Lifestyle Photography: Capturing the Fleeting Moments
Lifestyle Family Photography in Memphis Tennessee by Caitlin Ross Photography
As a family photographer and a mother myself, I understand the profound importance of capturing the fleeting moments in our children’s lives. It’s incredible how quickly time passes—one minute, they’re taking their first steps, and the next, they’re running off to school, driving cars, and then off to college. This is why lifestyle family photography is so essential. Lifestyle photography allows us to freeze these precious moments in time, preserving the innocence of a young child — or the face of a now teenager who just yesterday had baby teeth and dimpled fingers. For me, it is all about capturing the joy and love between your family at every stage.
Embracing the Emotional Journey of Parenthood
Parenthood is an emotional journey filled with joy, laughter, challenges, and love. It’s a journey that deserves to be remembered, not just through our memories but also through beautiful, candid photographs. Lifestyle family photography focuses on capturing these raw, authentic moments—the messy, the beautiful, the chaotic and everything in between. It’s about documenting the genuine emotions and connections that define your family.
The Beauty of Everyday Moments
Life with babies, toddlers, and any aged child is filled with activities, chaos and big emotions. My style of photography is all about capturing the everyday moments that make your family unique— from the way your toddler’s face lights up with laughter during playtime, the way a baby snuggles into momma’s chest to feel safe, the little expressions that define each child’s unique personality, the way your teenager tries not to laugh at dad’s corny jokes or moms attempts to get a big hug. My photography is all about capturing CONNECTION. Human connection is the most beautiful gift we can give to one another, and it is what I aim to capture through my work. Whenever I think about the times I have felt the most confident, the most beautiful, and the most loved in my life are times when I have been engaged with my family — cuddling, playing, laughing, being close. Any of the times I have felt connected to my family— those moments are what life is all about. Wanting to never forget that feeling— thats why I became a photographer, that is my ultimate goal for every family who steps in front of my lens, to make it possible for them to relive those feelings time and time again when they look at their photographs.
Play and Connection: The Heart of My Photography
In my photography sessions, I focus on creating a relaxed, stress-free environment where your family can truly be themselves. I guide you through fun interactions and playful activities, allowing genuine connections and emotions to shine through. This approach helps me capture the unique soul of each individual in front of my lens, revealing the love and bonds that make your family unique.
Preserving the Essence of Your Family
When you look at the photos from our session, I want you to feel the warmth and love that fills your home. I aim to create images that are not just pictures but memories—tangible reminders of the love, joy, and connection that define your family. These photos will serve as a cherished keepsake, a beautiful record of your family’s journey through life.
Why Lifestyle Family Photography Matters
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the small, significant moments that make up our days. Lifestyle family photography helps us slow down and appreciate these moments, capturing the essence of our children’s childhood and the love that binds us together. It’s a way to hold onto the fleeting moments, ensuring that they remain with us forever.
At Caitlin Ross Photography, I’m passionate about helping families create lasting memories through beautiful, heartfelt images. Let’s capture the magic of your family’s unique story, preserving it for generations to come. Click the inquiry button below to schedule your stress-free photo session during the beautiful Memphis golden hour today and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Capturing Timeless Heirloom Fine Art Portraits of Your Children
Heirloom Fine Art Portrait Photography in Memphis Tennessee
Creating heirloom fine art portraits of your children is a beautiful way to capture their personalities and features at a particular moment in time for you to cherish for generations to come. If you're considering booking an heirloom fine art portrait session with me, here are some important things to know before your session.
I include images in both black and white and in color. I will add vignetting around photographs upon request. vignetting is the blurring around the edges of the photo creating the oval shape. This is why you see some photographs in my gallery with and some without.
Choosing the Right Clothing
For the best results, I recommend dressing your child in simple, solid-colored clothing. White, off-white, and cream shirts and dresses photograph particularly well in black and white, creating a classic and timeless look. Light blue, pale pink, and yellow can also work, but they may appear more gray in black and white photos. The key is to avoid busy patterns or logos that can distract from your child's natural beauty.
Natural Light
I do not use harsh lighting for my portraits. I use natural light for all of my portrait sessions, as it creates a soft, flattering light that enhances your child's features. Natural light also adds a timeless quality to the portraits, making them look both classic and beautiful. Using natural light also allows me to keep the children in front of my lens comfortable. Sometimes large setups and harsh lights can be daunting to little kids.
Capturing Genuine Expressions
During each session, I spend 10-15 minutes getting to know your child, talking to them, and interacting with them to capture a variety of facial expressions. The number of photos per child will vary based on their unique personality and willingness to open up. My goal is to create a stress-free and laid-back environment where your child can be themselves, allowing me to capture their sweet personality as authentically as possible. A few sibling photos will be included if the children will allow me to capture them together. Parents can purchase adult add ons to capture the special relationship between parents and their children. Below you can see a session that included 4 siblings and a “mommy + me “ add on.
Viewing Your Portraits
After your session, you will receive a private online gallery within 3 weeks of your shoot date. This gallery will contain a selection of the best images from your session for you to view and choose from. The price of each session includes your choice of 5 digital downloads from the gallery, with the option to purchase additional downloads if desired. This means that if you have 2 kids, you get to download 10 images included in the price of the sitting fee you paid, and 15 if you paid for 3 sessions, and so on.
Conclusion
Capturing timeless heirloom fine art portraits of your children is a special experience that results in beautiful, cherished memories. By following these tips and trusting in my approach, you can ensure that your portraits capture the true essence of your child's personality and beauty for generations to come.
Click here to see some more of the heirloom portraits in my portfolio. Click here to book your fine art heirloom session with me or to hop on the waitlist! I offer these sessions usually once or twice a month, spots are limited and I open up the schedule usually a month in advance.
Golden Hour: Why Sunset is the Perfect Time for Your Family Photos in Memphis, Tennessee
Sunset Family Photos in Memphis Tennessee
As a family photographer in Memphis, Tennessee, capturing the perfect moments for your family is my passion. One of the most magical times of day for a photo session is the two hours before sunset, often referred to as the "golden hour." Let's explore why this time of day is ideal for your family photos, and why it's the only time I will take photos for families outdoors.
1. Stunning Lighting: Light is the most important thing a photographer considers when planning a photo session. During the golden hour, the sun is low in the sky, creating a soft, warm, and flattering light. This gentle light enhances skin tones, reduces harsh shadows, and adds a beautiful glow to your photos. The closer we get to sunset, the more I am able to capture my families with backlighting to create that golden light and airy look.
2. Vibrant Colors: The golden hour is known for its stunning, vibrant colors. The warm, golden light can make the colors in your photos pop, creating a vibrant look. Whether you're shooting in a park, a field, a garden, or in your own front yard, the golden hour can elevate the colors in your photos and create a truly magical atmosphere.
3. Reduced Harshness: The harsh midday sun can create unflattering shadows and highlights in your photos. By scheduling your session during the golden hour, you can avoid these harsh lighting conditions and ensure that your photos are soft, natural, and flattering.
4. Time for Play: The two hours before sunset in Memphis usually offer cooler temperatures—so needed in the Memphis heat! — and softer breezes, making it the perfect time for a photo session. Your family can play, laugh, and enjoy each other's company, while I capture beautiful, candid moments that reflect your family's unique personality and dynamics.
So why wait? Schedule your stress-free golden hour photo session today and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Changing Your Perspective: A Stress-Free Approach to Family Photos
Stress Free Family Photos in Memphis Tennesseee
Many of the families I work with confess that the mere thought of a photo session with little ones fills them with anxiety and stress. They anticipate a challenging and exhausting process, but they also deeply desire to capture their families in this chaotic, imperfectly perfect, beautiful stage of life. While I acknowledge that some planning is necessary—getting everyone dressed and to the session on time can feel like a feat in itself—I want to help shift your approach and mindset about what a family photo session can truly be, especially when you work with the right photographer.
My primary goal as a photographer is to capture authentic connections, the love within your family, and the genuine personalities of each individual who steps in front of my lens. My approach to photography differs from traditional posed sessions. While we do capture a few posed shots with everyone smiling at the camera throughout the session, the majority of our time is spent having fun and creating carefully curated moments of connection. You've hired me to create meaningful, heartfelt images that encapsulate your family as they are now. Therefore, we spend our time together creating these loving moments to capture memories that will last a lifetime.
Instead of viewing your upcoming lifestyle photography session as a stressful event where everyone needs to be "perfect" and on their best behavior, I encourage you to shift your perspective. Consider your family photo session as intentional, quality time spent with your loved ones.
Reflect on your Family’s Idea of Fun
Think about your family's favorite activities. Do you enjoy going for bike rides together, playing games, or visiting the park? Imagine these moments with your family. Do they evoke feelings of stress? More likely, they fill you with JOY, LOVE, and WARMTH.
For instance, my family loves to have dance parties in our kitchen. It may sound silly, but it's a time when my children laugh and enjoy themselves the most. They love to be wild and loud, watching their parents act goofy, sing, and dance along. During these moments, witnessing the unbridled joy and love from our children, my husband and I feel that nothing else in the world matters but being present in that moment with our beautiful children.
Shifting Your Perspective to Allow for a Fun Experience
Shift your perspective and view your photo session as a fun family activity. Start thinking about it as another opportunity to engage with your family and spending quality time together. Just like any other family activity, some planning and work are involved, but it's also a time to connect and enjoy being with one another.
When considering all this, remember to share these attitudes with your kids. Get them excited about their upcoming outing with the whole family! Instead of warning them to behave or bribing them to smile, talk to them about how much fun they'll have spending time together as a family. Mention the outdoor adventures, the chance to explore, spot animals, admire flowers, and even watch the sunset!
If you're a mom with a husband who isn't thrilled about posing for family photos, share this information with him. Let him know that this is not a traditional photo session where everyone needs to pose stiffly and smile. I've had dads and kids race, play Red Rover—anything goes! Encourage him to be open to following my prompts to simply play with the kids and let me guide the whole family into activities that will create meaningful connections for the whole family to enjoy.
Attitude is Everything!
We've all encountered someone whose bad attitude dampened our mood. Remember, your attitude as parents sets the tone for the entire session, especially for your kids. If you're stressed and anxious, or if you scold your kids for just being kids during the session, it can easily ruin the experience. Most family photographers who work with kids understand how unpredictable they can be. That's why I keep my sessions laid-back and fun. There's no "wrong way" to be. I only ask that everyone comes as themselves and is open to having a good time with their family.
During our time together, I'll do most of the work. I'll guide your family through gentle posing that creates connected moments. I'll probably crack some bad jokes, lead you into surprise tickle attacks, make silly sounds, we will probably do goofy dances, and maybe even play some games!
Having Fun and Feeling Connected
I receive messages from almost every family after their session telling me how much fun they had and how they and their kids really enjoyed the whole experience. This is my number one goal—to help families connect and feel the love for each other—because these connected moments create amazing photos that will become beautiful works of art to remind you of these moments for a lifetime.
The photos in this blog post and below are from my most recent family photo session with the Capocaccia Family . We had a blast exploring Memphis Botanic Gardens. As you can see, this family had a wonderful time being together. We admired cherry trees and fish, played on and climbed trees, and marveled at the gorgeous tulips.
Reach out to me if you're interested in capturing family photos in a fun, authentic, and heartfelt way! I promise to provide you with an enjoyable experience.
What to Wear to Your Family Photography Session
What to Wear to Your Family Photography Session | Memphis Family Photographer
As Winter winds down, and we begin thinking about the warmer weather and longer days, family photography season is also on the horizon.
If you have a family photography session scheduled, you are likely excited and anxious to make sure everything goes smoothly. The question I get asked the most by the families I work with is “what should we wear?” While I do not style my families, I am always happy to help with any questions.
It can be difficult and stressful for busy families to find time to coordinate wardrobe. You are investing in timeless photos, after all, so looking your best is important.
Here are some helpful tips and guidelines to simplify this process so you can easily look and feel your best for your upcoming photo session.
Confidence and Comfort
The most important thing to consider when choosing your wardrobe is confidence and comfort. Wear something that makes you feel good. If you wear something that makes you feel less than stellar, it will affect your body language and show up in your images. Choose a wardrobe that makes everyone feel and look their best while aligning with your personal style.
Style
Dress in clothes that best match your family’s unique style. If you normally wear more casual clothes, wear clothes that match that style. If your family tends to be more dressy, dress up. Staying true to your authentic style is best for lifestyle photography. If your daughter hates dresses and bows, don’t make her wear a dress and bow. If your son hates sweaters and dress pants, let him wear khakis or jeans and a polo. Don’t overthink it. You can stay true to any style and still look nice and put together.
Coordinating Colors and Patterns
Your wardrobe does not have to match. I recommend choosing coordinating colors and dressing everyone in a way that flows together. Choose a color pallet that matches the aesthetic you are going for. For example, pastels give a more summery and dreamy vibe and earthy tones provide a more natural and organic look.
Location can affect your color scheme, but no matter where your session is, you cannot go wrong with neutral colors such as beige, white, muted earthy colors and subtle pastels.
Textures are a great way to elevate an outfit (think linen and denim). Avoid having everyone in different patterns and textures. This can be distracting to the eye. Having one person in a pattern is a great way to break up the solid colors.
Lastly, stay away from fluorescent colors and neons, these colors will cast onto your skin tones.
Fit and Shape
Make sure the wardrobe you choose fits. Don’t squeeze your child into something they outgrew or put them in that sweater you bought a little too big so it would fit into next season. Rolled sleeves or clothing that is too tight or too big will not look good.
Also consider the flow and drape of the outfits you choose. Avoid wearing bulky coats and vests or dresses and shirts that take away from the natural shape of your body. If you choose something that has an oversized fit, a belt is a great option to hug in the fabric and bring back in the natural body shape.
Flowy dresses will bring in a whimsical and romantic feel to your photos while form fitting clothes will provide a more chic and tailored aesthetic.
What About Shoes?
Shoes are an important part of wardrobe selection. The key to choosing shoes is to think about how the shoes you choose look with the outfits selected while remembering that comfort is priority. In the spring and summer, I suggest sandals or clogs in natural colors or barefoot if your location will allow. In the colder months, I suggest boots or shoes in one neutral color such as brown, tan or gray. If everyone is wearing muted, earthy, solid colors, shoes could also be used to incorporate a pop of color. Lastly, remember to choose socks that are natural and muted. Be sure to check that your child hasn’t thrown on a pair of “crazy” or bright socks under their shoes.
Where to Start
Moms, start with yourself first! Go buy yourself something new or pick out your favorite outfit in your closet. Choose something that makes you feel beautiful, empowered, and confident then build the rest of the family’s outfits around yours.
Notes on Accessories
Accessories are a great way to bring in personal style or pops of color. Remember to consider the overall look you are going with when choosing accessories. For example, don’t wear an Apple Watch or Garmin with your flowy, nice dress.
If you normally wear a watch and don’t plan on wearing it at your photo session, be sure to rotate which wrist you wear your watch on each day leading up to your session so you don’t have tan lines from your watch.
Remember to empty pockets of phones, chapstick, etc.
Read how to shift your perspective for an stress-free photography session here.