How To Create a True Lifestyle Photoshoot

I’ve been racing to post today’s feature on TODAY specifically because it’s this delightful girls 2nd birthday!!!! Happy Birthday Ella! And I’m thrilled at how darling these photos are AND with how Ella decided we were besties by mid shoot 🙂 lol.

You might recognize this family!

I’ve been photographing their life adventures for years now! Ever since their grand canyon engagement shoot and I’ve had the honor of also photographing their wedding, their newborn shoot for Ella, her 6 month shoot with extended family, her one year smash cake session at the Royal Palms and here we are at 2 years old already! TIME FLIES!

I’m over the moon with how these field picnic shots turned out!

My favorite kind of session is ALWAYS something out of the box, adventure and true lifestyle. I’m tickled pink that Nicole was open to this picnic field shoot at sunset.

But how can you create a true lifestyle photoshoot?

I know we seem to call all of our shoots “lifestyle” and by most scenes of the word they are. (here is an article I wrote about what is a lifestyle shoot anyways” We are mostly photojournalistic – meaning we tell stories with our shoots. It’s never about just getting a smiling at the camera photo for us. (we do get those whenever possible! ) But we are not traditional portrait photographers. We care much more about the relationship, spirit and personalities of our clients. So we attempt to capture that essence. However a “lifestyle” shoot really came from the idea of showing a moment in someones life. or as google says “the way in which a person or group lives.” So we LOVE it when a client says yes to a true lifestyle shoot. Something they DO on a shoot other than simply standing there. Which is FINE too because we don’t need all the props but let me tell you- when a client books the package that allows for creating a scene and they are ready to go out of the way to make it happen… well you get GORGEOUS photos with feeling and all the heart vibes. lol.

So what does it take?!

Mostly it takes a pre-planning and dreaming meeting. Being open to hear some ideas that might suit your family and being willing to go the extra mile.

The night before the shoot the mom (Nicole) went out and bought all these yummy snacks, drinks, and florals! She texted me as she shopped so we could be on the same page color, texture, and scene wise! So we NAILED the items in the shoot. I showed her my tent, picnic basket (it was my grandparents) my blanket and pillow choices. We gathered all the items we needed to set the scene.

Then we drove out to the middle of nowhere- really this location is an hour commute… haha. And it’s in the middle of the Arizona Desert… with all sorts of creatures. I stomped around out there for awhile making plenty of noise to make sure it was safe to walk out!

We showed up to the field early and set up the tent, blankets, pillows, my grandparents picnic basket, set the picnic and all the things.

Then we shot all these glorious moments! Half picnic and half just walking, laughting and enjoying each others company.

Ella truely was the star of the show and we were besties by mid shoot! She even let me hold her, snuggle her, and play with her! I just love this family to the moon and BACK!

Thanks for reading and enjoy these photos! And book me for our “lifestyle” package and we will dream up something beautiful for you too! Oh and stay tuned because we have a VERY fun lifestyle shoot in El Matador beach coming up end of May. I’ll HAVE to blog it! Think this tent again, kites, blankets and all sorts of beachy fun!

How To Create a True Lifestyle Photoshoot

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Want inspo for your next family photosession? Check out my what to wear pinterest board.