Baby Taylor | Seattle Newborn Photography

Stephanie was our real estate agent when we moved back to Seattle from New Mexico in 2009. She quickly became a friend. 

This sweet family had two babies in 18 months and I was lucky enough to be invited into their amazing home to capture both babies. They love their baby girls fiercely and it is always a pleasure being in their warm and inviting space. Stephanie is a skilled designer so every detail in their home is perfect. 

Newborn photography is absolutely a passion of mine. These moments are fleeting and need to be documented. I am honored I get to do it so frequently. 

Baby Eleanor (Nora) | Seattle Newborn Photographer

Do you ever have the feeling that people come into your life for a reason? I mean like every single person?

I feel like this about the families that I capture. Jenny contacted me for a maternity and newborn package. We have since gone on to stay in touch online and we have a ton in common. ;) She is a strong and motivated mother, doctor, AND business owner. I am lucky to have met her. 

Their newborn session was laid back and fun. We chatted about live with kids and I captured them enjoying their sweet new baby. Newborn Photography is such a gift and I am lucky to be able to do it. 

Enjoy! 

Baby Juliet | Seattle Newborn Photography

If there is one type of session I am most excited about right now it is this type. Fresh 48 newborn photography, or as I like to call it, birth space sessions. To capture a baby this fresh is a true honor. Get in touch with me if you think you would like this time captured for your family here in Seattle. I can't wait to meet you! 

Family Posing That Works | Photography Tutorial

Hey, don't miss your free download at the bottom of this post! 

When I am working with a family my main goals are to capture love and connection; a glimpse into the essence of what makes a human relationship.  

I do not want my clients to have images that are stiff and uncomfortable (albeit well-dressed) versions of themselves.  I want them to end up with images that convey a feeling, and that bring them back to a fleeting moment in time.  

Without a sense of connection you are simply capturing the pose and their outfits.  Perceivable connection gives family photos a human feel, and makes everything contained in them appear genuine.  

Once you give yourself the creative freedom to go beyond traditional, stiff and posed family portraits, you can create artistic and emotive images. I like to think of my approach more as guiding than posing.  

Here are five of my go to “poses”, and how I bring out emotion within the each one. 

Standing

I ask them all to hold hands and spread out a bit to form a line.  I make sure that they are always holding hands to keep the physical connection present.  I ask them first to look at me, then I encourage the family to look at each other.  Often the children continue to look at me because they are curious.  There are two layers of connection here. Their actual physical connection and the connection to me and the camera with their eye contact. Next I bring them all in tight while standing and ask them to look at each other.  If they are having trouble relaxing and engaging naturally, I ask them to start talking and joking. This yields more genuine expressions and relaxed body postures.  The connection is exhibited by their close physical contact, eye contact, and casual interactions with each other.  

Sitting

I usually ask the family to sit on the ground.  This is the most posed and traditional image I get, however that does not mean it has to be stiff.  I want their bodies to make one contiguous shape, no matter how many subjects there are.  I ask the parents to sit right next to each other, then put the children on top of the parents laps or very close in front of them.  Make sure that you can see the parents heads and that the parents have good posture!  I make noises and sing songs to hold the children’s attention just long enough to capture a shot with everyone looking at me.  You have two layers of connection here; subject connection through close physical contact and connection to the camera through eye contact.

If it seems too stiff to have all the family looking, or you simply want to yield another shot from this pose, stand back and ask the family to talk to each other and pretend you aren’t there.  They don’t need to be looking to make a strong and connected portrait.  Shooting a family interacting invites the viewer to contemplate the family and their loving relationship.  

Tickle Pose

This is my personal favorite pose as it always yields a carefree and connected shot.  Immediately after I made everyone sit and look at me, I ask the parents to gently tickle the children and remind them to look at the children while they do it.  The kids laugh and have fun and the result is an image full of love and joy in an unbridled manner.

Laying Down

I love to have my families lay on a blanket together.  First ask the parents to lay down next to each other.  Then ask the children to lay on top of their parents.  This usually makes the children laugh and because it is silly they are excited to execute this pose.  Next ask the parents to look at each other and the kids to look at you. This creates a close and playful moment which is loaded with connection.  The children’s eye contact draws you in, and physical proximity is a layer of connection which combines well with the parents gazes toward each other.  

Movement Poses

Capturing connection with movement creates a captivating portrait.  I will often ask the parents to hold hands and stand back and ask the children to hold hands and walk or run  toward me.

To get the whole family involved in movement, I ask them to hold hands and spin around in a circle slowly while singing a song.  Another option is to ask them to hold hands and walk away from or toward you, or engage them in an activity like playing in the waves.  

Ask dad to toss one of the children in the air.  As he is doing this ask the rest of the family to stand back and watch.  An added bonus will be if you get the family members who are watching to touch in some way or participate in an activity like dancing or twirling.  

Simply encourage them to play, run, jump, or splash. They will have fun and you will capture a real moment. 

Movement creates a dynamic layer of connection.  The viewer is drawn in by the authentic facial expressions and body language that come out when the family is moving.  The viewer is connected to the activity, even if more static, perhaps pondering what the primary subjects are doing.  It is as if the viewer has a private glimpse into the family’s unique relationship or dynamic.

Family portraiture can be artistic and intimate.  I encourage you to relax and enjoy your family sessions.  Explore the deep love and connection that is present in every family, and discover how to convey these emotions through your creative work.  A successful session will often inspire a family to invite you into their usually private, intimate world.

If you want to explore my style of family photography, check out my Lifestyle Family Photography workshop.

Baby Marley | Seattle Newborn Photography

Oh this baby. Oh this family. I can't believe it has taken me so long to share this Seattle in home Newborn Photography session. 

In home sessions have a very special feel about them. It is an absolute privilege that I am invited into a families most intimate space, their home, especially after such a monumental life event like having a baby. 

I walked into this home and the whole family was on the master bed. My kind of family! That is exactly where my tribe always hangs out. There was an easy feel about them, laid back and relaxed despite the fact that they had a newborn. 

We captured them simply loving on their new addition as well as each other. They laughed, snuggled, and played. It was a dreamy morning for me and I hope you will enjoy these images.