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authentic moments matter.


If you want a pro to guide you through a fun, easy session where you simply need to show up and we do the rest… read on!

SCROLL DOWN

authentic moments matter.


If you want a pro to guide you through a fun, easy session where you simply need to show up and we do the rest… read on!

I’m so glad we spent all that money at the mall on new matching outfits, two hours getting the screaming kids ready, and went with the cheapest photographer we could find! WORTH IT!
— No one, ever.

Trust the Pros. We won’t screw this up.

Chris here, owner of GoodEye Photography here in Santa Cruz. I know all the best beach and forest locations (including Aptos, Capitola, Soquel, Monterey and Carmel) – plus, we travel throughout the Bay Area as well. I work with small local families, and I often cater to large, multi-generation families that come here from out of town. I’ve worked with thousands of big and small families, and have amassed almost 200 5-star reviews on Yelp, so I guess I’m doing something right. Right? You may be wondering, how much do family photographers cost? In short, there are many cheaper photographers than me, and there are no shortage of more expensive ones. I try to have packages that cover most budgets, you can review them here. Like what you see?

 

Families of two...or 22!

...you want to capture this moment, this time in your life, in a way that transcends the typical smartphone snapshot. Whether you're a couple celebrating your first dating anniversary or the matriarch of multiple generations, GoodEye Photography will effortlessly capture the best of you and your loved ones. We're quick, we're fun, and we're professional through and through.

Our portrait services include (but are not limited to): families (big and small), high school seniorscasual couples, maternity, newborns / babies, and all kinds of life events (baptisms, bar/bat mitzvahs, birthday parties, sweet 16s, and more).

View all portrait galleries, or contact us now.

 
 
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Full Service


We have all those big (and little) moments covered

Full Service


We have all those big (and little) moments covered

 
 

Portrait Photography Services

Professional photos for large and small families, high school seniors, maternity, newborns and all life's events.

 
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Family Portraits

Sessions as short as 15 minutes to epic half day hang-out sessions, we've got the perfect package for you. 

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HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

You're about to experience all life has to offer – let us capture this moment of anticipation and excitement for you.

 
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CASUAL COUPLES

Married or dating couples love to hire us to capture their shared love in places that are special to them

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MATERNITY

Feel the heartbeat of that baby bump bump bump... This is the beginning of your family, let's capture it well.

 
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newborns / babies

She's finally arrived, and the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. Capture her perfection with a professional's touch.

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life events

Birthday parties, sweet 16s, Bat Mitzvahs, reunions, graduation parties, you get the picture, we deliver it.

 

View all portrait galleries or contact us now.

 
 
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But my kids...


are little {bleeps} and will never sit still or smile or...

But my kids...


are little {bleeps} and will never sit still or smile or...

 

I promise this will NOT be a stressful photo shoot

I know what you're thinking – my kids, my family isn't like all the pretty portfolio pics on this page. Listen, for every portfolio-worthy image I get, there's at least 15 in-between shots where half the people aren't looking at the camera, or a child is crying, or a 4-year-old boy has decided to run off waving a newly-discovered stick in the air, only to be chased down by dad. I've experienced snot pouring from noses, streaks of tears pouring down little red faces, stressed parents, and sympathetic – yet, glad-they're-not-my-responsibility expressions on grandparents. 

I simply ask you to put a little trust in me, your friendly camera-man, to dig deep into my well of patience and bring out the best in your family. My secret is a combination of zen-like patience, confidence that comes from experience,  and being lightning quick – it's pretty rare that I can't come out of any session without some real gems. Worst-case scenario, I offer you a reshoot at no additional charge. If you still aren't happy, I'll refund your investment. I can comfortably offer this guarantee because I rarely need to use it.

the "real" moment

I mean, this is still a great shot, because it reflect real life, which is charged with emotion, messy. We may not make a wall-sized canvas from these moments, but I feel having them gives context, meaning to the "money" shots – and never fail to bring a smile to your face.

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The Money Shot

We all want to preserve this moment in our family's time in a perfect picture, whether it's a formal, posed photo of everyone looking at the camera, or maybe a fun, interactive candid shot of the whole family having a great time. The "real" shots make these gems all the more sweet. 

View all portrait galleries or contact us now.

 
 
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On Location


We come to you, outdoors or in

On Location


We come to you, outdoors or in

Panther Beach, a hidden gem in Santa Cruz, California

Panther Beach, a hidden gem in Santa Cruz, California

San Francisco to Carmel

We're based in Santa Cruz, so the vast majority of our clients prefer to tap into our local knowledge of all the best locations to take portraits. However, we know you have your own special places, and it's not unusual for us to travel all over the Bay Area to photograph our clients at their homes, places of business, local parks or other private & public locales. 

So – come to our neck of the woods, or we'll come to yours. The bottom line is we want to make you look amazing! 

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Availability


Let's see how our schedules sync.

Availability


Let's see how our schedules sync.

General Availability

Weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) are a precious commodity, so if I'm not shooting a wedding I'm spending time with my own family (we hope you understand). All non-wedding shoots are typicaly scheduled during the week (Monday through Friday). This includes families, portraits, most events, most commercial and editorial work. Exceptions can be made – so it doesn't hurt to call and ask (831) 216-6210. Keep in mind that most portrait sessions happen about an hour before sunset – so most families can work around this when scheduling in advance.

Click here to see our availability and make a no-cost reservation. If you have questions that aren’t addressed on our FAQ page,  go ahead and contact us and we’ll email you back quickly (or call / text (831) 216-6210. If you’ve read everything above and you’re like, “Chris – I just want to see your pricing before reaching out,” then simply click here.

About GoodEye Photography:

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Chris Schmauch here (yeah, that's me and my adorable family right there), owner of GoodEye Photography. I shoot all kinds of subjects throughout the year – 25 to 30 weddings, lots of family portraits and plenty of commercial / corporate / editorial photography for the business community. It doesn't matter if I'm shooting food, little kids, or huge weddings – I love it all! And I prefer being busy throughout the year so I stay on top of my game.

I often shoot more than one job per day (I average 200+ shoots per year), so just because your day seems to be taken, don't hesitate to contact me. At the very least, if I'm not available I can refer you to a trusted professional.