One Year Milestone Session at Home | DC Family Photography

Babies grow so fast and it’s really important to have a way to slow down time!

This family reached out to me because they had family in town to celebrate their daughter’s first birthday and wanted to get updated family photos.

This one year milestone session combined my love for in home family photos and including all family members, even grandparents!

The little girl had just woken up from nap and I captured some really sweet moments with her mama, then with dada, and then moved onto the family’s bedroom to get a variety of images and locations. We ended in the living room when we had the entire family together and both sets of grandparents.

Lifestyle family sessions will always be laid back, capturing connection, snuggles, and emotion.

Not only do I focus on family members I like to take individual portraits of each child.

In home sessions are really special because the session takes place in the family’s natural environment and children in particular seem to be really comfortable at home. I love to include items that are special to a family as well.

Have you considered taking family photos at home? Send me a message! I’d love to photograph special moments of your family.

Playful In Home Family Session | Washington DC

I was lucky enough to photograph Kate from Kate Decorates! Walking into her home was such a DREAM and I just didn’t even know where to begin! Her family was adorable and we had such a fun and playful family session in their home. I always feel honored to photograph a family inside their home and to get a sneak peek into their life! Kate has the cutest design style and so. much. color so you know it was a good match!

During her in home session we took colorful family photos in the family’s living room, den, a little bit in the dining room and some near the front door.

Your family session should take place anywhere that best fits your family! In this case, taking the family photos at home in the Washington DC area was perfect.

Have you ever considered taking family photos at home or do you usually go outdoors at a park? Send me a message and we can figure out the best place to take your family photos!

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!

DMV Maternity Photographers | In Home Maternity Ideas

There’s usually SO much that comes out of a photo shoot that is right in the comfort of your own home! I typically offer in home lifestyle newborn sessions and I did something a little different offering this in home maternity session. And now I want to photograph more families in their home!

When you decide to schedule a maternity session, you may have a good idea of what you’d want your maternity session to look like. Being a lifestyle photographer, my sessions are, you guessed it- lifestyle!

So what does an in home maternity session look like?

snuggling in close with your family 

It’s so important to get a photo of the entire family, even when you book a maternity session! Maternity sessions are focused on photographing you as a beautiful expecting mama and making sure your family can be included in the session as well. We started the session getting in close and snuggling.

using your home environment 

Of course we are in your home and we use your home elements! This can mean a colorful girls room, it can mean photographing a cool wall, a rug, or anything else that has meaning to you. Photography is all about capturing this moment in time and what your life and home looks like in this moment!

unique posing with the bed

After we were finished with snuggles with the whole family I wanted to get mama with her girls and show off her youngest baby in her belly. I worked with the light and wanted to do something fun so had mama lay down and the girls were willing participants to be close to mama and their baby sibling. It’s fun to move around and get different angles that all help to tell a story.

dramatic window light 

Most of the photos you see on my website are bright images with contrast and color. I do also like to experiment with light and window light. The nursery didn’t have a lot of light but I did see a pocket of light to use so we moved the crib and I used this time to focus on mama. I love the contrast and the darker editing on these and it helps to focus on her new and exciting bundle of joy that will be joining the family very soon.

kitchen light 

Towards the middle of the session the girls wanted a snack so I grabbed some photos of just mom and dad. Their kitchen light was amazing and who would have thought to use the kitchen? During your in home family session we will use areas in your home with great light, or light that will make an interesting photo. I loved the brightness of the kitchen photos and it was so awesome to photograph mom & dad’s sweet love!

incorporating child elements 

This family had a wall of the girls’ art and I knew I needed to take a few photos to document this special element during their in home session. Do you have anything that is special to your child or anything that you think would be important to look at 10 years from now? This can be something your child made, a hand me down/handmade blanket, or even a photo in your child’s room. I don’t have many photos of myself in my baby room so I love providing this gift for families as memories.

using the front door

At the end of this family’s session we had some playtime in the backyard and then took some photos right in the front of the house. I loved the way they turned out!

Thinking of booking a maternity session? Check out the Maternity Gallery

Kirkwood Atlanta Family Session | Tabitha Maegan Photography

Thank you for being here! I’m all about color and connection and I love sharing photos from recent family sessions on the blog. I think it’s a great way not only to show off the beautiful families I get to photograph, but to also show what a lifestyle family session gallery looks like. We move around a lot during our sessions and I try to get a variety of images of the children alone and with their parents, as well as a group family photo.

This session was with the Sunshine family in Atlanta, Georgia and I absolutely loved seeing them again. I had photographed their daughter when she was two days old during a fresh 48 birth place session and it was awesome to see how big she’s gotten!

This lifestyle family session began indoors in their home and we transitioned outside. Can we just take a few minutes to admire their front porch? Wow! It’s beautiful! I loved the lights and the swing and they helped tell this family’s story. We ended our session in their backyard and it was fun to see their daughter explore and play with Mommy and Daddy.

I’m currently offering lifestyle family photography in Washington, DC and love how much this city has to offer. If you’re looking for a family photographer in the Washington, DC or Atlanta area please send me a message. I’d love to photograph you!

Potomac Family Photographers | In Home Milestone Session

One of my close friends moved back to her home state of New York a couple of years ago. We met in Atlanta and I was happy for her move but knew I wouldn’t get to see her as much. We talk often and I was so excited when she became pregnant with her daughter and I was already planning when I would get the chance to meet her!

I had seen photos of her daughter online and knew when I had a trip planned to New York I couldn’t contain my excitement to meet her and schedule a 10 month photo session at home to show how big she’s gotten!

It is so neat to see one of your friends now be a Mom! Her daughter is such a bubbly, fun little baby and I loved spending time with them.

Most of the portraits I take are of newborns and families, but I loved this 10-month milestone session. She was such a wiggle worm and wouldn’t sit still for too long. She kept me moving fast to be able to catch her for a photo and I love the variety we got!

Interested in booking a lifestyle family session?

Head on over to my contact page and send me a message!

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.

atlanta newborn photographers | in home newborn photography

Lifestyle newborn photography sessions have my heart! Maybe you became a new parent and you’re still figuring out all the parenting things and trying to get your chaotic schedule in order. Or maybe you are now a family of four and your oldest child is now a big brother. That’s a new role for him and he’s still learning what this is like! Maybe your three year old is still dealing with this change and takes a little while to warm up to new people.

Let me tell you something - I’ve seen it all and don’t worry at all!!

The great thing about having a newborn session at home is we can capitalize on all of these new moments and details!

I can tell you why it would be helpful to have a lifestyle newborn session in my blog post 10 ways to tell a story during your in-home newborn session because there are so many everyday moments that you’ll want to remember from this special time! Things may be a little crazy for a while with your new addition but during your newborn session,

relax and let me do the work of slowing you down a little bit and making sure you have some photos to tell this time of your life.

We took our time during this in home newborn session and I am glad I got to photograph this family of three. I made sure to get some shots of her time with both parents and wanted to include the family’s home environment. I was absolutely drawn to their colorful bookshelf as well as their amazing sunroom. They also had a collection of Dad’s hats in the bedroom and I definitely thought it added to the story of the uniqueness of their family. Baby girl did so well for her session and the times that she was a little fussy and hungry I made sure to photograph this intimate time with Mom.

Be sure to check out the blog post 3 steps to a relaxed newborn session for some helpful ideas of how to relax and remember - you just had a baby.

We don’t need perfection, we just want photos to capture your right now.

Interested to book a lifestyle newborn session?

Send me an e-mail or leave me your info and we can talk about the best time to schedule your session!

sneak peek - baby j - lifestyle newborn session

in home newborn session in atlanta, georgia

Check out more lifestyle newborn images in the newborn gallery!

sneak peek - baby g - lifestyle newborn session

in home lifestyle newborn session in atlanta, georgia

Check out more lifestyle newborn images in the newborn gallery!

5 ways to incorporate color into your family session

For anyone that knows me knows I love color! I’m currently wearing a mustard yellow sweater and plum pants so I definitely know a little thing about color and what it means to me. Sure, some things in my apartment and some of my clothes are a little more on the neutral side for sure. But during family shoots, especially for in home lifestyle shoots, I am photographing your family while simultaneously scoping out areas in your home that you might otherwise not thing twice about.

Over the last several sessions I’ve come across some really cool pillows, bedding, walls, and even patios that I totally loved photographing.  

If you are familiar with my work, you’ll see that I try my best to edit my images similar to the way it was photographed and I slightly enhance the vibrance and feel of the photo. If I’m in a neutral colored nursery then I’ll edit the images to represent being simple and classic. If I’m in a home that has a colored wall, it will most likely be photographed during your session!

I’ve searched a few family sessions and came across the following photos that I wanted to share.

Keep reading if you want to learn …

5 ways to incorporate color into your family session

1. Go to an urban location

Atlanta is full of colorful markets, parks, trails, eateries, coffee shops and they all make great areas if your family is looking for an urban location. This session took place at Ponce City Market, which is full of color and art. We spent most of our time outside, but definitely made it a point to head in to check out some of the cool walls and barn doors. There are some neat murals at Ponce City Market so definitely spend some time admiring everything they have to offer. Bonus- you can also find some really neat books, clothing, and children’s stores so bring some extra spending money!

 2. Photograph a fun wall

I’ve definitely talked about this wall in my blog post called 10 must have photos for your in home maternity session because I couldn’t get over it! The Mamas spent so much time decorating this gender neutral nursery and I made it a priority to incorporate as much of the nursery into the maternity session as possible. The nursery had a ton of color, elephants, and that amazing wall. Amiright?

 3. Spend some time in the playroom

If you have small children, let’s take some family photos in the playroom! There is so much innocence in the playroom and it’s easy to capture your child’s genuine expression when they are in their natural environment. This toddler was just given a baby sister, so once we began taking a break of the baby, I spent some time with big sister while she played and read books with Mommy and Daddy. Blocks, toys and books serve a perfect way to add color to your photo!

4. Look for a patterned or textured rug

When I am scoping out your home for color, I’m definitely open to using neat rugs and carpets that would help with my vision. This image was taken at a newborn session and while we had her in a simple onesie I knew I wanted to incorporate that neat orange rug and I love how it came out!

 5. Look for color or patterns on the bed!

I have shared this image many many times, and I am going to share it again. These little girls are my best friend’s nieces and I get to see them a few times a year (definitely not enough!) and when I do, I always bring my camera so I can document them being themselves. They were spending the night with Aunt Deva and I took out my camera for a few shots of them laying upside down. I loved that the bed sheet was this teal/turquoise and really helped the girls to pop in their pajamas!

I hope you enjoyed reading some of the ways I’ve been able to add color into family photos. You may be more of a neutrals person, but I think I can tackle finding something unique or colorful that would look great as a prop or background in your family photo!

Currently looking for a lifestyle family photographer? Send me a message!

sneak peek - baby v - lifestyle newborn session

sneak peek lifestyle newborn session in atlanta, georgia

Check out more lifestyle newborn images in the newborn gallery!

10 Must Have Photos for Your In-Home Maternity Session

When you plan your maternity session you have the option to think about the best place for your “backdrop”. What I love about in home maternity sessions is the personalized feel of the session.

The baby isn’t here yet, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take some time to document this new place where he or she will be spending most of their time.

I’ve put together a shot list below of how you can get the most of your in home maternity session.

10 Must have photos for your in-home maternity session

1. Wide view of nursery

I have a wide-angle lens and I think it comes in most handy for getting a wide view of the nursery elements from wall to wall. You can see from a distance all of the hard work that’s been put into decorating the nursery and I love starting my maternity and newborn sessions with a wide angle view.

2. The bump

Helloooo Mama, you’ve got a belly so you need to show it loud and proud! Wear something comfortable that allows you to move around, but also hugs your belly to show it off!

3. The family

One of the reasons I love being a lifestyle photographer is being able to tell a story using photography. Be sure to get a mix of maternity photos by yourself but also include your significant other and your children!

4. Fun and interesting areas in nursery

Can we just take a second to talk about this wall? It’s amazing! When you see areas in the home that you want to incorporate into the photos, totally do it! I knew I needed to get this wall and all of the hard work that was put into designing it!

5. Important family items

Sometimes family members and friends will give gifts to the baby. This can mean a hand made blanket, a photo frame, or a special book. Look for unique ways to incorporate this in your maternity session. Bonus points if you incorporate a book written by Jimmy Fallon. Love him!

6. Master bedroom

During this in home maternity session we walked into the master room and I was immediately blown away. First of all, my love for all things floral automatically triggered me to take some photos on the bed. It’s gorgeous! I like that the master bedroom gives a personal feel and I incorporate the master room in not only in home maternity sessions, but also in home newborn sessions. 

7. Color

For homes that have fun walls or furniture I always look for ways to also add those to the photos. This chair was crying out to be photographed! Mom had an idea to use this chair in her bedroom and it contrasted so nicely with her dress!

8. A dress

My very next thing! When you get your maternity photos taken, think about how you will feel the most comfortable and gorgeous. After all, you’ve got the pregnancy glow! This dress matched really all of the different places we photographed at this maternity session.

9. Pets

Pets are part of your family so why not make them part of your family photos? It took just a few minutes to calm them down to focus and sit still enough for the photos but I think it was sooo worth it! I’ve photographed with both cats and dogs and love the dynamic it adds to the family photos!

10. Nursery details

When you put so much time and effort into the nursery it can be easy to forget to focus on the details. Take a few minutes to photograph the small stuffed animals, the books, the changing table, and anything else that is special to you.

Check out the maternity gallery for more of my work.

If you are interested in booking a lifestyle session, head on over to my contact page and we will be in touch!

3 Steps to a Relaxed Newborn Session | Atlanta Family Photographers

When you book me for your lifestyle newborn session, the last thing I want to happen is to add stress. I actually want the opposite and want you to have a relaxed newborn session!

You’ve just had a baby that has maybe been home for a week or two. You might have a toddler sibling that is still getting used to the routine and that there is this crying baby that doesn’t know how to control their voice or emotions. Maybe it’s your first child and you want to have this special time documented and want to be in the photos too. I am excited to share with you a few things we can do for a relaxed newborn session.

3 Steps to a Relaxed Newborn Session

1. capture the details

   When you are preparing to have your new baby, you are also preparing the baby’s nursery. I’ve come across so many really amazing nurseries that have had so much time and energy put into them to look special. This can include special toys or handmade items from family members and friends, it can include a special theme, and it can also include special photos of family. With the wide range of what can be included in a nursery, I think it’s really important to make sure to capture the details, and I can’t leave the nursery details off the list.

   Capturing the details also means making sure you know how small your child is in his or her nursery, or the way they stretch when they are getting out of the swaddle.

   And of course, getting detail shots of the baby’s hands, feet, and their head of hair.

2. Don’t Rush

   We know during our lifestyle newborn session we want photos. We want a photo of your new baby in her new dress or his new outfit. We know we want family members, and we know we want to document this special time. One thing that holds us back a little bit with our agenda is that

   the baby will do what he or she wants to do, when they want to do it. We can’t rush! We have to be able to go with the flow.

   Newborn babies need to be fed, they need to be changed, and they get cold. They are still figuring out this world and how to communicate. That is totally fine! We don’t want to rush these newborn sessions because they are lifestyle in nature. I like to allocate about two hours for newborn shoots which gives us enough time for the breaks. When these things naturally happen, I am there to photograph them!

3. Be Flexible

   I am kind of already saying this as I’m thinking about how to be relaxed for your newborn session, we also have to be flexible. We might think that we are going to change the baby into his new outfit and realize he had another idea and needs to be soothed and settled before trying to put him into this outfit that he doesn’t really care about. What I like to do at this time is continue chatting with the family. If there are siblings, I like to spend time with them and get them engaged in an activity. Maybe big sister wants to show me her new bedspread in her room. I’m going to follow her and take some photos while I’m in there!

   We definitely have a plan to have this lifestyle newborn session but sometimes things happen and being flexible will definitely help to be more relaxed at what can be this crazy time of your life!

   Think you might be interested in booking a lifestyle newborn session? Check out my newborn portfolio and then send me a message on my contact form and we will get your session scheduled!

6 Photo Ideas for Baby's First Christmas

So it’s your baby’s first Christmas and you want to take family photos. Now what? Whether your baby is an infant, sitter or toddler, I’ve listed out 6 photo ideas for your baby’s first Christmas. If you’d like ideas about how to incorporate holiday items and family members that add to your family’s Christmas photo session, keep reading below!

1. lighting

The master bedroom in this home had quite a bit of natural light so we took advantage. We sat the baby on the bed and faced him towards the window. This helped to illuminate him and create catch lights in his eyes. I also loved that the bedding was simple so it naturally allows the focus to be on him!

2. focus on the details

It wouldn’t be a Christmas photo shoot without some holiday items! I suggest keeping it simple for the shots with the baby. I love a naked baby because you get to see their adorable little body and chunky baby fat! Mom and Dad had some Christmas socks and a hat they wanted to incorporate so we decided to keep it simple so that the focus could be on the little guy and his first Christmas!

3. use lights

Mom had the idea to use the Christmas lights and I loved how they turned out! Little ones love putting things in their mouth so you’ll want to be a little close to them just in case they decide it’s a fun toy to put in their mouth. When you plug in the Christmas lights it be easier if you turn off the overhead light. This will help to create the natural look that isn’t too bright. Keep in mind these Christmas lights can get hot if plugged in for an extended amount of time so I would take as many shots as you can before the lights get too warm for baby.

4. include family traditions / keepsakes

Of course it’s the baby’s first Christmas but we also want to document this special time with Mom and Dad! You can get creative with these. If there is a tradition a family has during the holidays such as kissing under the mistletoe, feel free to incorporate that into a family photo!

5. wear family christmas pajamas

I typically wouldn’t suggest everyone wearing the exact same thing during a typical non-holiday family session, but with this being a Christmas theme, we can’t forget Christmas clothes! I just loved how adorable they are with their Christmas jammies. I might have to shop around this year just to have a photo like this!

6. minclude the pets

Pets are part of the family! Mom and Dad had this pup before the baby was born so it would be unfair to not include him in the family photos. I just love the pup’s reaction in the photos. Can you tell he is excited?

If you have any ideas about how to create fun and unique holiday family photos, I’d love to read your ideas below!

Looking to book your next family photo session? Send me a message!

in-home lifestyle family session | {jean family}

Lifestyle photography does not always mean that we have to have our session inside but in this particular case I was happy to offer it in their home. I feel that we got so many great shots of this beautiful family and I was happy to have their home as the location of the session. Home is the perfect backdrop for your lifestyle family session. There is something about being in in your natural space that makes it feel more personal and intimate. I met this wonderful photographer Dadiana and had so much time with her and her beautiful family! 

My goal as a lifestyle family photographer is to capture connection in a genuine and comfortable way. With children being different ages, there are several ways to make this connection happen. The little girls in this family are quite young so naturally we had a little tickle fight. Tickles can be such a fun activity that brings out natural smiles and expressions from the little ones. I thought it was adorable that the little one had ways to steal the show with her fresh expressions!

I think getting group shots of the family is important and we try to get those out of the way at the beginning of the session, but the rest of the time we really just carry on and I'm there to capture the connection. The two girls loved jumping on the couch and you can see they have such a loving little friendship already. One of their activities with Dad is to pretend he is a slide and take over. How fun! (Sorry Dad!). Lastly I spent a few minutes getting some shots of just Mom and Dad together. Aren't they the cutest? 

Check out another recent lifestyle family session on the blog. I loved incorporating this little guy's interest and love for chalk! If you're interested in booking a lifestyle family session with me or if you have any questions, head on over to my contact and faq pages. I'd love to be your family photographer! 

{jenna & cole} | mommy and me session | atlanta lifestyle photography

This was my second time photographing this Mommy and toddler and we decided to do a Mommy and Me session! Click here if you want to see Cole's one year cupcake smash! Cole is such a fun toddler and we went with the flow during this in-home lifestyle session. What I love about this age is that it ends up being more fun and relaxed when you go with the toddler's lead and what he or she wants to do.

We had so much fun today reading books, playing with puzzles, eating a snack, playing with toys, playing airplane with mommy, and really just seeing what Cole had in mind to do. I love capturing the way she and he look and adore each other. Mom is a local photographer so it's always fun to give her some fresh images of her and her little snugglebug!

That's what lifestyle is all about. Capturing real life. If you are interested in booking a family session, get in touch with me by filling out this contact form and we can get something on the calendar! Can't wait to meet you! 

{colombo family} | baby jovie | atlanta newborn photographer

There's something so fresh and so new about a newborn baby coming into the world. I met this sweet family and felt special to be invited into their home. This little bundle of joy was 3 weeks old at the time I got to photograph her for her newborn session. She's already got the personality to not want to miss out on the world.

Sometimes newborns at this age have a hard time sleeping for us, but I was happy to have gotten a few sweet moments of being cuddled and awake with Mommy and Daddy. I love when the dads join in on the cuddling with baby, and the bond between a daddy and a baby girl is something so special. The way that this dad adored the most special girls in his life showed in these photos. I also wanted to make sure to capture the sweet moments of intimacy and nursing with Mommy because these moments will be gone so soon, and I love being able to provide families with images that they can look back on and remember the moment the way it felt. 

Thinking about a newborn session? Check out the recent posts on the blog here and here. I'd love to hear from you if you're interested in booking!