THE LONGEST SHORTEST TIME - A LOOK AT IN-HOME FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

I wanted to blog this in-home family photography session because it is such a great example of the things I love to capture at these in-home photography sessions. We started early on a weekday, Christine was coming to the end of her maternity leave and Barry was working from home for the morning. When I arrived Barry was on work calls while bottle feeding the baby - this is how I love to find families - relaxed and natural and doing what they would be doing if I wasn’t there. These make the best captures and are really the things you’ll want to remember. Life with a toddler and a baby moves pretty fast and most people apologise for the mess, the tantrums, the tears. I reassure them that they needn’t apologise - it’s the same for all of us and when you receive your images you’ll be so surprised that we didn’t capture those things, but we captured the love in your family and the way life is for you right now. These precious keepsakes of home will be treasured for years to come. They hold the details of your family story.

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WHY MY STYLE WORKS FOR THE SHY AND RELUCTANT - SYDNEY FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

It’s such a common refrain from families. We’d love family photos but we feel so awkward or shy. Or maybe you’re worried about how your children might behave during the session. Sometimes when I arrive for a family photography session little ones greet me with open arms and willingly show me around and start chatting to me. They might even ask me to take their photograph and then of course to look at it immediately. Then there are times when children are reluctant, shy, having a bad day, or are just more reserved in nature. This of course is true for adults too. I’m very often hired by people who will say - we hate having our photo taken but we value family photographs, can you help?

As a family and child photographer I am very used to photographing children, and even adults, who perhaps would rather not be in front of a camera. My family photography sessions are extremely relaxed and ahead of meeting we will chat about your family and what I might expect. I always approach a session by matching the pace I am greeted with. You’ll never hear me say cheese, smile or even look at the camera. I always tell my families not to look at the camera, except if you feel it. For some portraits we do look into the camera, but I help you with how to do this best and when to expect it. Talking, touching and connecting with each other is a great way to relax and not feel awkward in front of the camera. I’ll guide you through it. Here are some ways that we get the best out of a session with those who are a little more reserved.

1. Start right with low pressure. My family photography sessions are about being relaxed and letting moments unfold naturally. It’s okay to let children warm up and I always try and match the pace of the family I am photographing. We don’t need to perform right off the bat. So first off I won’t get my camera out, I’ll chat with you and your children. The least successful sessions are when children are rushed to sit still and smile. When I hear these words I actually freeze up a little. It’s not my style of shooting and I know that for reluctant children these words are like a red flag. The more we push the less likely it is to happen. If your session is at home I will often recommend that you leave some of the getting ready for when I am there. This takes the pressure of everyone to be buttoned up and ready to go. I highly recommend in-home sessions for the very shy or reluctant. It’s a safe space where children can retreat to their comforts if the pressure feels too much. We typically thrive in our own spaces and children can be really proud to show me their room or toys.

2. Plan an activity. It can be a great ice breaker to bring a ball to the park or a frisbee and start out by playing. Worried about getting dirty? Bring a top to change into after we’ve run around. More often than not after we’ve let a little steam off we will find ourselves relaxed, curled up in laps and enjoying a snack and then if we play our cards right we can get that beautiful portrait together. I have a few tricks and if we give everyone the space and time to find their rhythm it usually works. At home we might do some baking together, read, do a puzzle, put on some music and dance! Whatever is your normal that’s where we’ll meet.

3. True reflections. It’s entirely possible that you won’t get everyone looking at the camera and smiling together, and you know what? That’s okay. Some of my favourite family portraits are the ones where someone is upside down, someone is laughing, someone is looking the other way. There is beauty in the chaos and the un-posed and letting people be who they are. Would you be happy looking at a portrait of your family and seeing a forced smile or would you much rather see the beauty in a face that beats to their own drum. A true portrait will reflect our personality and uniqueness. We’ll focus on the moments, the connection, your story.

So those are just a few ways we approach a session with those who prefer a more relaxed pace. To be honest, they are my favourite, they speak of real and true moments. So if you’ve been thinking about arranging family photography but are worried that your children might be reluctant, or your partner might not be keen, then maybe I’m the photographer for you. My family photography sessions focus on being together as you are and creating a keepsake of your now, however that may look. I’ve pasted just two of my testimonials from families with shy little ones. You can read more of my testimonials here.

If you have questions or would like to know more I’d love to hear from you.

“Katherine is a wizard. Not only did she have my shy and temperamental 5 year old chatting away and eating out of the palm of her hand. She also had my hubby relaxed and willing to have pictures taken. The pictures we have capture the real us, are relaxed and will be something we can treasure forever. I recommend to anyone who wants some real and gorgeous pics of their family.”

— Rebecca - Outdoor session

Doing an activity is a great way to take the pressure off and capture beautiful moments together.

“Katherine Millard is a magician! She took the most exceptional photos of our family and has given us the most beautiful pictures to remember this stage of our life. I was very apprehensive to get professional photos done because our daughter has special needs and we knew it would be confronting for her. Katherine made the whole experience so comfortable and fun for everyone! She captured the essence of each of our family and I’m so grateful for her vision and her laid back approach.
If I could give 10 STARS I would!

”

— SANDY - IN-HOME SESSION

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SYDNEY NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY - HOW TO PREPARE

If you’re thinking about having newborn photos here are a few things I recommend considering and to help you get a feel for what to expect. My newborn photography sessions are lifestyle & documentary which means I photograph you and your family at home and I do some verrrrrrrry light posing but mostly candid/documentary style photography. I don’t do heavy posing, wrapping or putting your baby into certain positions. For the most part, and especially post Covid, I will handle your baby as little as possible. Here are few things that might help you understand how it all works and what to expect.

WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY NEWBORN PHOTOS?

I recommend finding a photographer you love and book in at your 20 week mark. Calendars can fill up about 6 months in advance for me so it’s best to be on the radar. Once you’ve booked with me I mark your due date in your calendar and keep space on either side of that to accommodate you when your baby arrives. In terms of how old the baby should be for photos then 6 - 14 days is best for that very sleepy newborn look but many people prefer to wait until they’re a little older. I wrote another blog on the best age for newborn photographer. You can read it over here. Really there is no wrong time to create a keepsake, but by planning it advance, you can just drop me a line when the baby arrives and I will pop over. You might just prefer to wait until baby is here to decide when you feel ready. So find someone you can have an easy conversation with and book them. Then have them take the heavy lifting from there - send a message when baby comes and tell them if you’re feeling ready (or even if you’re not sure ideally you’ve formed a little connection with your photographer and can be like having a friend popping in for coffee!).

HOW TO PREPARE FOR MY NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION?

We’ll schedule the newborn photography session typically between 10am - 2pm. If you have older children I will suggest we pick the time that suits their schedule best, which is typically the morning. If it’s your first baby then we pick the time when you might have the chance to feel ready. We will photograph in 2 - 3 rooms of the house with the best light. This is typically the master bedroom, the lounge room, and some nook of our house where the light falls beautifully, like a stairwell or front step. Don’t worry about mess or anything like that. I won’t be photographing your laundry pile. 

WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR TO OUR NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION? 

It’s best to be comfortable and remember you’re at home so a relaxed dress or jeans and jumper is fine. Partners look great in relaxed tees or coloured shirts if that’s their norm. You want to feel good and cosy works so well for in-home photography. For baby simple white onesie looks lovely, knitted outfits, wraps, blankets, textured items all look great. Gather a few things in a pile and we can go through them when I drive. Simple is best.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE I ARRIVE AND WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE SESSION. 

Try and dress the baby in their photo outfit and feed them 20 - 30 minutes before I arrive so they're hopefully in  deep sleep when I drive and we can photograph them alone on the bed by the window. Now babies don’t know much about routines to begin with so if it doesn’t work out that way no problem.  Try and have your home nice and warm so the baby feels cosy and sleepy. We'll likely spend 1.5 hours together, maybe up to 2 hours if you have older children. You can expect to stop for feeds, nappy changes or to settle baby in need. We keep it low pressure and relaxed and follow the lead of the little ones. 

ARE SIBLINGS WELCOME AT THE SESSION?

Absolutely! Please also feel free to include grandparents or any special family members. It’s often helpful to have an extra pair of hands if there are siblings around too.

SHOULD I DO BREASTFEEDING PHOTOS OR SKIN TO TO SKIN IMAGES?

One thing you don’t always know before you have your first baby is that breastfeeding isn’t always easy for everyone and not everyone does it. So this is definitely a personal decision. I do love to capture intimate skin to skin and breastfeeding with either parent - it doesn’t need to be just the birthing partner. So I will gauge this with you based on our chat and ask you which photos you connected with of mine. I can generally read which type of photos each client likes from my style and I do a range. So the answer is yes - if you feel it.

I hope that’s helped give some insight about what to expect in your newborn photography session. If you’re looking for a family photographer in London I’d love to hear from you. You can also see my frequently asked questions over here. 

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ABOUT BUMP TO BABY SESSIONS - SYDNEY FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

One of my most popular family photography packages is my bump to baby session. It’s two sessions; maternity and newborn session and includes all the best high resolution images from both sessions. You also receive an 8 x 10” mounted fine art print and a social media announcement image. It’s also possible to pay in installments over the pregnancy, a lot of people receive a voucher for their baby shower they can use toward a session with me.

These photos are from a maternity session which was an in-home session with 2 siblings and mum at 38 weeks. The newborn session was at 2 weeks and included dad.

It’s completely normal that some partners can’t make maternity sessions, either because of work or sometimes, it’s just not their thing. It’s very normal, I’m so glad when clients choose a motherhood session. These are keepsakes you won’t regret making! I know a lot of the time having photos with a newborn might not seem so appealing but don’t hesitate. These moments won’t come again.

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BEST AGE FOR NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY

Sydney Newborn Photography

In-home newborn photography session - 6 days old

The most common question about in-home newborn photography sessions is what is the best age to have them at. The answer is that it’s really when suits you best and that there are lovely things about all ages of newborn photography. Lifestyle photography isn’t about posing the baby in curled up positions so that very sleepy newborn look isn’t essential unless you specifically want to capture that time.

In-home newborn photography session with sibling - 6 days old

I recommend between 6 and 12 days old for newborn sessions. You can plan it ahead of the birth and simply message me when baby arrives and we’ll agree a date within those first 12 days. On booking your session I take your EDD and keep a space for you during this period. Babies are generally more content at this age and it does make it an easier and calmer session. We can capture all those tiny details - little hands and eyelashes. Often partners are on leave at this time too.

In-home newborn photography session - 13 days old

Of course it’s possible to have a newborn session up to 12 weeks technically and I really love the 12 week stage. By this time you have found your feet a little more as parents, siblings are getting more used to the idea of having someone new at home and your baby is generally smiling and laughing. Sessions are interactive, partners have had more time to become involved and connected and we see lots of personality shining through. So even though those first 12 days are that quintessential newborn newness, you might prefer to wait until there is more engagement and everyone has had more time to adjust. Around the 9 - 10 week stage tends to be quite a contented time too with eye contact, smiles but still a snuggly bundle.

In-home newborn photography session - 9 weeks old

I do recommend avoiding the 6 week mark. Often babies are really unsettled at this time. Maybe it’s a wonder week, maybe it’s vaccinations, it’s hard to say but this is a time I suggest avoiding.

In-home newborn photography session - 12 weeks old

Really there is no wrong time to take newborn photos - I know some people who have their “newborn” shoot before the first birthday because they were a little preoccupied! The beauty of in-home newborn photography is that you’re at home with direct access to cups of tea and pillows! In-home is also wonderful as a keepsake of where your child first lived. In terms of time of day to schedule the session, well babies as we know have no routine at the beginning (or first 4 years for some of us!), so I recommend 10am or if you have a toddler then pick a time that suits their routine best. In-home newborn photography sessions are low pressure, relaxed and largely un-timed so we can stop for breaks - toddler to snack or to settle or change the baby. If you’re interested in knowing more don’t hesitate to contact me. You can see a recent in-home family photography session here on my blog. You can read frequently asked questions here.

In-home newborn photography session - 4 weeks old

In-home newborn photography session - 8 weeks old

Sydney Family Photographer, Mosman Baby Photographer, Sydney Newborn Photography, Sydney Maternity Photographer, Sydney Newborn Photographer, Sydney Family Photographer, SydneyFamily Photographer, Sydney Family Photographer, Sydney Lifestyle Photographer, Highgate Family Photographer, Sydney Family Photographer.