Documentary Photography for telling your unique story.
Based in Looe, serving Cornwall and beyond.
Memories of real life to cherish forever.
Life doesn’t slow down, and neither do the people you love most. One day you realise how few photographs truly show you together — relaxed, connected, and present. You want images that feel natural and honest, capturing the small details that matter now and will mean everything later. This is your family’s story, and it deserves to be remembered beautifully
Kajai was lovely with Sienna. She is gentle and kind. Sienna was immediately comfortable with her.
Mrs Young
Kajai is amazing, she was fantastic with Lincoln and even allowed my daughter to help. Very down to earth, chatty, bubbly personality, a pleasure to be around. Very warm and caring personality.
Nikayla Hocking
Lovely work Kajai, we were relaxed and enjoyed the session. Memories to treasure forever.
Fatima Zabeenali
Images that allow future generations to feel the love and connection that defined your family.
I create relaxed, natural and unposed photography experiences where your family can simply be yourselves. There’s no pressure to perform just engage in a pre-planned activity that you all love; like a game, going on a walk, cooking. This allows real moments to unfold: the laughter, the quiet comfort, and the small interactions that truly reflect who you are together.
From our first conversation to the final images, I take care of the details so you can stay present. I help you feel at ease in front of the camera, ensuring everyone — including you — is included and seen. The result is a collection of photographs that feel honest, warm and full of connection.
These images become more than photographs. They are a lasting record of your family’s love, a gift for your children and future generations, and a reminder of this season of your life — just as it was, beautifully preserved.
My name is Kajai Lang.
My name is pronounced Ky-Ya (as in “Hi-ya!” — karate moves optional). I was named after a family friend from Finland, so I like to think I started life with a touch of Nordic mystery.
I’m Cornish at heart, with a strong Kiwi influence; after spending 15 years living in Auckland and Rotorua with my New Zealand partner, David — which means I drink tea and say things like “sweet as.”
These days I’m back in Cornwall, living in a small village near Looe, where I spend my time with David, and our much-loved elderly furbaby, Molly, My family and my nephews (I’m pictured here with my smallest, stick-collecting, forest-obsessed, gloriously chaotic nephew Archie).
I offer documentary style photography for families and businesses. I want to tell your unique story (everyone has one) through photography that can be cherished for years to come. I specialise in capturing real, unscripted moments - whether that's a family laughing together in their home as they play board games or spending time at the beach or whatever floats your boat.
My approach is relaxed and natural, using natural light, allowing me to document the connections, emotions, and everyday magic that make your story/family unique. With a background in secondary school teaching, I've spent years observing the little interactions that make people who they are. I love engaging with families creating a space where they can be themselves. I know that life isn't about perfect poses - it's about the little moments in between. My goal is to create honest, heartfelt images that feel like you.
Most of my work comes through word of mouth, and I love working with people who might not regularly invest in professional photography. Their reaction to their images and the love of their families is really heart warming.
Everyone deserves beautiful images of the people they love, and I'm honoured to capture those for you. Let's create something real together.
What to expect...
Choosing a family session with Once Upon A Photograph means capturing the heart of your everyday family life — the little moments that are often overlooked but deeply meaningful. These are the genuine, unscripted routines that tell your family’s story — the ones you’ll want to remember years from now.
Whether it’s a full day or just a few hours, the session gives a glimpse into your real life. Nothing is posed or staged and that’s the beauty of it. The longer format leans into a documentary-style approach, capturing life as it naturally unfolds.
While I love photographing the simple, everyday moments, I usually recommend planning a few relaxed activities. This gives us more to capture and helps tell a fuller story. Here are a few popular ideas families often choose: morning or bedtime routines ~ baking together ~reading ~playing games ~visiting grandparents ~at the playground ~ having a picnic ~a beach day or any outing that feels special to you, the goal is to keep things relaxed and true to your family’s rhythm — no acting or overthinking needed. These moments become the memories your children will cherish most.
