An adult bends toward a child at the shoreline, with water and pale sky around them.

Family sessions, near and far

Child and Family Photography

Candid family photography and portraits by Twig & Olive. Choose a Mini, Deluxe, or Adventure session, and we’ll help you plan the details.

Check availabilityExplore the photographs
A child lifts the hem of a dress while standing in shallow water, reflected in the ripples.

Come as you are

Bring the chaos, the quiet, the laughter, and everything in between. We’re Doug and Courtney, the photographers at Twig & Olive. Madison, Wisconsin is home, and we photograph families here and while traveling. We’ll give you a little direction and leave room for the moments that happen on their own. We welcome all families, in every form and story.

Explore our family photography portfolio · Our commitment to every family

A family session with room to play

We’ll start with a little direction, then give you something to do together. That might be a walk, a game of follow the leader, or a snuggle with a child who needs time to warm up. We watch how your family responds and change the pace as we go.

Portraits and the moments between

We plan the light and composition, then keep photographing as the pose loosens. Alongside portraits of everyone together, we look for siblings making each other laugh, a quiet moment with a parent, or the place you explored. Those photographs belong together in your gallery.

See a family session

Choose Mini, Deluxe, or Adventure to see selected photographs from one session.

Mini · A quick update

A short session for family portraits or a focus on the kids.

6 selected photographs from one Mini session.

A family of four stands together on a tree-lined path, with the setting filling much of the frame.Two children smile together as an adult wraps an arm around them from behind.A young child leans toward small flowers in a garden.A parent hugs a smiling child from behind in a close portrait.A parent embraces a laughing child outdoors.An adult stands close with two children beside a wooden railing.

Deluxe · Portraits and candid moments

More time for a mix of guided portraits and natural interaction.

12 selected photographs from one Deluxe session.

Two people sit together against a simple wall in a wide frame.A family walks together across a broad paved area between buildings.Two adults hold a smiling young child close between them.A family of three sits together on outdoor steps.A family of three shares a playful moment while seated on the steps.Two adults and a child walk away together down a city street.A family of three stands together on a patterned sidewalk beneath trees.A parent holds a child close beside a brick building.A woman sits with a smiling child in her lap beside a pale wall.A young child sits on a low step and smiles toward the camera.A child leans into an adult’s shoulder during a close embrace.A smiling child rides on an adult’s shoulders outdoors.

Adventure · Explore together

An active session built around exploring, moving, and photographing your family along the way.

15 selected photographs from one Adventure session.

A family of six stands together in a sunlit field, with tall grasses and trees behind them.A family walks along a curved path through a field at sunset, surrounded by tall grass and open sky.Parents and children move together across a grassy clearing at the edge of autumn trees.Four children lean together and smile in a close portrait.Four children sit together on a blanket in a field of tall grass.Two children lean against each other in a field of tall golden grass.A child reaches toward a branch beneath autumn leaves.A parent wraps both arms around a smiling child in a field.A parent leans in to kiss a child on the cheek outdoors.A man kisses a woman's forehead as they embrace outdoors.A parent bends down to playfully embrace a child beneath autumn trees.A parent and three children gather their hands together beneath autumn leaves.A family sits close together in a field of tall grass.A family plays together along a path between trees and a field of tall grass.A family leans together in a playful group hug, smiling and laughing.

Select a photograph to see it larger. These are selected examples; package inclusions are listed below.

Choose your family session

Each session is for one family.

Mini $300

About 20 minutes of photography
30-minute scheduled block

10 digital files
Additional images available to purchase

Deluxe $700

About 45 minutes of photography
60-minute scheduled block

All edited digital files
11×14 lustre print

Adventure $975

About 75 minutes of photography
90-minute scheduled block

All edited digital files
4×6 Craft Image Pack of selected prints

An adult and child close together in tall grass beneath an open sky.

Two ways to book

  1. Check dates first

    Tell us your preferred dates. We’ll help you choose a session and send a booking link.

    Check availability

  2. Purchase first

    Choose a session below, then email us to arrange your date.

Purchasing alone doesn’t reserve a date. We hold your agreed date once your session is booked and paid for. The portrait contract is part of booking.

Family group gathered beside a greenhouse.

Extended family

Generations sessions

Photograph your extended family together.

Explore Generations sessions

Child looking upward during an outdoor portrait.

A few dates to look forward to

Seasonal minis & holiday sessions

From fall color to holiday traditions, choose a setting that feels like your family. Check the dates, current openings, pricing, and included images for the event you’re considering.

Family of four sitting in the back of a blue vintage pickup in autumn.

Vintage Truck Minis

–

Garver Feed Mill · Madison

Ask about remaining times.

Parents and their child sitting on a bench among Christmas trees.

Christmas Tree Farm Minis

–

Summer’s Christmas Tree Farm · Middleton

Family of four on a patterned sofa against exposed brick at Garver Feed Mill.

Garver Holiday Micros

Garver Feed Mill · Madison

Two children hugging on a bench with plaid blankets and holiday garlands at The Tinsmith.

Tinsmith Holiday Micros

The Tinsmith · Madison

Ask about seasonal availabilityView full calendarSee mini-session examples & what to expect

Two parents and their children pose together outdoors in coordinated blue, white, and pink outfits.

Planning your session

What to wear

We’ll send you a style guide, and you can borrow pieces from our Client Closet. If you have outfit questions, we’re happy to help.

Browse the Client Closet

Locations and travel

At home or outdoors, we’ll help you choose a place.

Around Madison

Near Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton or Wausau? Ask about travel dates and costs.

See our travel calendar

An open photo album displays family portraits, resting on a knitted blanket.

Photographs that become part of your home

We’re a full-service studio. Once your gallery arrives, we’ll help you choose photographs for prints, an album, or framed artwork. Those are the photographs your family will pass in the hallway, pull from a box, and come back to for years.

Deluxe includes an 11×14 lustre print. Adventure includes a 4×6 Craft Image Pack of selected prints. Albums and other artwork are available to order through your gallery.

Compare what’s included

More family stories

Families here at home and places we’ve explored together.

A family of four walks together through the woods at the UW Arboretum.

Genuine smiles at the UW Arboretum

A parent describes how their children feel comfortable and show their personalities during a family session.

Read their story

Parents kiss while their three children play around them during a family session at Lake Elmo Park Reserve.

Beautiful chaos at Lake Elmo

Parents describe a favorite photograph of the children circling them during their Minnesota session.

Read their story

A family holds hands while stepping across driftwood in warm evening light on the Oregon coast.

From the forest to the Oregon shore

A family with two daughters moves from woodland and driftwood to the beach at Cannon Beach, Oregon.

View the session

In their words

What families say

“Doug does a really good job of making me smile. Usually I force a smile for photos and it doesn’t feel good, but Doug always says something that makes me smile without thinking about it.”

Katie (sharing her child’s words after a family session)

“I also can’t forget to mention Courtney; she did a beautiful job editing them. The dreamy lighting in these photos was perfect!”

Mishri

“My kids were not looking forward to last night but Doug, you killed it. They loved it. The whole experience was so refreshing and my kids are already asking to do it again next year :)”

Megan

“Thank you so much to Doug for creating a relaxed, fun session where we all felt comfortable. We will cherish these forever and can’t wait to have them hanging in our home!”

Colleen

“The girls still talk about Mr Doug so thank you for making the shoot fun and memorable!”

Hilda

“I never worry if pictures will turn out because of crabby kids or crabby husband, Doug and Courtney knock it out of the park every.single.time!”

Amanda

A few things families ask

Which family session should we choose?

A Mini works well for a quick update or a focus on the kids. Deluxe gives us more time for portraits and the moments between them. Adventure is for families who want to plan an experience around exploring a place together. We make room for the moments that show your family’s bonds and connections. If you’re unsure, tell us who’s coming and what you’d like to remember. We’ll help you choose.

What if my child is shy or doesn’t want to be photographed?

If plan A doesn’t work, we try plan B. If that doesn’t work, we try plan C and keep going. A walk, a game, or a snuggle with a parent might give us a way to connect. We follow your child’s pace and look for what helps them feel comfortable.

Sometimes we spend half the session building that connection before we really start taking pictures. That’s a big part of what we do. You don’t need to arrive with a child who’s ready to perform or know how to pose your family.

What should we wear?

Start with clothes you feel good in. Neutral or muted colors, simple layers, and a mix of textures work well together. Coordinate a few colors across the family without feeling like everyone has to match. Large logos and very busy patterns can pull attention from your faces.

These are starting points, not a dress code. Come as you are, with room for everyone’s personality. We’ll send you a style guide, and you can borrow pieces from our Client Closet. Send us your outfit ideas or questions, and we’ll help you pull things together.

Can grandparents or extended family join us?

Mini, Deluxe, and Adventure focus on one family, and a grandparent joining for a few photographs is welcome. If you’d like to photograph multiple families or plan a session around several generations, Generations sessions give us time for those different groupings.

When will we receive our photographs, and what is included?

Your curated, hand-edited gallery arrives within 30 days of your session. Mini includes 10 digital files, with more available to purchase. Deluxe includes all edited digital files and an 11×14 lustre print. Adventure includes all edited digital files and a 4×6 Craft Image Pack of selected prints. You can also order prints, albums, and framed artwork through your gallery.

Do you photograph families outside Madison?

Yes. Madison, Wisconsin is home, and we also photograph families while traveling. Check our calendar or tell us where you have in mind. We’ll talk through dates, the setting, and any travel costs before you book.

Let’s find a date

Tell us a little about your family, your preferred dates, and which session interests you. It’s fine if you’re still deciding. We’ll check availability and help you choose.