FARMINGTON HILLS FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM • METRO DETROIT & NORTHERN MICHIGAN • Parents to six

Natural family moment photographed for a family legacy photography collection Fine art family photography album preserving memories for future generations Fine art family photographs displayed as prints for a lasting family legacy
Children laughing together during a natural family photography session in Michigan Parents enjoying a candid moment with their children during a Metro Detroit family photography session

Detroit Family Photographer

Family Legacy Sessions
–
Our Signature Family Photography Service

At-Home & Lifestyle in Metro Detroit

We’re Alvyn & Marty — a husband & wife family photography team raising six young kids of our own in Farmington Hills. We know how fast it goes. The little hands, the belly laughs, the inside jokes, the chaos and the quiet. You blink and it’s different.

Our sessions are designed to give your family room to move, play, laugh, and love each other, while gently guiding you into the timeless portraits you’ll want framed. So you can remember not just what your family looked like, but what it FELT like to be together in this season.

Inquire about your legacy session

See Recent Family Legacy Sessions

Parents enjoying a candid moment with their children during a Metro Detroit family photography session Family exploring outdoors during a documentary-inspired photography session in Michigan
Family sharing an authentic connection during documentary-style photography in Michigan Family enjoying everyday moments together during a lifestyle photography session in Michigan

INTRODUCTION

our services

THE PROCESS

QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
why us

Move.

Play.

Laugh.

Maranan
Creative

Not just family photos. Your family’s story

More than photos.
A preservation of what it felt like to be your family.

You don’t need perfect. You don’t need everyone looking at the camera. You just need to show up as you are, in the season you’re living right now. We’ll take care of the rest.

What you get from the
family legacy experience

documentary
Storytelling

The way you actually are.
We give your family room to move, play, laugh, explore, and be yourselves — no forced smiles, no stiff posing. Those belly laughs, the way she wraps around your leg, the inside jokes, the chaos in between? That’s the stuff you’ll miss the most. We document it as it naturally unfolds.We give your family room to move, play, laugh, explore, and be yourselves — no forced smiles, no stiff posing. Those belly laughs, the way she wraps around your leg, the inside jokes, the chaos in between? That’s the stuff you’ll miss the most. We document it as it naturally unfolds.

timeless
portraiture

The ones you’ll frame.
You’ll also get the beautiful, intentional portraits your mom told you to get. When it’s time, we’ll gently guide you — where to stand, what to do with your hands — so you look like yourselves, at your best. The kind of images that belong in a frame, not just on your phone.

intentional
guidance

You don’t have to figure anything out.
You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need your kids to behave perfectly. We’re raising six ourselves — we get it. We plan everything with you beforehand, location, wardrobe, our Kid Prep Guide, and during your session we lead with calm, simple direction. No awkwardness. No pressure to perform.

heirloom
products

More than files on a computer.
Your photographs deserve to live beyond a hard drive. We design custom heirloom albums, fine-art prints, and wall art that are made to be held, hung, and handed down. So your legacy isn’t lost in your camera roll — it’s preserved in your home.

This is about creating something your family will reach for 20 years from now.

See How Families Preserve Their Artwork

“Wonderful job capturing our family in our new home! He was extremely easy to work with and also did a really great job with our kids. We all felt so comfortable and at ease which made the whole process fun! Photos turned out amazing! Highly recommend!!”

GIANNETTI FAMILY
In-home family legacy photography

family-photography-in-michigan-showing-cowboy-boots

Maranan Creative

Family legacy Photography Services

Family Legacy Sessions

• Our Signature Family Photography Service •
This is what we’re known for. A deep and calm, documentary experience for the season you’re living right now — designed to preserve your family’s personalities, relationships, routines, and the fleeting little moments that make your family *yours*. Not just what you looked like, but what it felt like to be together.

Maternity & Motherhood

Beautiful, natural portraits for this in-between season. Celebrating pregnancy, motherhood, and the quiet, fierce connection between you and your children — before everything changes again. You don’t need to know how to pose. Just show up as you are.

Extended Family

For when you get everyone together. Grandparents, siblings, cousins, multiple generations — all in one place. We give you room to actually enjoy each other while we gently guide you into the timeless portraits your family will reach for years from now.

At-Home & Lifestyle

At home, where your story naturally unfolds.
A relaxed, documentary session in the kitchen, on the living room floor, in the backyard. No need for perfect. No need to clean perfectly. Just your family, as you are, where you love each other most.

Most families invest $800-$2000 for their full artwork experience. Sessions to create your images begin at $350.

Every session is thoughtfully planned around your family. Custom heirloom artwork and collections are available separately for families who want to preserve their photographs in albums, fine-art prints, or wall art.

Let’s Plan Your Family Session

Tell us what you’re planning.
We’ll take it from there.

A parent holding holding her Child’s feet during a Michigan family photography session

Kind words

client
testimonials

“We’ve worked with Alvyn multiple times for both family portraits and group events and he never disappoints. Alvyn is professional, easy to work with and has a great eye for capturing the perfect shot. The final photos consistently exceeds our expectations. Highly recommend – 10/10”

ERICSON FAMILY
Michigan Family Photography
– Verified Google Review

Read more family reviews

THE FAMILY LEGACY PROCESS

A calm, guided experience built entirely around your family

You show up and love your people. We handle everything else.

We start with a quick 15-minute call. No sales pitch. We just want to hear about your family — what season you’re in, what’s changing fast, what you want to remember most. You’ll tell us what feels like *you* — at home, favorite park, your Northern Michigan cottage.

WHAT YOU DO: Hop on a call.
WHAT WE DO: Listen and dream with you.

Once you’re booked, we take over. We scout your location, send our simple wardrobe guide that actually works for real families, and our Kid Prep Guide. We’re constantly in touch — brainstorming ideas to ensure we capture the right moments — so session day feels calm and ready.

YOU DO: Pick clothes you love.
WE DO: Everything else.

Your session is 60-90 minutes of real life, with breathing room. Space to explore, tickle, cuddle, and connect — and when it’s time for that timeless portrait for the wall, we gently guide you. No “everyone look here and say cheese.” No stress if someone melts down.

You do: Be together.
We do: Create the images you’ll treasure.

We don’t dump 1000+ images in a gallery. We carefully hand-select the best images that tell your family’s story and edit them with warm, true-to-life tones that will still feel beautiful 20 years from now.

Two to three weeks later, we invite you to your artwork reveal. We’ll walk through your full story together and design your heirloom album, fine-art prints, and wall art. Your digital collection is included, but your legacy is meant to be held, hung, and handed down.

From inquiry to artwork in your hands in about a month. Simple, intentional, and built around how your family actually lives.

Let’s Plan Your Family Session

“Another amazing experience and even before coming to photograph, Alvyn and Marty were constantly in touch making sure that we had everything we needed and brainstormed ideas with us to ensure they captured the right moments. Book with them, you won’t regret it!”

JANELLE + JEREMY
Metro Detroit Family Legacy Photography
-Verified Google Review

Family legacy stories


click an image below to view their full gallery

Explore some of the families we’ve had the honor of documenting throughout Metro Detroit, Northern Michigan, and beyond. Each session is photographed with a documentary approach and timeless portraiture to preserve genuine connection, personality, and the little moments that make your family uniquely yours.

Rooted in Metro Detroit, photographing across Northern Michigan.

We’re a Farmington Hills family photographer serving families throughout Metro Detroit — Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester Hills, Detroit, Grosse Pointe, Ann Arbor, and all of Oakland County — and Northern Michigan — Traverse City, Petoskey, Charlevoix, Harbor Springs and beyond.

Whether it’s in your home, on your favorite trail, or up north at the family cottage, we photograph where your story naturally unfolds.

Check Availability
Maranan
Creative

QUESTIONS +
ANSWERS

  • 1. What makes your family photography different?

    We combine excellent customer service with expert advice on planning your family photography session to create a truly special experience for you. We use documentary-style photographs, timeless portraits, and carefully designed art to capture the magic of your family. Each photo holds onto moments, feelings, grace, and class. Our goal is to create unique, personalized images that perfectly match what you’re dreaming of.

  • 2. What if my kids don’t cooperate?

    That’s completely okay. We don’t expect children to sit still and smile on command. We give them room to move, play, explore, and be themselves while offering gentle direction when needed.

  • 3. One of us has fallen sick, can we reschedule?

    Absolutely!
    As parents ourselves (six kids, haha!), we know how easily germs and viruses can spread from kids. To help us prepare, we’d really appreciate it if you could let us know at least 24 hours in advance so we can make any necessary changes to our plans.

  • 4. Do you photograph families at home?

    Of course! Children are often most themselves at home. They know the space. They know where their favorite toys are. They know where to run, where to curl up, and where to find the people they love. That familiarity creates room for genuine connection. 

  • 5. What should we wear?

    We help you plan and create a color palette, textures, and coordinated looks that truly reflect your family’s unique personality and style. 

  • 6. Where do you photograph families

    Metro Detroit, Northern Michigan, homes, parks, meaningful locations.

  • 7. What kind of albums or prints do you offer?

    We create albums and art prints that are both professional and unique, using the best materials. Each album is a piece of art, with handcrafted leather covers and custom designs. Plus, you can get large-format prints or framed photos to showcase your family’s memories at home.

  • 8. How do I place an order for an album or print?

    Ordering is a breeze! Once you’ve picked your favorite images, we’ll team up to whip up a custom design for your album or print. Want to go with one of our layouts, or do you have a specific design in mind? We’ll walk you through every detail. Once you’re happy with it, we’ll carefully craft your order with all the love and attention it deserves.

  • 9. What is the turnaround time for an album or print?

    We take great care in creating each album and print, aiming for the best quality possible. Usually, it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to complete, depending on how intricate the design is and how many we’re making. Rest assured, we’ll keep you in the loop about the progress and make sure everything is just right before it ships.

  • 10. Do you offer digital files along with albums and prints?

    Absolutely! We’ll create high-resolution, edited digital files for all the images you choose for your album or print. You can find these in an online gallery, so you can easily download them or share them with your loved ones. Plus, these digital files are perfect for future prints or special keepsakes.
Maranan
Creative

LET’S DOCUMENT YOUR FAMILY LEGACY

This season won’t last forever.

Let’s preserve what it felt like to be together,
while it’s still here.

The little hands reaching for you. The belly laughs in the kitchen. The way they all pile on at the end of the day.

It changes so fast — we’re living it too, raising six right here in Farmington Hills.

Let’s create photographs that don’t just show what your family looked like, but let you FEEL this season again 20 years from now.

Plan your family session