Most of my sessions are booked in Raleigh, NC, but whenever I get a chance to travel, I am packed and ready in no time! This dreamy lifestyle family session was in Charleston, SC during my April Feels Like Home event! The house was so perfect and the Anderson family were all smiles and giggles (as you will see below)!

SO WHAT’S A SESSION WITH ME LIKE, ANYWAYS?

If you’ve ever had a newborn or family session with me, you know that I am a good mix of hands on and hands off! My inner kid basically wants to just chat and play with your children the entire time (and I make LOTS of little friends I would love to put in my pocket and take home), but the photographer in me steps in here and there to make sure we are getting in the right light, the right position and are getting those moments I know your family wants so much!

FIRST THINGS FIRST

My sessions typically start with getting what I call the “grandma photos” out of the way! I’ve learned that I basically have about 3.5 minutes while your kids are still a little unsure of me to snag the family photos and the mom/kids and dad/kids portraits. After those 3.5 minutes everything is probably about to get a little crazy and corralling everyone together and getting everyone to LOOK at me is going to be more challenging, so I get those portraits out of the way right in the beginning.

THEN THE FUN BEGINS

Now that those family portraits are out of the way, it’s time to have some fun! Again, I am a mix of hands on and hands off and will usually set you and your family up in a certain place with beautiful light and then take a step back and become an observer. I’m always watching for how moms and dads interact with each other and the children and am trying to capture those “in-between” moments.

BUT IT FEELS SO WEIRD TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED

I get it. I totally do. Being in front of the camera can feel so incredibly awkward! You wonder if you’re doing the right thing or facing the right way and then your mind gets the best of you and you don’t even know what to do anymore! I promise I'll be there to guide you! I always make sure to encourage you and tell your family how amazing they are - and if I’m not saying anything or giving you any tips, then you are doing EVERYTHING you are supposed to be doing. By this time in a session, everyone has relaxed a little and those “natural” moments will come easier for you. You will start settling into your “normal” interaction with your hubby and babies and the magic will happen. It always does.

Interested in scheduling a session in 2019? Most family and newborn sessions are done in your home + fave places...we usually always venture outside around your home to play (weather permitting). Some folks like to do just their house and yard, some folks like to do just one room of their house and their favorite park up the road. We're not meeting in some random park or place you've never been before. These are the places that matter most to you. This stage/house/moment you're at right now will be totally different and changed and just "where in the world did time go?" a year from now. Take the time to capture your here and now. I promise you will NEVER regret preserving those in-between moments. Call or email me for session details (or just click this link right here).