It’s no lie that I love indoor photos, but there’s something special about an outdoor session in spring. Spring is a great time for family photos in the Seattle area. The weather is normally starting to warm up, flowers are in bloom, sunset is at a reasonable time, and spring fashion is so fun. Spring sessions are perfect for families, and maternity sessions, and can be booked directly from my website here.
What to Expect at Your Newborn Session
As one of the leading Seattle newborn photographers, my goal is to make sure your newborn session is as stress-free and relaxed as possible. After you’ve booked your newborn session, you may be wondering how the day of your session will go. Here’s what it will look like:
When I show up, I’ll ask that you take me on a quick tour of your home. This is to find where the best available light is. In Seattle, we can have lots of dark, gloomy days but I guarantee that there will be good light somewhere in your home. Most of the time, I’ll be looking in the main bedroom, nursery, and living room, but if there’s a good patch of light on your stairs, or in your kitchen, then we’ll likely use that space too.
Once I’ve identified the areas where the photo session will take place, I’ll gently guide you into a natural pose and have you interact with one another so that your images show your love and connection to your new little being. My general workflow (with a lot of flexibility) is whole family, siblings (if there are any), then I’ll have dad take siblings and focus on mom and baby and then baby alone, then mom and dad swap and I’ll photograph dad with baby, lastly, if we can steal a few moments from the siblings, I’ll photograph mom, dad, and baby together. I love to finish with a family portrait on the front porch if possible.
Sessions are entirely baby led so if baby needs a break, a diaper change, needs to feed, needs a swaddle etc, then they will get exactly what they need. While most sessions are done between one to one and a half hours, this will totally depend on your baby and their needs. I will never rush you or your baby.
I do recommend that you dress baby in a plain colored onesie or sleeper and have a swaddle or two on hand in case baby needs it. Try to pick swaddles that are either plain or have a pattern you love since you’ll be looking at your images over and over.
You don’t ever need to feel like you need to look and smile awkwardly for the camera. All you need to do is interact with your family and I’ll take care of the rest.
Before I arrive, you’ll want to make sure you are well fed. Nothing is worse than feeling hungry the whole time. Try to not put on your outfit until right before I arrive. Babies can have blowouts and spit up without much warning. Likewise, it’s a good idea to hold off on getting baby dressed until right before your session too. However, I do recommend dressing them before feeding them just in case they drift off to sleep during the feed so you don’t risk waking them.
I want you to tell me your stories. As a mother of four, I’ve been through lots of the same post partum experiences that you’re likely going through. I’ve had c sections, difficulties breastfeeding, easy recoveries, complications, and extremely rough recoveries. I’ve experienced sleepless nights and exhaustion, sibling rivalries, and self doubt. I’ve questioned myself multiple times when I’ve had to make yet another decision on the care of my children. So although I may be your newborn photographer, I’m also a great listener, sympathizer, and one of your biggest supporters. If you need a listening ear, I’m more than happy to take on that role.
Why Lifestyle Photography?
How I Became a Lifestyle 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 family sessions with a mental list of every pose I thought I had to get. I would leave a photography 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 photography business like this for a while and to be honest, it was exhausting. Family and newborn sessions stressed me out, but photographing 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 children. 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, just a quiet moment captured in 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 and newborn sessions. I knew there was a huge disconnect there but I didn’t quite see what it was. Slowly, after lots of workshops, a ton of photography sessions, and a whole lot of soul searching, I realized that I needed to relax more when I photographed families and newborns. 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 sessions as much as my personal shooting. Still photographing 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 in home lifestyle sessions. 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. Back in 2018, I nervously made the decision to switch over to a mainly in home lifestyle business model (don’t worry, I still do a handful of outdoor family sessions in the warmer months). 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.
I have lots of resources if you’d like to learn more about an in home photography session like when is the best time or why I think you should have an in home session.
My Top Tips for Traveling to a Warm Weather Destination with your Family
Spring Break is almost here!
Yes, I know I’m a photographer and that is what I’m best at, but if there’s anything I love as much as I love photography, it’s traveling with my family. As many of my photography clients are gearing up for Spring Break, I’d like to share my top tips for traveling to your warm weather destination.
Tip One - Take the overnight flight
Yes, I know, there are many who will disagree with me but overnight flights are the way to go for our family. All four of my kids sleep better on the plane than they do at home and it allows us to arrive to our destination in time to change, take a quick swim, have an early dinner, go to bed at a reasonable hour, then wake up refreshed and ready to go on the first full day of vacation.
Tip Two - Take a portable clothesline:
When you’re heading somewhere warm, you’re more than likely going to be wearing a lot of swimsuits. We travel with a portable clothesline that we set up on our balcony to dry the swimsuits so the kids always have a dry one available.
Tip Three - Go for the All Inclusive
All Inclusives are fantastic for families. Got a picky eater? Order something new if they don’t like the first option. Got a foodie? No need to worry about them ordering the most expensive item on the menu. You can let them try new things. On our last trip to the DR, my kids discovered virgin pina coladas. An all inclusive resort is a great place to try new foods and drinks.
Tip Four - Don’t Pack too much into your Vacation
Heading to a tropical destination normally involves a whole lot of pool/beach time and relaxation time. We try to limit the amount of excursions to two for each week of vacation. This allows you to still get out and explore a new place, but it also gives you plenty of time to relax and enjoy taking a breather.
Tip Five - Travel with Carry On Only
When you’re heading somewhere warm, this is an easy one. You don’t need to carry winter coats or boots so you should be able to fit everything in your carry on. We have our kids take a carry on each and we will split the baby’s stuff between all of our luggage. For a week each kid packs two swimsuits, two pairs of shorts, two t-shirts, one pair of nice pants and a polo (for fancy dinners), a hoodie, and two pairs of pajamas.
When is the Best Time for an In-Home Photography Session?
If you’ve decided that you want your family photography session at home, you may be wondering when the best time is. There are a few things to keep in mind:
Lighting
Lighting in your home is going to depend on the time of year. I typically like to avoid midday as the sun is often right above the home and not coming in through the windows. I find that a 10am or 2pm starting time are often the best times for your photography session.\
Nap times
If your little one(s) are still nappers, we will avoid naptime so that they are happy and well rested for their session.
Meal times
Like nap time, it’s best to avoid meal time for your session too. You don’t want growling little tummies, messy faces, and grumpy kids. I recommend feeding them before I arrive.
The length of the session
In home sessions typically last one to one and a half hours. It pays to keep that in mind when planning around your children’s schedules.
Can a newborn session be held outdoors?
While the majority of newborn session are held at home, every now and then I have someone ask if we can do their newborn session outdoors. At the end of the day, they’re your photos and I want you to love them so if that’s what you desire, then that’s what we’ll do. There are some things to keep in mind though:
The weather
Little babies can’t regulate their temperature so shooting outdoors at any time other than summer is probably going to be too cold for them. If you do wish to have an outdoor newborn session in the cooler months, you’ll just want to make sure baby is well wrapped up.
Time of day
The best lighting for outdoor sessions is the hour before sunset. If your session is in summer, this could be quite late. If staying up until sunset isn’t feasible for your family, we will need to find a place that offers shade.
Have a helper
This isn’t so necessary if you just have the one baby, but if you have a toddler or two, it could be helpful to have an extra pair of helping hands. Since you’re recovering from childbirth, you won’t be able to move or chase toddlers as quickly as you used to.
Bring a swaddle or blanket with you in case of wind
It’s always handy to have an extra blanket in case of cold/wind. This will help baby feel comfortable.
Consider wearing something nursing friendly
If you are nursing, you want to make sure your outfit is easy to nurse in.
As for any session, try on your outfits before the session day
There is nothing more stressful than putting on your outfits and discovering they don’t fit. Please make sure you try on outfits on the day to eliminate any stress on session day.
What is the best age for a newborn photo session?
One thing I love about lifestyle newborn photography is that we can do a session any time in the first month or two. A session with a month old baby wouldn’t really look much different to a session with a 6 day old baby, however each age will have it’s benefits. Here are some reasons why you’ll want your newborn session in the first two weeks:
Baby will be more sleepy
While I don’t think babies have to be sleeping for their newborn session, a sleepy baby normally means a calm baby and a session that moves along quickly.
Baby will have more of the newborn look
Little details of a newborn disappear so quickly such as flakey feet, and the umbilical cord stump. If you want these little details documented, the earlier your session is, the better.
Baby acne hasn’t kicked in
Most babies start developing baby acne around the one month mark. This can be edited out so don’t worry if your baby has baby acne, but it may be something to think about if you’re not sure when you would like your newborn session to take place.
There are also some advantages to having your newborn session a little later:
Mom has had a little longer to recover from the birth
Some moms need a little longer to get ready for a newborn session. By delaying your session until week 5, 6, or even longer you may feel a little more on top of things.
You’ll have more time to figure out outfits
While some people have all the details sorted before baby’s birth, by having a newborn session a little later, you can take your time planning outfits.
Jaundice is not normally an issue
Some babies can look pretty yellow those first few days. An older newborn has normally passed the jaundiced stage.
As you can see, there are advantages to either age so it is really up to you and what works best for your family. I’m happy to chat with you more about the best time for your newborn session.
Should I have a fresh 48 session or an at home newborn session?
Now that photographers are allowed back into hospitals, you may be wondering whether you should have a Fresh 48 session or an at home newborn session. Both options have benefits. Here is what I love about each option:
Fresh 48 Sessions
Fresh 48 sessions take place in the hospital, in the first day or two after baby’s arrival.
Little details you’ll find only in the hospital can be captured such as, the hospital bracelets, the plastic bassinet, the little hat.
There are so many little things that only a tiny baby has that can be photographed like the umbilical cord stump and flakey feet.
You don’t need to do anything special for your session, no cleaning up, no special outfits. I’ll photograph you exactly how you are.
Fresh 48 sessions are quick. With all that is going on in the hospital, I can be in and out with all the necessary images in no more than thirty minutes.
The time spent in the hospital is so special but fleeting. A photo session is the perfect way to remember what life was like those first few hours of babies life.
In home newborn session:
Newborn lifestyle sessions can take place at your home any time in the first month of baby’s life:
By waiting a week or two after baby’s birth, mothers often feel more put together and ready for photos.
We can incorporate spaces you’ve put so much time and energy into, such as the nursery.
Baby’s are still tiny and will often sleep for the majority of the session so you can still get sleepy images (most of the time), just like a Fresh 48 session.
If there are siblings, they can be involved. Pets are also welcome!
Everyone is relaxed and comfortable in their own home.
Still can’t decide? How about both! A Fresh 48 + newborn bundle is $1,275.00. A $350 retainer is required to book with the remainder being split into two payments due at the time of the sessions. Any questions? Send me a message.
A 2022 Wrap Up {Seattle Family Photographer}
What a wonderful year 2022 was. It was filled with lots of familiar faces that I’ve photographed for 6-7 years in a row, as well as several new families I got to meet for the first time. I photographed 46 families and 18 newborns. I did my first lifestyle newborn mentoring session for another photographer, and I started making plans to start a class for parents on how to take better vacation photos (more on that to come later). March and August were my busiest months for newborns, while September and October were my busiest months overall. I was able to return to Fresh 48 sessions which makes me so happy! Here are some of my favorite images for the year. I am so grateful to each and every family who booked a session with me this year. Here’s to a wonderful 2023!
Why You Should Have Your Family Photography Session at Your Home {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}
I strongly believe that your home is always the perfect backdrop for your family photographs. Here are some of the reasons why:
Your home is warm and cozy
Here in the Seattle area, the winters are long and rainy. By having your family photography session in your home, we will never have to reschedule due to weather, and you don’t need to take your kids out in the cold.
Your kids are more comfortable at home
Your home is your children’s safe space. They feel more comfortable there than any other place on earth. When they’re comfortable, they’re much more likely to cooperate for your family session.
Your home helps tell your story
Most of the time, a beach or park has no real meaning to the family being photographed there. Your home is a part of who you are and helps to tell your story.
You don’t have to drive for a long time to get to a location
All you need to do is be ready when I arrive. I do the traveling so you don’t have to!
It would be an honor to photograph your family in the four walls in which you’re most comfortable!
