the same: about one hour before sunset or one hour after sunrise.
Florida’s midday sun makes everyone squint and creates hard shadows across your faces. That golden window at either end of the day gives us soft, even light, warm color and — if we’re on the beach at sunset — sometimes a beautiful pink sky behind you.
When we get there, I’ll look for open shade and even light and steer us away from spotty light and busy backgrounds.
Sunset sessions are the most popular, so those dates go first — especially in fall.
WHAT TO WEAR
What Should we Wear?
Dress it up. There is no such thing as too dressy for a portrait session. Dressy photographs stand out, and you’ll be glad you did.
Skip the matchy-matchy. Coordinating beats matching. Pick two or three colors that work together, and try to keep it to no more than two people in the same print or color.
Choose things that move. Long, flowy dresses and skirts photograph beautifully in the ocean breeze — they add motion and dimension that a T-shirt can’t.
BEACHES, PARKS & PLACES YOU LOVE
I'LL Come to You
Most of my family sessions happen on the beach, and for good reason — that light is hard to beat. But I’m not limited to it.
If you’ve rented a place on the water for the week, I’ll come to you and photograph right there. No packing everyone into cars, no wrangling toddlers across a parking lot, and the little ones can nap on schedule.
I also photograph at parks, green spaces and local trails around the Space Coast. If there’s a spot that means something to your family, that’s the one we should use. If you don’t have somewhere in mind, I have plenty of favorites and I’ll help you choose.
A LITTLE BEACH REALITY
Beach Hair, Don't Care!
I should be honest with you about one thing: it’s going to be breezy. Even the most calm days will have some wind.
We’re on the Atlantic, and there’s almost always wind coming off the water. Hair that looked perfect in the bathroom mirror probably won’t stay that way — and that’s okay.
Windblown hair on a beach looks like a beach. It moves, it catches the light, and it makes the photographs feel alive.
The “don’t care” part is your job, not mine. I care a great deal. I’m watching the wind the whole time and turning you so it works in your favor — lifting hair away from your face instead of across it and catching the light rather than covering your eyes.
If wind still worries you, a half-up style or something loosely pulled back usually holds up better than hair left completely down.
Florida weather can change quickly. I keep an eye on the forecast as your session gets closer, and if the weather really isn’t cooperating, we’ll work together to find another date.
Your fully edited gallery will be delivered by email in about two to three weeks.
Reach out through my contact page and tell me a little about your family, when you’ll be here, and how many people are coming. I’ll confirm availability, send you the details, and we’ll get your date reserved.
Totally normal. I don’t expect children to stand still and smile at me for an hour. We’ll let them move, play, take breaks, be held — whatever works for them.
Not at all. I photograph families at beaches, parks, green spaces, vacation rentals and other locations around the Space Coast. I’ll help you choose a spot that fits your family.
Yes. I photograph extended families regularly, and I’ll help organize the group so it doesn’t feel chaotic. We’ll start with the full family, then work through smaller combinations like grandparents with grandkids, siblings, cousins, and individual family units.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Let’s Create Something Beautiful Together
I’d love to hear all about your plans and help you bring your vision to life
