Helping You Feel Seen. Instilling Gratitude.
Evoking Nostalgia.
Washington DC Family Photographer
Honor the everyday wonders of your life with documentary-style images that depict the sweet, fleeting moments without interruption. Your life, their childhood, your marriage, your family — it’s time to take a beat and savor it all. Captured by a professional DC family photographer with over a decade of experience who is a five-star-rated artist, but also a husband and father.
With a documentary style of photography, the goal is to pause and reflect on your life as it is. There is fleeting beauty in the moments spent under the soft light of the afternoon, or with messy kitchen tables and warm meals shared. When time passes and children grow up, these are the images to hold and reminisce over what was so insanely and charmingly imperfect and yet, everything you needed.
Creating Evidence
of a Good Life
Kind Words
“His attention to detail, the light, and the technical aspects of his work are impeccable. His care for his clients is genuine.”
Jennie
“we loved seeing his dad side and healthcare side come out. He sang... to attract the attention of our toddler nephews and get them to smile!”
Sonali
Using film and digital mediums, the images will incorporate classic, true-to-life colors. More important, though, is the perspective from which they are taken: your photographer getting on eye-level with little ones throughout the session to capture the smirks, eyebrow raises and characteristic reactions.
Nostalgic Perspective
With intentional planning and a clear list of must-have photos, the session itself will be freeing — letting you just be present so the moments are authentic and beautiful. With this format, group photos and individual portraits will be taken care of at the beginning so we can focus entirely on playing and taking memorable candid photos towards the end.
Easygoing Expertise
Enjoy working with a professional who has the patience and grace for the quickly-changing emotions of real life, creating space for littles and parents alike to just be themselves. The more down-to-earth and goofy, the more genuine. This is why sessions are planned around a natural moment — cooking, exploring a museum, or playing kickball in the yard.
Relatable & Reassuring
THE MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE
Available in DC and the surrounding area, set aside just 1-2 hours to enjoy a personalized, seamless photo session. This time will revolve around the sweet and sincere realities of your life — ensuring traditional images, but prioritizing candid photographs filled with emotion.
At the end, you’ll have photos of the moments that make up your everyday life, fond memories that depict who you are and the ones you love the most. The location might be your home, a museum, or a park, but it’s what you do and how you connect that will be intentionally captured.
DC Family Photography
Family Photo Sessions
Starting at $950
An opportunity to embrace a milestone with your partner and any other children (or pets) absolutely encouraged to join. DC maternity photos include up to 2 hours with a tailored call ahead of time to clarify your vision and discuss any aches we need to be mindful of.
Expect light directions for posing and candid imagery that feels sincere. Let’s document the anticipation and pure joy leading up to the welcoming of a new family member.
DC Maternity Photography
Starting at $950
For businesses and entrepreneurs in DC and the surrounding areas, encapsulate the passion you have for your work with imagery that is inviting and authentic.
Tailored to the needs of your business and niche, this session can be on-location or in-studio to reflect your brand. Attract clients who align with your goals and vision with the resulting imagery. Easily used for social media, websites and other marketing purposes.
DC Headshot Photography
Request details
Ricky & Gopi
“Simply put, there’s no one better. Akbar not only has given us memories for a lifetime, but has also become a dear friend."
Jackson
“Akbar is a tremendous photographer! He is such a thoughtful and caring person and it shines through."
abbas
“He is so easy to work with, and provides concise directions allowing my wife and I to become comfortable in front of the camera.”
Feeling present and understood is easy with Akbar’s company. He brings over a decade of photography experience with an ability to discern values, personalities and sensitivities (and who is particularly effective when it comes to working with photo-averse partners). Named Washingtonian Wedding’s Editor’s choice three years and counting, his nursing background informs his compassionate and care-filled approach.
As a published wedding photographer, he’s known for iconic, legacy-centered images, but as a husband and father of three boys (and two cats), he is drawn to the soul and powerful beauty of family photography. With the right amount of dad jokes and an artistic edge, he uses photography to bring in a new perspective — giving parents and kids a chance to re-frame their lives and fall in love with what they’ve been given.
Meet Akbar
Photographer in the Washington DC Area
01
From a realistic family activity (cooking, playing, gardening, running through a park) to outfits and the must-have images on your list, get in touch to chat with Akbar about what is best, and how he approaches family pictures.
Personalize your photo session
02
Weekends are typically reserved for wedding photography, but Akbar leaves intentional space for portrait sessions. Most family photo sessions are booked 2-6 months in advance with a few dates tentatively set aside in case of rain or under-the-weather family members.
Narrow down the best dates
03
With the photo lists decided on and the general approach well understood, use the time in the session to just enjoy — free of thought or what-if, just immersed in the fun, playful interactions that encompass everything that matters. The final gallery is shared within 4 weeks and images can easily be professionally printed from there.
Document your moments as they are
Next steps
With a more natural approach, it’s best to wear an elevated outfit from your everyday attire — something you’ll feel comfortable and confident in. Aim for complementing colors versus identically matching each family member. If you need more guidance, just ask.
What should we wear?
With film photography, I can better document true skin tones — hand-selecting the film stock to capture people as they are. The real reason I’m captivated by film, though, is its enduring, sentimental aesthetic. Sometimes, I even have the opportunity to use the same film camera my dad once used for our own family photos, something I am grateful for given that he has since passed away.
Why do you use film photography too?
I work throughout the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) area. Oftentimes, we find a setting that is true to your typical life — a nearby park, a museum you frequent, or a personal favorite of mine — your home. There’s something about capturing the everyday that makes it sweeter when you settle back into your routine, photos in hand.
