a cozy, in-home newborn session with baby judah
What an honor it was to document this beautiful family in their warm & inviting home, shortly after the arrival of baby Judah! This lifestyle newborn session was full of the joy that comes with welcoming a new member of the family, and I am forever grateful to the McElhaney family for letting me capture these photos for them!
From the moment I entered their home, I loved how it was a perfect reflection of the family's warmth and personality. After taking Drew & Kristina's wedding photos many years ago, it was sweet to see how their kindness and joyful spirits have clearly spread to the whole family! Because at the heart of this session was not only baby Judah, but also his two adorable older siblings - Evie & Sam! Their excitement for their new baby brother was one of my favorite parts of this session.
I love how being in a family's home for sessions like these allows for the rest of the kiddos to feel more at ease. With all the changes a new sibling brings, letting them be in their safe space makes for a much easier time taking photos!
And even if you don't feel confident that your home would grace the top photos on Pinterest, letting your family be in their most comfortable and cherished spaces ensures the images will not only be visually stunning, but also deeply personal. The lived-in spaces, personalized decor, and little mementos in the background add layers of character to the photos, making them not just portraits, but windows into your family's everyday life. And these little windows allow you to remember a bit more vividly what life looked like in those early newborn days, even after all those sleepless nights and many years have passed.
Witnessing all of the sweet connections between each of the family members made my heart so happy during this session. From the tender moments between baby Judah and his siblings, to the little exchanges between mom & dad, the photos showed a little glimpse of all the love, bonding, and the beautiful chaos that comes with a growing family.
In the heart of a cozy home, surrounded by the laughter of toddlers and the peaceful stillness of a sleepy newborn, this session with the McElhaney family was one I'll remember for a long time - a sweet reflection of life, love, and the beauty of family.
