North Louisiana Lifestyle Family and Newborn Photographer

Category: family portraits

Winters Family | Family Photographer in Shreveport Louisiana

Oh man, oh man. These are some kind of good. My brother and his beautiful wife with their precious ONE YEAR OLD!! How??? Time goes so, so fast.

We met on a blistery cold and windy day about an hour from Shreveport Louisiana for this sweet family session. Out in rural Louisiana is where I’m from and where I feel most at home. I love a beautiful open field with tall grass and gorgeous sunlight. You can almost guarantee that I will choose that over a busy and busting city any day. Of course, if rural fields aren’t your thing I never force it. We always want your session to be YOU and not ME.

As I stated before, this day was cold and windy. Kinlee did so good despite the cold. She didn’t want to leave. Playing in the grass while her crazy aunt was making all kinds of noise to get her attention. Her mom and dad sitting in the grass with her.. Why would she want to leave??

I always do my very best to make sessions fun for littles, even one year olds. I don’t want to focus solely on poses, I like to incorporate play as much as possible.

Photographing these precious families with their adorable babies just makes my heart sing. I know I have said that before, but I mean it. Nothing makes me more happy. I love what I do!!

Book your family session here!!

November 18, 2022
Frequently asked questions about newborn sessions answered | Ruston Louisiana newborn photographer

As a newborn photographer in the Ruston Louisiana area, I’ve been asked a few questions about our newborn sessions! Here is a place for all of them to be answered!!

First of all, I want to let you know that 2023 due dates are open for booking!! Secure your date before your precious baby comes to guarantee that you’re on our calendar!! You can do that here

DO WE NEED TO BRING PROPS?

My photography style doesn’t incorporate many props. Quilts and a few chairs every now and then is about as far as that goes. If you have any special items to your family, we are more than happy to incorporate them.

For newborn portraits, we like to keep it simple and really focus on those sweet babies. Swaddle blankets, little outfits ( sleepers, gowns, headbands, hats, etc) are welcome. Items that are special to your family can also be incorporated as well!

DO WE NEED TO FIND A LOCATION?

This one is easy! Newborn sessions are done in the comfort of your very own home.

HOW CAN WE PREPARE OUR KIDS FOR OUR SESSION?

In my opinion, there isn’t much preparing you can do other than letting them know they will meet someone knew and that they will be taking their pictures. Let them know that we will have a great time together and that we will become friends before the night is over.

I make it a point to introduce myself to the little ones and really get down on their level to make them feel comfortable. I know that little ones can be really unpredictable and that having patience with them is key. No bribery needed.

WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR?

When planning your session, selecting your outfits can be hard! What I like to recommend is to stick with neutral colors or earth tones and simple patterns such as dainty florals. Avoid everyone matching exactly and instead try to coordinate colors. Look on Pinterest for color pallets that pair well together or pull from the colors in your home.

Accessories and layers photograph really well and, almost always, the dressier the better. Once you book your session you will have access to our style guide where we give more advice and even share places to shop!

WHAT IS YOUR TURNAROUND TIME?

We promise a two week turn around time! Your images will be delivered in a lovely online gallery! From there you can download and print your images. We even have an online store for printing right within your gallery!

Book your newborn session here

November 16, 2022
Winters Family | Family Photographer in Ruston Louisiana

Every year we make it a point to get a big family photo of my side of the family. We pull all the ideas together for outfits and we meet up after church on a Sunday at my parents home in North Louisiana to get a family photo.
It’s so fun and something I love doing. This year it was exceptionally cold, but everyone did fabulous!
We love our family so much!

November 14, 2022
What to do if your toddler acts up during your family session | Shreveport family and newborn photographer

It’s no secret, little ones don’t always just love to be in front of the camera. I get it. It can be scary to have someone you don’t know all up in your personal space. But as a family photographer in the shreveport Louisiana area, I have worked with numerous little ones and almost always end up with a smile.

What is the secret? Let me tell you!

It can be very difficult to get a little one to be still, look at the camera and smile. In fact, it can be hard for adults to do that. Sitting still for long periods of time and smiling is boring!

Instead of asking that of kiddos, and really anyone, I like to encourage play. Playing is what kids do best. I don’t push them to do anything they don’t want to do. During your session, they are the boss. The best advice I have is to let go of the correcting for the photos and just let them be. Let them play.

If you’re worried I won’t get a portrait of all of you looking at the camera and smiling, don’t worry! I always do. But we make it quick and then we play. We explore. We do things that are interring to the little ones.

So if you’re worried, don’t be! We will have a great time together and get wonderful images!

Book your session here

November 14, 2022
Kinlee’s First Birthday Party | Shreveport Louisiana Baby Photographer

My sweet niece had her first birthday so of course I brought my camera along. You know me well. I love capturing special times like this for my family and friends. This isn’t something I openly offer to anyone. There is something about capturing special times whether it’s during a family, newborn session or at an event with family and friends, It is so special to me.

I can’t believe a whole year ago, this precious little baby was born into our family. She is so full of spunk and attitude and we all just adore her. She always giving you a smile, but will let you know when you have come too close. She’s feisty, but man is she cute.

We gathered with Kinlee’s friends and family and to celebrate her first year of life. What special year it has been since she arrived.

November 9, 2022
Stemen Family | Shreveport Louisiana Family Photographer

The Stemen family is certainly a special group of people. It was such an honor to be able to photograph this legacy. Pictures are so important to have and I am so glad I could have a small part in preserving this legacy.

This sessions was actually outside of the normal range of places I go for photos. Typically I stay around Shreveport Louisiana and surrounding areas. But sometimes life brings really fun opportunities and you get ti travel for work. And so I travelled all the way to Florida! I came specifically for the Smith twins and was also able to do this wonderful extended family session.

We met at Urfer Park in Sarasota on a beautiful Saturday evening. Everything was perfect! All the little kiddos cooperated so well, and I am so happy with how it all turned out. I can’t ever thank families enough for the opportunity to work with me and help preserve their memories. No matter the age, time is fleeting and this stage is worth documenting.

Book your family session start here.

November 7, 2022
Smith Twins | North Louisiana Newborn Photographer

I had the incredible privilege to fulfill a dream of mine; photograph newborn twins this past October. Newborn portraits are my absolute favorite thing to photograph. The sweet cuddly babies. The incredibly special time as brand new parents. There is just nothing like it to me. Of all the types of sessions I do and have done, newborn portraits are hands down my very favorite.

When I first started working with these sweet babies I have to admit, I felt a little overwhelmed. What poses am I going to do with two babies? How am I going to get the right light on both of their faces? How am I going to keep them both calm? I think it is completely normal for these types of overwhelming thoughts to happen when you are attempting something new. The thing is, you have to get past the fear of failure and just try, Try your very, very best. This is what I did and I have to say, I am so incredibly thrilled with how these turned out. It took some work, some knowledge, and patience. None of these adorable images happened on accident. Well, the smiles weren’t planned. Those were happy surprises that these precious babies gave me. Well, their mama, really.

I met the Smith family at their home for their newborn session. Typically these sessions take place between Ruston and Shreveport, Louisiana but this one was an exception. I traveled all the way to Florida for these precious babies!! Was it worth the trip? Every. Single. Second. Not only did I fulfill a dream of mine. I also got some of my very best newborn images to date. No joke. At least in my opinion.

These precious boys were born at 36 weeks and so healthy and strong. They are doing so wonderful and their parents are so incredible to with these little guys. I could keep going on and on about how precious and adorable, and all the adjectives to describe the cuteness of these guys and how excited I am to share these with y’all but if I do that you’ll never see the images. So let’s get to the good part.

If you look closely you can see two baby boys in their cribs

They loved being together

To book your in-home newborn session, start here

November 4, 2022
Florida Trip Recap | Ruston Louisiana Newborn Photographer

October 27th I was able to take a trip To Sarasota Florida for the amazing opportunity to photograph newborn twins! Seriously a life goal of mine. Oh I was so excited!! We arrived late Thursday evening and got up bright and early Friday morning for the newborn session. Post session we took Elaine’s friend to the beach and the Old Salty Dog restaurant. They had a blast together!

Saturday morning we headed out to Caspersen beach in Venice, Florida searching for shark teeth. Did you find any? You bet!! Wow was that fun!

After the beach we headed back to Sarasota to clean up and head back out for an extended family session. It was fast and furious but it was fun!! We got some great legacy images.

We tried an Amish restaurant and the met friends for ice cream. We stayed out way too late but had loads of fun!

Sunday we were up and at ‘em again for church and then back out with friends for lunch, Mexican fruit, and coffee. Sounds like a weird combo but it wasn’t all at once. Haha!!

I came for work and I worked. But I also was able to see old friends I haven’t seen in way too many years and met some new ones that I just fell in love with. I totally didn’t get enough pics and I only brought out my big camera for the work related things. But hey, that’s ok. We had a blast and missed Emma so much. She wanted to stay back home with her Nannie and Pop Pop.

The lucky goat coffee near Tallahassee, I believe.

Photographing the most precious twin boys

Picked up a friend and headed to the beach

Looking for shells

The old salty dog

This restaurant was right on the ocean. You can dock your boat here and grab a bite to eat!

A pelican on the post

If you look closely, you’ll see a jellyfish!

Caspersen beach in Venice, Florida- searching for shark teeth. We found some!!

Came back to Sarasota for an extended family session!

Sunset walk on longboat key

Headed back home- coffee is a must

November 1, 2022
Tushner Family | Lake Bistineau Louisiana Family Photographer

Before I get too much into this session, let me just make sure you are sitting down. Because these are just that stinking good. I’m not even kidding. I loved Every. Single. Photo.

The Tushner family is truly an incredible family. They are gifted in so many amazing ways. Not only are they gifted, but they use their gifts for the Lord and I know there is a huge blessing for them because of that. I can’t imagine all the people their gifts have blessed. It has to be quite the amount.

When Lori Anne reached out to me for an extended family session I was so excited. I knew it was going to be good!

If you have been around here for any length of the time you know Andrew and Candace. I was a second photographer for their wedding back in the day, I photographed them when it was just the two of them, maternity portraits, newborn, and now they are here in this extended family session with a little focus on sweet baby Abigail for her six month photos. Little Abigail is miracle from God and what a special little thing she is! She is the most beautiful baby girl I think I have ever seen!

We met for their session on Lake Bistineau in North Louisiana. It is no secret that this is one of my favorite locations. The Cypress trees, the moss, the light. It all works together to create a gorgeous location right here in North Louisiana. It can be hard to find beautiful locations in this area, but there are some really great ones mixed in.

Little Abigail was soooo good for her portraits. We got so many images it was so hard to narrow it down! I may have over done it on their gallery, but hey, that’s ok!!

Book your own family session here

October 31, 2022
Joseph | Shreveport Louisiana Photographer

I still can not believe this guy is a senior in high school! Where does time go?? It seems like just yesterday he was a little boy in kindergarten and now here he is, finishing up his senior year. Whew!

Joseph is such an awesome guy. He is so driven to serve the Lord with all his heart and he has such a gentle nature. It was a privilege to be able to document this special time for him.

We met at Lake Bistineau in North Louisiana. This park is my go to for a country boy’s senior session. It has it all. I knew we were going to try and pull some elements of things he enjoys outdoors so this was definitely the best location.

We started with a more formal-type outfit and then moved to recreate a photo from when he was a little boy. This was so fun! We finished with some images that showed his love for outdoors. I love incorporating hobbies and interests in senior sessions. It makes them so much more personal.

Enjoy this fun senior session!

Book you session here

October 26, 2022