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.
Family Sessions and Pricing
Family life doesn’t unfold on a schedule. It takes time for everyone to relax, forget about the camera, and simply be themselves. Longer sessions allow space for real moments to happen — the everyday interactions, the quiet connections, and the in-between details that are so easy to miss. By slowing things down, we’re able to capture photographs that feel honest, familiar, and deeply personal — the kind that mean more as the years pass.
Pricing reflects the time, care, and attention that goes into planning, photographing, and thoughtfully editing each family session. Most families invest between £500 - £800 depending on how much of their story they want captured.
The Short Story
One hour
Perfect for families who want a relaxed introduction to documentary photography, or to capture a small but meaningful moment in their lives.
10 digital images
£395
Option to purchase more images if required.
A Chapter
(The most popular option)
Three hours
Designed for families who want time to settle, play, connect, and simply be together — allowing the true story of this chapter of life to unfold naturally. Ideal if you’re looking for a balance of structure and spontaneity.
25 digital images
£595
Option to purchase more images if required.
Complete Day in the Life
6 hours
An unhurried, immersive documentary experience that follows the rhythm of your day, capturing both the big moments and the quieter details. Often chosen for milestones or slower family days at home.
Full gallery of digital images
£795
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.
All digital images are delivered in high resolution, ready for printing and sharing with family.
Extra digital images or prints and framed artwork can be added to any collection if you’d like to enjoy your photographs in your home or give them as gifts.
There’s no need to decide anything in advance — once you’ve seen your gallery, you can choose what feels right for your family.
The Process
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Choose your session
Start by choosing the family session that feels right for you — from a short, relaxed hour to a longer, unhurried day of storytelling. -
Secure your date
A booking fee of £150 secures your booking, the session fee is non-refundable but does come off the overall price of your package. If you need to reschedule, I’m always happy to do so with at least 48 hours’ notice, subject to availability. In the event of illness or unforeseen circumstances, the session fee can be transferred to a new date. -
Prepare for your session
Before we meet, I’ll email you a family photoshoot guide with ideas and gentle tips to help your session feel relaxed, natural, and above all else, memorable. You’ll also receive a short questionnaire so I can learn more about you and your family — who you are, how you spend time together, and anything that will help me prepare for your shoot. -
Enjoy your session
There’s no pressure to perform or pose. I’ll quietly document your family as you are, allowing real moments to unfold naturally. -
View your gallery
After your session, you’ll receive a private online gallery of carefully edited images to view at home in your own time. -
Choose what you love
Once you’ve seen your photographs, you can select the image collection or print products that feel right for your family. There’s no need to decide anything in advance. so you only spend on what matters most to you.