How long does a family photography session take?

Most lifestyle family photography sessions run between 60 and 90 minutes. Family film sessions are a little longer — typically 2 to 3 hours — so we have time to capture genuine moments rather than rushed ones. We never watch the clock. Every family moves at their own pace, and we follow your lead.

Do you photograph both photos and video, or do I have to choose?

You don't have to choose. Our family sessions include both still photography and cinematic family film. We believe photos and video together tell the whole story — one gives you a moment to hang on your wall, the other gives you the sound of your kids' laughter and the way they move. Most families tell us the film becomes their most treasured thing.

How much does a family photographer in Durham cost?

Most families invest between $850-$1,400, which includes your session and the print artwork created from it. Family Film sessions are four payments of $900. Legacy Films begin at $2,800. The Time Capsule Membership is $245 per month. Visit our Packages page for full details, or reach out and we'll help you find the right fit for your family and budget.

Where do you do sessions in Durham, NC?

We photograph sessions all over the Durham area — at Duke Gardens, Eno River, Duke Forest, and in clients' own homes. We also serve Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Cary, and the greater Triangle. Some of our favorite sessions happen right in your living room. If you have a favorite spot, we'd love to hear about it.

How long until we receive our photos and film?

Gallery delivery is typically within 3-4 weeks of your session. Family films take a little longer due to editing — usually 6-8 weeks. We put real time and care into every delivery, and we'll keep you updated along the way.

Do you photograph newborns in Durham?

Yes — natural newborn photography is one of our specialties. We take a gentle, documentary-style approach to newborn sessions, photographing in your home during those tender first weeks. No props, no posing — just your family in the quiet sweetness of this new chapter.

Do you travel outside of Durham for sessions?

Absolutely. We regularly photograph families throughout the Triangle — Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Cary — and we're happy to travel further for the right project. Legacy Films and destination family sessions are something we especially love. Reach out and let's talk.

What makes Fifty Two Hundred Photography different from other family photographers?

Our name comes from unit 5200 at Duke University Hospital — the bone marrow transplant unit where our son's life was saved. That experience changed everything about how we see families and why we photograph them. We're not here to make perfect pictures. We're here to help you remember what it actually felt like to live these days. We've been voted Best of Durham four years running (2023-2026) and are featured photographers with Adobe Creative Cloud.

What are the best times of year to book a Durham family photography session?

Spring (April-May) and fall (October-November) are our most popular seasons for the light and color. That said, summer sessions at the Eno River at golden hour are stunning, and winter home sessions have a warmth all their own. We book out quickly in peak seasons, so reach out early.

How do I book a family session in Durham, NC?

The easiest way is to fill out our contact form — just click 'Request Your Session' anywhere on the site. Tell us a little about your family, what you're hoping to capture, and your general availability. We'll be in touch quickly to find a date that works and walk you through everything.

Duke Gardens Photographer | Durham Family Sessions

There's a reason so many Durham families end up here.

Duke Gardens has a kind of magic — the way the light filters through the wisteria in spring, the way the paths open into unexpected pockets of stillness, the way your kids somehow slow down just a little the moment you walk through the gates.

I've photographed more families here than I can count. And I never get tired of it.

Family of Five Walking Through Paths At Duke Gardens

Why Duke Gardens

Duke Gardens is one of the most beautiful places I've ever photographed.

The grounds shift with every season — soft pinks and purples in April when the azaleas peak, deep greens in summer, that warm golden light in October when the trees start to turn. There are corners of this garden that feel like they were designed for the exact photograph you didn't know you needed.

But here's what I love most about photographing families here: it gives your kids somewhere to go. They can run the path ahead of you. They can crouch down to look at something in the water. They can forget about the camera entirely — which is exactly when I get the shot.

The best Duke Gardens family photos aren't the posed ones. They're the ones where your daughter grabbed your hand because the bridge felt a little scary. The ones where your son stopped to drag a stick through the koi pond and your whole family leaned in to watch.

That's what I'm here to find.

Family of Five Sitting in Duke Gardens Enjoying Sunshine

What a Duke Gardens Session Looks Like

Every session is different, because every family is different.

We'll start by talking about your family — what your kids love to do, what your mornings feel like, what you most want to remember about this season. Then we'll design a session around that.

At Duke Gardens, that might look like a slow walk through the Japanese garden while your toddler toddles ahead. It might look like everyone sitting on the stone steps at golden hour while the light does something extraordinary. It might look like nothing in particular — just your family, together, in a beautiful place, with me quietly capturing all of it.

Most sessions here run 60–90 minutes. Enough time to settle in, forget the camera, and let something real happen.

You'll leave with a gallery of photographs that feel like you — not a catalog, not a stock photo, not a performance. Your family, in your season, exactly as you are.

Family Playing and Giggling in Duke Gardens Durham NC

The Seasons at Duke Gardens

Spring (March–May) — The most requested season for good reason. Cherry blossoms, azaleas, wisteria. The garden is at its most extraordinary, and the soft morning light is exceptional. This season fills up quickly — reach out early.

Summer (June–August) — Lush, green, and full. Early morning sessions avoid the heat and the crowds. The water features come alive, and the shade is beautiful.

Fall (September–November) — Golden hour hits differently in October. The light comes in low and warm, the colors start to shift, and this is quietly my favorite time to photograph here. Book early — fall is our most popular season overall.

Winter (December–February) — Underrated, honestly. The garden is quieter. The structure of the paths shows itself without all the leaves. There's a stillness here in winter that lends itself to something more intimate.

Young Girl In Dress Held by Dad in Duke Gardens

About Katrina

I'm Katrina — Durham family photographer and filmmaker.

I've been photographing families in Durham for years, and Duke Gardens has been part of that work from the very beginning. I know which spots stay crowd-free on a Saturday morning. I know the light in early April when the cherry blossoms peak. I know where to take your kids when they need to move.

My name — Fifty Two Hundred — comes from unit 5200 at Duke University Hospital, right here in Durham, where my son's life was saved. That experience changed how I see families and why I photograph them. I'm not here to make perfect pictures. I'm here to help you remember.

Voted Best of Durham four years running (2023–2026) and a featured photographer with Adobe Creative Cloud.

Sessions Offered

Lifestyle Family Photography — Natural, candid sessions that capture who your family actually is right now. Unposed, unhurried, real.

Cinematic Family Films — A short film that captures your family in motion — the laughter, the way they move, the sound of their voices. Something you'll watch every year.

Natural Newborn Photography — I also photograph newborn sessions at Duke Gardens for families who want an outdoor setting in those early weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Spring and fall book out 6–8 weeks in advance, sometimes more. If you have a season in mind, reach out as early as you can. Summer and winter typically need 3–4 weeks.
Yes — there's a small parking fee on weekends, free on weekdays. I'll send you all the practical details when you book.
Early morning gives you the softest light and the fewest people. Late afternoon in spring and fall offers that golden hour light that makes everything glow. I'll recommend a time based on the season and your family's schedule.
Yes — genuinely. The paths give kids somewhere to go. The garden is big enough that you're never stuck in one spot, and there's always something for them to be curious about. Some of my favorite sessions here have been with kids who "don't do well in photos."
Absolutely. Duke Gardens is one of my favorites, but I also love the Eno River, Duke Forest, and in-home sessions. If you have a spot that's meaningful to your family, tell me — we can make it work.
Photos-only sessions start at $850. Sessions that include both photography and a cinematic family film are also available — visit the Packages page for full details, or just reach out.

Ready to book your Duke Gardens session?

Spring and fall fill up fast. If you've been thinking about it, now is the time.

Request Your Session →

Fifty Two Hundred Photography offers lifestyle family photography and cinematic family film sessions at Duke Gardens in Durham, NC. Serving families across the Triangle — Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Cary, and surrounding areas. Voted Best of Durham 2023–2026.