FAQs

So just what is The Family Narrative anyway?

The Family Narrative is a community of family photographers that offers an annual retreat including for several days of education, camaraderie, discussion, and industry-building. We have three primary goals: 

1. To create a space for discussion, demonstration, and the distribution of real, rich content that everyone in attendance can use to improve their businesses and their lives, and

2. In doing so, create a diverse community of photographers who will continue to push and support one another long after the retreat is over.

3. Our long-range goal is to change the narrative around Family Photography as an industry: we believe it deserves to be seen and valued for the challenging, important work that it is.

Are you having a retreat in 2025?

Yes! The 2025 retreat will take place April 28-May 1, 2025. More details will be released in June.

Who is TFN for?

The TFN community is for family photographers - if you photograph families in any capacity, you will find a place here. It should be noted that our goal in creating this retreat was to offer established photographers a place to commune with their peers, push through burnout, learn from each other and leave feeling inspired and invigorated. With that said, we welcome new photographers, as long as they understand that speakers and discussions will assume a basic understanding of both photography and business. If you are brand new and looking for instruction on how to use your equipment or ideas for how to start a business, this may not be the right first step.

I do some family photography, but also photograph weddings, editorial, commercial work, etc. Can I still be part of The Family Narrative’s community?

Absolutely! Many of us (the organizers and teachers) do work outside family photography as well, but are excited to give this part of our business the attention it deserves. Your voice will be a fully-understood, much-appreciated addition to the conversation!

How do you select your teachers?

When we sit down each year to brainstorm who to invite to be our speakers/mentors/teachers for The Family Narrative, we are looking for kick-ass photographers who are all super-enthusiastic about this project and the prospect of creating real and meaningful change in the family photography world.

That said, we firmly believe that the right group of instructors is greater than the sum of its parts, so we're looking for more than just a great group of individuals. We want people who represent a range of business models, target markets, experience levels, and teaching styles, and who bring a variety of human experience stories to the table - who they are, where they live, who they sleep with (or don’t sleep with), what they look like, etc. It's an incredibly complex puzzle to piece together, but (we believe) the secret sauce that makes this retreat the best in the business.

How do I get a ticket?

To stay in the loop about future retreats, please join our email list below!