Lessons
Class Introduction
06:18 2What is Lifestyle Newborn Photography?
09:47 3Why Are You a Photographer?
04:20 4Why Shoot Lifestyle Photography?
07:32 5Integrating Lifestyle Photography into Newborn Sessions
05:24 6Strategies to Gain Lifestyle Clients
18:07 7Utilizing Your Website to Book the Right Clients
23:13 8Booking and Prepping Your Client in IRIS
14:58Integrating IRIS to Your Business
35:20 10Pricing Guide & Client Questionnaire
06:59 11Ways to Contact Your Clients
09:54 12Step One: Plan Your Session
20:37 13Step Two: Plan for Your Client, Not Yourself
08:43 14Step Three: Guide Your Client
04:04 15Step Four: Use the Available Light & Rooms
09:19 16Step Five: Trouble Shoot Problems
28:08 17Setting Up the Crib Shot
07:23 18Live Shoot: Crib Shot
15:19 19Live Shoot: Mom Holding Newborn
07:57 20Live Shoot: Swaddle Newborn for Crib Shot
14:00 21Live Shoot: Siblings and Newborn
07:41 22Live Shoot: Family with Newborn
13:39 23Images from In-Studio Shoot
12:08 24Gear List for Life Style Sessions
06:07 25In-Home Shoot: Before the Session
26:38 26In-Home Shoot: Family with Newborn
07:56 27In-Home Shot List
23:41 28In-Home Shoot: Newborn Only
22:18 29Newborn Only Shot List
12:03 30In-Home Shoot: Sibling with Newborn
20:38 31Sibling with Newborn Shot List
14:17 32In-Home Shoot: Mom with Newborn
19:50 33Mom with Newborn Shot List
16:16 34In-Home Shoot: Dad with Newborn
18:41 35Dad with Newborn Shot List
09:48 36In-Home Shoot: Pet with Newborn
07:56 37Pet with Newborn Shot List
08:40 38Shooting For Black & White
06:17 39Editing Lifestyle Newborn Workflow
06:51 40Editing in Lightroom with Presets
22:31 41Remove Grain & Fix Color in Lightroom
27:27 42Sales & Pricing for Lifestyle Newborn Photography
16:23Lesson Info
Setting Up the Crib Shot
The crib shot. This is what we are heading into next. Crib shots don't have to be boring, right? Why be like everybody else? You can go from above, you can go through or between, grab a wide-angle lens and make it fun. You only need a little bit of light, and a step stool. And if they have sunglasses, put them in sunglasses. Cute. So you don't need to keep this boring same crib shot all the time. An example of that is when I moved the crib, I consider that a crib shot kind of, right? The crib was there but I moved it. Think about the crib, what you can do with the crib, and how can you make it cool. And the crib shot's hard. I'm gonna show you how to do it in the studio, so we'll move on from that. Different perspectives. Shooting over, through, around, the side, or move it, grab what's behind it. I'll stand a lot of times outside the door and I'll shoot into the nursery with the baby in the crib. Just be mindful of the crib slots 'cause sometimes you can't see the face. It tells a sto...
ry as long as you know the baby's in there, but if the crib slots, I'm telling you. They're just like, "You took a picture of my room." So just change your perspective with the crib shot. Changing perspective. I wanna tell you something. This bottom right hand photo, this was one of those times where I did not wanna miss the moment. Had I set it up differently, and we tried to set it up differently but we couldn't re-create the moment. Remember we talked about it. You can't re-create moments. I turned the baby a little bit so that I could see the baby's face more so I could see the connection, but then we couldn't get the dog to look at the baby again. So, who cares, right? Still cute. I'm a sucker for dogs and babies. But the dog just wanted to lick the baby the whole time. And then when we wanted the dog to cooperate, when I moved the baby so I could see the baby's face, then the dog didn't wanna lick the baby. (class laughs) That's the parent's favorite picture 'cause they don't see the connection as much as we do. I have one question that came from Arto Art, do you provide makeup or artist services for new moms? I give them a link or I give them a list of people in the area, if they want it. Do people usually want it? No. But I've had a few ask. Most want them for maternity. I've had a handful of moms that want it for newborn but they typically already have their people. But I do have a list if people ask. Got it. Any tips for getting dogs to engage or like little tricks? Cheerios? I don't know. You know what I mean? You'll see it in a live shoot but, I always have treats in my hands. The number one thing with dogs, the dog that you're gonna see in the live shoot was a Weimaraner which have really long, skinny legs and really long nails. So you need to be really careful. When we're going through the questionnaire I always ask parents how's the dog with the baby? Some dogs love the baby, some dogs could care less about the baby. For the dogs that could care less about the baby, typically I have the dog snuggling dad and the baby brought in. Some dogs love the baby and they're calm and the parents know that the dogs aren't gonna trample the baby. That being said, we always have tons of people around the situation at all times 'cause you don't ever know dogs, right? There are some dogs you know are just fine. This is a parent-photographer decision based upon each person. A lot of times, dads will bring out cheese and I try to encourage them not to because what happens is, and you'll see this in the shoot, is they wanna jump up and go after the cheese. You don't wanna hurt the baby. A lot of times we'll be end up being like, down, down, and I'll get the shot and I'll be like, down and I'll get the shot and I won't get excited until I go get the baby off the bed. If we're doing a dog and a baby right here which I do a lot of dog and baby shots. You guys have seen them. They'll be right here, mom is always right here, and dad is always right here, always. I'll clone them out if I have to. We get one good dog shot and move on. And that's the only if they really request it. Typically the dogs are being held by family members. The dogs that come into the studio are like the bulldogs that just lay there and smile and drool. (class giggles) I don't let labs come into the studio. It's all white so they go nuts. I don't think they can see. (class laughs) I'm serious, 'cause they see in black and white and they can't focus on anything. We do have treats though. But the thing with dogs is you just have to be so careful with the baby. You get a gauge per dog. But cheese is like a no-no, which they did on the shoot. We did everything wrong on the shoot. You guys are gonna learn a lot. (laughter) Going back to the whole if the baby is just having none of the session, you go to say we need to reschedule and the clients say no, it needs to be done now, and how do you respond to that? It has happened to me one time. And the reason it was happening is because she assumed that my schedule was not going to be flexible because I'm so booked up, and that's not the case. So then I had to regroup and I told Kenny. I'm like, "You know, we need to make sure that people realize that things happen." If we need to reschedule and we have plenty of time to put them and we will work around their schedule. If it really happens that way, you just do what you can. And they know it's gonna happen. But that was my fault I feel like because it was a time where I think it was fall or something and I was just slammed with shoots. You need to always make your clients feel like they are the most important thing, especially new moms. So you never wanna come across that you are too booked to be able to fix this thing. When we talk about this, and I always say when I'm on the phone with people, if for some odd reason, it rarely happens, and we have to reschedule, don't worry. I've got plenty of time open next week. And then I move everybody. If we have to, or I shoot on the weekend. There's been many times where I've shot on a weekend. And that will also help alleviate the issue of parents taking off work. And that's another big issue that happens. Parents get upset because they've taken off work, and you know like you're sick. Life happens and I sacrifice, I shouldn't say sacrifice, I make sure that my clients are first and I will then put them on a weekend. And so that's really another reason to leave my weekends open. It's like a big reschedule thing too. So that's would I would do, recommend doing. So just maybe one more question. Going back to as you were talking about all the preparation that you're doing with the family. Several people had asked about if you ever meet with the client in-person to discuss all of these details in advance, or is it just phone calls and emails? Typically it's just phone calls and emails. There are times where clients just really are not sure if the lifestyle session's for them. Then I'll absolutely go to their house and check out their house and find out if it's a good house, if it's a good fit. You can kind of tell on the phone and on email. I have more clients coming to the studio to meet me versus me going there, if that makes sense. Just 'cause they ask if they can come to the studio. I have gone to people's houses to check out the light. And I'll flat out tell people, "You know what, I'm not sure. If you're not stuck on this, it might not be the best for a newborn situation if you want to have light bright images. If you're okay with having moody and beautiful and we'll get beautiful images, then it's wonderful." But if you have a client that's dead set on this, you just have to be honest with them. And if you don't have a studio, it's one of those things. You can't fake light.
Class Materials
Bonus Materials
Bonus Materials with Purchase
Ratings and Reviews
JennMercille
Oh my goodness!!! This was such a wonderful class. Not only is Emily a very gifted pro, she is the personable mentor that makes learning simple and the fun big sis you want to be around. She is a wealth of information and a total open book about it all. Being in her studio audience was so much fun, and the time flew by way too fast. I highly recommend this class not only to newbies trying to find their style and refine their technique, but also to seasoned pros looking to tweak their art with a creatively authentic perspective. As a newborn photographer with an established studio business model, I cannot wait to infuse what I have learned into my style and incorporate her business genius into my session and pricing structure. Thank you Emily Lucarz for sharing your creativity, knowledge and uplifting energy with us both in the class and behind the scenes! You are awesome!
Jessie Fultz
Buy this course! If you are at all interested offering lifestyle newborn sessions, whether you are a new photographer or you have been in business for years, buy it! It's 100% worth your time and money and you won't regret it. Emily is so fun and genuine which makes learning from her such a joy! Not only does this course go over troubleshooting different scenarios that are bound to happen during some sessions, but Emily also gives all sorts of other tips that you wouldn't even know you needed to know until she offers up the advice. It's fun to watch her interact with her clients to ensure that she is able to make beautiful pictures in such a natural setting. Thank you Emily and CreativeLive for coming together to make this course happen! I am beyond thrilled that I was able to watch these last two days and learn SO much!!
Hiba Alvi
Emily is amazing! I love how detailed she is and tells you how it is. It is nice she shares her personal journey and what she does - which is great! Love it and would highly recommend this course! I don't have a studio, and normally travel to clients home to do photoshoots - so all the tips here are more than helpful! I am so excited to do my upcoming photo session this weekend - can't wait to put these tips to use!