A Warm and Peaceful Family Session {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}

I knew the moment that this mom contacted me that this family session was going to be special. The words she wrote in her initial email spoke to me so deeply and had me nodding along as I scrolled her message on my phone. She used words such as "serendipitous" and told me that idea of capturing her children in her home made her swoon. I mean, she was speaking my language! We met on a cold December morning, just before Christmas. I felt like an old friend stepping into their home. The mood was warm and cheerful. Holden didn't feel great and was a cuddly little thing. Juniper is a ball of energy and so outgoing and friendly. The love Mom & Dad have for the kids is palpable. Lots of cuddles were had that morning. Dad played guitar. They made popcorn, Juniper drew with chalk. Mom snuggled with Holden. It truly just felt like a relaxing weekend morning with friends. 

Falling In Love with Film {Seattle Family Photographer}

Three years ago, I attended a photography conference with a group of friends. I had been feeling burnt out, uninspired and unmotivated. That conference did so much to lift my spirits and get me shooting again. We talked a lot about burnout and one solution, was to try shooting film. Film has a way of making you slow down and shoot with intention. I left the conference with a desire to learn. My husband very thoughtfully, bought me a film camera for my birthday a month later and after putting my first roll in, I started snapping away. The first rolls came back and they were terrible. I think I had one keeper out of the whole first roll. I knew that if I was going to shoot film, then I really had to learn it properly. I enrolled in an online course for beginning film shooters. That course taught me so much and I finally started to shoot some images I was proud of. 

Film is so much different to digital. For one, it's expensive so you're not tempted to keep on taking pictures like you would with digital. You really do try to get the image in your mind without wasting frames. Waiting for your film to come back from the lab is also exciting. Scan day is like Christmas!

I'm nowhere near where I want to be with my film shooting, but here are some favorites.

A Newborn Session Full of Love {Seattle Family Photographer}

All of my photo sessions are special to me, but this one is extra special. Kate is a fellow Kiwi and her and I were pregnant together. We shared the highs and lows of waiting for our sweet little baby boys.

It was a cold Seattle Saturday morning when we met for baby Moses' newborn session. Moses was wide awake for a lot of the time, just quietly taking in the world around him. Big sister, Zelda was so in love with her new baby. The mood was calm, as it often is with baby number two. We photographed him and the family in between coffee breaks, chats, and lunch. It was so easy and laid back, and the images we were able to capture truly speak to me. I can't imagine photographing babies any other way but in their natural environment.

Welcome to the world Moses. You were so eagerly anticipated, so longed for and so, so loved.

Welcoming a New Little Life {Seattle Newborn Photographer}

I adore babies and I would have ten more if I could. But since I can't, I'll have to stick to photographing them. To me, the most natural place to photograph a newborn is in the baby's own home. This is the environment in which they are going to grow, form relationships, and reach milestones. I adore lifestyle sessions. The focus is on connections, and not simply pretty photos of the baby. One thing you don't have to worry about before a lifestyle newborn session is cleaning your whole house top to bottom. Of course, clearing out some clutter helps, but we really don't need a ton of space. The vast majority of this session was taken on the master bed. 

This family was so sweet and his big sisters were clearly so in love with their new little brother. They doted on him and it was so lovely to watch. It's always special to see a family with two girls and a boy, because that was my family growing up. I was the second girl in mine, and I know that this little boy is going to continue to be loved on and looked after, with maybe just a few scuffles involved ;)

Five Minute Photo Shoot with your Baby {Seattle Newborn Photographer}

Welcoming a new baby is exhausting and sometimes taking photos can be the furthest thing from your mind. But you know it goes so quickly and you want to document this new precious life too. Here's a quick way to get a variety of images in less than 5 minutes. I recommend using the master bed, but the crib works well too. The best way to get a variety of images is to change your shooting angle. Stand above the baby, then side on. Take a whole body shot,, then zoom in (or lean in if using a prime lens) and just photograph the face. Take the detail shots (belly button, hands, feet) then change angles again. Shoot above, then from the side. Keep it simple. Often we overthink things, but this is such an easy way to get variety and it can be done in a short amount of time. Watch for facial expressions too. Whether they're awake or asleep, newborns have a variety of cute facial expressions that you'll want to capture. These images below were taken in about 3-4 minutes. Have fun and enjoy that baby!

Welcome to My New Site {Seattle Family Photographer}

I am so thrilled to have a brand new site here. My old one served me well for several years but I felt like it was time for something new. My focus lately has been on in home sessions and I wanted a new site to reflect that. 

I adore in home sessions. Families are in their most comfortable space and instead of stressing about all that's going on around them, they can relax and just be with one another. Sessions with me are a giant love fest. The whole time is spent loving on your kids without any awkward poses or fake smiles.

I'm so glad you're here. Take a look around and if you have any questions, please drop me an email!