I don’t remember the very first lifestyle newborn session I shot, but I do remember immediately understanding how special it was. Being invited in to homes during really tender moments and asked to share and photograph these families, I absolutely love it. The emphasis on the family as a whole, interacting in real moments in their home, is really what makes these sessions unique. These are first-time parents, or parents navigating their new normal with two kids. These are new mamas figuring out how to feed another human, and dads feeling more helpless than they thought they would. These are toddlers trying to sort out why there is a new baby in the house (and probably enjoying more screen time than usual, am I right?!) and working hard to “help” with baby brother or sister.

I don’t think I fully understood the gravity of walking in to someone’s home with a brand new baby until I was in that place. Vulnerable, needing a LOT of help (and hating that), a baby that isn’t sleeping great…been there, felt those feelings. I take it seriously and it humbles me I get to share in these days with my families.

Like a fingerprint in time, no two sessions are ever the same. We can never guarantee the siblings will be ready (but I can bribe with the best of them), we can never guarantee new baby feels great or will sleep or even settle…but it never matters. I can go through each of these sessions and tell you something that wasn’t “perfect” but in the end, they were perfect. They aren’t perfectly posed studio portraits like I used to do, but I think I’ve always known this was where my heart was. The genuine moments, the safety, the sweetest emotions…this is the heart of a lifestyle session with your family.

I get asked a LOT about these sessions and what exactly it might look like, so I wanted to share! We always shoot the whole family, the nursery, and I also bring a collection of wraps and blankets for some posed individual portraits of the new baby. In my opinion it the best of both worlds if you are comparing a lifestyle with a studio session. Last year when we sold our home (where my studio was) it was the perfect time to close the studio session chapter of my business. I had put a lot of work in to that space but like I’ve already said, I think I’ve always known this was where my heart was.

I hope you enjoy this little glimpse in to the moments I cherish so much. To my sweet families, you bring me more joy than you could imagine.