What is a lifestyle session?
On the surface, lifestyle sessions are sessions that take place in your home (or another private location) that tell the story of *you* in intimate documentary. You can expect to exist naturally in your space, with some minor coaching from me, and receive a gallery that offers a peek into the most precious moments of your life. Lifestyle photos may look like, cuddling under the covers, holding your babies in their nurseries, or sharing kisses over a cup of coffee.
What about lifestyle sessions for newborns?
A lifestyle session is the perfect way to celebrate your growing family. With all the ooey gooey goodness of a regular lifestyle session, we will also do a block of minimalist portraits of your baby.
How can I prepare my home?
- Look around your home. Take in some of your favorite spots, see which rooms have the best and brightest light, and which rooms have the best back drop for you story.
- Tidy up those spaces. Let me pause here and say, the very last thing I want to ask of anyone (especially new parents!) is to prepare for my arrival with a deep clean. No scrubbing necessary! Just remove any clutter from the spots you think you will want to hold the session in (even if that means just tossing it all to the other side of the room. I have 3 kids and 0 judgment) Remember that anything still in the space, will also be in the pictures. I will also bring along a basket to hold any of your items that we decide to move or remove during the session.
- For newborn sessions, keep your home a little warmer than usual so that the baby stays cozy and comfy as we transition through the session. Lay out any blankets, swaddles, mementoes etc. you may want to include in your session. If the timing works out, try and feed your baby right before the session begins. With that said, I keep a very flexible expectation for time when working with newborns. Please don't feel any pressure to get your baby to eat and sleep quickly.
- For family and couples, you can personalize your lifestyle session by including activities and moments that are special to you into your session. This can include things like preparing and sharing a cup of coffee together, reading your children their favorite book, jumping on the bed, or sitting on your porch swing. Moments like these can really add depth to the story we tell. Feel free to reach out to me if you want to brainstorm these ideas together!
What should we wear?
- I like to begin with colors that compliment your home. Neutrals are nearly always a great choice, but that doesn't mean you have to stick to white and tan! Earth tones are great options and include all varieties of white, brown and gray, but also blues, greens, yellows, and even reds. Aim for muted tones like sage, navy, mustard, mauve, and clay. A winning combo might have a base of neutrals with a couple pops of bolder colors. Having a couple complimentary patterns or layers is also a great choice.
- Whether you want to go dressier or more casual, cozy fabric is the way to go. Soft fabrics, knits, and linens photograph beautifully and look natural in an in home atmosphere.
- Steer clear of very loud or busy colors, patterns or graphics as they are more likely to clash with each other and the background of your home.
- Be you! At the end of the day, you cant go wrong with pieces that you love and feel comfortable wearing.
