Kaukauna is a river town at heart. Families here know the sound of the Fox rushing past the old locks, the trails at the 1000 Islands Environmental Center, and an autumn walk past the Grignon Mansion. It is a place made for slow afternoons, and a family session should feel the same way.
Karissa Leigh Designs photographs families at the studio at 728 W Wisconsin Ave in Appleton, a straight shot west on Highway 41 from Kaukauna. Appleton studio dates are scheduled in advance, so ask which days are open when you reach out.
Fall Is the Moment
Late September through October is a lovely stretch for outdoor family photos in the Fox Cities. The trees turn, the air cools, and nobody is squinting into July sun. Evening sessions in the hour before sunset bring warm, low light that makes everyone look rested, even the parents. Karissa will help you choose a setting that suits your family.
When Winter Comes
Once the snow sets in, the studio takes over. It is warm, bright, and ready for babies, toddlers and grandparents alike. It is also the easy choice for holiday portraits, when a field session would mean mittens in every frame. Grandparents in town for the holidays? The studio is an easy way to fit three generations into one photo before everyone heads home.
Choosing Your Session
The 30 minute session covers a small family or a quick yearly update. The full hour leaves space for bigger groups, a portrait of each child on their own, and breaks when a little one needs one. Turning one soon? The cake smash mini gives your baby 30 minutes and a cake of their very own to demolish. You supply the cake. Karissa catches the chaos.
Know What You Want to Frame
The best galleries are planned backwards from the wall. Before your session, pick the one photo you would be heartbroken not to get, then decide where it will hang: above the mantel, in an album, or on this year's holiday card. Tell Karissa, and she will shape the session around it so that image is planned for, not left to luck.
Tell us who will be in front of the camera and whether you are picturing autumn leaves or a cozy studio. Which season feels most like your family?
