Spokane Lifestyle Photographer: What to do if dad is grumpy about photo shoot?

Spokane Dad caresses his wife’s pregnant belly at maternity photo shoot.

Thankfully, I don’t encounter grumpy dads too often at my photoshoots. I believe this is because I work hard to attract clients with very strong family bonds. My families are usually lovey, cuddly and affectionate. I do on occasion get asked how I would handle dads who are not so thrilled to have their photos taken, and this is how I handle it.

If it is prior to the session and a wife is concerned that her husband may not be so excited, I recommend having a heart to heart conversation with her husband. Sit down after the kids have gone to bed and look your husband in his eyes, and tell him how important the photos are to you and why. We’re not just out taking cheesy pictures to put on our Christmas cards. We’re documenting a fleeting moment in time where out kids are only this age once. Capturing the family dynamic and making a memory. Talk to him about our why.

Photos are an investment, an expensive one. I know some dads aren’t thrilled about the investment, but quality photos are important. I usually recommend that families save up for their once a year family photo session to get updated photos of everyone in the family and document the season of life. Saving up and ear marking the money for the photos ahead of time, over a period of time makes the expense seem less burdensome. Those dollars have been given a name, and this often makes dads feel better about the investment.

The next step is on me, and that is during the photoshoot. I work hard to make sure every family member feels welcomed. I am intentional about starting a conversation with dad to make him feel more at ease with me. Cameras make people nervous and I think that’s natural. It is very vulnerable allowing another person to take your photo, and I’m sensitive to that. Many men do not like to feel vulnerable in that way. One of the best remedies for that is to have dad play with the kids, this is the beauty of lifestyle photography.

I think another reason dads don’t love having photos done is that they may be self conscious. I’m always careful with my posing to make dad look broad and strong in all the right ways. I keep posing loose so that there is a level of freedom of movement, which usually makes dad less nervous.

A grumpy dad can really mess up a photoshoot, honestly it’s one of the biggest things that can go wrong. I highly recommend having a conversation with dad prior to if he isn’t a fan of photos. I think most dads think of traditional family photography which is stiff and uncomfortable when they are approached about family photos. I keep my photoshoots light and fun to help combat that. My poses look and feel natural, which helps dad to relax. Usually at the end of my sessions dads are commenting on how it wasn’t as bad as they thought and they actually really had fun doing the pictures.

The dad in this photo was not a grumpy dad, he enjoys having photos taken with his family and is a huge part of why this family has successful photoshoots.

I’m always happy to discuss concerns dad may have about photos. Even if it’s something he’s self conscious about. Please just reach out, I want everyone to feel comfortable and welcome, because I believe family photos matter so much. Everyone deserves to have their family documented.

Is my home too dark for an in-home newborn photoshoot?

Spokane has very distinct seasons, some of which can be pretty low in natural sunlight. Some photography clients may worry that their home is too dark for an in-home photoshoot, but I’m here to tell you, it’s very unlikely that any home is too dark.

I’ve done newborn photoshoots in tiny bottom floor apartments, and I can say with certainty, no home is too dark or too small. It’s all about creative use of the light that is available, something I specialize in.

When I arrive for an in-home newborn photoshoot, the first thing that I do is take a quick tour of the home. I look for the room with the best sunlight. Typically these newborn sessions take place in the mid-morning hours when the sun is typically brightest in most homes. This time of the morning also tends to be the time of day that babies are happiest. They’re fresh from night time sleep and have had plenty to eat.

Usually, I prefer to take photos in the master bedroom or the nursery. Sometimes, I’ll utilize the living room if the lighting isn’t quite enough in the bedrooms. Every home is unique, so adaptability is important.

Even if light isn’t optimal overall in the house, I only need one good window to make great newborn photos. I’ll get your family all cozied up next to the window, and create those images that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Hopefully, this information puts your mind at ease. Any home can be used to make beautiful newborn photos. If you’re feeling ready to take the leap and book your newborn session, click the link below. I’d love to talk with you about your photoshoot and put your mind at ease about the lighting in your home.

When are newborn photos taken in Spokane, Washington?

While an infant is technically a newborn between 0 and 3 months old, newborn photos are typically taken within the first two weeks of life. I shoot newborn photos exclusively within the home, so the photos can be done during any time of year in Spokane, Washington. The earlier and closer to birth that you can manage having a photographer come to your home, the more likely you are to capture those special early days details like umbilical cord stumps, flakey skin, and newborn hair, and the oh so sweet newborn yawns.

While I always keep availability in my schedule for last minute newborn photo sessions, it’s usually best to reach out to your photographer in your third trimester to book. This will allow you to get all of the paperwork done early and kill some time while you anxiously await the arrival of your new little babe. When you book, I ask for your expected due date. Babies come when they want to come so I’ll wait for you to text me that you’re ready for me to come over and take your baby’s pictures. There’s no sense in trying to guess a photo date until your baby is safe at home with you. I keep it nice and easy.

Expecting a baby in the near future and want to book? Congratulations! I’d love to talk with you. I offer discounts on bundled maternity and newborn photo sessions, so please feel free to ask me about the details on that.

Why you don't want a newborn studio photo session

Becoming a mom is a life-changing experience. From finding out that you are pregnant to the first time you look into the eyes of your little miracle. Absolutely everything changes and you have to fumble through the world in a whole new way as a parent. For some new parents, studio newborn photography is not the way to go.

Leaving the house with your new baby is HARD.

I remember so much about the first weeks after having my baby. I gave birth at home and the first time I got in the car to leave the house I was an absolute wreck of anxiety driving the most precious thing in my world through the streets of Spokane.

Getting dressed for the day in your first month of postpartum is hard. Getting your baby dressed up without a blow out or spit up is hard. Packing everything you need to leave the house (let’s be honest- it’s the whole nursery) is hard.

When you are in the early days and learning how to be a mom to your newest little addition, establishing breastfeeding bonds and still feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck from labor, trying to get anything done outside of the house feels near impossible when trying to meet the needs of healing yourself and caring for your newborn.

Having a photographer come to your home for newborn photos is invaluable.

Studios are not always baby-first in approach.

When I go to someone’s home to photograph a new baby I make sure that absolutely everything is baby-led.

You and your new baby dictate everything about how the photo session goes. If baby is hungry, he gets fed (bottle or breast I’m friendly both ways, studios don’t often have a private nursing area). If baby needs to be changed, she gets a fresh diaper. If baby is upset, mom and dad get to hold and comfort her. I allow parents to take care of their baby in the comfort of their home and I take pictures along the way.

Many studios do not have what is needed to accommodate the care of the baby during a photo session. Some studios even make mom leave the room while they take pictures of baby to limit fussing, which in my mind is just inhumane and potentially damaging to a breastfeeding relationship. Studios often have preferences on baby behavior, encouraging things like overfeeding or creating an overly warm environment to encourage sleepiness.

With an in-home session your baby’s environment stays the same- same temperature, same scenery, same people, same nursing chair, same everything and mom feels empowered to be in charge to make sure her baby is being cared for. Babies love and do best with what is familiar to them, especially in the early days and nobody knows what baby needs as much as mom and dad.

Your other family members will be included in the photos at home.

Often when you book studio newborn photos, the pictures are of baby only, no siblings, no parents.

I acknowledge that having a baby is a whole family affair, everyone is involved in pregnancy, often birth, welcome home, postpartum, everything and photos should not be any different.

Including older siblings in newborn photos is a great way to help them take ownership of their new brother or sister which will help lessen the early days of jealousy and adjustment to a new baby in the house.

Mom and Dad worked so hard to bring baby earthside and they deserve to be in their newborn photos with their new baby. Newborn photos are a great way to document the change and the new family dynamic and it’s important for the whole family to be in the pictures. Think of your photos like a little ceremony for the family, marking the day you all move forward in your new life together. These photos are an opportunity to freeze the quickly fleeting season of having a newborn in the home.

Do you want your baby took look airbrushed and unnaturally posed?

This is another important thing to consider: Studio newborn photography is heavily edited. Babies are posed in baskets with furry blankets or on beanbag chairs in unnatural positions underneath bright flashing lights, then airbrushed to the point where you can’t see their natural skin.

There is nothing wrong with liking this type of style, but do consider the reason you are having these photos done. For most parents, it’s wanting to document all the sweet little details of their newborn baby- the flaky skin, the umbilical stump, the little wrinkles and tiny fingernails, the creases in their feet, the fine baby hair. Many of these details will not be preserved with studio photography, they will be edited out.

When you book a lifestyle photographer like me, the memories of those details will be preserved in your photos for you to look back at and remember where your baby came from and what a miracle the experience of having a baby is.

Your baby is beautiful just the way he or she is. You don’t want studio newborn photos, you want real photos of your real baby in your arms, in your home, taken during a low stress experience.

Now, I’m not trying to bash studio newborn photographers, they are artists too, but that type of photography was very popular for a long time and I’m here to break the rules and offer a completely different experience that caters to moms who may not be comfortable with the traditional ways of newborn photography.

If you’d like to learn more about lifestyle newborn sessions, click here.

If you’re ready to book better newborn photos for your family, click the book now button below.

And if you’d like to learn more about in-home photo sessions, you can read this article here: In-home Newborn Session Prep