Real Stories.
Real Moments.
Committed to Memory.
Hi, I’m Anthony Thornton, a family photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I help families capture their everyday moments in an authentic and artful way.
My approach is simple: no scripts, no pretense — just real, meaningful images that reflect your family’s unique story.
Featured Stories
The M. Family
The G. Family
The F. Family
The C. Family
Check Out the Blog
Relive Life’s Moments
I help parents reframe how they think about what their lives look like from the outside. Instead of focusing on perfect moments, I capture the authentic, messy, and beautiful moments that make your family’s story unique.
By reframing your perspective, we can transform everyday experiences into timeless memories that you’ll want to relive for years to come. These moments deserve to be celebrated and displayed in your home, where they can inspire and remind you of the love and connection that your family shares.
Every Family Has a Story
Each family I photograph receives a custom album that takes them through their story moment by moment.
Albums are an ideal way to present documentary family photography because they help tell the story, much like a photo essay.
By slowing down and holding a book in your hand, you’re able to immerse yourself in your own life without the distraction of a screen — and in today’s world that’s a rare and beautiful thing.
Reframing the Family Portrait
“I thought I needed to have a traditional family portrait done every few years to set that snapshot in stone. When I had Anthony come for his special brand of documentary photography, I asked if he would also take a portrait since our elderly grandmother was visiting California for what would likely be her last cross country trip.
I love the photo, but, when I saw what he could do catching our family in action, it has forever changed the way I look at a family portrait. The photo of us around our kitchen island where we as a family spend so much of our time, gives me a level of joy and a snapshot of time that a traditional static portrait will never quite accomplish. Anthony is a gifted storyteller with his photography and an extraordinary visionary artist.”
— Michelle, Mom