Oviedo Family Photographer | Lifestyle Session at Home

I started off this family session photographing this sweet pair of sisters.

Sometimes when I’m shooting children it helps to hang out with them for a little bit first. It gives them time to warm up and it allows some time for me to gain their trust. Getting to know the kids really helps their personalities shine through in the photos. It also gives Mom and Dad a few minutes to relax ;)

I love when I get to include furry family members. It’s a lot easier to include pets when we are shooting at home :)

Love when I can convince Mom and Dad to get in a few frames together <3

Disney Family Photographer | Lifestyle Family Session

This family was visiting Orlando and planned their Lifestyle Session during their Walt Disney World vacation. We shot this session over at the Port Orleans Riverside Resort.

These kids were adorable inside and out - they were the sweetest little bunch.

Mom is a fellow photographer from Minnesota and our kids ending up having so much in common! I love meeting new people and by the end of a session I always feel like I’m photographing old friends :)

Click here if you’re traveling to Walt Disney World and have been thinking about updating your family’s photos. Disney vacations are a perfect time and place to capture memories plus it’s super easy to plan a session at the resort!

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!

Orlando Family Photographer | Lifestyle Family Session

Having family photos taken can feel pretty stressful but I always try my very best to keep my families as relaxed as possible. The less worries and expectations that you have about how the session will go, the more enjoyable it will be. Easier said than done, I know! But really, let me do all of the hard work and just go with the flow! Families that don’t take things too seriously are the very best to photograph ;) Have fun with your spouse, let the kids enjoy themselves and let me take care of the rest.

Some more laughs and hugs - my favorite way to finish up a session!

I hope you enjoyed this peek into a fabulous lifestyle session. If you’re looking for a family photographer with a relaxed and casual approach, get in touch! Winter in Florida is the perfect time for an outdoor session :)

Winter Park Family Photographer | Mead Botanical Garden

This Sweet Mama was looking to capture some family photos and portraits of her son before his first big haircut.

Check out this little boy and his curls. So adorable. 

Like a lot of kids, this little boy was not into the idea of a photo session. In fact, before we got started he made sure to let me know that he hates having his picture taken...

Game on!

When this Mom filled out her client questionnaire she used the words, "playful, foul mouthed, loud and obnoxious" to describe her family. I almost died laughing! Clearly, they were going to be my kind of people!

This family let me do my thing and kept their cool even when this kiddo didn't want to participate. We played games, we ran around and we let him do his thing.

This little boy had one of the biggest imaginations EVER! So awesome!

Not bad for a kid that pretty much refused to have his photo taken ;)

And the grown ups -  well, they were beautiful inside and out and I had a wonderful time photographing them. I truly believe that the best photos are made when people are themselves and have trust in the process.

I shoot from my heart and when families go with the flow that's when the magic happens. It allows me to capture authentic portraits that are relaxed, honest and beautiful. 

If you're interested in a Family Session at home or on location, get in touch, I'd love to help you create beautiful memories for your family. 

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

Central Florida Family Photographer | Downtown Orlando Family Session

My Lifestyle Sessions are perfect if you're looking to have casual, beautiful and fun photos taken of your family. I want everyone to have a stress free experience and enjoy having their photo taken in a way that truly represents their family. 

I met this family over at Walt Disney's Amphitheater Bandshell in Downtown, Orlando. I gotta say, I love photographing family's at home or in sentimental places. This was a new and really fun location!

It's no wonder this couple has 3 beautiful girls. Mom and Dad were both hot stuff. How adorable are they?!?!

Their little munchkin gave us a bit of a run for our money but Mom and Dad played it totally cool. I loved her spunky toddler personality and I kinda think she stole the show with her cuteness!

I always feel so lucky when I meet such awesome families. Mom told me they were thrilled with every photo and I can't tell you how happy that made my Mama heart :)

My Lifestyle Sessions are available year round. If you're ready to update your family photo with some real smiles and lots of laughs get in touch! I'd love to hear from you :)

Pillow Play | 5 on 5

This month I joined the ladies of the 5 on 5 Documentary Blog Circle to share a set of photos from a regular day at home. Normally I discourage the kind of crazy that leads to couch cushions on the floor followed by leaps and jumps but every once in awhile I'll grab my camera instead of being the "fun police" ;) 

These shots were taken and culled with my son in mind. He’s at this in-between stage in his life where he’s big enough to play rough but still very much a baby. I wanted to capture that along with the joy he experiences while playing with his favorite pal, his big sister. 

I ran for my camera the moment I saw him tearing the couch cushions apart…

Then I waited for a moment where I could get in close enough to feel like I was a part of the action too.

Being sure to capture him among the pillows. 

Rough landings and all!

When I realized that I was able to truly capture my children without posing or directing them it changed the entire way I approached photography. 

Nothing extraordinary is happening in this set but it doesn't mean these moments aren't worth documenting. I've captured my son's authentic joy as he bonds with his big sister.

When I look back at the photos I've taken over the last two years I don't just see cheesing faces. I'm reminded of the toys that were loved, the games that were played, the clothes that were worn and the way life felt during that particular time. In the background I can see the slow transformation of our home as we continue to tackle projects big and small. For me, it's all about being able to look back and remember things just as they were. I'm so glad to have these photos for my kids and they already enjoy looking through the photos that I’ve taken of them. 

Sharing next in this month's blog circle is Melissa Kayser, a St. Charles, MO documentary family photographer Head over and show her some love! 

Thanks for stopping by!

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 ;)

Lifestyle Family Session | Orlando, FL

Some of my favorite images are the in-between moments when everyone forgets they’re being photographed. It’s in these short moments that I am able to capture something honest and real.

When I began documenting my life at home and photographing my client's without direction there was a lot more honest and real being captured. I realized that those images were the ones that really made me feel something. Feeling something and connecting with my clients - that's what inspires me as an artist. For me, it has nothing to do with what happens when a family poses and smiles for the camera and everything to do with what happens when a family is living in the moment. That's what I want to capture.

As much as I'm shooting for my clients I'd be lying if I said I wasn't also shooting for myself. I shoot from my heart and not from a list of Pinterest poses.

I want to be in the moment with you and your family. I want your kids to be 100% themselves. I want to capture more than just what your family looked like but how you made each other feel... 

Lisa, thank you for allowing me to do my thing while you and your family enjoyed hanging out together. There's nothing better than photographing families full of love, like yours.

Interested in a Lifestyle Family Session like the one above? I'd love to chat with you about these fun sessions that will capture your family honestly and beautifully. Click here to get in touch.