I capture connection and joy in natural, light-filled photographs for Bay Area families who want the experience to feel easy and comfortable.
I’m a lifestyle and natural light photographer based in Millbrae, serving families across the San Francisco Peninsula and surrounding Bay Area communities. I specialize in family, newborn, and maternity sessions that are fun, guided, and designed to take the pressure off, especially for parents of young children.
With calm guidance and simple prompts, I help families relax, stay present, and enjoy being together while I capture the laughter, connection, and small moments that make this season of life feel like you. Sessions are relaxed and natural, resulting in photographs that reflect genuine connection rather than performance.
Ellen Lai
Hello, Parents!
Because Parents, you deserve to be in the frame.
Relaxed. Radiant. Fully present.
Working with the right photographer changes how the entire experience feels. When you feel comfortable and supported, you don’t have to manage the moment or worry about how things look. You can relax, stay present, and trust that someone experienced is guiding the flow.
From our first conversation through your final gallery, my approach is calm, thoughtful, and well led. During sessions, I use simple prompts and natural direction so families can move easily, connect naturally, and let real moments unfold without pressure.
My Signature Photography Style
Clean Timeless Editing
Heartfelt Candids
Vibrant Radiant Natural Colors
Intentional Locations
Diverse Galleries & Quick Turnaround
Smooth & Simple Experience
Motherhood changed everything for me. It opened a more nurturing and creative part of my life and deepened my desire to capture the fleeting milestones of my baby boy. I cherish our weekly mommy and son afternoons spent strolling through Downtown Burlingame, sharing lunch at Mediterranean Kebab, smelling candles at Therapy Store on Burlingame Avenue, stopping for pastries at Maison Alyzée, playing at Washington Park playground, and ending the day watching his favorite Caltrains roll through the Burlingame Station, and and slow mornings strolling through Golden Gate Park and playing at the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo.
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I grew up in a close knit family of five in San Francisco, right between an older sister and a younger brother. Family has always been at the center of my life.
Some of my favorite childhood memories are Sunday dim sum in Millbrae, driving past the holiday lights on Eucalyptus Avenue San Carlos, visiting Filoli in Woodside, and spending afternoons shopping at Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto.
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I was born and raised in San Francisco and have always loved everything the Bay Area offers. From scenic photo locations to local food and family friendly spots, I know the hidden gems and enjoy sharing them with my clients, from mint mojitos at Philz Coffee, tacos at Taqueria Pancho Villa, 66% dark chocolate chip cookies from Antoine's Cookie Shop, date nights at Sushi Maruyama, ribeyes from Pape Meat Company, and apple pies from Copenhagen Bakery & Cafe.
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A few of my
Favorite things
morning ritual
Athletic Greens, coffee, and collagen peptides
Self Care
Lifting at F45 Training, sprinting at Orangetheory Fitness, hot vinyasa yoga at Vennu Yoga
Soul care
Moms night out in downtown Palo Alto or Redwood City
take my money
Lululemon
You can find me
Savoring a solo meal on Burlingame Ave
favorite session location
Redwood Grove Nature Preserve, Los Altos
Go-To Session Outfit
Flowy dress with a pop of color
how I want my clients to feel
Like spending time with a trusted photographer friend who their kids love. Easy, relaxed, fun, and fully taken care of from start to finish.
My goal is to make the photo experience feel easy from start to finish, especially for parents of young children.
I work with families who want photos that feel natural and genuine, not staged or forced, and who appreciate calm guidance rather than having to manage every moment themselves. Sessions are guided with simple direction and natural prompts, so you don’t have to worry about how things are going.
When parents feel relaxed and supported, kids settle in quickly. That’s when real connection shows up, and the images begin to feel like your family, not a performance.
I meet children where they are. Energetic preschoolers. Thoughtful toddlers. Newborns who need time. I create space for kids to be themselves while still capturing meaningful moments.
I take the lead without pressure. Even when families arrive late, kids are full of energy, or the San Francisco Peninsula sun is doing its thing, I keep everything steady and easy. I anticipate needs before you have to ask.
I watch closely and anticipate moments as they unfold. A sibling checking in. A shared laugh. A quiet pause. I capture connection before it passes.
I work with focus and intention. I read the light quickly, place people with clarity, and move the session forward without dragging it out. Parents appreciate getting beautiful images without a long, exhausting experience.
I offer clear direction that feels comfortable and natural. A balance of lightly guided and in the moment images that help people relax and feel good in front of the camera.
I find beauty where it already exists. Homes. Neighborhood parks. Familiar paths. What feels ordinary to you often photographs beautifully with the right eye and light.
Learn what makes me different and why Bay Area families choose me as their photographer for family, newborn, maternity, and meaningful milestone moments.
Serving Families in The San Francisco Peninsula
Burlingame
Palo Alto
San Carlos
Redwood City
Millbrae
San Mateo
Proudly photographing families and newborns across the Bay Area Peninsula and surrounding communities.