DESIgns Family Photography

12/04/2025

10/20/2025

Just a little peek from last weekend’s mini sessions 💛

I’m still smiling from all the laughter and love I got to capture!

I have a couple of spots left for this weekend! If you’ve been thinking about booking, today is your last chance!

Snag your spot for this weekend by clicking the link the bio!

10/13/2025

Hey friends!

I’ll make this brief!

I am doing mini session on Sat, Oct 18th, Sat Oct 25th, and Sun Oct 26th at Ancil Hoffman in Carmichael (sample photo from location pictures below!).

The mini’s are $225 for 15 minutes and 5 images, quick and fun!

There are 2 more spots available for the mini session this Saturday, the 18th, one at 5:00 pm, and one at 5:20. I will be closing booking for this date at midnight to allow for adequate preparation for your mini!

There are 4 spots on Sat the 25th, at 4:20, 4:40, 5:00 and 5:20.

And another 4 spots on Sun the 26th, at 4:40, 5:00, 5:20 and 5:40.

If you’re interested and haven’t yet, snag yours using the link in bio!

10/07/2025

If you’ve been thinking about signing up for minis — but are anything like me and need that extra reminder — consider this your sign 🥳🤩

I still have a few spots open on the 18th, 25th, and 26th!

And don’t forget, if you book a session for 2026, your mini session is complimentary!

And while you’re here, enjoy these sweet photos of a family who’s been with me since my very first mini sessions four years ago — plus their kind words ❤️ I can’t wait to add this year’s photo to their growing collection!

“Desi is a dream to work with if you want to capture the perfect authentic photos of yourself or your family! I’m always nervous that my kids are going to have a hard time focusing for posed portraits, but Desi incorporated their energy and playfulness that lead to a relaxing session for all with lots of real smiles to go around. She also shows her professionalism by casually repositioning poses so you always have your best angles on display which she does seamlessly through all the fun! Love her!”

Book a Documentary Session and Complimentary Mini Session:
https://portal.ilovedesignsphotography.com/public/appointment-scheduler/68cc9b3d42e3a0fc7cf3b9eb/schedule

Book Your Mini Session:
https://portal.ilovedesignsphotography.com/public/appointment-scheduler/68cc9b3505d966b024da5d8c/schedule

Booking links in bio!

09/23/2025

When you think of family photos, what comes to mind?

A perfectly posed shot in matching outfits? A smile for the camera? That’s a portrait — beautiful, polished, a snapshot of a moment in time.

Now imagine something different:
- Bed head and morning snuggles
- Reading the book of the week for the 1000th time
- Park days, swinging in the sun
- Your child’s curious little hands helping with family chores

Those aren’t just photos. That’s a story — your family as it really is, messy, joyful, and full of life.

That’s what documentary photography captures. And this fall, I want to make it easy for you to experience both:

Special Offer: The Best of Both Worlds

When you book your 2026 documentary session with a $400 retainer, you’ll receive a complimentary Fall Mini Session this October! Heck yeah!! You can have your cake (posed portraits) and eat it too (your families story!)

We’ll start with your mini session this fall, then reconnect in January 2026 to plan all the details for your full documentary experience.

Spots are very limited — only 11 spots left this year. This is your chance to capture your family in both ways: quick, polished portraits now, and a full storytelling session next year.

Sessions will be held Oct 18th, 25th, and 26th at Ancil Hoffman Park in Carmichael!

Don’t settle for just a portrait when you can have the whole story.

Book below! 😃 (And check out our mini location this year, the beautiful river pictured below! 🤩)

Link to book in bio!

07/15/2025

✨ First up in my Sacramento Families series… the wildly fun, endlessly curious H Family!

We spent a whole day together—from snuggles and board games to hikes and Mario Kart. And wow… I walked away with a little more wisdom (and a full heart).

💬 Want to know what their son said on our hike that stopped me in my tracks?

Let’s just say it’s the kind of thing that makes you want to hold your people a little closer. 🥹

📸 Tap the link in bio to see their Full Day in the Life session & read the story

👇 Tell me in the comments:

What’s one moment in your life right now you wish you could freeze forever?

06/27/2025

Do you ever struggle with feeling like there's some "right way" to parent in your parenting journey?

05/20/2025

One of my favorite parts about doing documentary family work is that it goes wherever YOU go, no limits (seriously, I do destination documentary work too! Bonus, if you plan a vacation somewhere that speaks Spanish, I'm fluent and can double as a translator 😉🤪)!

Here's a few adventures we've done with families beyond the four walls of home!

- Son's baseball game
- Fish Hatchery
- Costco
- Car wash
- Hiking
- Children's Museum
- McDonalds drive through (🤪)
- The park
- Plant nursery
- Family friendly brewery
- Library

The possibilities are so wonderfully endless! If you picked somewhere outside of the house that feels like it represents this season for your family what would it be? Or if you wanted to capture an adventure, what would you choose?

05/16/2025

I want to tell you a story ❤️

About a year and a half ago, I joined an accountability group for a photography course I purchased.

The four of us came together and decided we would do a weekly zoom meeting.

It quickly turned into a little mastermind, evolving into a safe place where we could talk about the hard parts of business and life, cheer the heck out of each other, and hold each other to the highest standard that we all knew we could achieve.

A year in, I felt really lost with my business (ok, really in life). I almost quit. I had spent the previous 3 years listening to photography educators telling me how I "should" run my business, because I felt sure that I didn't know any of the answers.

I tearfully told my group that I would likely be stepping away from the group.

The told me lovingly and respectfully "Shut up. No you're not. You've got this." 😂

And then pushed me to pursue the thing that kept coming up over and over and over: documentary family photography.

My first documentary session was with one of these incredible women. And it lit me up inside. They were right. This was the thing I was called to.

Fast forward a few months later, I decided my mantra for the year was F*** Around and Find Out. No more listening to the 'shoulds' and fully listening to what my heart was telling me. And now here I am, fully embracing Documentary Family work.

Below is a blog this friend wrote recently. She texted me the post saying "Thank you Desi for this beautiful gift that keeps giving! These photos truly are more precious with time."

And that's why I do this. The day to day moments don't feel so big now, but one day, they'll be everything.

I'd be so honored to capture this season in your family's life. Please reach out if you've even thought about what a session would be like. I'd LOVE to chat.