arlington virginia photographer

Northern Virginia Lifestyle Family Photography

I look forward to photographing this family each year. Some examples of the sessions we have done together include newborn, 6 month, and 1 year photos. I’m so grateful for families that return each year to document how their families grow.

This blog post includes information about lifestyle family photography with two young children!

If you have two young children you know that it might be a little unrealistic to have super high expectations of how the children will act on the day of their session. Children often have their own agenda and it’s not unusual for them to want to explore a little bit during an outdoor family session.

As a Northern Virginia family and newborn photographer, Tabitha Maegan Photography offers laid back sessions for families that are looking to embrace the “right now” even when it feels chaotic.

At the beginning of each lifestyle family session I find it helpful to take the family portraits with everyone close. When possible, I love when the parents are holding onto the little ones. We only get a few years when they are this age so I make sure to tell parents to hold them for a few photos!

If the children aren’t really interested in the posed portraits of the family, we move onto another idea. Instead of forcing smiles, we go with the flow and embrace their feelings and emotions (within reason).

We spent some time getting portraits of each of the boys. Portraits of children can include them standing or sitting and looking at the camera and smiling, but portraits can also look like a child not wanting to leave their mother’s arms because they feel safe. We will make it work! They are both portraits and both beautiful.

During outdoor family photo sessions in the Northern Virginia area, it’s important to know that kids will explore, they might get fussy, they might laugh uncontrollably, but I guarantee one thing you’ll have a chance to present with your little one.

There’s usually time during the family session when children want to be with a preferred parent or want to play a game. These types of interactions create genuine connection and emotions. As your family photographer, one of my jobs is to document those moments. For you, for your children. For this moment in time.

It’s such an honor meeting new families and seeing families return. I get to play with the kids, talk with the parents, and help to photograph this moment in time.

I find that when parents and children are more relaxed during the session, we get the best family photos.

Can you imagine what a session of your family would look like?

Send me a message and let me know ideas you have for your family photos and we can take a look at our schedules!

Fresh 48 Newborn Photography at Home | Arlington Virginia Newborn Photographer

With the COVID pandemic affecting so many parts of life over the last 2.5 years, it’s no surprise that the way people work and do business has changed. When this family reached out to me, the hospital was still limiting visitors which meant I wouldn’t be able to do their Fresh 48 at the hospital as planned.

The family wanted to make sure their sweet baby girl’s photos were still taken within a few days of birth so do you know what? We had to pivot to doing the Fresh 48 session at home! And the session was so beautiful!

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So what does a Fresh 48 session at home look like?

It looks like parents soaking in every moment they can with their baby within a few days of being born.

She was a sleepy baby and we got the family all together, had her held delicately by mom and dad, and we had to make sure to get her in the hospital blanket & hat. This was actually the first time I did an in-home Fresh 48 and I’m so lucky I got to do this!

I loved how natural this session was and because baby girl was so laid back, we were able to get a variety of photos of her. I knew that I was going to see the family for a lifestyle newborn session in a few weeks so I wanted to keep this session focused more in the living room and nursery area.

Fresh 48 sessions are the perfect way to remember the first couple of days of being born and all that comes with it.

They can be very simple and one of my favorite ways is to include diaper shots and hospital items.

I seriously loved this session and it was such a pleasure to work with this family. I hope you enjoy these!

Do you have any questions about booking a Fresh 48 newborn session? Please reach out to me and I’m happy to share more information with you!