The Johnson house was full of loud, happy chaos — and I loved every single second of it. This was my first newborn session with four kids, and honestly, it fueled me in the best way. There was laughter, energy, and so much love packed into one home. This is the kind of session that reminds me exactly why I love candid lifestyle photography.
Before the session, Brooke and I talked about what matters most when capturing moments like these and how my favorite part is documenting life exactly as it is, not a polished version of it. The magic lives in those real-life moments. With that in mind, we decided to start their in-home session around lunchtime so that I could photograph their sweet baby boy while the older siblings ate their lunch. From there, we let the day unfold naturally.
Candid Lifestyle Photography
There’s something so sweet and powerful about capturing both ends of the newborn spectrum. The still, sleepy moments where baby is softly curled up in mom’s arms or swaddled in a bassinet, and the beautiful chaos of siblings racing around the room while mom feeds or rocks the newborn. That’s real, unfiltered life in the early days with a new baby. During this in-home newborn session, the baby cried, the kids argued and belly laughed almost in the same breath, and the clean room became messy fast, but that’s exactly the kind of moments I love to capture. It’s unpredictable, beautiful, and absolutely worth remembering just as it is.
One of my favorite parts of this session was how at home everyone truly felt. The kids played games of Twister and a few intense rounds of Hungry Hungry Hippos. Then, there were the quiet, gentle in between moments filled with snuggles and taking turns holding baby brother. Brooke showed me her favorite spots in the house, and we made sure to pause in those corners to create some of her favorite images. There was nothing forced or overly planned. Rather, we captured this beautiful growing family just doing life together.
If you’re planning an in-home session with me, please know that I’m coming in with zero expectations. You don’t have to clean the whole house or have everyone in matching outfits. I want you to be comfortable in your favorite place with your favorite people, doing life just the way you would if I wasn’t there. Whether it’s lunch on the floor, nursing on the couch, or a dance party in the living room, that’s what makes your story yours. And it’s always worth remembering.
Brooke later shared these kind words:
“Sarah is so fun to work with and an incredible photographer! She made shooting our newborn session at home relaxing and it didn’t feel stressful at all, even with three kids running around. She encouraged us to do what we normally do like eat lunch, run around and play games – this created some adorable images of ordinary moments. Sarah is so easy to talk to and definitely gives off auntie vibes to the kids. I showed her my favorite spots in the house and she captured some of my favorite images in those spots. I loved working with Sarah and will definitely do so again. These are just a few of my favorites because honestly I could add every single photo.”
Johnson family, thank you for inviting me into your home and letting me capture your beautiful family during this exciting new chapter.
I’d love to capture your precious family memories! Contact me today to get started! I can’t wait to talk to you and bring your vision to life.
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Read more posts over on the blog:
The Best Season For Family Photos | What to consider Before You Book
Storytelling Family Session in Historic Home
These are so beautiful! I feel like when you bring a newborn home to the siblings this is exactly what you need! To know it’s okay that things aren’t perfect! I love every single photo from this blog!