When should I schedule an At Home Newborn Photo Shoot?

I suggest to schedule your At Home Lifestyle Newborn Photo Session when you are in your second trimester of pregnancy.

This way you can make sure and save your spot on my calendar. I book based on your due date, but then we will schedule the actual session depending on when the baby is born (because we all know babies come on their own time). So once your baby is born, we plan the shoot between 5-15 days after the baby’s birthday.

BUT—
What if I am almost due and haven’t booked yet?
What if I missed that timeframe, but I still want to get photos of my baby?
What if we are in the middle of pandemic and I want to wait a little longer?
What if for medical reasons we need to delay?

First, take a deep breath. This motherhood thing is hard and we all need to give ourselves a little more grace. Now, don’t worry! It is not too late. You didn’t miss your chance.

Because a Newborn Lifestyle Session can be done even if the baby is more than two weeks old!

I am sharing this session because it is a wonderful example where the baby girl was a couple months old when the family did their photos. And as you can see, it was a beautiful experience.

At Home Lifestyle Newborn Session in Decatur, GA

A few things that I loved about this at home lifestyle newborn session:

• The tenderness the older sisters showed toward their new baby sister

• Mom’s strong connection with each of her daughters

• The confidence the mom displayed in caring for her baby: changing the diaper, breastfeeding, comforting her when she was fussy. I could tell it was her third time around.

• The dad’s special bond with his newest daughter and how gently he held her

• That bonnet. Seriously, a baby in a bonnet is so cute!

• That the sweet baby girl feel asleep at the end of the session allowing for these precious shots of her in dreamland

So whether your baby is a couple weeks old or a couple months old, we can take family photos welcoming your sweet bundle of joy into your family!

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Monica Conlin is a natural light family and newborn lifestyle photographer that specializes in newborn photography, Fresh 48 photography, smash cake photography, school photography, maternity photography, and family photography. Monica is based in Decatur, GA and services Decatur and the Atlanta metro area.

Lifestyle Family Photos at Home

Are you moving houses soon?

Whether it is down the street or across the country, a lifestyle family photo session should be part of your moving plan.

I have had the pleasure of photographing several families before they move to a new house. Each family wanted photos of themselves at their current home as a small token of all the good times spent there together.

Honestly, I wish I had more photos of the first home my husband and I bought together. That was where we brought our first baby boy home from the hospital and started the journey into parenthood. We had so many firsts within those walls. We experienced many joys and some heartaches. Within the comfort of home, we were able to grow as people and as a family. 

I think photographs are one of the best ways to help you remember. Looking at a picture of you sitting on the front steps helps you remember all those times you sat there watching your kids run around in the front yard through the sprinkler or saw their little faces smashed against the window waiting for you to come home from work.

These at home sessions are tailored to your own family and are designed to capture what is important to you.

I want to know where you liked to spend their time together, activities the kids loved to do, and the places in your home you never want to forget.

Our homes are filled with memories. As they say, time flies and kids grow up way too fast. We change, we move. But I am in the business of trying to push that pause button, just for a minute. Encourage you to look up and enjoy the place you are in now.

One of the things I loved in our first home was the back deck and yard. It was there where we hosted my son’s first and second birthday parties, Easter egg hunts, spent many mornings digging in the dirt, and enjoyed long afternoons splashing in the kiddie pool.

Now, in our new home, our backyard is an oasis filled with squeals and giggles, a hammock, and a temporary pool to keep us cool in the heat of a Georgia summer day.

This family’s backyard provided the space and freedom two little boys needed to run free and explore.

Do you want to forever capture photos of your first home you lived in together?  The place you saw your baby take their first steps? The porch where you spent summer evenings relaxing as you sipped an ice cold beverage? I’d love to document you and your family in your home.

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Monica Conlin is a natural light family and newborn lifestyle photographer that specializes in newborn photography, Fresh 48 photography, smash cake photography, school photography, maternity photography, and family photography. Monica is based in Decatur, GA and services Decatur and the Atlanta metro area.

Quarantine with Kids at Home: 4 ways to turn a rough morning into a GOOD DAY

I am a family photographer, but I am a mom first and foremost. And don’t we all need a little help right now during this whole social-distancing thing? So after experiencing a fare share of rough mornings, I thought I would share a little about things we do to change a train wreck morning into a good afternoon.

When I wake up in the morning, after consuming the right amount of coffee, I am ready for the day ahead of me! I greet each day with an optimistic nod, believing the best of my kids and myself. 

However, I have found that even before my coffee kicks in, the hope for the day is quickly fading and I am thinking: how in the world will we make it to bedtime? 

Before quarantine and social-distancing, I had several go-to options when I needed to change up a day’s pace.

But given our current situation, I no longer can call up friends with kids for a playdate, let my children loose on our local playground, or run to the donut shop for a special treat and an extra dose of caffeine. But I have found a few things that have really worked for our family to change the trajectory of a bad day. 

They are simple, do-able, and hopefully helpful for you. Try one or two or all of them to help turn a hard morning into a day that is enjoyable for you and the kids. 

1. Get Outside!

We all know this to be true, kid’s attitudes (and my own) change when you get outside. The shift is palpable with the change of scenery, the fresh air, and the ability to be loud. If the weather is nice, this is what I do first. 

Here are a few ideas of outdoor play that is minimal effort with maximum entertainment:

• A water table or kiddie pool for pouring, splashing, measuring, plant watering, bucket filling, etc. It is amazing how many games they make up with a large container of water and a few buckets and measuring scoops. 

• Scootering and bike riding

• Nature walks looking for bugs, leaves, flowers

• Sidewalk chalk. We’ve made obstacle courses and art work. 

• Digging in the dirt or sand with construction toys and kid shovels

• Allowing them to take an indoor toy OUTSIDE. So exciting to “break” a rule! 

• Picnics and snacks in the backyard or on our front porch steps

2. Dance Party!

Another good way to get those little bodies moving, even on a rainy day, is having a dance party. So crank up the tunes! (Do people still say that?) I know turning on music helps boost my mood and dancing around like a fool gets those endorphins flowing. We take turns making up silly dance moves and trying to copy each other. I take this time to fulfill my duty as a parent to teach them classics like “running man”, “the lawn mower”, “the sprinkler” or “the disco point”. Please, join me in teaching our children these valuable dances. 

Here is a thirty minute Kid's Dance Playlist we listen to!

3. Snuggle up and practice gratitude. 

This is another one that can be done anytime and anywhere. Usually if my kids are whining, complaining, and overall having a rough go of it, I pull them in for a good ol’ snuggle session. Not all kids want cuddles, but mine would love it if we were touching 24/7. So they pile on my lap and I ask them to tell me something that they are thankful for.  They typically require me to share first, so taking that few seconds to pause and think about it already starts turning my mindset around. Practicing gratitude together helps remind us of the good things in our lives. 

4. Schedule a break for you.

Every parent knows that they NEED a break: this is obvious. But I do think we need to be told to TAKE a break. I can feel the desire in my bones to just take a breather from the constant attention and care of my children, but most of the time I try to ignore that feeling. I am learning the importance of acknowledging and acting on the need for a break. 

And if you are like me, you have already listed ten reasons in your head why you CAN’T take a break. But here is where I give you permission to do it anyway.

If you have another caregiver in the house, talk with them and schedule a time that works to tag them in for thirty minutes while you shower or walk or just sit down. If you don’t have help during the day and need a break, let your kids watch a tv show (or two or whatever), or send them in the backyard with a snack and watch out the window to have some peace and quiet. Even a small amount of time allows me to reset and feel ready to take on the rest of the day! Again, here is your permission and someone telling you that IT IS OKAY.

So don’t let a rough start to a day determine how it will end. You can do this. It will get better. 

Monica Conlin is a natural light family and newborn lifestyle photographer that specializes in newborn photography, Fresh 48 photography, smash cake photography, maternity photography, and family photography. Monica is based in Decatur, GA and services Decatur and the Atlanta metro area.