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Dad playing with baby outdoors
Family Sessions

Your family is silly and funny and beautiful. Your photos should reflect that magic.

Your kids can be their wild, playful selves (yes, even the one who does that thing). Your dog can photobomb the shot. And you walk away with something worth hanging on your walls.

Take a peek
Mom, dad, and baby smiling together during a family photography session in Central Oregon
Sound familiar?

You're juggling everything. I just want to give you an afternoon where you don't have to.

You know the drill. You spend two weeks coordinating outfits. You bribe the kids on the way there. The photographer lines everyone up, tells your toddler to smile, and your toddler does the opposite. You leave exhausted, and when the photos come back they look... fine. Nice, even. But they don't feel like you.

They don't have your family's silly humor in them. They don't have the way your kid climbs on your partner's back or the look you give each other when things go sideways. They're polished and pleasant and they could be anyone's family on a good hair day.

That's what's missing from most family photos. You're not in them... at least not the real you. The silly humor, the inside jokes, the way your whole family actually is when nobody's performing.

Mom and son playing together during a natural family photography session in Bend

You spent all that time coordinating outfits and nobody was happy with what they were wearing. Your toddler smiled exactly once, and it was at the dog. The photos are now sitting on a hard drive somewhere, and you can't remember the last time you looked at them.

Now picture this instead

Your kids ran around, played in the dirt, and had a genuinely good time. You and your partner actually relaxed, and it shows in every photo. The photos look like your family on your best afternoon, not a version of your family that performed for a camera.

They're on your walls now, and you walk past them every day and smile.

Child gazing in wonderment during a family photography session in Bend, Oregon
Child smiling with dad during a Wild Play Photography family session in Bend, Oregon
There's a version of this that feels completely different.

Let's make art from the silly, fun, beautiful energy that makes your family yours.

Imagine showing up to a session with everything taken care of and nothing to worry about. The kids run ahead on the trail. You and your partner actually talk. Nobody forces a smile, and the whole experience just feels like an afternoon along the river, through the forest, or out in the desert with your family that happens to have a photographer in it.

And then the photos come back, and they feel like you. Not a polished, generic version of you. You. Your kid mid-laugh. The look on your face when your partner said that thing. The dog in the background doing something ridiculous. Art you're proud to put on your walls.

This is for you if you want photos that feel like your family, not a version of your family that performed for the camera. If you're okay with a little chaos and you trust that the best photos come from real life, not a shot list, we're going to get along.

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Where we shoot

Some of my favorite spots in Central Oregon

Shevlin Park

Towering pines, dappled light, trails wide enough for the whole family to walk together. This is where most of my sessions happen, and the light never gets old.

Smith Rock

Desert light, golden cliffs, wide open sky. If your family loves adventure, this is the backdrop.

Tumalo Falls

Lush and green with the sound of water everywhere. A short hike in and you're in a completely different world.

The River Trail

Right in town, golden hour along the Deschutes. Easy access, stunning light, and your kids will want to throw rocks in the water the whole time. (Let them.)

Dad and kid holding a baby goose during a Wild Play Photography family session in Bend, Oregon
Real talk

You already have everything you need. You just have to show up.

I hear some version of this from almost every family that reaches out. "My kids won't sit still." "We're not really a photo family." "Last time we tried this it was a disaster." And I want you to know something. Every single one of those families ended up with photos they love. Not because their kids suddenly cooperated, but because cooperation was never the point.

I've spent years working with kids as a nanny, and I can tell you that the families who get the best photos aren't the ones with well-behaved children. They're the ones who let their kids be kids. They run, climb, and have a full-volume disagreement over who gets to hold the stick. That's not a problem I need to work around. That's your family being your family, and that's exactly what I'm here to photograph.

You don't need matching outfits or a game plan. You don't need everyone to be in a good mood at the same time (has that ever happened?). You just need to show up and let the afternoon be what it is. I'll find the light, read the room, and make art from whatever your family gives me. The messiness is a part of the story. It always has been.

What to expect
What to expect

How a session works

As a mom, you're doing a lot. This part gets to be easy.

one

Before We Meet

We start with a conversation. You tell me about your family, and what kind of photos make you stop scrolling. I'll help you pick a location in Bend that fits your family's energy and send you a style guide so you feel good about what to wear without overthinking it.

two

The Session

We meet at golden hour at a spot I've scouted in advance. There's no shot list. No rigid timeline. I let the session unfold and follow the energy. If your kid wants to throw rocks in the river for ten minutes, we let them. Some of the best photos come from that and this is where the magic truly happens. I stay close, read the light, and when something beautiful happens I'm already there. Sessions are typically 60-90 minutes, but I don't watch the clock. We're done when we've got what we need.

three

After

I hand-edit your gallery with the same care I brought to the session itself. Every image is color-graded with a warm, soft quality that feels like the afternoon it was taken. Your gallery is delivered within two weeks, and I'll help you choose the images that belong on your walls.

Meet Amanda
Amanda Carson, Wild Play Photography
Nice to meet you

Hi, I'm Amanda.

I'm a photographer and part-time nanny living in Bend, and I've spent years learning what it takes to get a two-year-old to forget the camera exists. (Spoiler: you don't ask them to smile.)

I think of what I do as art, not just photography. Before I picked up a camera full-time, I spent years teaching yoga, dance, and leading retreats and workshops. All of that taught me how to hold space for others, how to read the energy of a group, when to step in, and when to step back. I bring that same calm, grounding energy to every session, and other moms tell me that's the thing that makes the difference. Once everyone relaxes, the real stuff shows up, and that's when the photos get good.

Hear from families More about me
Kind words

From families who've been here

Stef Bond's family smiling on their porch with their dog during a Wild Play Photography session
★★★★★

The entire session felt very relaxed and natural. We never felt rushed at all. Amanda made the process easy and comfortable, which really shows in the photos. They turned out beautifully and have such a soft, glowing quality that we absolutely love.

Stef Bond
★★★★★

Her energy was calming and she was very nurturing. She was very patient and very flexible with our cranky 19 month old. The pictures are stunning and we are so excited she captured us candidly.

Emily
Mom and baby walking together during a family photography session in Bend, Oregon
Mom, dad, and child together in golden light during a family session by Wild Play Photography
★★★★★

Amanda possesses a remarkable talent for transforming each shot into a true work of art, ensuring it feels organic and genuine rather than staged. Throughout all the shoots, she created a warm and welcoming atmosphere that made me feel completely at ease.

Amara D.
A real session

What an afternoon with me actually looks like

They pulled up to Shevlin Park about five minutes late because the littlest was having a hard morning. Mom apologized. I told her that was the story of most moms before a shoot, sometimes getting out the door is the hardest part!

The oldest bolted for the trail before anyone said hello. Dad was carrying the baby and a bag of toys aka tools for bargaining and looked like he'd already accepted that this was going to be chaos. Mom looked at me and said, "I'm sorry, they're a lot right now." I told her that was perfect.

We walked. I didn't start with a big group photo or line everyone up. We just walked the trail and I let the kids lead. The oldest one pushed sticks into the ground because they were "definitely stick people" and the little one wanted to be put down and play with the dog. I stayed close, watching the light come through the pines.

Mom walking with baby during a Wild Play Photography family session in Bend, Oregon
five minutes late, totally on time
Child playing in the dirt during a Wild Play Photography family session in Central Oregon
definitely "stick people"
Family playing outside with red toy cars during a Wild Play Photography family session in Bend, Oregon
the red racing car arrived

About twenty minutes in, something shifted. The parents relaxed into the experience and just started being there. Dad pulled out their favorite red racing car and smiles and laughter followed. The youngest needed a snack and giggled as mom made funny faces.

By the end, the kids had dirt on their pants and were happily playing amongst the trees. Dad said, "That went better than I thought," like he was surprised. When I delivered the gallery two weeks later, mom sent me a message: "Wow! So precious! Thank you so much. They are beautiful."

That's what I mean when I say I photograph your family as you actually are. Not a "picture perfect" version. The real thing. And it's always better than people expect.

What you walk away with
What you walk away with

You hold it all together every day. Let me hold this one thing for you.

Your kids actually had fun.

They didn't have to perform. They got to play, explore, and be themselves. And somehow that made the photos better.

You're in the frame.

You're always the one behind the camera. This time you're in the picture, and you're part of the tender... or wild... or ridiculous... or full-meltdown moment forever.

The photos feel like your life.

Not someone else's. Not a catalog. Your family, your energy, your favorite corner of Bend. Real and beautiful at the same time.

The whole thing was easy.

From the first conversation to the final gallery, it just felt handled. No stress, no decisions you had to make alone, no surprises.

See the investment
Sessions

Two ways to play together

Full Session

$650
  • 60-90 minutes (no clock-watching)
  • Pre-session consultation
  • Location scouted just for you
  • Wardrobe style guide
  • Golden hour scheduling
  • Full hand-edited gallery
  • Warm, natural color grading
  • Wall art guidance
  • Delivered in two weeks
  • The Wild Play Promise
Let's play

Mini Session

$425
  • 45 minutes
  • Curated location
  • Wardrobe style guide
  • Golden hour scheduling
  • Hand-edited gallery
  • Warm, natural color grading
  • Delivered in two weeks
  • The Wild Play Promise
Let's play

I take a limited number of sessions each month so I can give every family my full attention. If you're thinking about a specific season or date, reach out early so we can make it work.

The Wild Play Promise

Your Investment Is 100% Protected.

Rain, smoke, runny noses, and everything in between.

Central Oregon weather has a mind of its own, and so do toddlers. If the sky isn't cooperating or your kid wakes up with a fever, we pick a new date. No stress, no fees, no guilt. I'd rather wait for the right afternoon than force a session that doesn't feel good.

Let's play
Getting started

Here's how it starts

1
You tell me about your family.

The fun stuff, not a form. Who are your people? What are they like when nobody's watching?

2
We hop on a quick call.

I get to know you, answer your questions, and we figure out if we're a good fit.

3
I handle the rest.

Location, timing, style guidance, all of it. You just show up.

Tell me about your family
Good questions

Questions I get asked a lot

What if my kids won't cooperate?
Good. That's my favorite kind of session. I'm a part-time nanny and I've spent years working with kids with many different personalities. Meltdowns, running away, refusing to look at the camera? All normal, all welcome. Some of the best photos come from the moments right after the chaos settles.
What should we wear?
I'll send you a style guide after you book. The short version: wear something you feel good in, coordinate without matching exactly, and skip the logos. Earth tones and soft colors photograph beautifully in Bend's outdoor settings.
Where do sessions happen?
All over Bend and Central Oregon. I know dozens of spots and I'll help you find one that fits your family. Shevlin Park, the river trail, Smith Rock, Tumalo Falls, your own backyard. If you have a place that feels like home to your family, I'd love to hear about it.
What time of day do you shoot?
Golden hour. That warm, soft light you see in my portfolio? It only exists in the hour or two before sunset. I build every session around it.
How many photos do we get?
A full session gallery typically includes a generous number of hand-edited images. Every photo is individually edited. I don't deliver anything I wouldn't frame myself.
When do we get our photos back?
Within two weeks of your session. I don't rush the editing and I don't make you wait months.
Can we bring our dog?
Please do.
Do you photograph just couples?
Absolutely. Whether it's an anniversary, an engagement, or you just want photos of the two of you, I love shooting couples. Same golden hour, same relaxed energy.
Still curious? Let's chat
Amanda Carson, Wild Play Photography Replace: Amanda portrait for letter section
“
A note from me to you

Why I do this

I want to share something that took me a while to understand about this work.

When I started photographing families, I thought the goal was the photos. Get the light right, find the right angle, deliver something beautiful. And that's part of it. But what I've learned is that the thing families remember most isn't the gallery. It's the afternoon.

It's the fact that they showed up as themselves and it was enough. That their kid had fun. That nobody had to perform. They were all in the same place at the same time, and for once, mom was in the picture too.

I got into this because a friend reflected to me something I'd heard before. I'm good with kids, I'm calm when things get chaotic, and I see people most clearly when the pressure is off.

I built a business around that because I know your family deserves art that looks like your actual life, not something simply "for the camera".

If that sounds like what you're looking for, I'd love to hear about your family.

You know that feeling when someone just gets it? That's what I want this to be.

Tell me about your family.

Not the formal version. The real one. Who are your people? What are they like when nobody's watching? What matters to you about these photos?

I read every one of these and respond personally within 48 hours. If we're a good fit, we'll hop on a quick call and figure out the rest from there.

No commitment, no pressure. Just a conversation.

Typical response time: same day or next morning.

Kids and ages, pets, anyone else joining. The more I know, the better I can prepare.
Favorite spots in Bend, a vibe you're going for, a heads up that your toddler is in a hitting phase. All welcome.

I'll be in touch soon. Looking forward to hearing about your people.

Let's play