Five Reasons You Should Have a Lifestyle Newborn Session {Seattle Family Photographer}

When you’re planning your newborn’s photo session, you’ll have to decide if you want a posed or lifestyle session. Here are my top five reasons why I think you should consider a lifestyle session.

ONE

With a lifestyle session, I come to you. No need to take your new baby out in the cold or on a long car ride. In those first few weeks, it’s so much easier if you don’t have to leave home.

TWO

It’s easier for the siblings. If you have to take siblings to a studio, it can be a long wait and they often get bored. I normally start my session with family and sibling images, then they older siblings can go off and play while the rest of the session takes place.

THREE

Lifestyle sessions are often much shorter. Most of my sessions take between one to one and a half hours. When I was doing posed sessions, I always allowed three hours for sessions, but sometimes sessions would last up to seven hours!

FOUR

Most posed sessions require the baby to be ten days or younger. This is because they are sleepier and more poseable at this age. I will do lifestyle newborn sessions any time in the first month. If you’re not feeling up to a session right away, then we can push it out for a few more days.

FIVE

We will capture how life was when you had a newborn. A posed session, while adorable, doesn’t provide memories of how life was when you welcomed this new little being. Lifestyle photography captures your family exactly how you are as you adjust to your new roles. Baby is photographed in an authentic way in their own environment with no props necessary. Just your adorable baby and their natural beauty.

If you are considering a lifestyle session and would like to know more, please contact me here.

Family Model Call {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}

I’m looking for a family to model for me over the next couple of weeks.

About you:

You’re a family with one to two young children who live in a character filled home. Your space is decorated with live plants, and lots of texture. You are relaxed and fun and love to spend your weekends snuggling with your babies. You appreciate the everyday moments and want them captured in a way that speaks to you as a parent.

What you get:

A complimentary session with approximately twenty digital images.

What I need from you:

A signed model release for me to use images on my social media, website and other advertising.

Interested?

Let’s chat. Send me a quick message telling me about your family, your house, your general location, and why you would love to be considered for this.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Why Lifestyle? {Seattle Family Photographer}

When I first started photography, I used to scroll Pinterest and Instagram looking for the perfect poses, the ones that I thought everyone wanted and expected. I would nervously show up to sessions with a metal list of every pose I thought I had to get. I would leave a session either with pride that I had captured what I needed, or I’d be kicking myself for not getting everything on my list. I ran my business like this for a while and to be honest, it was exhausting. Sessions stressed me out, but shooting my own family was a completely different story.

In January of 2015, I did a workshop all about lifestyle photography. It changed the way I photographed my kids. Instead of stressing about them being perfectly dressed and perfectly posed, I started to photograph them exactly as they were, and not only did I see a huge improvement in my photography, but I started to love and treasure the moments I was capturing for my family. Below is the first photo I took during that workshop. Nothing amazing, but just a quiet moment captured and an unposed and natural way.

I felt happy with my personal work, but I was still trying to be a “perfect” photographer when it came to my family sessions. I knew there was a huge disconnect there but I didn’t quite see why. Slowly, after lots of workshops, a ton of family sessions, and a whole lot of soul searching, I realized that I needed to relax more when I photographed families. I needed to forget about perfection and focus on the love and connection between family members. Once that happened, my whole approach to family sessions changed and I was able to start enjoying paid shoots, as much as my personal shooting. Still shooting outdoors at beaches and fields, I was happy with the direction my photography was moving, but there was something missing. I realized how much I enjoyed shooting in the home. I noticed how much personality was in a family’s home and how much more comfortable the kids (and often the parents) were in their own space. I saw the beauty in a family’s space and felt like I needed to show a family the beauty that I see in them. About a year ago, I nervously made the decision to switch over to an in home lifestyle business model. I posted a couple of model calls for in home sessions to build my portfolio, and announced on social media that I was making the switch. I felt like I was going to lose a ton of families, but the response has been better than I could have imagined. People seem to have realized the benefit of not trekking for ages to get to an epic location, they realized that there is so much beauty in their every day and that it should be celebrated. They’ve realized that there is no better backdrop than the four walls in which they are most comfortable.

If you feel that you would like you’re next family session to be held in the comfort of your own home, let’s chat. I’d love to talk to you more about this.

In Celebration of a Little Fighter {Seattle Newborn Photographer}

I adore in home lifestyle newborn sessions, but there is something so special about photographing a newborn in the NICU. These little babies are born fighting and I’m always so honored to capture this time for the family.

People often ask me if I had NICU babies and if that’s why I love to do these sessions. I didn’t. I was lucky that all three of my babies were born healthy and at full term, but as a mama, my heart breaks for these parents. I know that I don’t like to spend a minute away from my babies. I can’t imaging what their pain is like having to leave them in the hospital each night. But one day, these little babies will be back home and this time will be a distant memory. I know their mamas will look back at this time and see not only how strong their baby was, but also how strong they were.

Introducing Myles.

Waiting for Two {Seattle Maternity Photographer}

I met these two for their maternity photo session on a beautiful Fall morning at the gorgeous home in Seattle. I love old homes. There is so much character and beautiful pockets of light. This home was no exception. The light was beautiful, the mood was fun and the whole session was just so easy. This beautiful couple is about to welcome two sweet babies into their lives. They are so calm and sweet, and I know they’re going to be amazing parents.

Introducing Laurel {Seattle Newborn Photographer}

I never take the privilege lightly when a family asks me to capture them over and over again. I have adored watching this family grow over the years and it was an honor to capture them as baby Laurel was welcomed into their family in September. Laurel’s newborn session took place on a cool, wet Fall morning, much like her older brother’s newborn session 23 months earlier. When I photographed older brother, Anderson’s newborn session, I was amazed at how laid back and calm they seemed as first time parents. This time around, the mood was even more calm and relaxed, even with an almost two year old. Anderson loves his sister and he didn’t seem to have the typical jealousy that you often see with little ones. He was so happy to love on her, hold her, kiss her, and hold her hand. It was the sweetest thing to witness. I don’t think I’ve ever taken so many sibling pictures at a newborn session before! I always make sure I get plenty of images of mom alone with baby and dad alone with baby. No matter whether it’s baby number one, baby number two, or baby number ten, these images are so important. one day, that baby will be an adult and will be so glad to see how much they were loved. Thank you again for allowing me to photograph your beautiful family. You guys are naturals and you are doing an amazing job.

Turn Your Snapshots into Art {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}

Not everyone desires to be a photographer, but almost all mamas want to take beautiful pictures of their babies. Here are some of my favorite ways to photograph children in and around the house.

Photograph them sleeping

Depending on age, children are often on the go. It can be hard to keep them still for a picture. I love photographing children while they’re sleeping. It’s easier to do this if they still take daytime naps because you have more light to work with. I love to shoot through crib rails, directly above the bed, side on, I basically move all around until I find the angle I like best.

Frame your kids

This is one of my favorite things to do to turn a boring picture into an interesting one. I love to shoot though doorways. It gives the illusion that you’re peeking in on them, as well as the doorway giving a pleasing framing effect.

Find the pretty light

Light is so important in photography and no matter how your home looks, there is always beautiful light, you just need to search for it. My living room faces east, so I know I’m going to get beautiful sunrises in there. If you see pretty light but don’t know what to do with it, try moving an activity into that area, then sit back and see what they do.

Capture their tiny details

Children go so quickly and before long, chubby hands, dimpled thighs and wispy baby hair will be no longer. Make sure you capture them before they disappear.

Look for leading lines

Lines are one of the best ways to create a visually pleasing image. Lines can lead the eye directly to the subject, or in and out of a frame. There are lines all around us, and it can be fun to pay attention to them to try and direct your viewer to where you want them to look. This is a great way to start moving towards art, rather than snapshots.

An Incredibly Special Newborn Session {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}

It is always such an honor when a family asks me to come back for another photography session. This family is special to me for a few reasons. Their second baby was my very first lifestyle newborn session. They were my first family session (last year) after the birth of my third boy. And lastly, they are a family with three adorable little boys, and families with three little boys will always hold a special place in my heart.

I adored photographing you all again H family and I hope all is continuing to go well as you adjust to life with three.

Five Reasons to Have an In Home Session {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that in home sessions are my thing. I adore capturing families in their own space and I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful than a family embracing their every day. Here are my top reasons why I think you should consider an in home session.

The Weather

Here in the PNW, the weather over the winter months can be pretty miserable. If you have an in home session, there is no need to brave the rain, no need to stand outside in the cold, and no need to reschedule if it gets too bad.

Timing

Most outdoor shots occur in the golden hour, the hour before sunset. While this is fine in the cooler months, over summer, that means starting a session around 8.30pm. Obviously, this is incredibly late for little ones. I usually start indoor sessions around 10am. Kids are normally wide awake, and not yet ready for the afternoon nap.

Comfort of Little Ones (and Big Ones)

Small children are often overwhelmed with being in locations they are not familiar with. A photo session at home means they are in their comfort zone, the four walls in which they feel safe. Likewise, adults are often more comfortable at home too. Sometimes it can feel awkward to be having your picture taken in public with other people around.

No Long Trek

There are so many beautiful locations around Washington, but so many of them require little children to walk to get to them. If we have the session in your home, they just have to roll out of bed! No complaining that feet are tired!

Your Home is Special

Where else do you snuggle your babies to sleep, curl up in bed with them on Saturday mornings, read stories to them? Your home is the place where first steps are taken, bedtime stories are told, and memories are made. There are little pieces of you all over your house and these will become your children’s fondest memories. There really is no better place to capture your family. Your home is uniquely you and helps to tell your family’s own story.

If you would like to schedule your own in home session, please contact me here.

At Home with a Gorgeous Family of 4 {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}

Some sessions leave me filled with so much happiness, and this sweet family session was definitely one of those. The second I walked into their gorgeous home, I knew this was going to be a session that’s up there with my all time favorites. Their home has so much character and you can tell they pay so much attention to detail. Every inch of it was beautiful. And then there’s the family. You seriously couldn’t get a sweeter family. The girls are adorable and they are so loved. Nothing felt stressed. They just played, snuggled, and interacted with their parents like I wasn’t even there. I feel like an overshare is in order…