What Is Lifestyle Photography?
If you’ve ever wondered what lifestyle photography is — or how it differs from traditional portraits — you’re not alone. Here’s an easy way to understand it: Lifestyle photography is a blend of real-life interactions and gentle direction to optimize both light and composition. Lifestyle photography sits right between documentary photography and traditional portraits. Lifestyle photography holds the sweet spot where your family can be relaxed, playful, and connected, while I make sure the light, composition, and overall storytelling feel intentional and beautiful.
Lifestyle Photography vs. Documentary vs. Portraits
Documentary Photography
No posing, prompting, or do-overs. Whatever unfolds naturally gets photographed and editing is minimal. Documentary photography can be a wonderful, zero-pressure kind of photo session experience. It’s honest and tells a story like no other type of photography. By that same token, it shows all the proverbial warts.
Portrait Photography
Lots of posing, lots of direction, and plenty of editing. With portrait photography, you know what you're going to get. Subjects are typically centered in the frame and looking directly at the camera. Portrait photography is perfect for anyone who wants photos that are clean and polished.
Lifestyle Photography
Lifestyle photography occupies a spot between structure and spontaneity. It’s directed enough to feel flattering and intentional, but it’s loose enough to feel like real moments are happening. The resulting images will feel dynamic, look beautiful, and (hopefully) surprise you.
You’ll Get Direction… But Still Get to Be Yourselves
While lifestyle photography includes connection, movement, and natural interactions, I do guide you to optimize for the best light and most flattering positions. We’ll also get do-overs if the first attempt to get a shot doesn’t quite look or feel right.
For families wondering about lifestyle family photography posing, think more along the lines of prompts than poses:
“Stand in this nice light and dance with your kid.”
“Walk together along this path and chat with each other, don’t worry about looking at me.”
“Hold your kid’s hand and checkout those flowers over there.”
“Show me the best snuggle spot in the house and show me how you snuggle.”
Why Lifestyle Photography Feels So Comfortable
Lifestyle sessions often feel more like hanging out than having photos taken, which is exactly the goal. I want the session itself to be a wonderful memory, not just make photos that look like good memories.
Most lifestyle photography uses:
Natural light only
A relaxed single photographer with one camera type of set-up
This minimal gear creates a space where kids feel comfortable, adults feel at ease, and everyone kind of forgets about the camera. The prompts should feel more like conversation than direction and the mood should feel light, welcoming, and have a ‘say-yes’ approach.
The Beauty of Not Looking at the Camera
A lot of families are used to “look here and smile!” portraits. If they opt for a lifestyle session, they may wonder “Why aren’t we looking at the camera?”. As a lifestyle proselytizer 😉, I say it’s because the real, emotional storytelling happens when you’re looking at each other and not at the camera.
Lifestyle family photography favors:
Points of contact (holding hands, hugging, leaning into each other, etc)
Movement
Play
Eye contact between family members
What Do You Wear to a Lifestyle Photoshoot?
Clothing for a lifestyle shoot is all about polished comfort. You want to look nice (obviously), but you want to be able to move and snuggle and play. Remember you and your people are the stars of these photographs, not your clothing.
In addition, you want to wear shapes and colors that flatter you. You also want to consider the location you’re shooting at and wear clothing that fits the palette ad overall vibe (ex. avoid heels at the beach, avoid formal dress for a walk in the redwoods). Think:
Soft, cozy textures (sweaters photograph beautifully)
Neutrals and earth tones that flatter your skin tone
Clothes you can sit, cuddle, and play in
Avoid super bright or reflective colors and heavy graphics
Pops of color add visual interest without dominating the composition
Coordinating your clothing with the rest of the people in your crew will elevate your images, but you want to avoid being overly matchy (which ends up looking contrived, or worse - cheesy).
Lifestyle Photography Sessions at Home
There’s something poetic about photographing a family right in the place where their everyday lives actually happen. Home is where your toddler’s favorite blanket lives, where the dog follows you from room to room, where the morning light hits just right in the kitchen. It’s the backdrop of your real family story, and that makes it the perfect setting for a lifestyle session. I’ve written more about why I love home sessions here, but in a nutshell, lifestyle home sessions offer the following perks:
Kids feel more comfortable and parents are usually more at ease
Flexibility around time of day we shoot
Your home tells part of your family’s story, imbuing your images with more meaning
What Lifestyle Photography Looks Like at a Newborn Session
Lifestyle newborn photography is one of the most poignant ways to remember the early days after your baby’s arrival. If you’ve imagined newborn photos as posed, sleeping babies in woven baskets and elaborate props, lifestyle newborn photography looks nothing like that. Here’s what it actually looks like:
A Session Built Around Your Baby’s Rhythm
Your newborn sets the pace. If they need to eat, we pause. If they’re awake, we photograph that bright-eyed curiosity. If they fall asleep mid-shoot, we just keep documenting them as they sleep in your arms. There is no time pressure on fussy babies calming time and no expectation that your baby behaves a certain way.
Natural, Narrative Moments
Instead of overly-posed, curled-up baby in a basket shots, you’ll get:
You rocking your baby by the window
Older siblings inspecting tiny toes and little fingers
Parents laughing at the array of human noises coming out of their baby
Snuggles on the couch, the bed, or a favorite chair
Sweet in-between moments you didn’t realize you wanted
These are the moments worth documenting. They’re the ones that show how it felt to bring your baby home.
A Light, Gentle Approach to Guiding You
I’ll help you find the best light in your home (usually a bedroom, nursery, or living room), then make small adjustments so everything feels natural, but also flattering. Think:
“Bring your cheek to theirs, close your eyes if it feels right.”
“Let’s shift your face more toward that soft window light.”
“Hold them just how you normally do, and I’m going to walk around you.”
The goal: photos that feel real and look beautiful at the same time.
Lifestyle Photography FAQ
How much do lifestyle sessions cost?
Pricing varies based on session type and when we shoot, but ranges mostly between $1300-$1525. You can find more information about what is included with different offerings on my services page. I’m always happy to walk you through options.
Can I do a home session even if my house isn’t “photo-worthy”?
Yes, yes, yes. You do not need to have a Architectural Digest-worthy home for it photograph beautifully. You need some window-light, some light clutter-clearing (I can always help with this part), and we let the rooms do what they do best, which is tell the story of your home life. Home sessions can be an especially dear way to commemorate what life with kids feels like.
What if my kids don’t cooperate?
This is the entire reason lifestyle photography exists. Kids don’t need to behave or look at the camera; they just need to be themselves. Lifestyle photography is great for kids of, literally, any age. Parents sometimes wonder if their kids will get on board, but in my nearly 15 years and well over 1000 sessions, I’ve yet to meet a kid that hasn’t cooperated. To be clear, my definition of cooperation is not sitting still and smiling at the camera. Cooperating is being present, having fun, being silly (or snuggly) with family, and trusting that the blonde lady with the camera is their friend. 😉
What if I feel awkward in photos?
Totally normal. That’s why I guide, prompt, and keep things moving so you’re never left wondering what to do with your hands. Believe it or not, everyone person you see on my website is just a regular, non-model, person like you, and many of them had a few jitters before their session.
How long do sessions last?
Most lifestyle family sessions run about an hour. Newborn sessions typically last about 1.5 hours to allow time for feeding, changing, and breaks. These session durations are dialed in after years and years of experience and seem to be in that sweet spot of allowing enough time for spontaneity, but not dragging on and wearing everyone out.
Ready to Create Your Own Lifestyle Family Photos?
Whether you’re imagining a snuggly home session with your newborn baby, or playful family images at the beach, lifestyle photography could be exactly the style you’ve been looking for. As a photographer who has specialized in lifestyle photography for nearly 15 years, I know a thing or two about how to make images that feel natural and spontaneous, even when I’m shooting with intention and some strategy behind the scenes. I’d love to meet you and make some magic. You can contact me here.