“It’s a truth universally acknowledged that there is no greater misery than taking family photos.”
I may have taken some liberties with Jane Austen’s timeless zinger, but if the famed author were alive today, there is no doubt that she would concur. From assembling outfits that each participant will wear happily (enough), to striking it lucky with the weather in Seattle post-September, my family has never had an easy go of it.
This is what I’m used to (2020 was especially tough, for many reasons). (Image courtesy McMillan Family)
From Pups to People
This year, I discovered a cheat code. Tucked away in South Lake Union, Say Woof is a selfie studio that opened in 2019 with the mission of bettering the lives of dogs around the world. Specializing in professional photos of your furry best friend, Say Woof donates 10% of their profits to local shelters. The crusade and the business are personal for owner Rina Kang.
“I started Say Woof with my senior dog,” said Kang. “He was 15. I studied photography, but I never had a good photo of him. I always thought I’d regret that, not having photos of him and us together.”
Say Woof and Say CHEESE share a bright South Lake Union storefront, offering dog-friendly portraits and DIY family photo sessions. (Image: Candice McMillan / Seattle’s Child)
After a few years, Kang expanded her business to Say CHEESE, Seattle’s first self-portrait studio, which operates in the same brick-and-mortar storefront as Say Woof. Unlike Say Woof, which finds Kang behind the camera, Say Cheese offers a professional setup that is completely customer-administered, providing flexibility, creativity, and privacy.
Kang says she was inspired by the selfie studios in South Korea, a service that Seattle was lacking. The upside of selfie studios, Kang says, is threefold: “It’s more affordable. Less awkward without the photographer. And people have so much fun.”
My Family’s ‘Say CHEESE’ Experience
Desperate for a few photos that showcased our personalities without breaking the bank, my family of five – two adults, two kids and a dog – visited the bright, clean space just south of Denny Way one gloomy October day. Instead of scouring clothing stores for “fancy” outfits, I decided to commit to the “casual” vibe I wanted to manifest this year. We wore sweatshirts and everyday pants, forgoing nicer footwear for our school shoes.
Kang greeted us as we entered and promptly ushered us to the back room, where the photo magic happens. She had our chosen white backdrop ready and the equipment prepared. The protocol, she explained, was straightforward: the timer on the desk was set for 15 minutes. We could take as many photos in as many poses as we wanted, in that time frame. To take a photo, we simply had to press a button on a small remote control that could hide inconspicuously in my hand, even if I was in the frame.
The clean, well-lit studio setup includes a backdrop, pro lighting, a self-timer, and a monitor so families can review each shot instantly. (Image: Candice McMillan / Seattle’s Child)
There were white blocks for sitting, which were also light enough to move aside if they weren’t needed for the shot. Each photo showed prominently and promptly on the screen at the desk. As our session transpired, it was very helpful to see the results of each click in real-time, as inevitably someone would blink or look in the wrong direction.
There are choices on choices on choices of backdrop colors — we stuck with white. (Image: Candice McMillan / Seattle’s Child)
My daughters, who are 7.5 and 5.5, had a blast dictating their own poses and getting plenty of silly ones in the process. While the idea of a timer originally stressed me out, it became very clear that 15 minutes was a sufficient amount of time. We racked up nearly 50 photos by the session’s end.
I can’t tell you the last time there were this many real smiles during a family shoot. (Image: Candice McMillan / Seattle’s Child)
In total, we were there for approximately 30 minutes and left with a full digital album of sweet photos of our family. I thought it went smoothly, and the experience was a success, but the biggest compliment was paid by my husband who told me later that night that he “would do this every year”.
To say we were pleased is an understatement. (Image: Candice McMillan / Seattle’s Child)
Logistics: How Much? How Many? How Long?
- By booking online, you reserve a time and a preferred color backdrop.
- The $95 base fee covers up to two people and one dog. It also includes two retouched digital images and two 5×7 print-outs.
- Each additional person is $20. Babies and children count towards the headcount fee.
- Each additional digital file is $10, or you can buy the entire digital album for $50.
- Kang allots 10 minutes for customers to choose their favorite two (or more!) photos for retouching.
- It takes only minutes more for the prints to be in your hands and less than an hour later for the digital album to reach your inbox.
- Tips: If you have an infant, check out our 10 Tips on Taking Baby Photos
Some of the products, services, or experiences mentioned in this article may have been provided at no cost or at a discount. However, all opinions expressed are solely those of the author and/or the Seattle’s Child editorial team. Our coverage remains independent, and we only feature things we genuinely believe will be of interest to our readers.
