Family Session at Home | Orlando Family Photographer

I love sessions at home! The vibe is always so chill and the images are always unique. I love when personalities can shine and when the photographs are full of real emotion. I’m down to capture traditional family photos but my most favorite images to leave a family with are the ones that show them just as they are. When they look back at their photos I want them to remember not only what their family looked like but what their family felt like too!

I had such a wonderful time with this beautiful and sweet family. They sang, they danced, they laughed, they played and they loved.

If you’re interested in having your family captured in a way that you will cherish forever, get in touch! I’d love to chat with you about a session in and around your home :)

Orlando Documentary Session | Orlando Newborn Photographer

I photographed this family at their Orlando home while Mom was still pregnant with baby #2. Their documentary style session captured their life at home just before they became a family of 4. You can check out some highlights from that session here.

It’s always exciting (and an honor) to photograph a newborn but it’s especially exciting when you’ve already met and fallen in love with the family. Seriously, I loved photographing these guys. They are the sweetest.

We got to catching up and we had a wonderful laidback and casual documentary style session together. It’s freeing going into a session without any expectations.

I truly believe that these real life sessions at home are extra special. This family ended up relocating to Ohio and I am so glad that they captured sweet memories together in their Florida home. They will always have these photos of this special time to cherish and look back on. Real life, real smiles, real love.

Aruba 2018 | Personal

10 years ago, my husband and I spent our honeymoon in Aruba. I still can’t believe that 10 years has passed us by so quickly! We thought it would be fun to go back and visit the island (this time with our kids) as we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary back in December.

Our first trip was an escape to the beach during New York’s cold winter. Going back 10 years later (as Floridians) was a bit different. We’ve definitely been spoiled by the sunshine state and it almost felt silly to have traveled so far away when we have our own paradise so close to home.

I had high hopes of documenting our entire vacation from start to finish but quickly realized that was not only unrealistic but also impossible. Sometimes I’m sad when I miss opportunities to take photos when we are visiting new places and doing new things BUT I’ve learned that it’s always more enjoyable for everyone when I’m present in the moment too!

I relaxed, I had fun, and I only took a few pictures...but I’m okay with that :)

A few from #onehappyisland:

Documentary Family Photographer | Orlando, FL

Right before the New Year I photographed the most amazing family at their home in Orlando. I have been dying to share their Documentary Family Session ever since! It’s always an honor being invited into someone’s home to photograph their family and there is something really special about capturing a family’s day without any posing or direction.

When Mom saw their family’s gallery she wrote: “Nicole, I am in tears!!! (The good kind) these pictures are BEAUTIFUL!! Oh my goodness, I can’t put into words how precious these pics are of our little family and home in this season! You captured our girl and our family so magically, so accurately! I cannot quit staring at them! These will absolutely be treasured, and I feel like you have managed to freeze time for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you! What a beautiful gift you have!” 

Since having a family of my own, I realized that a family’s truth is more meaningful for me to capture than anything that I could style or orchestrate. I love when families trust in the process to just be themselves because it allows me to capture ordinary moments. If you’re anything like me, it’s the ordinary that holds so much significance. Like this Mom said, it’s like freezing time.

If you’re interested in a session like this for your own family click here to get in touch!

September 2018 | Personal

Family Photojournalism and Family Documentary Photography speak to my heart but it's really hard for me to put into words exactly why. I guess it's the rawness. It's the honesty. It's the nostalgia. It's the acceptance. Accepting life for what it is and making a tangible memory out of it.

I love that I'm growing a collection of images for my children of their childhood. After all, they're the reason I pick up my camera in the first place.

It's been awhile since I committed to a few hours of personal storytelling. I picked up my camera today and documented my morning. I've been dealing with some anxiety lately. Add in a bunch of cardiology appointments and tests that are leaving me feeling more and more anxious. It's a vicious cycle. Picking up my camera on a rainy morning was just the medicine that I needed. 

I know that a lot of you are interested in this type of photography for your own family but have fears and reservations. I get that. I sometimes feel vulnerable taking or sharing certain photos too! I hope that as you get to more about me, you will feel a little more comfortable and maybe even brave enough to try out a Documentary Style Session for yourself. In the meantime, check back to see what else I'm brave enough to share over here on the blog ;)

Around Our Clocks - 12pm | Orlando Family Photographer

Complete the circle to see how other photographers spent their 12:00pm. Up next is Madison, WI Birth and Family Photographer Catherine Hilcove.

Follow us on IG: #aroundourclocks2018

Orlando Newborn Photographer | Documentary Style Newborn Session

My heart aches because I wish I had storytelling photographs like these when my babies were small. Raw, simple and honest. I love being able to deliver a session like this to a client because I know how much they'll treasure each and every photograph. 

Shooting these first time parents was extra special. I could feel their love and amazement over their sweet little boy. I can still remember that feeling from when my kids were born. It's that feeling you get when you look at your baby and you just can't believe how perfect they are. I love capturing that for families.

This shot right here is life with a newborn...how many of you can remember your countertop looking like this? 

I seriously love shooting Documentary Style Newborn Sessions. They're the easiest way to capture life at home with your newborn. Believe it or not, there's a way to have a stress free photo session with your baby...and this is it :)

During Documentary Style Sessions I photograph everything. Whether it's the bottles in the sink...

diaper changes...

or tummy time...

I document it all. 

Dad = such a natural…

Before heading out I grabbed some sweet details while Mom was holding her little man. I can't express how amazing this family was to be around. Their baby boy is so lucky. He hit the jackpot. 

There you have it, one of my favorite ways to capture life at home with a newborn. No stressing for Mom and Dad and a gallery full of the real life moments they shared with their baby. No silly props or Pinterest poses. Just real life and love. 

Want to see another Documentary Style Newborn Session? Click here to see another awesome and real session with newborn twins :)

Documentary Family Session | Orlando Family Photographer

This family totally embraced the documentary style session. They did their thing and I photographed them. It was a documentary photographer's dream :) 

I photograph my documentary families the same exact way I photograph my own. My approach includes crouching, crawling, climbing and a lot of other awkward and strange positions that usually puts the people I'm photographing at ease. 

Anyway, I love that these sessions are as honest as they are unique. I get to capture families living. For real. I'm capturing a story. Their story. I'm freezing a moment in time for these families and to me, that's really, really special.

I'm a big believer in photographing the everyday things. I know that one day artwork will stop covering their walls...

...and epic water balloon fights won't break out in the middle of the afternoon. 

Think about your day. What was different 6 months ago? What will change 6 months from now? Our lives and routines are always changing. 

It's why we should always remember to embrace the place where we live, the people we love and the things that we do  <3

Ready to give a documentary style session a try? Click here! I'd love to crouch/crawl/climb around and photograph your family ;)

In Home Family Session | Central Florida Documentary Photographer

Sessions in and around a client's home are my absolute favorite. Why? Because there's no place like home. Because my favorite childhood photos are the ones that were taken at home. Because to me, real life is way more interesting and beautiful than anything you'll ever find on Pinterest.

I spent a Saturday morning with this family a few weeks before their second baby's due date. I can still remember how special those last few days were with my daughter, those very last days when we were still just a family of 3.

Very soon this family's Saturday mornings will change but when they look back at these they'll be able remember what a Saturday morning was before they were 4. 

Want to have your family's story told in pictures? Let's do it! Send me a message here.