Shade is here! It was only a couple years ago I was taking his big sister, River’s lifestyle newborn portraits at their house. Now two and half years later I find myself in the same cute house for Shade’s lifestyle newborn portraits. One of the many benefits I love of a lifestyle newborn shoot is that it really depicts what life is like those first few days at home. I love studio lighting and shoots also, but it lacks the memories that come alive when looking at those images years later when your little ones aren’t such a baby anymore.

I love seeing this family grow. River is already such a great big sister and Ryan and Kelsey are just the best parents! Seeing them work together as a team to become the parents to two little ones is a challenge they are passing with flying colors! It’s inspiring, really!

Shade is proving to be a great baby giving them a chance to slow down and enjoy. What seems like a lifetime ago now, I remember River’s heart condition had them in the hospital her first couple weeks of life. I hate seeing parents in that situation! Having a newborn should be a slow time of joy, not a rushed time of worry. I’m so glad to see that Kelsey and Ryan are lacking sleep from a feeding baby rather than the sounds of nurses and sounds of beeping machines.

Shade was such a sweet sleepy guy for most of our session. He only woke up toward the end of our session a bit cranky and tired of being photographed! Check out this handsome guy below!