Documentary Family Photographer in Charlotte, NC

I photograph families the same way I approach my wedding photography. With emotion and authenticity.

I’m Brandon, a Charlotte-based documentary family photographer focused on honest, unposed moments. Instead of asking you to smile at the camera, I photograph families as they actually are: connected, imperfect, playful, quiet, and real.

These are images that feel like memories — not a photoshoot. I photograph families throughout Charlotte, NC and surrounding areas including South End, Plaza Midwood, Ballantyne, Matthews, Huntersville, Concord, and across North Carolina.

beautiful moment by Charlotte documentary family photographer Brandon Pickett

Charlotte Family Photographer

Telling YOUR Family Story

What Documentary Family Photography Means

Unposed & Unscripted

Storytelling

father and son laughing on the couch.Son appears to be upside down and smiling at the camera
asian boy kissing his father on the cheek
family of three having fun during family photo session in Charlotte by Brandon Pickett Photography
mother and her toddler daughter by Charlotte family photographer Brandon Pickett

Documentary family photography is all about creating a body of work that shows who you actually are, your families story and what makes you unique.

I approach my family photography sessions just like my weddings. I let things happen naturally and focus on composition, light and moment.

Authenticity

Emotion

This style of family photography isn’t for everybody. If you prefer natural family photography that emphasizes truth and feeling over pinterest perfect shots, this would be right for.

As I photograph your family, I’m looking for real, authentic emotion, not a forced smile. Let your kids be themselves, and you will have photos that truly bring you back to a moment in time.

Work With Us
A child with curly hair peeking over a white table, with only their eyes and hands visible, in a room with natural light coming through the window.
Close-up black and white photograph of a young child's face with a neutral expression, short hair, and wide, expressive eyes.
An elderly woman with short gray hair and glasses sits in a dark room near a window, looking outside, with a table set with a patterned tablecloth and bottles of wine.
Timeless Family photo of father and son. Photograph by Charlotte's best family photographer Brandon Pickett Photography

Authentic Family Photography In Charlotte

You know how your husband and kids are always dreading family photos?

I want our family session to be as laid back as possible. Your kids and husband will say “that was way easier than I expected.”

GET A QUOTE
one year old girl spraying herself with hose by candid family photographer Brandon Pickett

Family photography with artistry and emotion

Family sessions are intentionally unstructured and tailored to your family. Sessions can take place:

In your home

Your home is by far the best location for a family photography session. This is where you spend the majority of your time. It’s where most of your family’s memories are made. You don’t need to worry about having your house spotless, a little clutter is what documentary family photography is all about.

Outdoors at a meaningful location.

Have a spot in Charlotte that has special meaning to your family? Where you first met your significant other? A relatives home? Family Photography is about preserving these locations.

In your neighborhood or a favorite Charlotte spot

Family photography sessions can be done at your kids favorite park, a local greenway. They can even be done at places like Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens and other local charlotte businesses.

Want me to document your family going out to Sunday brunch? These sessions can be done just about anywhere.

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Why Families Choose Documentary Photography

Traditional family photos show what everyone looked like.

Documentary family photography shows who you were.

These photographs become more valuable over time because they preserve:

  • Genuine emotion

  • Real relationships

  • Everyday moments that quickly pass

If you’re looking for perfectly posed portraits, I may not be the right fit — and that’s okay. If you want photographs that feel honest and personal, you’re in the right place.

Family Photographer Serving Charlotte & Surrounding Areas

I photograph families throughout Charlotte, NC and nearby areas including:

  • South Charlotte

  • Uptown Charlotte

  • Dilworth

  • Plaza Midwood

  • Myers Park

  • Matthews

  • Huntersville

  • Fort Mill

If you have a location in mind, I’m happy to help decide what will photograph best based on light, space, and how your family naturally interacts.

boy laughing on the couch during family photos in charlotte
Young child smiling with open mouth, held by an adult's hands next to a rocky lake shore, wearing a patterned sweater.
Child with red hair lying on a bed, wearing a striped shirt, smiling playfully with feet up.
A man holding a smiling baby in a garden.
An elderly woman with gray hair and glasses, sitting alone at a dining table, looking out the window with a contemplative expression.

What a Documentary Family Session Feels Like

No stiff posing. No pressure. No performance.

During your session, there’s nothing you need to “do right.” You can talk, play, walk, sit, or simply be together. I’ll quietly document what unfolds — allowing your family’s real dynamic to shine through.

Below is a selection of photos from a regular client

Artistic, story-driven family photo by Charlotte family photographer Brandon Pickett
Two young girls baking together at a kitchen counter, with one stirring a bowl and the other holding a whisk.
A young girl eagerly opens her mouth to eat a food ball from a spoon held by a woman in a striped shirt. Another person is guiding her hands, while a bowl of food is in front of them.
A young girl lies on her back on a rug near a sofa, looking up with a curious expression. Two adults are nearby, one sitting at the edge of the sofa. By award winning Charlotte family photographer Brandon Pickett Photography
A young girl with light hair and blue eyes, dressed in a grey dress with a white ruffled collar, looking out the window and pointing at something outside.
A young girl with blonde hair in pigtails wearing a grey pinafore dress, white socks, and brown shoes, running on a sidewalk while holding her hair, with an older woman watching in the background on a residential neighborhood street.
A young girl with blonde hair styled in two buns, walking alone on a sidewalk, with two women standing in the background near houses and trees.
Young girl with light brown hair in pigtails, blue eyes, wearing a cream-colored ruffled collar shirt under a gray dress, standing outdoors on a sidewalk.
A young girl kissing a human skeleton on a porch with pumpkins, fallen leaves, and potted plants nearby.
A young girl with blonde hair in pigtails is smiling and holding a skeleton prop outside in a backyard.

Recent Family Sessions

  • Family Photography In Charlotte, NC

    Home Family Session

    Fun family session at clients home in Charlotte, NC

    GALLERY
  • young boy giving a surprised look holding dads hand during family photo shoot

    Lake Wylie, SC Family Shoot

    2 hour familly session walking around Lake Wylie

    Click Here
  • baby girl running down the sidewalk with fall leaves

    Family Session At Home

    Home family photo session in Charlotte, NC with some regulars

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Book a family session.

If you live within 45 miles of Charlotte, NC. You can book a family session right from the link below, or contact us here.

Man playfully holding a young boy upside down on a sofa, both smiling.
Young child jumping outdoors in forest wearing a green jacket, patterned sweater, and khaki pants, surrounded by leafless trees and moss-covered ground.
A happy family with a smiling man holding a baby and a woman smiling in the background, standing outdoors near a wooden railing with trees in the background.
Smiling child in gray sweater in autumn forest with sunlight filtering through trees.
A girl playfully peeking from behind a tree trunk in a forest with scattered leaves on the ground, in black and white.
A multi-generational family sitting together in a living room. An elderly woman, a young child, an adult man, an adult woman, and a large dog are present. The room is bright with natural light coming through large windows.
Black and white image of a child with long hair, wearing a plaid shirt, smiling and leaning on a wooden railing, surrounded by plants.
A person holding a child upside down, with the child smiling, set against a forest backdrop.
Child in patterned sweater standing by a lake reflecting clouds and bare trees.
Man in suit walking with child on nature trail in autumn forest
Young girl with a white bow in her hair holding a metal railing outdoors.
Pregnant woman in white dress walking with a young girl in a pink dress on a tree-lined path.
Young child climbing a rope ladder in a backyard with trees and a wooden fence in the background.
Baby resting on adult's shoulder, adult wearing white sweater, close-up view.
A man sitting in an armchair holding a baby in a cozy room with a table lamp, curtain, and a mirrored wardrobe reflecting them.
Child playing on orange jungle gym outdoors
A young boy in a striped shirt reaching up to touch a clear balloon outdoors. A woman and a young child stand in the background. The scene is black and white.
Young girl in red dress standing between blue metal bars in a park.
A joyful family group standing outdoors in a wooded area. Adults hold young children, with everyone smiling and laughing together.
A group of people, including adults and children, walking and smiling on a path in a forested area.
Family group standing on a wooden bridge looking over the railing, surrounded by trees.
Man holding a shy child outdoors, monochrome photo
Family walking through a stone walkway, mother wearing white dress, holding daughter in pink dress, and father in white shirt and dark pants.
A young boy kissing a man on the cheek in a wooded area with rocky and mossy ground cover.