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!

What to Expect from your Lifestyle Family Session | Atlanta Family Photographers

When potential clients reach out to me about booking a family session I get really excited! I get excited to get to know the family and what makes their family special. People typically book a family photographer once a year at certain times, whether it’s the spring, the holidays, or to celebrate a new addition to the family. Or maybe the family books sessions through out the year.

I want to get to know the families briefly on the phone, learn everyone’s names, and learn about what the children like to do. It is also important to know how their children typically behave in front of the camera. Some children really love the camera and others might not want anything to do with me. It is always helpful to know this information ahead of time so I can be a match to the family’s goals and expectations of their family session.

Once I am able to gather details from the family that will help me capture the connection and tell a story through images, I mention to them what to expect.

Here a few things that I aim to do during your family session.

Here are 3 tips for what to expect during your lifestyle family session:

1. Have fun

   First and foremost, getting your photos should be fun! I know it can be stressful to figure out what to wear, or figure out the best location for your family, but hopefully I can take the stress out of that for you and share ideas for What to Wear. Aside from that, clothing doesn’t really matter. What matters is that your family has fun. Have fun!

   This family had two young children, that at times were interested in the camera and other times didn’t really care that much. It’s important that I keep your family close together while you keep your children engaged in fun! This can mean tickling your little guy, or seeing how he can pile up and hug on Mommy. It can also mean allowing your little guy to play with leaves and talk about the color or shape! Or maybe your little girl just wants to he held. I’m there to document that for you!

2. Follow your Child’s Lead

   Once we get the important shots out of the way, you know, the ones for the grandparents with everyone looking at the camera, we can relax a little bit. My favorite images are always the ones where we allow the child to naturally explore and get into something he or she wants to do. When we let the child lead the way, they will naturally be motivated to interact and play, and this helps to bring out natural expressions from the child as well.

   This little guy would stick with us for a few shots and then wanted to explore nature. He wanted to collect leaves big and small, and he wanted to look at the little bugs crawling on the stone. It was totally fine, we are at a park! Let’s have fun and allow me document your child’s interest at this age. Let’s let them lead the way! Sometimes if your child doesn’t really show interest or maybe there is something that you know he or she will like, we can plan an activity.

3. engage your child in an activity

   I was actually photographing Mama and baby girl for a little while when I glanced over and saw this little guy exploring the rocks and the water. Dad was already there supervising for safety so I encouraged Dad to stay close to the little guy and just be with him and that I would photograph them. And that’s exactly what happened. I didn’t need to set up this activity, it was already going with the two of them. You can see how engaged they were in this activity to find the bugs and look at the water. We didn’t really know this ahead of time or before the session that the child would be interested in just that, but the activity naturally unfolded. I love the way they are together and enjoying what they are doing.

   I can’t wait to meet your family and take unique photos that help to tell your family’s story. Check out more images in the family gallery. If you think you may be interested in booking a session, please say hello on this contact form and we can chat!

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!

baby milestone session | {krishan is 9 months}

I love when families come back for their sessions! I have been lucky enough to photograph Krishan at his lifestyle newborn session and again at his 6 months lifestyle session. Each time I see him he has gotten cuter and cuter and is doing all kinds of new things! His recent milestone s pulling himself up to stand and scaring Mommy and Daddy. He has the most adorable smile and he melts my heart every time. And can we just talk about his outfits??

This time around we were celebrating him turning 9 months and what better way than to have a summer theme. We went to a nearby park with a pretty lake and it was perfect! You can't really have a summer photo shoot at a park like this without eating something festive. Watermelon for the win! I will also say that these overalls brought this whole summer theme family session together. 

I hope you enjoy these photos of this guy snuggling with Mom and Dad and eating watermelon as much as I do and I am looking forward to seeing him when he turns the big O-N-E! 

If you are interested in booking a lifestyle family session, head on over to my contact page to learn about me and send me a message. Can't wait to hear from you! 

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! 

atlanta family photographer | {zembillas family}

I love meeting new families and photographing them for lifestyle family sessions! Typically families reach out to me to welcome a new baby, celebrate a birthday, or because they want some updated blog/business portraits but I think summer is the perfect reason (and season) to have family photos taken! That's right, you don't have to wait until a holiday to take family photos!

I hadn't met Dad until today but I had taken Mommy and Me photos of Cole and his Mama and you can tell they have so much fun together. I love taking photos of families doing what they love to do. In this case, this little guy is so into rocks and throwing them into the pool (sorry Mom and Dad) so I wanted to incorporate that into our lifestyle family session. Of course during these lifestyle family sessions, there's always room for snuggles, hugs and kisses too. This little guy also loves chalk so I definitely wanted to capture the little artist at work.

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do! Interested in booking a family session? Head on over to my contact page and send me a message. I also have a FAQ page to let you know what to expect. Interested to see what else I offer? Head on over to the blog! 

{kaleb} | kaleb turns one | marietta lifestyle family photographer

They say time flies when you're having fun, and I assure you, Kaleb had so much fun turning one! I was excited to document his first birthday party, because ya only turn one once! 

He's such a lucky little guy to have so many family members around him. From getting help looking like a cutie wearing a bow tie, to getting help opening presents, and then eating birthday cake outside, it was sure of a day!

If you'd like to enjoy your child's special day, allow me to take the pressure off and help to document the birthday! Head on over to my contact page or check out the family gallery here!

{abby lynn} | playground fun at piedmont park | atlanta lifestyle photographer

There's so much joy in hanging out with a toddler. We had this session at the park just for fun and I was happy to click during some cute moments of AL playing on the monkey bars (those are words I don't hear as often anymore!), playing with wood chips, and just running around. Last time I got to see her, I got to take some daddy daughter photos at the park. 

I love how free spirited children are at this age and it wouldn't hurt to learn a thing or two from them. They are bright eyed, happy, hyper, and just excited for all of the things. 

Looking at these images just makes me want to go to a park and have fun. I can remember the feeling of the grass and just hanging out playing with sticks! 

What I love about lifestyle sessions is the ability to allow the child to take the lead and enjoy all of the small moments. If you're interested in booking a session, head over to some of my favorite images or drop me a message on my contact page! 

{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! 

{krishan} | six months | decatur family photography

I was so excited to see this little guy, I hadn't seen him since I photographed him at 3 weeks! So much has changed in six month and he's such a big boy! Mom and Dad had a cute nautical theme that looked so cute with the decor and matching outfits! We had it all planned out to have more than just the one boat in the scene but this little guy was busy and totally didn't care we were trying to stage the area! 

I loved the lifestyle feel of this session, there's such an intimate feeling having lifestyle sessions in the home, and they had the perfect master bedroom for it. A clean space and more focus on the baby! What I also loved was that Grandma joined the fun and got in for a few of the photos. I love including all the family members and it provides such a nice variety of choices of natural interactions! 

We went outside to the backyard to wrap up our session and the little guy loved it! I can't wait to see him at 9 months. If you're interested in a newborn or family session, please contact me and we can get something on the calendar! 

-Tabitha 

{carrion family} | christmas fun | dallas family photography

Although we aren't technically family, I enjoy every bit of the time I get to spend with my best friend's family. They take me in as their own, and I get to play with the two silliest, smartest, cutest little girls (okay I might be a little biased) a couple times a year. I have watched these girls grow over the years and I enjoy the time I get to see them. I bring along my camera to document the activities and silly games because it's always a treat to look back on them even just a few months later to see how much they've grown!

We began our day outside as the girls showed me their new Christmas gifts. They were so excited to show off their new clothes and their new bikes. Don't they just look so cute? We spent a little time inside to take a break to color, and then ended up going back outside in the backyard. They live in a small town north of Atlanta and they have so much land on their property. Living in the city you wouldn't get as much land as they would, so we definitely take advantage between having the bonfire going, the 4-wheeler rides, and letting the dogs run free. The backyard was such a wooded dream! The family stayed warm between having the bonfire going and staying warm with snuggles.

What I love about lifestyle sessions is the ability for the family to carry on the way they would as if I wasn't there. I just happen to be at the right place with my camera, ready to click! With two fast-moving little girls they definitely keep me on my feet and I love the way the photos tell the story. They are used to getting their photos taken but I still sometimes try to be sneaky so I can capture the genuine expression and emotions when they are playing. 

Check out the blog for other recent sessions such as this Newborn Session and this lifestyle session at Ponce City Market in Atlanta! 

{trumbull family} | family fun | lilburn family photographer

I had a coworker reach out to me about a lifestyle in-home session of her family and I was so excited. This was actually the second time I got to photograph them and knew it would be fun to get some holiday images for them to send out! She's the only lady in the family but I will say the boys in her family have so much personality!

We spent some time outside capturing some day to day activities. The little one loved playing with the basketball and the older one loved showing me riding his bicycle. There is so much personality in these images, and I was so excited to get the gallery to this family. Our outdoor activities included playing around and of course getting tickles and snuggles from Mom and Dad. I was excited to see how the family decorated their Christmas tree, and everyone was so excited to show me all of their ornaments. It was special to photograph their family traditions. 

I love when families reach out to me about lifestyle holiday family photos because you can allow things to naturally unfold. Check out this little guy's outfit for these holiday photos!

{the hall family} | extended family fun | decatur lifestyle family photographer

There is something so special about getting extended family together in one place. I didn't grow up with my cousins and grandparents and I enjoyed being able to spend some time with this family and capture the things that are special to this family. They wanted to be outside so naturally the family pups were able to be part of the session. I'm all about capturing all members of the family, including the pups! They stayed with us for some of the photos and then decided to just walk away when they were finished and didn't want to be a part of it anymore. But that's okay! 

There was so much laughter during this session and it was fun to just follow the girls around! This park in Decatur has some great trees and woods so naturally the girls had lots of ideas of what they wanted to do. I was just there for the ride! 

If you're interested in a family session, please say hello and I would love to talk to you! I love getting to know families and here are some recent sessions on the blog! 

{musson family} | six month sitter | atlanta lifestyle photography

When you're six months old you can look cute pretty much doing anything. You can tell how much joy this family has for their littlest Cam! I loved that they wanted to include their furchild Max during our time together, because what's a family session without the whole family! We took these photos close to the holidays so keep scrolling if you want to see how much Christmas spirit this little guy had! 

What I love about lifestyle sessions is that there will always be a time to get a family portrait, but sometimes you have to let the Playtime at the Park moments naturally happen that might include stick fights! If you'd like a session at your home or in your backyard, check out a recent Backyard Fun session here!

{stanwood family} | ponce city market | atlanta baby photographer

I had a new family reach out to me about taking family portraits for the holidays. The family previously had a lifestyle session in their home, and this time around they decided on an urban setting (which is also so much fun!). We went to Ponce City Market which is such a neat area in Atlanta. There are shops, restaurants, a nice rooftop, and lots of great surroundings, art, and decor. 

It was a little chilly in the morning but we were able to take many photos before the place got busy, which sometimes is hard to avoid on the weekends! This little guy was 5 months at the time and you can see so much joy in his face when he got to play with Mommy and Daddy. He had the cutest dimples and facial expressions. 

I'm already looking forward to the next time I have a session at Ponce City Market! 

It doesn't have to be a special holiday for me to want to meet you and capture your family as you are, wherever you like to go! Please contact me about booking a session if you want a laid back and relaxed family session! If you want to see what I've been up to, check out Daddy and Daughter playtime and Backyard Fun!

{brian & abby lynn} | daddy daughter playtime | atlanta lifestyle photographer

Sometimes as photographers we don't spend much time in front of the camera. I had been talking to Brian about scheduling a time to get some photos of him and his daughter so I was so excited when the family session finally happened! He's an Atlanta photographer as well, but today he was a Daddy that got to go play at the park!

I got to spend a couple of hours them today and one of the things they enjoy doing together is going outside to play. The visit at the park began with them play fighting with sticks, which I thought was absolutely adorable. We then took a walk to the trail that was in the back area, where they played peek a boo behind a tree. I don't know many toddlers that don't enjoy peek a boo! The two of them enjoyed talking about what they saw on the trail and the trail walk ended with an adorable piggy back ride. We got back to the grassy area of the park and the little girl giggled her way into Daddy's lap.

I loved the lifestyle feel of this because most of the moments were candid and natural. Interested in a play session at the park? Fill in your information on my contact page so we can schedule a family session! 

{neal family} | backyard fun | atlanta family photographer

I was so excited to meet this family for a family session. It was close to the holidays, but from meeting Mom and Dad I was able to tell they were all about the fun and just hanging out as a family. We played outside for a little bit, and let me tell you, bubbles always bring out the best in the kiddos! We were able to go inside and get some book time and doll play, and then finished in the backyard. I can't wait to share these images. You'll definitely see how much fun we had! 

If you're interested in booking a lifestyle family session, I'd love you to drop me a line on my contact page or send me an e-mail! Here are a couple more recent lifestyle sessions that include a Sunday Funday, a Cake Smash, and a Lifestyle Newborn session! 

{jenna & cole} | birthday cupcake smash | atlanta lifestyle photographer

I got the pleasure to meet this family and take some photos in their home. Cole has such a fun time with his Mommy, and I was excited to tag along to the fun. It was Cole's birthday so we had a fun birthday cake smash for him. The photos at the end of this post, with icing on his face are the best! 

I enjoy photographing the littlest of moments during in home lifestyle sessions. I'd love to join the party for an upcoming birthday or come over on a Saturday morning to capture some snuggles and snacks! If you're interested in booking a lifestyle session, head on over to the contact page to connect! Here's some more blog posts for ya!

{aronson family} | sunday funday | atlanta lifestyle photographer

I had the pleasure of documenting some silly moments with this family. The children were a bit excited with a new person coming into their home with a camera, but I was able to be a bit sneaky and tried to sit back and observe some family interaction. I loved the moments that I was able to document toy play, story time, and being silly with Mom and Dad.

If you enjoy weekend morning play as much as I do, I'd love to capture some lifestyle moments with your family! Head on over to my contact page to say hello or check out more of my work here!