How to do a Lifestyle Photo Shoot...

"Lifestyle Photography" is a term that lots of photographers use, and almost no non-photographers.  And the definition probably falls on a spectrum depending on who is using it.

To one photographer "lifestyle" is any portrait photography that isn't done in a studio.  For others, myself included, "lifestyle" is a family photography done in the home, that attempts to convey the the feeling of that family's "lifestyle".  Get it?

Either way, there's a sense of casualness, less prim and proper, more loose and go with the flow.

Any many, many clients adore the idea of a lifestyle shoot:  no finding/deciding on location, no real need for intense styling of all the family members, no drive time to factor in with littles, and best of all, you can do it any time of day, you're not limited to the Golden Hour (read: Witching Hour for anyone under the age of 6.).  Plus your kids feel really comfortable at home and you get to really enjoy family time in your own space.

But then it can also feel intimidating:  letting a professional photographer, who is oftentimes a stranger into your home?!  Your messy, chaotic house?  And what if the toddler throws a massive tantrum?  How much do I really have to clean??

So let's break it down.  First of all, the toddler can throw a tantrum at any time, amiright?  And as far as your messy house, 1. I could care less and 2. We pick out the two rooms with the best light ahead of time and we don't even go in the other rooms during the session, unless we want to.

And lastly, there is something about having someone else document your family in your home.  They see light and angles that you never saw before.  And Mom actually gets to be in the pictures.

Which is exactly how this shoot happened.  Michelle is an amazing photographer in her own right, she has plenty of AWESOME photographs of her children that she has taken, in their home.  But first, she isn't in many of them, and second, she wanted to see her home and their lifestyle through another lens, if you will.

And together, we made a bit of magic...

Firsts

     As a mom of four rough and tumble kids, it's hard for me to remember the quiet serenity of one baby.  It's not hard to remember the reality of the first baby.  I felt like I had been turned inside out, my whole heart was on the outside and I was trying my hardest to keep it happy, fed, healthy, growing.  And frankly I can't remember my son's first birthday, probably because I was already pregnant (SURPRISE!) with his little brother.  

    So when Jodie contacted me for photos of her son around his first birthday, I was so excited for her!  No matter how crazy life feels and the details start to blur, she'll have a real and tangible memory of its beauty.  

   Even better, she wanted photos both in their home and in their (our) neighborhood.  Sweet photos of baby, of course.  But also memories of his crib, his home, his community.  What a gift.

Newborn Pictures at Home

The concept is so startling at first.  Do family pictures, or do baby pictures, or wait, both family and newborn pictures, IN MY HOUSE?!

And I get it, I really do.  As moms we think of our homes as our "office".  You know, our job that starts at dawn and doesn't let us go until well after bedtime.  Unless of course you're on the swing-swing shift, which means you're on duty every 2-3 hours, 24-7.  Ick, I think I need a Coke just writing that sentence.

You rarely think of your home as a place for pretty pictures.  It's the place where jam is on the counter, laundry is piled on the couch, and your list of to-do's is a mile long.  Why in the world would we do our family pictures there?

I'll tell you why, because it's actually way easier!  Like so much easier than picking that perfect location, getting everyone ready during the grumpiest hour of the day at the same time, driving 30 minutes and then rushing to beat the setting sun.

At home, whoever's ready first gets to go first.  Mom gets to finish doing her hair because each kid is having a blast showing their new friend their favorite toys.  Is the whole house clean?  Heck no!  Just that one beautiful room with gorgeous light.  Oftentimes it's the master bedroom.  It's the middle of the morning, when everyone's at their happiest point.  The kids actually smile their real smiles, and even Dad is just way more relaxed and chill because he knows he's only moments away from that actual fun thing he does on Saturdays.

And then you see the photos and you realize, you love seeing your favorite blanket in the photos, and that photo of your favorite person on the nightstand.  You really love how your boys are all cuddled around you on your bed and you realize, that's exactly what I want to remember.  Forever and ever.

Real.

Lisa, the Momma of this great family, isn't anything but real and authentic.  She doesn't have time or energy for fake or posed or playing a facade, and trying to be something she's not.  Lisa is Lisa, and her family, well they are real.  And because of that, they're pretty dang great.

I have had the distinct pleasure of documenting her family for a few years now.  We make a little bit of photography magic every time.  She trusts me to find the love amidst the chaos, and that trust allows me to push harder in my technique every time.

This is an in-home newborn session.  This is lifestyle photography.  This is documenting the modern family.  Put any label you want on it.  It's still real.  And because of that, it allows all of us to be little more real.

P Family - Newborn Lifestyle Photography

Three boys.  That's a kick in the pants, no matter how you look at it.  But she's the perfect mom for them.  She probably doesn't see it because we rarely see our own strengths.  But she is so patient and soft.  She sees beauty.  She sees how precious they are and revels in it. 

Their family, their home, their story at this time in their lives, matters.

F Family Story - Lifestyle Family Photography

They fell in love in CA and had a beautiful baby girl.  Work brought them to Gilbert, AZ and a new baby boy was on his way.  Their maternity photoshoot is here and soon hopefully I'll post their newborn shoot. 

Life with two young kids and a busy, entrepreneur for a husband is really not all kicks and giggles.  I knew that firsthand from when my two boys were only 21 months apart and I had moved to a new city with almost no support system and a hubby working 80 hours a week. 

That time that should be so precious is really just a blur.  You go from naptime to bedtime and back again, just trying to find peace in the moment.  And Mama found that her joy was using photography to stop time for a minute.  Her home is covered in amazing pictures, from their wedding and the girl's birth to now.

Baby Drew has turned one and is an incredible part of their family story.  He's happy and strong and so smart.  I can't wait to see how their story develops.