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.

1. Little details you’ll find only in the hospital can be captured such as, the hospital bracelets, the plastic bassinet, the little hat.

2. There are so many little things that only a tiny baby has that can be photographed like the umbilical cord stump and flakey feet.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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:

1. By waiting a week or two after baby’s birth, mothers often feel more put together and ready for photos.

2. We can incorporate spaces you’ve put so much time and energy into, such as the nursery.

3. 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.

4. If there are siblings, they can be involved. Pets are also welcome!

5. 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!

Newborn Lifestyle Mentoring

Are you starting to dip your toes into lifestyle newborn photography but you’re feeling overwhelmed? Have you ever felt:

• Nervous heading into a home you’ve never seen before?

• Not sure how to use the light in an unfamiliar location?

• Worried that baby will be fussy and you won’t get any images?

• Not sure how to maximize each pose?

• Unsure of how to guide the family into position?

If so, then you’re in luck. I am offering lifestyle newborn photography mentoring for the months of January and February. You will accompany me on an in home lifestyle session where you will watch me photograph a family with a newborn. You will be able to answer any questions as well as take your own photographs to use for your portfolio. After the session, we’ll sit down together and go over editing.

A mentoring session with me is $900 with a deposit of $300 due upon booking with the balance due the week of your mentoring session.

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!

Is Three Weeks Too Old for a Newborn Session? {Seattle Newborn Photographer}

Your baby has finally arrived and the last few weeks have been a whirlwind full of love, wonder, and exhaustion. The dust is starting to settle and you suddenly realize that your baby is changing by the day and you never booked a newborn session. You might be wondering if it’s too late. Good news! It’s not!

While I always recommend booking your newborn photography session while you’re still pregnant, the good news is that I am almost always able to squeeze families in last minute. I missed out on newborn photos with my oldest, and almost 12 years later, I still regret it. I would hate that to happen to you. The best part about lifestyle newborn photography is that it doesn’t matter if your baby is 3, 4, or even 5 weeks old. I will photograph them the exact same way as I would photograph a 6 day old. You may find that your baby doesn’t sleep as soundly as they did when they were a tiny newborn, however, I’ve found that the majority of older newborns will fall asleep at some point during the session, If you want to increase the odds of your baby sleeping for some sweet sleepy images, I recommend a tight swaddle and a warm house. You may also find that your baby has developed some baby acne around the month old mark. If that’s the case, I can edit it out, or leave it if you prefer it to be an accurate representation of how they looked at the time. Other than that, I will photograph your baby just the same as I would have if you had booked your session a few weeks earlier. If your baby is already here and you’d like to get a newborn session scheduled, please reach out. I would be honored to photograph your family.

How to Photograph Your Family Vacation {Seattle Family Photographer}

I make no secret that I adore travel. One of my goals is to show my kids as much as the globe as possible. Opening my kids’ eyes to other cultures is one of the greatest gifts I can give them. Whether you love international travel as much as I do, or a quick weekend road trip is more your style, it’s important to photograph your family on vacation so they have those memories to look back on. Here are my top tips for photographing your family vacations.

Get in the picture:

Mamas, this one is for you. So often, the mom is the family photographer, whether she’s a professional or not. You want your kids to be able to look back at your vacation album and know that you were there too! I always make sure I hand over my camera so that I can be photographed too.

Instead of posing your kids, just photograph them as they are:

When you’re on vacation, kids are there to have fun. Instead of asking them to stop and smile, photograph them playing, building sandcastles, swimming etc.

Don’t forget to photograph the details:

Did you kids build sandcastles? Find a cool seashell? Take pictures of these things since you can’t physically take them home with you.

Use shapes to add interest in your photographs:

I love to use shape to add visual interest in my pictures. In the photograph below, I liked how my son’s drink shape and color matched the spots on the floatie.

Frame your subjects

I love adding framing in my photographs, In the below image, I waited for my son to go under the arch. The arch frames him in, adding more visual interest.

Photograph the environment

You choose your destination for a reason. Don’t forget to stand back and photograph your family enjoying it!

Photograph your kids trying new foods/drinks

One of the things I love most about traveling is exposing my kids to new foods. I’m lucky that most of my kids are excited to try new things. I always make sure I photograph this.

Try for a couple of group images

I know my tip was to photograph them playing, but it’s always nice to get a group image of all your kids together.

Don’t forget about your lodgings:

Whether you’re staying in a hotel, a tent, or an Airbnb, you’ll be spending a lot of time there, so make sure it makes your vacation album.

Framing

I mentioned above that I like to “frame” my subjects. Get creative with this. What can you use to frame your subjects. Here are some more examples:

Photograph differences between the place you’re visiting and home

Are you in a new country? Photograph their flag, or new foods, or anything that is unique to that place.

New activities and adventures

I’m sure this is one you’re already doing, but make sure you take a few photographs of any fun or new adventures you’re having. My kids had an unexpected horse ride on the beach so I made sure I photographed that.

I hope this inspires you to photograph your next vacation. It doesn’t matter whether you use a DSLR, a mirrorless camera or your phone. It’s just important to take the pictures! For what it’s worth, all my vacation pictures were taken with a camera I bought specifically for traveling. It is the Fujifilm x100v. It’s super lightweight and small and easily fits in my handbag. It has a fixed length lens, which is fine for me as I’m used to photographing with a prime lens. I also felt much safer not taking my professional camera on vacation with us.

When is the Best Time for a Sleepy Newborn Photography Session {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}

Tips for a Sleepy Newborn

If you’re about to welcome a new little baby into your lives, you may be wondering when the best time to have your newborn session is. I believe that newborns of any age deserve a newborn session, in fact, I often photograph three or four month old babies, the exact same way I photograph week old babies. There is however a golden spot if you’re wanting images of your baby sleeping. I will never guarantee a baby will sleep but we can increase the chances of it by photographing baby in the first two weeks of life. In my 11 years or so of photographing newborns, I have noticed that babies aged between 6-8 days almost always sleep throughout their whole session.

Book your session for as early as possible:

I’m never going to guarantee a sleeping baby. I’m not a posed newborn photographer and an awake baby is just as beautiful as a sleeping baby, however, the earlier your session, the sleepier the baby normally is.

Keep your house nice and warm

Don’t worry, you can turn the heat down once I leave!

Swaddle your baby

I have a magic little swaddle that works wonders and can be used underneath your own blankets. It’s pretty amazing at getting babies off to dreamland quickly.

Make sure baby has a nice, full belly

Whether your breast or bottle feeding. you’ll want to try to get baby’s belly nice and full. Don’t worry, we will take plenty of feeding breaks if baby needs them.

Change diapers, clothes etc before baby drifts off to sleep

If baby falls asleep before they’re in the outfit you want them in for their session, we may end up waking them too soon. Try to have them in their outfit before the feeding and swaddling begin.

If you’re ready to schedule your newborn session, please get in touch. I would love to photograph your family!

How to Celebrate the Whole Family During a Newborn Photography Session {Newborn Photographer Kirkland}

I love photographing all family members during a newborn photography session. While the main focus is always on the newborn baby, I strongly believe that when a baby arrives, all family members have a new role to play and those new roles should be celebrated. A former mom of two becomes a new mom of three. Same goes for the dad. An older sister now has two new little siblings. And the former youngest sibling is now a big sibling for the first time.

Some of my favorite images to take at newborn sessions include:

The big siblings looking at their newborn baby in the crib

This is one of my favorite ways to photograph sibling pictures. This works especially well for older siblings who aren’t quite old enough to hold the baby.

Each parent with all their kids

It’s a huge deal to become a parent of multiple children. Capturing each parent with all their kids, whether it’s two kids or six kids, is a beautiful way to celebrate them and their children.

Siblings all on the main bed together

This is another great image that works particularly well for siblings that aren’t old enough to hold the baby.

Parents together with baby

Whole family images are so important but I always think it’s nice to get one or two images with the parents with just the new baby.

Each parent alone with the new baby

They probably have a ton of images with their oldest alone so this new baby should get that too!

If siblings are old enough, images holding the baby

If there is a bigger age gap and the parents are happy for the siblings to hold the baby, then I love to photograph the newborn in the arms of the parents.

How to Choose the Right Photographer for Your Family Photo Session {Seattle Family Photographer}

Choosing the right photographer for your family photography session can feel like a daunting task, especially in a larger city like Seattle where it seems there are a ton of options. By writing this, I hope I can help you narrow down the search a little more.

Where do you want your session?

Are you looking to have your session at home? At a local beach or park? Or do you want an adventure up a mountain somewhere? By choosing where you want your session, you’ll be able to start searching for a photographer who does sessions in the place you’re most interested in.

Do you want a posed session where everyone looks at the camera or do you prefer to be photographed engaging with your kids?

All photographers have a style. Many will photograph families perfectly posed, and others, myself included, take a more lifestyle approach and photograph the parents playing and snuggling with their children. Once you decide if you want a posed session or a lifestyle session, you can narrow down your search even further.

Do you want your images to be light and airy, dark and moody, or somewhere in between?

Photographers each have a unique editing style. Look over photographers’ portfolios to see if their editing style is inline with the vision you have for your photo session.

Get to know them

Having a photographer come into your home (if that’s where you choose to have your session) can be a very personal experience. Follow them on Instagram, read their about page on their website. Is this someone you would feel comfortable with posing you or being in your home?

I hope this will help narrow down your search. For the record, I take a more lifestyle approach and while I do a handful of outdoor family sessions over the summer and fall, my passion is in home photography. My editing style leans a little more light and airy and I feel like I’m a pretty fun person to be around :) It would be an honor to be chosen for your family photos.