How to Choose a Family Photographer | DC Family Photography

Have you ever hired a photographer to take your family’s photos? It might feel a little overwhelming because there are so many choices when it comes to finding the best family photographer for you. There are several family photographers in the DC area, and it might be helpful to know what to look for when choosing a family photographer.

I’ve listed out a few things that you can ask yourself when choosing the best family photographer for you.

what is the photographer’s Style?

Each photographer has their own style. This can be how they compose their images and if they zoom in close or include all elements of the environment. It can be their editing style and if they like bright images with lots of contrast or if they like dramatic light and moody images. Does the photographer take standard portraits or do they focus on lifestyle photography and connection? Consider the photographer’s style when choosing who will be best fit to photograph your family.

I’m a lifestyle family photographer focused on capturing joyful and emotional family connection. Which brings me to the next topic - emotion!

what Emotions do you see in the photographer’s photos?

When you are looking at the photographer’s portfolio - do you see a recurring emotion in the images? It is joy? Is it happiness? Is it vulnerability?

I love photographing my families connecting with each other and capturing joyful, happy moments. At the same time if the toddler is having a meltdown I like to capture the tender moments of being held and comforted by their family members.

do you like the photographer’s Personality?

When you browse the photographer’s website and social media do you have a connection with how they write and communicate? Does it sound like someone you will want to create a relationship with and does it sound like someone you want to hang out with for an hour?

I use a lot of exclamation points and I like imperfection! I am not afraid to be myself, act silly, and be humble. I want you to feel connected to me so that you are comfortable when you’re in front of my camera.

what is the Price of family photos?

Of course you can’t hire someone without knowing how much the service will cost. What is in your budget for family photos? Think about how often you will take family photos and what the final images will mean to your family.

I like to think of family sessions as an investment. Sure, it’s not something you should budget every single month by any means, but if you value a yearly family photo session investment, think about what your budget will be in order to be satisfied with the final product.

Overall-

The last thing I want to mention when you are looking for a family photographer - can you imagine yourself in the photos that you’ve seen?

If so, send me a message!!

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!

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!

Kensington Maryland Family Photographer | Clum Kennedy Park

This was my second family session at Clum Kennedy Park in Kensington Maryland. Check out this Newborn Session to see more of the beautiful spring blooms! Clum Kennedy is a small, quiet park in the Kensington neighborhood of Maryland. It’s super close to shops and walking trails in Kensington Maryland and I thought it would be perfect for a lifestyle family session. My photography style is vibrant, colorful, and playful and all of those worked really well at Clum Kennedy with the beautiful, colorful flowers!

Are you interested in a family session? I’m booking sessions outdoors and even in the comfort of your own home!

Send me a message to schedule your lifestyle family or newborn session.

Photos I like to take at each Family Session | Maryland Family Photographers

So you want to take family photos, that’s great! I’m so glad you’ve made it here on my website. I’m Tabitha and I’m a family and newborn photographer in the DC area. I offer lifestyle family sessions that are joyful and connected.

It’s so important to me to document your family in a way that is organic and accurate. You would be surprised how many photos I can take within the hour of your family session. Sometimes we even do it in less than an hour! There are several different photos I like to take at each family session because I think it helps to have a variety of images in your gallery. Maybe you want to print the photos, maybe you want to put them in an album! Kids can be unpredictable so I don’t guarantee any specific images in your final gallery, but here’s a general flow of what your family session with me will be like.

Keep reading if you want to see all of the photos I like to take at each family session.

your family engaged & connected

I will guide you all to interact with each other. This can mean hugging, being close, singing a song, or doing an activity specific to your family.

a “money shot” photo

Some families do want 1 or 2 photos of everyone looking at the camera. Whether this specific “money shot” is for the grandparents or the holiday card, it’s best to take this one at the beginning of the session just in case the children lose interest.

portraits of each child

I think it’s important to take a few minutes to get photos of each child. I will talk to the children, play, sing, and do whatever it takes to make them relaxed and eliciting a natural expression. Sometimes the portraits will be the young child in their parents arms too. It can still be a beautiful portrait even if the little one just wants to be held in their parent’s arms.

sibling shot

Sibling shots can be tricky so I don’t have really high expectations for these. Of course it’s great to have them looking at the camera, but I don’t sweat it if they don’t. After all I’m not looking for picture perfect sibling shots here. I’m a lifestyle family photographer. It’s more important to document your family and focus on the emotions and interactions, whatever that might look like for your family.

each parent with children

We definitely want to get each parent with the children to document the relationship, however silly, playful, or loving the relationship is.

parents

We can’t forget about the parents! I usually do these at the end once I know I’ve gotten the rest of the photos with the children.

extras

There are definitely going to be moments and cute things that happen throughout, or maybe these happen at the end.

When you book a lifestyle session with me you aren’t limited to picking your favorite 5 or 10 images. You’ll receive all of the images that best represent the family connection at your family session. I don’t like to put away my camera until I get to my car because funny moments can happen at the very end of the session!

There you have it! I can’t wait to photograph your family!

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!

5 Tips for a Successful Family Session

You have your family photo shoot booked, now what? Have you ever had photos taken of your family? I’m glad you’re here! I offer family and newborn sessions in the DC area and it brings me joy to photograph children and families in a natural and organic way. I have included some tips in this blog post about how to make sure you enjoy getting special moments captured with your family.

Keep reading if you want to know 5 tips for a successful family session…

1. use flattering Light

   Light is one of the most important ingredients of what makes a good image. Most of the photos I take at family and newborn sessions use natural light. For in home sessions we will spend time in areas with the best window light in your home. We can think traditional rooms such as the master room, living room or bedrooms, or we can think outside the box and spend time in your kitchen or sun room! When I arrive to your home we will turn off all of the lights and open any window curtains or blinds and see where we can find nice creamy light. For outdoor sessions we will use natural light either first thing in the morning about an hour after the sun rises or about an hour before the sun sets. Midday sun is not flattering and a little harder to work with, so my favorite is golden hour or shaded areas outdoors!

2. wear comfortable Clothing 

   I want you to feel like yourself when you get photos taken of your family, but don’t feel the need to go out and buy super fancy outfits that you’ll never wear again. I usually recommend Mom choosing her outfit first and then dressing the rest of the family in colors and textures that are coordinated with Mom’s outfit. I encourage you to put fun outfits together and making sure you can move around comfortably. Think color, texture, pattern and season. Still not sure what to wear for family photos? Check out this blog post.

3. choose your Location 

   One of the first things I do when a family contacts me about booking a photo session is deciding which location is best for a photo session location. I’m a family photographer located in the DC area and can always recommend areas that I enjoy photographing. Depending on what you’re looking for, we can have your session in a park, an urban location, outdoors at your home. If there is a location that is special to your family we can use that location as well. Check out this blog post for photo locations for your family session in the DC area.

4. be familiar with photographer’s Style 

   As a lifestyle family photographer it’s important that I can photograph and document your family’s memories the way you want to look back and remember. If you are looking for a super posed, formal photography session where everyone is looking at the camera, you may want to search for a different photographer that can better meet your needs. If you’re looking to have a laid back and playful session let’s chat! I will pose and guide your family to naturally interact which will help to create beautiful photos of your family!

5. Prepare your children

   Let your children know ahead of time that we will have a photo session and they will get to play. The last thing we want is for your child to dread the photo shoot. Your family will have a great time playing and snuggling with one another and I’m just there to put you in great spots, make sure you’re close, and take your photos!

Send me a message to schedule your family session!

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!

Why I like using my 35mm for Lifestyle Family Photos

There are so many different choices that a photographer can make for how they want their sessions to look and feel. Choosing a location, a lens, the style of photography, time of day, and what kind of sessions to provide are all at the preference of the photographer. I love looking through photos from past family sessions and figuring out what I love most about each session. For this particular session I was so happy with the images and contribute it to the lens choice for this family.

Keep reading to find out why I like to use my 35mm lens for family sessions.

including a pretty background

This was a late summer/fall photo session and I wanted to be able to photograph the pretty foliage at Winn Park in Midtown, Atlanta, Georgia. I have had a few sessions at Winn Park and you can find more photos from those sessions here and here. Winn Park has pretty trees, natural light, and an adorable little pond. All of this is in the middle of Midtown, Atlanta! A wide lens like a 35mm allows me to be able to photograph the surrounding environment during the family sessions.

getting closeups of the kids 

With the 35mm lens for family photography sessions, I’m able to get in close to photograph individual family members. This works out great when the little ones are already sitting in mom and dad’s lap and works too when the little one just wants to remain there. I have taken several children’s portraits while the children are still in their parents arms! The 35mm doesn’t have a zoom capability and I much prefer to “zoom with my feet” by taking steps closer towards the family to get those closeup shots.

being able to touch and guide family members

When I use a short focal length lens such as a 35mm, I’m able to remain pretty close to be able to touch and guide family posing. This comes in handy when my brain thinks faster than the words that come out of my mouth and sometimes it’s easier to gently guide the family to sit or stand where I’d like them. It might feel like you’re already in close with your family, but some of the time there may still be space between you, and the photo ends up looking like you are farther away from each other than you really are. Family posing and guiding is important even with lifestyle family photography to ensure your family is connected and engaged for those special lifestyle photos!

engaging children by singing a song 

Often at my sessions if the children have seemed to lose a little bit of interest or when they want to explore rather than sit still, I will either sing a song or have the parents sing a song to keep them interested. When I have a 35mm lens I’m already remaining pretty close to the kids and I think it makes it easier for me to engage with them (even singing a silly children’s song).

engaging children by playing a game

Another trick I do all the time when photographing children is playing games! Depending on the age of the child they may show some interest in the camera or try to figure out exactly what I’m doing. Other times they want to look at the camera and say, “cheese”. I will not be asking them to say cheese! I rather engage with the children in a game like peek-a-boo with my camera and this usually does the trick to relax the child and bring out organic smiles.

Are you interested in booking a family session?

Send me a message!

What I look for in a Session Location

When planning a family session location, there are a few things to consider. Your family may already have a special place that is meaningful to you that would make the perfect location! Here in the DC area, there are several areas that make for a great place to take family photos. When I am helping a family decide on a location for family photos, there are some things that help make it a great location.

Keep scrolling to read what I look for in a session location…

1. a place to stand 

   At the beginning of the session when we are getting started, I like to start with standing poses. This gives me and the family an opportunity to chat a little and get the “safe” photos where the family is looking at the camera. These standing poses start off a little traditional, and then I will guide the family to interact in order to get more of the lifestyle photos you see in my portfolio and social media pages. Finding a great spot for standing poses is the first thing I like to look for when choosing a session location.

2. a place to sit 

   Of course we need a place to sit as well! Moving around to different spots at the session location gives us a way to have variety in the session. There are several photos we can create when there is a place to sit and/or lay and interact with one another. I want to make sure that there is a clean and uncluttered place to sit without many distractions in the background so that the focus can be on the family.

3. an open field 

   Having an open field is great to have at a session location because it gives the kids a way to run around if they need a break from the session. I don’t typically make the children look at the camera, but sometimes children (especially at this toddler age) still need a cuddle or snack break for a few minutes. This little guy took advantage and was supported to walk around and I’m glad I kept shooting!

4. hazy light 

   If you’re able to either see the sun rise or set at the session location, take advantage! What I love about this location is that there is beautiful sun if you go at the right time. We weren’t there quite in time for the actual golden hour/sunset but I was able to still choose an area with beautiful hazy light to take some creative images of the family.

   Many locations will have “open shade” where the light is even and make for great photos. If I see a sliver of hazy light or golden hour rays, I will definitely guide the family to move to that area to see how we can add more variety to the family gallery.

5. easy parking

   We know how hard it is to find parking in the DC area. I tend to offer session locations that allow for easy parking because I think it makes a great session experience. Many times the family has little ones and/or strollers or pets, so it’s always helpful to be able to have parking close by.

Did I miss anything that you like to consider when choosing the best location to take family photos? Leave a comment!

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Differences between Lifestyle Family Photography and Traditional Family Photography

If you’ve ever searched for a family photographer you may have an idea of what you’re looking for and how you want to experience your session. You may have a special place in mind and you might already have the family’s outfits picked out. That’s great! There are likely several photographers in your area and it might be overwhelming to choose whether you want a lifestyle family photography session or a traditional family photography session. I wanted to share this blog post to give you an overview of the differences between lifestyle family photography and traditional family photography.

at a traditional family session,

You will receive images of everyone looking at the camera:

Typically with traditional family photography, your photographer will do a lot of posing and guiding to make you all look your best while you’re looking at the camera. It’s a great way to get that shot of the family that Grandma wants and it’s great for holiday cards. Your photographer will have tips or noise makers to have the little ones pay attention to the camera and smile so that everyone is looking together at the same time.

the photos will show what you look like:

Traditional family photography focuses on what you look like and tend to be a little more formal (in my opinion) and they are great for documenting photos that are perfectly composed and perfectly lit and just, well, “perfect” but doesn’t necessarily always focus on what it feels like.

at a lifestyle family session,

Children want to play:

During a lifestyle family session I encourage your children to play. It might take them a little while to get comfortable with a new person following them around with a camera. I encourage playful interactions when I photograph your family, which means if your child wants to play a game of chase or enjoys tickles or wants to look at the flowers, I will follow you and document those moments.

Sometimes children want to be comforted:

If your child needs a nap or hugs from mama, please take advantage of that time. I love photographing those little moments when she’s reaching for your  hand or when he needs a paci to be comforted. As your children get older they will grow out of these little moments that will make you wish they were still that little. Sometimes these moments can be missed at traditional family sessions when your photographer is working hard to have the children look at the camera rather than focusing on family connection.

We can capture everyday moments:

Everyday moments of your family can take place outdoors at the park or right in your own home. When you book your lifestyle family session with me I want you to share those moments that are special to your family and see how we can incorporate them into your family session and get photos of those moments. I offer in home lifestyle family sessions as well, which is perfect if you want your home as a natural backdrop. It’s also great for the kids because they can grab a toy or book and I’m right there to photograph it! There isn’t usually as much flexibility at traditional family sessions because there isn’t as much of a focus on family connection and interaction.

you don’t need to smile:

I tend to photograph children as they are. If they’re happy they will smile. If they’re engaged with their family, they will laugh and want to continue playing with their family. I try to be quick when photographing so that I can catch those fast moments. At a traditional photo session your photographer may have a lot of tricks to get the child to look at the camera and smile and it might also take some bribing. I don’t focus on that when I am photographing families but rather make sure to catch those moments and ensure I’m right there when the children are having a good time and smiling naturally.

you don’t even have to look at the camera:

I mentioned this at the last point and think it’s important that family portraits don’t require everyone to be looking at the camera and smiling. Some of my favorite photos of myself and others are when the people in the photo are engaged with one another and you can see the engagement in their face and expressions. Traditional family photographers are typically looking to find ways for everyone to look at the camera and say cheese.

Don’t be surprised at your session when I tell you to only look at the camera at certain moments. Sometimes moments are better uninterrupted and rather photographed, than interrupted making everyone stop having a good time just to look at the camera and smile.

Do you think you now know enough about the differences between traditional family photography and lifestyle family photography?

Please reach out to me and we can schedule a session that you feel will be great to capture your family!

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5 Reasons to do a Photo Walk with Photography Friends

A few months ago I got together with some local photographers in the DC area to go on a photo stroll in Georgetown. The girls are a mix of family, portrait, and food photographers and it was such a fun experience to support the “community over competition” mentality, as we had such a fun time talking, laughing, posing, and scouting fun and interesting locations in Georgetown. I’ve written this blog post to include reasons why you should do a photo walk!

Keep reading this blog post if you want to read…

5 Reasons to do a photo walk with photography friends 

1. get to know each other better

   I had met a few of these photographers at a photography get together previously, but not all of them. Going on a photo walk gives you a way to use your common interest to connect with other photographers. We are all members of the Elena S Blair Community Chapter of DC, which is a group of family and newborn photographers located in the DC Area looking to build relationships with one another through local meetups. We were able to introduce ourselves over coffee before we began the photo walk and we made a plan to walk around as a group to connect, talk, and photograph each other.

2. view different perspectives 

   Each artist has a unique talent of seeing things differently than someone else. We all took turns being the “model” while the other photographers took turns photographing us. It was actually quite hilarious, as people in Georgetown would walk by us and seemed to be questioning “why are there so many photographers?” Through out the session we were able to see how differently each person photographed through their lens. We shared the photos after the shoot and it’s so neat to see how the same subject and the same location can be photographed using different perspectives.

3. learn a new location 

   I had never had a photo shoot in Georgetown so it was really neat to scope out areas that I would have probably otherwise not have noticed. Using my camera as a tool I was able to pay more attention to the amazing flowers, doors and textures all around Georgetown. It was very interesting to shoot mid-day, which is typically a harder time for a session, but we made it work by staying in well lit areas. And some of them aren’t perfect but I love them!

4. practice a new lens or tool 

   When we were making a plan for this shoot we talked a little bit about what may have been new to us. Going on a photo walk with friends is a good way to practice a skill or use a new lens. There is less pressure with friends to not have to produce a “perfect” image and it’s a great way to get used to your equipment prior to when you need it for a family session.

5. to have fresh content for marketing your business

   We knew that the photos would be shared with each other and we had permission to use them to market our business. It’s a great way to have updated photos to use on your website and social media to stay relevant to your audience.

Have you ever gone on a photo walk? What did you learn?

Comment below!

Fresh 48 Hospital Session | Atlanta Family Photographers

This blog post may have caught your eye because it features an adorable fresh new baby! In these days of COVID-19, restrictions are in place that do not allow hospital photographers to help document these special new moments for a family as they welcome their little one. I was looking through photos from previous sessions and I wanted to share photos from a Fresh 48 newborn session that I did about a year and a half ago. Even though these photos aren’t super recent, the photos are still meaningful, as this Mom and Dad welcomed their baby girl.

So What is a Fresh 48 Newborn session?

A Fresh 48 Session, also known as a Birth Place Session or Hospital Newborn Session, is a photo session that takes place where you welcome your baby within the first 48 hours of your baby’s life.

These are typically done in a hospital once you are in the recovery room, but can also take place in your home if you have had a home birth. It’s a special time that allows you to soak up every second of welcoming your baby, holding her, changing her, and taking in all that parenthood has to offer, while having a photographer to document these moments.

Fresh 48 Sessions are a little different than Lifestyle Newborn Sessions, in that there are key elements included within the first couple of days of welcoming your baby.

These are a mix between lifestyle and documentary, where there isn’t much posing, but rather me moving around the room photographing hospital elements such as the hospital bed, the hospital bassinet, the hospital shirt and blanket, and more elements that help to tell the story if your baby’s first few moments.

Typically, I like to take a photo of your family, as you may have not yet taken a photo of your new, growing family. I take portraits of Mom alone with baby, Dad alone with baby, and of course portraits of baby. Many times the families include images from the Fresh 48 session to use in the birth announcement of their baby. Fresh 48 Sessions are also a great time to document the siblings meeting for the first time.

These sessions can range between 30 and 60 minutes, considering ensuring you have enough of a variety to tell the story of baby’s first few hours. I like to include the typical hospital clothing, as this is the only time baby will probably be in this clothing. I also enjoy incorporating adorable outfits like this matching robe and swaddle for Mama and baby.

related blog posts:

• How to Prepare for your Fresh 48 Session

• A Fresh 48 Session at home

Send me a message if you’d like to chat more about booking a Fresh 48 session! I offer a bundle when booking with a maternity or newborn sessions so please mention that so we can find a way to offer you several images to welcome your baby!

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

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!

Why you Should Consider an Urban Location for your Family Photo Session | Family Photography Bethesda

Have you ever thought about the best location to have your family photos? There are a few things I like to consider when planning a location for a family session and I figured it would be a great way to showcase this family! Keep reading if you want to learn a few reasons why you should consider an urban location for your family photo session.

1. colors and textures

   When it’s possible, I always try to look for colors, textures, and patterns when I am photographing children and families. I think it makes the photo more interesting. Downtown Bethesda was a perfect area to have a family photo session because of the leading lines, the buildings, and all of the colors and patterns. All of this came not only from the nearby shops, but also from the colorful plants and outdoor furniture.

   An area like this is best to shoot early in the morning before the crowds come. If you and your family are morning people, this is the perfect idea for you!

2. change of scenery

   There are several different types of locations you can choose when you plan your family photo session. Some families may choose a park location because they like the open field and trees. You may choose your home because you just had a baby and you want the intimate space. Having your photo session at an urban location may not seem traditional, but I think it’s great to incorporate a variety of interesting elements that you may not get in a different location.

   The DC area is filled with many areas that are similar to this one in Downtown Bethesda for that urban feel. Let’s think outside the box!

3. interesting art

   One thing you’ll find when you venture out and have your family photos at an urban location is the opportunity to find cool art! This was my second time at this location and I didn’t realize the fun mural on one of the walls. We took the opportunity to bring the boys over there and it was perfect!! They were the perfect size to showcase the wings.

   Do you need help planning the best area for your upcoming family session? Send me a message and I can recommend some areas in the DMV once I get to know your family a little better.

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!

Bethesda Family Photography | Tabitha Maegan Photography

I am a little behind my blogging from my summer family sessions here in the Washington DC area so today I am sharing this sweet family with you! I have booked many sessions that include newborns and toddlers and I couldn’t wait to photograph this family with young twin boys. We had our session at McCrillis Gardens which is in Bethesda, Maryland and McCrillis Gardens is great for a lifestyle family session! At the beginning of my lifestyle sessions I try to get the family close together either sitting or standing and go from there. The boys were a little shy to warm up but they quickly relaxed and it was as if they forgot I was there photographing them.

What I really enjoyed about my time with this family was the ability to focus on their dynamics and close relationship with one another. I definitely got some shots of just the boys together and wanted this lifestyle family session to focus on the interaction between them. This family was so playful!

You’ll notice in a lot of my work that one person may be looking at the camera and that’s on purpose.

I try to have a main purpose for each image, whether it’s a portrait or a feeling. Some of my favorite lifestyle images is when no one is looking at the camera and when the family is interacting and looking at each other.

The lighting was perfect at McCrillis gardens because we were able to get many family images and portraits, and we spent the last bit of our session towards one of the back gardens where the sun was setting. The lighting was incredible and I love the haziness. I definitely like playing with light when the location allows for it.

How do you want to feel when you see images of your family? Leave a comment below!