Service area · Kemah, Texas
Kemah Family Photos, Holiday Cards and Summer Babies
Kemah got its name from a Karankawa word for facing the winds (City of Kemah), and anyone who has stood on the Boardwalk on a gusty afternoon knows it fits. If you’re expecting, or your baby just came home, I’m Jen Duke. I photograph maternity, Fresh 48, newborn and family sessions for parents who want real photos of these weeks, with mom in them too.
Newborn sessions take place in my natural-light home studio in Richwood, by appointment. Fresh 48 can happen in the hospital room or at home, and family photos can be at your house or outside. Each session ends with a digital gallery you can download, share and order prints from.
15+ years photographing families · Natural-light home studio in Richwood, by appointment · Gallery with downloads and print ordering
Local to Kemah
How life on Galveston Bay shapes your Kemah photos
Kemah is a small city of 1,807 people (2020 census) on the west side of Galveston Bay, part of the Clear Lake Area, and its kids attend Clear Creek ISD (Wikipedia). The 60-acre Kemah Boardwalk opened in 1998 and is still the town’s biggest attraction (City of Kemah). Here is what that means when you plan photos.
A town named for the wind
The Karankawa name Kemah means facing the winds (City of Kemah). Wind off the bay pulls hair across faces and lifts blankets and dresses. If you take your own photos outside, turn so the wind is at your back, and save anything with a flowy dress for a calm morning.
Jingle on the Boardwalk and card season
Jingle on the Boardwalk fills December weekends, and the Christmas Boat Lane Parade crosses Clear Lake and Galveston Bay (City of Kemah events). If you want family photos back before holiday cards go out, ask about dates in late summer. My sessions often book months ahead.
Friday fireworks and summer babies
Fireworks go up over Galveston Bay every Friday night in June and July (City of Kemah events). If your baby is due in summer, reach out in your second trimester so a studio date is set before the busy season, and plan outdoor family photos for a cooler evening.
Sessions
Every stage on camera, from the bump to big kid
Maternity
Bump photos taken outside, at a location within 15 miles of my Richwood studio. Book them alone or add them to a newborn session. See maternity sessions
Fresh 48
Photos from your baby’s first 48 hours, taken at the hospital or at home, whichever suits you. See Fresh 48
Newborn
Taken in the Richwood studio, with classic posing, soft natural tones and a modern feel. Spots are limited, so ask during your second trimester. See newborn sessions
Family
At your house or out in the open air, with everyone in the frame, mom included. See family sessions
Try this week
Phone photo tips for a breezy bay town
- On a windy day, stand so the wind hits your back. Hair blows away from faces instead of across them.
- Walk the waterfront in the hour before sunset, when the light on the bay is soft and nobody has to squint.
- On a Friday in June or July, take your family photo while it’s still light out, before the fireworks start. Phone shots of people in the dark rarely turn out.
- Indoors, switch off the overhead lights and set the baby near a window with no direct sun.
- Once a day, hand your phone to your partner and get one photo of you holding the baby. Those are the ones parents wish they had more of.
Where I work
Getting from Kemah to the Richwood studio
My studio is in my home in Richwood, in Brazoria County, and works by appointment. Newborn sessions happen there. For Fresh 48 and family photos, tell me where you live in Kemah and which hospital you plan to deliver at, and I’ll let you know what works.
Outdoor maternity sessions happen at a spot within 15 miles of the studio. Ask about it in your inquiry.
Nearby towns: Clear Lake Shores, League City, Bacliff, San Leon. See every town I serve.
Studio: 239 Stuart St, Richwood, TX 77531 (by appointment)
Phone: 409-392-6844
Questions
Questions Kemah families ask first
What does a session cost?
Pricing comes by inquiry. Tell me which session you want and your due date or family size, and I’ll send you the details.
Where do the photos happen?
Newborn sessions are in my home studio in Richwood. Fresh 48 is in your hospital room or at home. Family sessions can be at your home or outdoors, and maternity sessions are outdoors at a spot within 15 miles of the studio.
How far ahead should I book newborn photos?
Get in touch in your second trimester. Newborn spots are limited and usually fill months ahead.
Can we do family photos on the Boardwalk?
Family sessions can be at your home or an outdoor location. If you have a spot in Kemah in mind, put it in your inquiry and I’ll tell you what works.
It's windy here most days. Will that ruin outdoor photos?
You have options. Family sessions can happen at your home, so a gusty day doesn’t have to change your plans, and newborn sessions are indoors in the studio.
What if my baby fusses the whole time?
That happens, and it’s fine. I have 15+ years of experience and aim for a session that feels safe, fun and relaxing. One client called me “very patient” and said I “did not rush the session at all.”
Will I get photos I can print?
Yes. Every session includes a digital gallery of edited images. You can download them, order prints from the gallery and share the high-resolution files online.
Ready to capture these days before they're gone?
Tell me your due date or how many are in your family, plus the session you want. I’ll reply with open dates and pricing.