This sweet little boy was born at home so his Fresh 48 session looks a little different to most of my other hospital sessions. We did the session at his home, on his parents bed. His proud big brother jumped in for a few images. It is always so sweet to see the first born become a big sibling. It’s crazy to see how much he had changed from his birth just a couple of days earlier. I can’t wait to complete his newborn session with the whole family this weekend. Welcome to the world Ezra!
Happy Birthday - A Little Cake Smash Session {Family Lifestyle Photographer}
Cake smash sessions aren’t something I would typically offer. They are usually done in studio with a big set up. As a lifestyle photographer, I don’t use props and I normally photograph inside people’s homes, not a studio. When my littlest turned one, I still wanted to do something special for him, but without the fancy set up. I wanted to take a more lifestyle approach to it so instead of investing in a fancy backdrop, we just took him outside and let him eat cake while illuminated by the beautiful sunrise behind him. Like my middle child, he wasn’t really into the cake. It was the first time he had tried sugar, and it wasn’t a taste he seemed to like. Happy first birthday to my sweet Oscar.
A Beautiful Lifestyle Newborn Session {Seattle Family Photographer}
Photographing newborns in their homes is probably my most favorite type of family session. Being able to witness families as they welcome a new little being into their lives is an honor I don’t take for granted. II was so happy to capture this family again when they welcomed baby Anderson. I first photographed them for their maternity session and it was so great to their home and capture them as they transitioned into the role of parents. You would never have known he was their first. They were as laid back as parents welcoming baby number three or four. Little Anderson was just as laid back as them too!
One of the reasons I love in home lifestyle sessions so much is because you capture so much of the real. They are so authentic and capture life exactly as it is in those first few days. The cuddles, the feedings, the bouncing up and down. We can photograph baby exactly how he is, with no need to spend hours rocking him to sleep. If he’s happiest in the arms of his parents, then that’s exactly where we’ll keep him. Mostly, I think these sessions are so great at capturing the love and connection within the family. There is so much emotion in those first few days of a new baby’s life, and I believe it’s so important to capture it.
Choosing the right photographer for your family can be a tough choice, especially if you’re not sure what kind of photography session you’re after. If you would like to talk it over, please feel free to contact me. I’d love to go over what I can offer you so that you have a better understanding of how my newborn sessions go. In the meantime, enjoy looking through these images of sweet baby Anderson and his loving parents.
A Gorgeous Lifestyle Session At Home {Seattle Family Photographer}
It always seems like such an honor to be invited into a family’s home for a lifestyle photography session. It’s their space where they can step away from the world so it’s so special to be able to be welcomed into it to photograph them. This sweet family radiated warmth. Their session was laid back and relaxed and little Amelia is so clearly loved by her parents. Their sweet dog is the exact same mix as ours (Lab/German Shepherd) so it was fun to see what our Lucy will look like in about ten years. I love that their Christmas tree was up during this session. Including holidays, special heirlooms and personal items shows adds so much personality to your images.
Welcoming Baby Number Three {Seattle Newborn Photographer}
I adore Fresh 48 sessions. There is no time quite like the first couple of days of your new baby’s life. Baby is still squishy and new, flakey feet, umbilical cord stump and all, and time seems to stop still while everything and everyone is focused on you and your new little being. Items that are only used for two short days such as the hospital blanket and hat, as well as the bracelets around the ankles should be photographed so you never forget the newness of them. I realized that I never blogged my own baby’s Fresh 48 session so I’m doing it now. Here’s my third little boy at the very start of his time with us.
A Beautiful Golden Hour Session {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}
This beautiful family session didn’t take place in Seattle. I was so lucky to photograph my sister’s family when I visited New Zealand a few months ago. It was chilly (by NZ standards, not really by Seattle standards) so we worked fast but the results were so lovely. We headed out to do their images, not really having a location in mind. All we knew was that we wanted to do the session in the hills. We drove, stopped a couple of times, then kept moving until we found this gorgeous spot. I love how you can see the ocean in the background and the light was pretty incredible too. My nieces and nephew are growing up so fast and I love being able to photograph them all every couple of years.
I don’t photograph outdoors very often, but I do offer a limited amount of outdoor sessions over the summer. If that’s something you’re interested in, please get in touch so we can get you on the schedule!
At Home with a Family of Six {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}
These winter Seattle days are cold and gloomy but the warmth in this at home newborn session was a stark contrast. This was my first newborn session of 2019 and it couldn’t have been any more beautiful.
I’ve known this strong mama for about a year and a half. She instructed fitness classes for mamas and their babies and I started attending her classes when my youngest was about 4 months old. She is so strong mentally and physically and I really admire her for they way in which she motivates other mamas to be strong and healthy.
Baby number four was only six days old for his session. He was still so fresh, flaky skin, umbilical cord stump, eyes closed the entire time. His big sisters are so in love with him, as are his loving parents. It never matters whether it’s baby number one or baby number four, each one is so special. We did the whole session in one room. The master bedroom is my favorite room to photograph newborns in. The master bed is a comfy spot for everyone to snuggle, and it’s also a great spot for individual pictures of the new baby. As long as there is one window letting in enough light, then I often stick to the master bedroom for the entire newborn session. The whole time I was photographing this family, I kept thinking about how perfectly baby fits in Mama’s arms. Isn’t it lovely how they just curl up, like they know that’s exactly where they belong? He was the sweetest, snuggliest little thing. Sometimes I hold baby for a bit so everyone can get into place and then once they’re comfortable, I hand baby over. I may have held on to him just a little bit longer than needed, but I just couldn’t help myself.
I am happy for this gorgeous family. I love that we were able to capture Gideon before he lost his umbilical cord stump. I always feel like that little stump speaks of their newness like nothing else. I hope these photographs are forever treasured and you can always look back and remember how tiny he was. Welcome to the world Gideon!
What is Lifestyle Photography? {Seattle Family Photographer}
What exactly is lifestyle photography and how does it differ from traditional photography? The answer may be different depending on who you ask, but I’m going to try to explain what lifestyle photography is to me.
Lifestyle is somewhere in the middle between traditional portrait photography, and documentary photography. Portrait photography is a session where the photographer will pose everyone in a spot that the photographer has chosen and will direct everyone to look (and usually smile) at the camera. Documentary photography is where the photographer will follow the family around and just photograph them going about their day. The photographer will do nothing to alter the scene. If lights are turned on, they’ll leave them. If the family is in an area that might not photograph well, they’ll leave them there and continue to shoot anyway. So, where does lifestyle photography fit in? My approach is to manipulate the scene a little, but ultimately, I still aim to capture the family as it is. Once I arrive at your house, I typically look for the places with the best light, or anywhere that looks like it would be an interesting backdrop. I will direct the family into that space and I may guide them into position. For example, if I have the family on the bed, I may ask young children to hop on their parents’ laps, but that’s where my direction stops. I may offer prompts such as “Can you tickle your baby brother’s feet?” but what I’m really looking for is to capture the emotion once I have you in the place I want you. Normally once I offer a prompt or two, families will just start interacting with one another, and that’s what I’m aiming to get. I will also manipulate the light if needed. I always turn off artificial lighting, and if needed, I will close a shade or two if I want light just from one direction. I love to capture you enjoying just being with your people and I believe that that’s what family photography should be about. Love, connection and a whole lot of authenticity.
If this is how you want your family session to look, please contact me. I would love to chat with your more about a photography session that captures the heart of your family.
A Love Filled Newborn Session {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}
No lie, I actually cried when I got the email from this mama telling me that baby number three had arrived and asked if I would photograph them once they brought their daughter home to Washington following the beautiful gift of adoption. I am so happy for them and it was so lovely to her big sister and brother adapt to their new roles. Little Zoe, you are so loved. It was an absolute honor to photograph this beautiful love story.
How to Prepare for Your In Home Lifestyle Session {Seattle Family Photographer}
The number one question I get asked once a family has booked a lifestyle photo session is “Does my house need to be perfect?” The answer is NO! Your house should feel like you and that a family lives there, but there are a few things you can do to make your images look amazing:
Put Clutter Away
Remember that my camera can’t “unsee” what is there. If you don’t want it photographed, put it away. Cords and cables should be out of sight.
Focus on 1 or 2 Rooms
The rooms I use the most are the living room and the master bedroom. If you don’t have the time or energy to declutter the whole house, focus on those rooms.
Make Sure it Feels like Your Space
When cleaning up, don’t remove the essence of you. Keep family pictures, heirlooms, blankets, special toys out. The reason you’re having an in home session is because it is the place where you live your lives. Make sure it still feels like your space.
Now that you’ve prepared your home, what about what to wear? Second most frequently asked question! I always recommend that mom chooses an outfit for herself first. Often moms put themselves last and this is a time when you should feel good about yourself. I do love the look of flowy cardigans and leggings, or a long flowy dress. It may not be what you’d wear every day but they are universally flattering and comfortable. Dress kids and dad in things they feel comfortable in. I would recommend putting kids in clothes they have worn before so they are used to the feel of the fabric. If you’re looking to buy something new for your kids, my favorite shops for sweet, photogenic clothes are Zara, Jamie Kay, H&M, and Peek Kids.
Timing - When should you have a session
The great thing about in home sessions is that they can be booked year round. No need to wait until it’s summer or fall as you’ll be cozy and warm inside your own home. I typically do morning sessions at 10am and afternoon sessions at 2pm, but we can be flexible around kids’ nap schedules if that doesn’t work for your family. Sessions last anywhere from one to two hours so we will want to avoid shooting late in the afternoon so we don’t lose the light, particularly in winter.
Don’t forget the outside of your home! Weather permitting, we may take a few images outside. Often families like an image taken on their front porch or back yard, so be sure to have those spaces photo ready if you’d like that too.
Lastly, be prepared to have fun. The session will focus on you connecting with your family so be ready to play, read books, and snuggle with your family.
