Family of Four | Northern Virginia Newborn Photography

Newborn sessions really are something I think every family should experience! I photographed this family when big sister was around 2 years old and I was so excited to hear they would be welcoming another little girl into their family and that the family wanted to schedule a lifestyle newborn session.

Today on the blog I’m sharing a few different ways you can make sure to have a full gallery of images from your in home lifestyle newborn session.

1. plan for the newborn session to take place at home.

   As a northern Virginia newborn & family photographer I usually find it’s most helpful to schedule the newborn session in your home. Each home is so unique to the family and the routines and environment can vary.

   Although there are always specific “poses” and combinations of family members I take at each session, the way we get there and the outcome varies which I think makes each session unique to the family.

2. include ways your older sibling can participate in the session

If you have an older child, we know that their world has completely changed from maybe being the center of all attention to now having to share the spotlight with a brand new baby. If the older child isn’t ready to participate, we aren’t going to force it. But if they are interested in touching and being near baby, we will embrace it for as long as we can!

This is a good time to capture images of the siblings together, whether laying together or sibling helping to hold the baby. A curious sibling will often do something unexpected and we have to be ready!

3. photograph each parent with the baby

The newborn is really the star of the show at a lifestyle newborn session. We want to have a gallery full of images of the baby alone and with family members, doing different things and spending time together. Photographing each parent with the baby is another way to ensure a full family gallery from the session.

4. document a feeding

New babies eat a lot and they eat often. I like to plan for newborn sessions to be longer than traditional family sessions because at some moment during the session the baby will want to eat.

A feeding is a great time to take a few moments to slow down and embrace this stage of life.

5. embrace unscheduled moments

Babies are going to do what they want to do when they want to do it. And so will siblings! Sessions tend to go smoothly when we embrace the unscheduled moments and go with the flow.

We might not have expected a specific thing to happen when it happened but it gives us moments that we might not have gotten otherwise. I’m always ready to take the photo!

6. pick out areas in your home that you spend time or that have meaning

We spent most of this session inside of the family’s home, and ending the session outside in the yard. For most of the indoor portion of the session we used some different areas in the family room, couch, large windows, and kitchen.

There is such a variety of moments that can be captured at an in home lifestyle newborn session. All of this will vary based on the family’s home and it’s fun to get creative with how to use the space!

7. be flexible with expectations

I’ll finish up this blog post saying that it’s good to be flexible with expectations during a lifestyle family session. The baby might want to nap, the baby might want to be awake, the baby might want to be held the whole time.

All of those things are totally fine for these laid back lifestyle sessions.

5 Images you'll want to have from your Baby's Newborn Photo Session | DC Newborn Photography

Hello hello I’m back on the blog today with a new post! I love being able to look back at past sessions and find a way to show the images by sharing helpful things related to family and newborn photography.

Today’s post talks all about in home newborn photography. Most of the time newborn sessions take the place in the family’s home within the Washington, DC area including Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Most families are still getting situated with routines and feedings and it’s way easier to have the photographer come to the home than to leave your home to meet the photographer.

Related blog posts:

Including the Whole Family at a Newborn Session

3 Rooms in your Home to take Newborn Photos

Since my newborn sessions are lifestyle and baby led, it’s just another reason to stay put at home and not stress out to have to pack everything and get in the car and drive.

I’ve put together this blog post to share 5 images you’ll want from your baby’s newborn session.

1. your baby wearing just a diaper

   It can be hard to tell from images but when you hold your baby you realize how TEENY TINY they are. I love photographing hands and cuddles especially when the baby is wearing just a diaper.

2. documenting a feeding

Newborn babies tend to eat what feels like 15 or 20 times a day. More often than not, the baby will get hungry at one point or another during the newborn session. I like to document what the feeding looks like for your family - bottles, boobs, bibs, burps and all!

3. face to face interaction

Sometimes I get to photograph newborns that are a bit older than a “traditional” newborn age. A benefit of photographing a newborn when they’re closer to the 3-4 week age is they are awake more often and they’ll be able to focus on your face!

4. the nursery

Mama was so proud of the nursery, and understandably so, it’s so beautiful! We took a variety of images near the window with more contrasted light along with pull back compositional shots to document the entire nursery.

All of the elements, details, art, and love that goes into the nursery is so special to each family!

5. meaningful items

Little guy got a bit sleepy so we took several images with him with some family handmade wooden trains. How beautiful are these!

The family is also a big Michigan fan and we got some photos of the adorable matching attire!

Including the Whole Family in a Newborn Photo Shoot | DC Newborn Photographers

I often get asked questions about families wanting photos of other family members when we schedule the newborn session. My answer is always yes! With lifestyle family photography, it would be weird NOT to include siblings and caregivers.

Are you interested in seeing what a newborn session looks like with the whole family? Check it out!

• the newborn session is led by the baby (or the sibling)

  Baby doesn’t want to be put down? That’s okay! Baby is hungry? Totally fine. Baby didn’t get a lot of sleep? We still get great photos!

  If there are siblings, usually one of the children has more needs at any given moment. If the baby is settled, content, and happy, at one point there may be an older sibling that wants attention. At least one of these scenarios will likely happen during your newborn session and that’s totally okay!

• we will spend time getting each parent with the new baby

  This can be documenting what it looks like during a feeding, or putting them in a new outfit that one of the caregivers or parents picked out. This can look like taking a moment of rest. This can also look like mama looking beautiful in a dress because let’s face it, it takes SO much effort to get ready once you have children (let alone a young baby!)

• If there is a sibling, you know that if one of the parents is with the baby, the other parent is likely with the other child. This is a great time to get photos of the other parent with the other child!

• we will spend time in different areas in your home

• Since newborn sessions are typically scheduled in the morning, we will use the morning light coming through the windows. Think the master bedroom, kid’s room, and other family / living room areas.

• Moving around in different areas adds visual interest to your gallery and captures your home where you raised your beautiful family!

• if your family is calm and quiet, your gallery will depict calmness. if your family is playful and engaged and busy, your gallery will depict playfulness!

• I don’t force children and families to do anything uncomfortable or that doesn’t feel like them.

• My job as your lifestyle family photographer is to help guide and pose you to incorporate your connection, family, and environment to tell your story at any given time. For this family, it’s capturing a young boy and his baby brother.

• portraits of the kids

• There will usually be some moments that your baby is content, fed, and happy and I make it a priority to get portraits of the baby. This can be in a diaper or onesie, in a cute outfit, or can include a special blanket or item that was made or given to your baby.

• If there is a sibling, I typically try to get your older sibling to interact and trust me and there are usually some really great images that come from that.

I hope this was helpful to share what a session can look like with other family members.

Related blog posts:

• 3 rooms in your home to take newborn photos

• what I want you to know about a newborn session with a toddler

• in home newborn session in bethesda maryland

Send me a message to schedule your next family session!

3 rooms in your home to take newborn photos

So you’re thinking about scheduling your newborn session. Have you thought about the best location for your newborn session? Your home is the perfect place to take newborn photos!

I’m a newborn and family photographer in the DC area and it brings me joy to photograph family connection and all of the small moments that you want to look back on for years to come!

There are a few rooms I typically recommend using for your in home newborn session. Check them out!

The living room

This family had windows in the front of the house that let in beautiful light the morning of the newborn session. We started with portraits of big sister while baby brother was upstairs getting fed and changed. There’s a lot we can do in a short amount of time - I knew I wanted to photograph her in the chair and to twirl around and be silly. The timing worked out great and we were able to get photos of her with dad. Once the baby and mom came down, we added them to the mix, varying up the family combinations and adding in variety with the window - both standing and sitting poses.

The master bedroom

The master bedroom was actually where we also took photos of big sister’s 1 year milestone photos! You can check out that link here - One Year Milestone Session at Home.

We were able to photograph portraits of baby brother, grabbed a couple of quick family shots on the bed, and then we spent some time chatting while mom and baby brother got some special photos with each other. It’s so important to me that all family members get photographed because all of the connections are special and each family member has a unique bond with others.

The nursery/bedroom

We ended the session in the baby’s room. It was another way to photograph unique family decor and items. Families spend so much time decorating the nursery, for example getting the crib ready and painting the wall, hanging art, etc so I wanted to grab a few photos of this stage of life. We got a variety of family combinations and even got more of the siblings together.

It was such a fun session and I am so lucky to be invited into families homes to do this!

Check out some related blog posts below:

• A Fresh 48 Session at Home

• What I want you to know about a newborn session with a toddler

Thinking about scheduling your newborn session?

Outdoor Fall Newborn Family Session | Rock Creek Park

I’m so happy to share photos from this fall family session in Rock Creek Park DC! I have photographed this family a few times and I was so excited when they reached out for this session! Many of my newborn sessions tend to take the place indoors and it was fun to do something new and play outside while celebrating the new baby! Newborn sessions typically last around 1.5-2 hours depending on the flow & family, and of course the weather.

The fall is so beautiful in Washington DC and it was the perfect time of year to take photos with the different color foliage!

The outfits worked perfectly with the setting and it was such a fun way to document the growing family.

Related posts:

• What I want you to know about newborn session with a toddler

• Outdoor newborn session in Rockville, Maryland

• How to choose a family photographer

Since the older ones were already camera ready I took advantage and started with portraits of them playing and being interested in my camera!

Do you notice that the little guy is *just comfortable enough with me but still holding onto mom’s dress? I love that detail!

We moved onto the whole family (including the pup!), portraits of each of the children and then started working on family combinations. We ended the session with playing in the leaves!!

Can you tell we have fun? Lifestyle family photography is all about capturing emotion and connection, and most importantly letting the kids be kids.

Are you interested in scheduling newborn photos?

Check out more from the newborn portfolio and let me know if you want to photograph this important time!

What I want you to know about a newborn session with a toddler

So you have a toddler, and you just had a new baby. And you want to book a newborn session. Now what?

So glad you found me, I’m a lifestyle family and newborn photographer in Washington, DC and lifestyle newborn sessions are my jam!

When a family contacts me to book a newborn sessions, sometimes I get questions like - will you take portraits of the baby? Will you photograph my other child? What if my baby is awake? When should we schedule? I wrote a little blog post here for you called Frequently Asked Questions Newborn Session questions and it’s linked there!

Related Blog Posts:

• In home newborn session | Bethesda Maryland

• Family of three newborn session | Washington DC

In this blog post, there are a few things I want you to know about your newborn session with a toddler.

Newborn sessions are flexible

I don’t have super high expectations for toddlers, especially when they are competing for their parent’s attention. If the toddler needs time to warm up, we will start with photos of your newborn and then give the toddler time to get interested.

And vice versa if the newborn is needing comfort I will start with portraits of the toddler. There’s always something special to photograph during your lifestyle session!

If the baby is comfortable and happy, we will take portraits of the baby. Does your baby prefer to be held? That’s okay too - I’ll have you hold baby while I get family photos and portraits of the baby in your arms.

I will engage with your toddler to get their trust!

I don’t ever want your toddler to think that the session is about the baby. As a lifestyle photographer, I focus on the whole family. I will introduce myself to your toddler and usually ask them to show me their room or some of their favorite toys. And I’m not above singing children’s songs to get them excited.

Sometimes it’s helpful to give the toddler a job such as getting a blanket, or showing their toy to their sibling.

Photos from your newborn session should be natural

Some families are quiet and cuddly, some families are busy and playful. Sometimes the baby wants to eat a lot and sometimes the baby wants to sleep a lot. Sometimes the older one is having a bit of hard time. These sessions are so important as well as powerful.

Your photos will be a natural representation of what happened during your session. If your toddler wants absolutely nothing to do with the camera, we certainly won’t be making your child sit and smile. BUT if they want to be held, I will photograph them with family members. We can’t photograph what didn’t happen!

Newborn sessions are a bit longer than a family session

A lot of the time the newborn will need to feed or be comforted during the session so we allocate around 1.5-2 hours for these shoots. I find it gives us more time to go with the flow and not rush things. It also gives more time to give attention to play with the toddler!

We can’t guarantee any of those “pinterest inspiration” photos (but we can try)

Once your session is confirmed, you will complete a brief questionnaire for me to learn more about your family, names of family members, etc. If there are any photo ideas you have in mind, we will definitely try to get them, however these can’t be guaranteed. Sometimes the newborn and toddler will absoloutely not allow it. BUT good news is we will get very special photos of your family that might not be able to be replicated by another family. Cool right?

If you’re doing this session at home, there are several amazing areas to use!

This can be your toddler’s room, the baby’s room, the kitchen, living room, and/or playroom! For these, we spent a lot of time in the master room, nursery, family room, and we finished the session outside.

Your home is so special and it might not look the same way in 5 years.

Let’s start telling your story!

Are you ready to schedule a family session?

In Home Newborn Session | Bethesda Newborn Photographers

This family contacted me to photograph their now family of four. Mom shared that she hadn’t gotten newborn photos taken of this little guy and I was so excited to spotlight both him and big sister! Just because you book a newborn session doesn’t mean the photos will only be taken of your newborn - newborn sessions include all family members.

I’m a lifestyle photographer and I strive at capturing moments of connection instead of perfection.

When you think of your newborn session what comes to mind?

I want you to feel an emotion when you see photos of your family. I want you to see a picture of you holding your newborn and know what it feels like to have their weight on you.

I want you to see a photo holding your child into the air playing airplane and feel the emotion of that face to face interaction with your child. I want you to see a photo of your family and feel an emotion of happiness and closeness.

Your family might be playful or maybe your family is instead calm and intimate. Your photos might be super colorful or they might be neutral tones.

Whatever you choose, I want that to be captured in your family photos.

Have you thought about scheduling a newborn session? Please send me a message!

Outdoor Newborn Session | Glenview Mansion Rockville

Most of the time when families schedule their newborn session with me, they decide to have the newborn session in their home.

This lifestyle newborn session was in the DC area at a location that I love- Glenview Mansion!

It was so great to spend time with this large family. All of the siblings enjoyed helping and we even got the grandparents in there too!

Newborn sessions will always have my heart because there are so many moments of connection, love, intimacy, strength and every other emotion there is to be felt when you have a new baby at home.

When you look at the images below you’ll get an idea of all of the variety you’ll get in your gallery- parents with the children, siblings, feeding, and most of all- connection.

As cliché as it sounds, the newborn phase is so so fast so please reach out and help document this precious time!

In Home Newborn Family Session | DC Newborn Photography

I feel so so lucky to have this job! I photographed Mom and Dad for their maternity session at Brookside Gardens in the DC area and just a few weeks later I got to photograph them again at home with the new baby.

Related Blog Posts:

Maternity Session at Brookside Gardens

Frequently asked Newborn Session Questions

One thing I love about in home newborn sessions is that I get to talk with the family about this exciting time of their life, the change, the adjustment, and I get to photograph all. of. the. love.

Each newborn and family session is so unique and each family has different family dynamics, different homes and locations, and the interactions between family members can vary. And I’m here for all of it!

I hope you enjoy some the images below of this beautiful family.

Would you like to learn more about booking a lifestyle newborn session in the DC area?

Clum Kennedy Park, Kensington Maryland | Newborn Session

Hello! I am so behind on blogging but I couldn’t pass not sharing these images from the sweetest newborn session in Kensington Maryland!

These newborn photos were taken at Clum Kennedy Park in Kensington Maryland and oh. my. gosh.

I actually drove past Clum Kennedy while we were in the area and had to do a double take when I noticed the beautiful spring blooms!

In addition to this newborn session I also had a family session at Clum Kennedy! How cute is this family? I love what the family wore and Mom’s dress matched the pink blooms perfectly!

Have you ever been to Clum Kennedy Park? You should definitely go in the Springtime It’s beautiful!

Send me a message if you’re interested in scheduling a family or newborn session!

6 types of light I use when taking photos

There are so many different styles of photography and I wanted to write a blog post to share some examples of different ways to use light at a photo session. I have a pretty consistent style to the photos I take, whether I’m in the family’s home or outdoors. The way I pose and guide, promote child and family connection, and compose my images are consistent across my sessions. It’s lifestyle photography! If I am in a home that is bright and has colorful decor and has a lot of natural light, it will be an easy choice to go with composing and editing the images to be bright with the setting. It drives me crazy to see photography edits that make a photo look super dark and moody when actually it was bright and daylight outside. I tend to go with the ambience of the session and location.

One reason that I choose not to be a studio photographer is that I like to use light differently, again, for the reasons I mentioned above. Time of day, location, and available light all contribute to what a final image will look like.

Keep reading to see the different types of light I like to use at family and newborn sessions:

backlight/rim light

The sun sets behind the trees at this location and it’s so beautiful to see the sun shining through the trees, illuminating the subjects and getting some rim light! These weren’t quite golden hour but I chose to backlight this mama and her son to have a brighter, joyful look in this image.

golden hour

Depending on the location of the session, we can choose to shoot at golden hour which is the hour right before the sun sets. There is a creamy golden haze that can only be seen twice a day. I’m all about a morning golden hour session but most often the evening golden hour is more preferred for families and young children!

open shade / flat light

This photo session was from an in home newborn session, where we started inside and then came outside for the second half of the session. By the time we came outside there was plenty of sun shining into the family’s backyard so we found an area that was under the trees and well shaded. This type of light is known as flat light. It’s clean and I use it a lot depending on how the light shines through the location. There isn’t as much dimension and the light is pretty even on the subjects which means no eye squinting! ;-)

flash

I always bring my flash during in home sessions just in case we need more light in the rooms. This maternity session was done in the early evening and there wasn’t much light coming through the windows. The nursery as you cam see, has bright color and details that I wanted to capture. We would have had a totally different feel had I used just the natural window light, but I purposely used flash to keep this image bright and colorful.

dappled light

It’s always fun to do something a little different and use light in a new way. I was just photographing this mama in another area of the bedroom when I happened to notice the way the dappled light was coming through the window. I chose to show the color image here but the black and white also looked great with the contrast of all of the lines!

dramatic light

I loved this corner at this family’s home and knew I wanted to do something a little different here too. We took several photos upstairs with the flash and I knew in this specific area I wanted to use the directional light from the window and a lower exposure to create a more intimate image. And of course to focus on this little girl’s beautiful red hair.

It’s always fun to push my creativity to be able to fill your gallery after your family session.

Send me a message to schedule your family session!

Frequently Asked Newborn Session Questions

You’ve landed here because you’re interested in a newborn session! I’ve created this blog post to answer the most common questions about booking a newborn session. My lifestyle sessions are baby led and they are perfect for documenting your growing family.

Keep reading to find out the answers to frequently asked newborn session questions.

do you do in home sessions?

Yes! I actually prefer to do newborn sessions at home. Me coming to your home is one less thing for you to have to worry about - no need to drive to a studio, no need to buy props, and most of all - you’re in the comfort of your own home. It’s the perfect place for a newborn session!

can we take photos in my front yard or backyard?

Of course! We will discuss areas at your home that are most important to you. When indoors, mid morning around 9 or 10 is the best time for soft light, but it can be a hard time to photograph outdoors at that time, unless there are shaded areas outside of your home. If you’d like both, I will discuss with you about arriving a few minutes early to your home to find the most ideal areas outside that will photograph well so that we can get a mix of indoor and outdoor photos.

what age does my newborn have to be?

Because I’m a lifestyle family & newborn photographer, we can be more flexible when it comes to timing of scheduling the newborn session. I have photographed newborns right after birth up until about 2 months of age. So the answer is - whenever is a good time for you!

do you use props?

I don’t bring anything to my newborn sessions other than my camera, lenses, and maybe a step ladder. No props! Your home environment makes the perfect backdrop. If you have a family heirloom or outfit you’d like to photograph your baby in, we can incorporate that into your session.

what if my baby is awake?

If your baby is awake, I’ll photograph your baby alone and with family members!

what if my baby is asleep?

Same! If your baby is asleep, I’ll photograph your baby alone and with family members! If there are sibling at your family session it may be better to take these sibling shots when your new baby is asleep.

what if my baby gets hungry?

That tends to happen at newborn sessions, and guess what - I’ll still be clicking with my camera! Whether you’re nursing or bottle feeding, I love documenting these feedings based on your comfort level.

do you include other family members?

Absolutely! With this being a lifestyle session, all family members are included. I usually try to take portraits of the baby alone and with each family member. Including pets!

do you pose the baby?

I will direct you to place the baby in the best lighting and may wrap the baby in a swaddle but I don’t do much posing when it comes to my lifestyle sessions. Because I don’t use props, we won’t be putting baby in those adorable froggy poses or putting baby in a basket. Baby alone or in family’s arms are the perfect places for newborn babies at lifestyle sessions!

what is included in the session fee?

Your session fee includes your two hour session along with a digital gallery to share and save your images. I typically include galleries of over 50 images from your session.

do I need to clean my house?

No need to worry! We will only photograph rooms that have the most light - the living room, master bedroom, and nursery are usually great areas. We will be using window light so it’s a good idea to clean any clutter from things that won’t add to the story. I’ll likely ask to rearrange some items depending on the angles of the photos we take.

when should I book the session?

Because I only offer limited newborn sessions each month, please contact me at least 2-3 months before you’d like your session. I’d love to add you to my calendar!

Outdoor Newborn Photography | Maryland Newborn Photographers

We are still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and it has been really hard to be able to feel normal and safe with things that we would typically be enjoying. Most corporations are working remotely and small business are trying to find safe ways to remain open and in business for their clients. Our county in Maryland has lifted some restrictions and allowing photographers to be able to work from a safe distance, which is great and that means you can get those updated family photos you’ve been meaning to get! I’ve seen so much online about parents feeling like they aren’t able to get a newborn session scheduled, and I think that’s how it used to be because now is the perfect time to schedule your newborn session outdoors! Be sure to follow the guidelines of your county and state prior to booking your photographer!

So what exactly does an outdoor newborn session look like?

An outdoor newborn session looks really similar to you guessed it - an in home newborn session! I had a long lens that allowed me to remain at a safe distance from the family while also wearing a mask to keep everyone safe! I typically provide newborn sessions inside of the home, but due to wanting to be in a more open space, this family’s backyard in Maryland was the perfect area to photograph their family. I photographed mama, dad, and big sister last fall and was so excited when they contacted me again to document their growing family. Baby boy was 8 days new and was so snuggly and calm!

I wanted to capture portraits of the entire family as well as ones of each parent with each child and of course portraits of the newborn.

If you’ve ever had a lifestyle newborn session you know that the session is baby led. although we have poses in mind, we pretty much have to go with the flow of the baby’s needs.

This little guy was asleep at the beginning of the session so we started with family portraits and portraits of the parents with him. Big sister didn’t want to be left out and you can see how adorable those photos came out when she was noticing her baby brother’s tiny feet! We moved onto taking portraits of baby brother and he was so calm! We had to take a couple of nursing breaks for the hungry baby boy and I typically like to continue shooting during these “down” times. These are relaxed moments where I wasn’t guiding the family to pose or interact. They did it themselves! At the very end of the session we were still doing well with time and had gotten a variety of photos of all family members and we took a few photos of baby boy in sentimental clothing.

Are you interested in booking an outdoor newborn session in the DC area? Send me a message!

What Should I Wear for my Family Photo Session?

I get this question often! What should we wear for family photos? When you’re picking out what you want your family to wear for family photos I always like to suggest a few things you can do.

The first thing I will note is that I am a lifestyle family photographer so what’s most important to me is that you enjoy your session and the photos are able to show what your family connection feels like, not necessarily a photo of everyone dressed perfectly and looking at the camera.

With that being said, I do feel that there is some strategy that comes along with outfit choices.

Keep reading to see what to wear at your family photo session:

Keep these tips in mind and you can dress as dressy or casual as you’d like!

1. be comfortable

   Dress comfortable! If you have little ones, you’ll be carrying them and moving around to play with them and I want you to be comfortable! Comfortable to you can mean a dress for you Mama, or it can simply be a cute top and jeans (or shorts!). I would suggest dressing with the season so that you’re nice and comfortable and not too hot or too cold.

2. start with mom’s outfit

   I usually recommend starting with an outfit that Mom feels and looks great wearing. Once Mom is good to go, see if your family members have clothes with colors that compliment the colors in your outfit. For example, if you’re wearing a patterned dress, you can have your family members wear choices that bring out the colors in your dress.

3. coordinate, not match

   Your lifestyle family session isn’t a formal - let’s all go to a studio and dress alike - everyone look the same - session. Be you!

   Simply use colors that go together such as different shades of the same color or complimentary colors that are opposites on the color wheel. We aren’t going to be all wearing those white tees and matching khaki pants here. Add some more interesting clothing choices than that! I promise your photos will look much better when your outfit choices coordinate and look arranged but not matchy matchy.

4. stay away from large logos & “screen tees”

   Unless you’re going for a specific look/theme for your photos, please stay away from wearing shirts with large logos or screen / character tees. This can sometimes date the photos and won’t look as great for the professional look of family photos. It is probably best to stick with solids and prints for your session.

5. add pops of color

   I love love love color and it’s pretty obvious on my website and when you see my work! If you have some items in your wardrobe with a little bit of color definitely go with that! It helps to make the photo more interesting and helps to add layers and variety to the photo.

6. add a mix of texture & pattern

   I would change things up and have one or two of your family members in a different texture or pattern than you. This can mean someone in your family wearing plaid and another member wearing something a little more simple. Think about what you already have in your wardrobe and lay out everything before your session to see how it all looks together.

I have also put together this Pinterest Board in case you need more What to Wear ideas! I hope this is helpful!

Send me a message to schedule your family session!

5 Reasons to Have your Newborn Session at Home

If I had to choose a favorite type of photography between a lifestyle newborn session and a lifestyle family session, I would have a really hard time. I love both. Both sessions include multiple family members and both use the same lifestyle approach to show the family’s connection. Most of the families that I’ve photographed have included an on-shoot location, meaning an outdoor location. We go to the park, we go to an urban location, or whatever location is meaningful to the family.

When families book a lifestyle newborn session I find it easiest to have the session at home. There are a few reasons for this and I decided to write a little bit about it.

Thinking about why having a lifestyle newborn session at home is a good idea? I’ll give you 5 reasons to have your newborn session at home!

1. you don’t need to leave home

Okay so first things first - I come to you and you don’t have to think about leaving home or going anywhere! I find that getting used to a new baby and new family dynamics can be a little challenging to navigate at the beginning, so why add to that? As soon as you decide you want to schedule your newborn session, contact me and we will schedule it and I just have to show up! No planning transitions, getting everyone in the car to go anywhere- I keep it easy and photograph you at home!

2. you waited 9 months to meet your baby

You have been loving your baby for many many months and the day has come and he’s here! It’s the perfect time to schedule that newborn session because you’ll want to remember all of the details and moments you had when your baby was this tiny. It was all you wanted and waited for over the last 9 months. You definitely need to hire a newborn photographer!

3. your home is the perfect backdrop

Newborn sessions allow me to be creative and use the family’s home, which I find makes a great backdrop. Most of the areas in the home that I use during newborn sessions are the nursery, master bedroom, kitchen, and living room. It really all depends on light. I have quite a few photos of me when I was a baby but I can only think of a few where I was a newborn. I don’t know that many of the photos really had a lot of detail about what my bedroom or home looked like. I am honored when families let me into their home for these special newborn sessions. I start off by noticing the light in all of the bedrooms and using color, textures, and angles to add to the photo when I photograph you.

4. your baby is only this little once

Babies grow so fast, especially when they are newborns and I strive to photograph those little moments and body parts that soon you may forget. Those baby hands, toes, and the way they curl their body are all things I want to photograph during your lifestyle newborn session. I pretty much let the baby guide our session, when he’s sleeping we cuddle and photograph him. When he wants to be held, we get those photos when he needs to be soothed. I love using hands to tell the perspective and show the size of baby.

5. you need to be in the photos - for your children

If you leave keeping one of these things in mind about why to schedule a lifestyle newborn session (whether in your home or on location) PLEASE do it for your children. My mom looks back on photos of herself when I was a baby and cringes at her perm, but guess what - I get to see how beautiful she was when she rocked the curly big hair. My dad actually was a hobbyist photographer and I definitely got this interest from him and am glad to carry it on.

Your children will thank you for it.

Never mind that you think you need to lose a few pounds or you don’t feel pretty after having your baby. I will focus on capturing connection and you, your baby, and your family in a way that you will love and cherish.

So thankful you’re here!

my style of photography

How I define my Style of Photography | washington dc family photography

I think it’s really important to show photos of my work that I’m most proud of. I want the photographs to focus on things I look for when I am composing the photo. When you look through the photos on my website in the family, newborn, fresh 48, and maternity galleries, you will notice that the photos will usually have something in common. Whether that is composition, lighting, editing style, proximity, or touch, I am proud to have those elements in my work.

I am writing this blog post to share how I define my style of photography.

bright

I love photos that are edited bright rather than dark and moody. I want you to have a photo of yourself in the way that I photographed it, in lighting that was similar to when I photographed you.

Joyful

I have photographed several families and I always want to take some time at your session to document playful moments. Those can be when the kids are up high on dad’s shoulders, or when the siblings are competing in a race. I want you to have photos to help you remember the joyful, happy moments not only from your session but the joyful moments of your family.

colorful

if I see colorful home décor when I’m in your home, I will most likely ask to photograph that space. I shoot most of my photos with natural light but I always take a speedlight flash with me in the event that I want to bring out the colorful space in your home. Think of fun art, bedsheets, nursery walls, and playrooms. I love using all of those colorful home spaces during your in home session!

connected

I will usually tell your family to squeeze in tight and remain close together. There’s something about connection in photos that really helps to show the family dynamic. I love making sure everyone feels comfortable with one another and connected.

candid

I will pose some family interaction to get your family engaging and will get you to sing a song or just hold your baby tight. The result of some of this prompting is candid. The prompt and the moment may have been created at the session, and it is my job to make sure you have those laid back, candid and personal moments that are special to your family.

Are you interested in booking a family session? Send me a message and let’s get your session scheduled!

Differences between posed newborn and lifestyle newborn sessions | DC Family Photographers

I’m always looking for ways to be able to share images from Atlanta and Washington DC family sessions and I just realized that I hadn’t written a blog post sharing images from this lifestyle in-home newborn session yet! I met this family as they welcomed their second child and figured it would be a good time to write a little bit my session with them. Big sister was so helpful and she wanted to be involved with the session. She played with mom and dad, spent some time showing off her big sister book, and it was adorable to see how she was helping out with her baby brother. They are a couple of years apart and I loved spending time with them.

The family contacted me about wanting a newborn session and I loved that we had the session right in the comfort of their own home.

Having your family session in your home allows me to be able to photograph the natural elements in your home and be able to have a laid back session.

I’ve written a little bit in this blow post about what else you can expect from your lifestyle newborn session.

There are really two main types of newborn sessions - posed newborn sessions and lifestyle newborn sessions.

How do you know if you want a posed newborn session or lifestyle newborn session?

Posed newborn sessions are perfect if you want your baby in one of those cute little poses where they are typically sleeping and laying in some sort of curled up position. When scheduling this type of newborn session, it is ideal to schedule when your baby is younger and more sleepy, and it tends to make the posing easier.

Posed newborn sessions focus more on the baby wrapped in a swaddle or newborn outfit and may include some kind of backdrop.

Many posed newborn sessions are offered in a studio, but there are some photographers that will bring all of the props and posing items to your home. These sessions can take up to 4 hours to get your baby happy and posed and get those images just right, but the result yields beautiful images!

Lifestyle newborn sessions typically include images of both the newborn and family members.

I prefer the lifestyle newborn sessions for a variety of reasons, not only because everyone can participate, but also because the baby can be awake or asleep. And if the baby gets hungry during the session, we take a break. I actually continue photographing those moments of comfort as well as when the baby is nursing images if the family would like nursing images.

Lifestyle newborn sessions take place right in your home, so you don’t have to worry about packing up your belongings and driving to an unfamiliar studio. I’ve always gravitated towards lifestyle sessions because they tend to give more of a peek into the family’s life and document the family’s routines bringing home a new baby. I love capturing the beautiful nurseries that families work so hard to create.

We really go with the flow of the baby during the session and we are focusing more on capturing the moments that they are being held if they are fussy or laying on the bed if they are content and comfortable. I love including all family members in lifestyle newborn sessions.

Lifestyle sessions are also laid back and we aren’t as limited with timing of these, which allows for more flexibility. I’ve photographed newborns when they’ve been 1 month old!

And because I offer all-inclusive sessions, you get to have all of the images that help to share this beautiful time and you don’t have to worry about having to choose your favorite 10. My hope is that you will love so many more than 10 of your images!

Think you’re interested in booking a lifestyle newborn session? I’d love to chat with you!

Related blog posts:

Atlanta Family Photographers | Decatur Newborn Photography

I had the opportunity to photograph this family when I flew home to Atlanta last month for a lifestyle newborn session. I enjoyed my time getting to know this family and how we could document their new addition to their now family of four. Newborn sessions are perfect for this type of storytelling!

Lifestyle newborn sessions take place usually right in your home and we use your home elements to tell the story of your new and growing family. During this newborn session we started out by taking lifestyle portraits of this little guy and some with Mom, and then had his big sister join the fun. We were able to get so much variety that incorporated blankets that meant a lot to the family, lots of snuggle time with the baby, their family dog, and of course playful images of big sister on her trampoline and playing “skies” with her Dad in their gorgeous great room with beautiful skylights.

Are you interested in a newborn session in Atlanta or the DC area? Send me a message and let’s see how we can document this new and important time for you and your family.

related:

Victoria’s Lifestyle Newborn Session

Did you know I also offer Fresh 48 Sessions?

Check out the Fresh 48 Newborn Session information here!

4 reasons to include grandparents in your family photos

4 reasons to include grandparents in your family photos

you might not get to see them everyday

Sometimes grandparents have to travel a little ways to be with family and we want to make sure we make the most of their precious time. If the grandparents are coming into town to help once your new baby is born, let’s include them into the family session!

I photographed this family soon after the baby girl was born and I was excited to hear that the grandparents were there. I don’t have a lot of photos of me as a baby or young child with my grandparents so it’s something I always like to include when I am photographing a family for a family session or newborn session.

it brings out their playful side

What are grandparents typically known to do? Spoiling the children and playing with them!

It was so cute to see how playful the grandparents became when playing with this little guy. I think it definitely brings out the child in them and I fall in love seeing photos like this.

opportunity to get solo shots with children

During this lifestyle newborn session I wanted to focus on the entire family to provide a variety of shots, and towards the end of this newborn session we had several opportunities to get photos of the grandparents with just the baby. There was so much connection and love -two things that I focus on during my lifestyle family photography. The hands help to tell the story and I love the perspective holding that fresh new baby!

opportunity to get extended family photos taken

When the grandparents are included into the family session I think it’s important to take an extended family photo. It might have been a long time since the entire family has gotten together and I think it’s a special gift to be able to do this for them. This family had a lovely living room background that I thought was perfect for a backdrop for their family photos.

I can’t wait to photograph your family!

Newborn Photography Atlanta | Meet Victoria

I’m a little late posting these images from Victoria’s newborn photo shoot, but hopefully you won’t be disappointed because the images from this lifestyle newborn session will make up for it. We got such a variety of images from his lifestyle newborn session. I posted recently in this blog post 3 steps to a relaxed newborn session because I feel like you should know what to expect when you book an atlanta newborn photographer.

Not sure the best time to schedule for lifestyle family or newborn photo shoot? I’ve got some great news. With lifestyle family photography, any time is the perfect time to get updated family photos. It might seem chaotic with a little one because this might be your first child and you might not have a clue what to do. Maybe it’s child number three and big sister and brother need a lot of attention. That’s okay! Don’t stress about your newborn session.

This newborn photo session was laid back and we went with the baby’s pace. Newborn photo shoots tend to be a little slower than family sessions because the baby is the one calling the shots for what will happen. She gets hungry. She cries. She wants to be held by Mom and Dad. And that’s exactly the photos you will get in your newborn gallery. All of those special moments that tell your story.

Blog post: In Home Newborn Photo Ideas

Lifestyle sessions are laid back. They should feel like you are spending quality time with your family, with the exception that I will be photographing your love and experiences.

There are several locations in Atlanta that you can choose to have your newborn photo shoot and I think my favorite place for lifestyle newborn sessions is right in your home. That’s right, your comfortable space. I come right to you and we use your family items, your decor, and your loving home for the newborn session. I think the best time for a newborn shoot is once you’re comfortable and feel like you can welcome the experience. For some families that can be when your child is about a week old, and if you’d rather wait until the baby is 3-4 weeks, that’s okay too.

Lifestyle newborn photography doesn’t focus on getting your baby super sleepy and posed in that perfect position in the prop basket. Those images are beautiful, but that is not my job as your lifestyle family photographer because

I focus on connection, emotion, and closeness.

I am a lifestyle photographer because you deserve to have photos that tell a story of exactly who you are and what your family looks like. I want you to feel something when you see these photos. Maybe you think to yourself “I can’t believe she was so small!” or “I had no idea she would be so good for her session” or maybe something like “wow-that was so easy and I can’t wait to see how the photos turned out”.

It’s my job to get to know your family, learn names of your family members and children and have your children trust me. I want to play with them. I want to sing with them.

My goal is to get your family to interact naturally and show the true beauty of every family member.

I’d love to hear from you if you are welcoming a new baby and want a way to look back at this special time.