Welcome to the Blog!

\

Michelle Poteet 10/25/24 Michelle Poteet 10/25/24

Fall Family Mini Session Photographer in Greenville South Carolina

Fall family mini sessions are in full swing here in Greenville, South Carolina! I love getting to be the family mini session photographer for so many sweet families! This family is one of my amazing repeat clients! I have loved getting to document their family memories over the years as their kids grow and change!

Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from this fall family mini session below!

If you’re interested in booking your own family photos, you can see all of the details here.

If you’re interested in my current mini session openings, you can see those here.

Are you ready to book your own family, newborn, or maternity photos in the Travelers Rest, SC, Taylors, SC, Greer, SC, or the Greenville, SC area? I would absolutely LOVE to work with you during this exciting season of your life! You can book your photos by clicking here: https://michellepoteet.com/book-now

Or click here to chat with me first: https://michellepoteet.com/contact

Hi there! I’m Michelle, a Greenville, SC based photographer specializing in capturing family photos, maternity sessions, and newborn photos, and I also offer seasonal mini sessions such as fall mini sessions and Christmas mini sessions! Are you looking for family photographers, maternity photographers, or newborn photographers in the Greenville, South Carolina area? I would absolutely LOVE to work with you!

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

You can book a photo session with me by clicking here. Have questions you want to chat through before booking? Click here instead! I can’t wait to create and capture memories for you to hang in your home and cherish forever.

Michelle Poteet 10/25/24 Michelle Poteet 10/25/24

Family Mini Session Photographer in Greenville, SC

I absolutely love being a family mini session photographer here in the Greenville, SC area. This round of my fall family mini sessions took place at Cleveland Park, near downtown Greenville after Paris Mountain State Park is unfortunately closed for the foreseeable future. Cleveland park was such a stunning location and one that I love for mini sessions in Greenville, Sc!

Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from this fall family mini session below!

If you’re interested in booking your own family photos, you can see all of the details here.

If you’re interested in my current mini session openings, you can see those here.

Or click here to chat with me first: https://michellepoteet.com/contact

Family Mini Session Photographers in Greenville, SC

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 10/24/24 Michelle Poteet 10/24/24

Candid Family Photographer in Greenville SC

I love being a candid family photographer here in the Greenville SC area. It was so special to get to take this family’s fall family photos this year during my fall mini sessions. These took place at a beautiful garden location that was perfect for family photos in the heart of Travelers Rest, South Carolina.

Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from this fall family mini session below!

If you’re interested in booking your own family photos, you can see all of the details here.

If you’re interested in my current mini session openings, you can see those here.

Or click here to chat with me first: https://michellepoteet.com/contact

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 10/24/24 Michelle Poteet 10/24/24

Maternity Mini Photo Session in Greenville, SC

This sweet family signed up for my fall family mini sessions in order to capture their last family photos as a family of three before their newest baby comes! It was so fun to capture this mini maternity photo session for them here in Greenville, SC! This beautiful private garden is located right in the heart of Travelers Rest and made the perfect backdrop for these sweet maternity and family photos.

Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from this fall family mini session below!

If you’re interested in booking your own family photos, you can see all of the details here.

If you’re interested in my current mini session openings, you can see those here.

Or click here to chat with me first: https://michellepoteet.com/contact

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 10/24/24 Michelle Poteet 10/24/24

Unique Family Photo Locations in Greenville SC

I loved the opportunity to take fall family photos for this sweet family at such a unique family photo location here in the Greenville, SC area. These were taken at a beautiful private garden in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. It was the perfect spot for my fall family mini sessions with all of the beautiful blooming fall flowers. I was so thankful to get to use this beautiful and unique location for my fall family mini sessions!

Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from this fall family mini session below!

If you’re interested in booking your own family photos, you can see all of the details here.

If you’re interested in my current mini session openings, you can see those here.

Or click here to chat with me first: https://michellepoteet.com/contact

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 10/23/24 Michelle Poteet 10/23/24

Fall Family Photos in Greenville, South Carolina

Fall family photos are in full swing here in Greenville, South Carolina! October is such a beautiful time of year with all of the fall colors around the upstate SC area. My first round of fall family mini sessions took place at this beautiful private garden in Travelers Rest, SC among the beautiful blooming fall flowers. I am always able to capture so many beautiful photos within such a short time frame during my family mini sessions! I love all of variety, the candids, and the different breakdowns and combinations we are able to accomplish in just 15 minutes!

Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from this fall family mini session below!

If you’re interested in booking your own family photos, you can see all of the details here.

If you’re interested in my current mini session openings, you can see those here.

Or click here to chat with me first: https://michellepoteet.com/contact

family photographers greenville sc taylors south carolina mini session photographers garden photo locations travelers rest south carolina tandem cc photos family photographers in upstate sc fall garden family photos best photo locations in greenvill

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 10/23/24 Michelle Poteet 10/23/24

Fall Mini Sessions in Greenville South Carolina

My first round of fall mini sessions in Greenville, South Carolina this year was incredible. So many sweet families trusted me to capture their love, their joy, and all of the fun and chaotic moments that come with having little kids and being in this sweet season of family life. These photos were taken in a private garden in Travelers Rest, SC. It was the perfect spot with all of the fall flowers in full bloom. I love all of the candid photos we were able to get of these twin toddlers with their newborn baby sister and sweet parents.

Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from this mini session below!

If you’re interested in booking your own family photos, you can see all of the details here.

If you’re interested in my current mini session openings, you can see those here.

Or click here to chat with me first: https://michellepoteet.com/contact

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 10/23/24 Michelle Poteet 10/23/24

Lifestyle Newborn Photographers in Greenville Sc

I absolutely LOVED being Lucas’s in home lifestyle newborn photographer here in Greenville, SC! This sweet family are loyal clients of mine, and I’m so thankful that they have trusted me to capture so many of their family memories over the years as their family grows!

Amanda used a dress from my client closet! I offer over 35 dress options for mamas to choose from for newborn photos, maternity photos, full family sessions, and studio mini sessions. These dresses are all designed to be super flattering whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, or had your babies years ago. You can see my full client closet here. I also bring outfits, swaddles, bows, and a moses basket for babies! I love being able to bring everything you need in order to make your newborn photography experience as stress free as possible!

We took these photos in this family’s beautiful home right here in Greenville, South Carolina. In home newborn photos are my absolute favorite! They are so sweet, natural, relaxed, and authentic! They show what your first few weeks with baby are like. They showcase the love, affection, and connection that fills the walls of your home!

Don’t want to take photos in your home? No problem! Some of my families opt for outdoor newborn photos or photos in a studio! I even have studio options that look like a home if you like that look but don’t want to worry about cleaning your own house. You can see all of my favorite outdoor and studio locations here.

Are you looking for a Greenville, SC Photographer for in home lifestyle newborn photos? I would absolutely LOVE to work with you! You can get all of the details on my newborn sessions here. And you can book a session with me here.

Interested in a fall or Christmas mini session with me? Click here to see my full list of mini sessions this fall! I can’t wait to hear from you and create a beautiful gallery of photos for your family this year!

Hi there! I’m Michelle, a Greenville, SC based photographer specializing in capturing families, maternity sessions, and newborn photos, and I also offer seasonal mini sessions! Are you looking for family photographers, maternity photographers, or newborn photographers in the Greenville, South Carolina area? I would absolutely LOVE to work with you!

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 10/23/24 Michelle Poteet 10/23/24

Newborn Photographers in Greenville, SC

I absolutely LOVED getting to take baby Sophie’s newborn photos here in Greenville, SC. One of the beautiful things about lifestyle newborn photos is that they can be taken at any time! Sophie was almost two months old, and these photos still turned out amazing! While a lot of newborn parents like to take newborn photos within the first couple weeks while baby is still tiny, if you prefer to wait a little longer so mama has time to heal, that’s totally fine too!

Jill used two dresses from my client closet! I offer over 35 dress options for mamas to choose from for newborn photos, maternity photos, full family sessions, and studio mini sessions. These dresses are all designed to be super flattering whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, or had your babies years ago. You can see my full client closet here. I also bring outfits, swaddles, bows, and a moses basket for babies! Baby Sophie used one my outfits, and we got some sweet photos in the Moses basket as well. I love being able to bring everything you need in order to make your newborn photography experience as stress free as possible!

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 9/17/24 Michelle Poteet 9/17/24

My Favorite Shops for Family Photo Outfits

Today I’m sharing my favorite stores to shop for outfits for family, maternity, and newborn photos. As a photographer myself, I know which outfits photograph beautifully on camera! If you want to see my full outfit guide that I send to all of my clients, you can download it for free here.

I also offer a client wardrobe with over 30 dresses for mamas to choose from. I also offer outfits, swadles, bows, and props for newborns. My client closet is available for maternity sessions, newborn sessions, full family sessions, and studio mini sessions. You can see all of the dresses I have available for mamas in my client closet here.

If you’re currently looking to buy outfits for your family for your family photos, I would love to be a resource for you. You can check out all of my favorite places to shop for outfits for family photos, with links included, in the rest of this blog post!

If you’re interested in booking a family photo session with me, you can see all the details here.

If you’re interested in booking a newborn photo session with me, you can see all the details here.

Where to shop for outfits for family photos

favorite stores for mom

favorite stores for Kids

favorite stores for dads

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 9/15/24 Michelle Poteet 9/15/24

How To Have A Stress Free Newborn Photo Experience

Think newborn photos have to be stressful? Think again!

I get it, I felt the same way before I had my first baby and before I became a newborn photographer. Those first few weeks with baby can be hard. You’re not sleeping, you’re healing from giving birth, and maybe you’re taking care of toddlers on top of it. I get it! I’ve been there too! You want to enjoy the sweet snuggles of the newborn phase but you’re also dealing with all of the struggles that come from having a new baby.

My goal is always to make your newborn photo session experience fun and entirely stress free! I never want to add an additional burden onto new parents who just brought their new baby home. I want you to treasure the memories of your newborn session in addition to treasuring the photos themselves. I want to give you a wonderful experience while also capturing sweet, relaxed, natural photos.

Book your newborn photos while you’re pregnant
Don’t add any unnecessary tasks onto your plate in the first few weeks after your baby is born. That includes looking for a newborn photographer. It might be difficult to find someone who will be able to fit you in on only 1-2 weeks notice, which will drastically limit the photographer options available to you. And researching photographers will take away precious time that you could be spending snuggling your newborn. Do yourself a favor and start researching newborn photographers around the time of your 20 week ultrasound. You’ll want to be able to thoroughly research the type of newborn photographer you want, read reviews, and book them with plenty of notice! Many photographers only take on a limited number of newborn sessions per month. I’m flexible with the scheduling of newborn sessions. I like my families to schedule a tentative date, but I ask that they email me within a few days of baby’s arrival so we can solidify our session date and time. Anything can happen during birth. Babies arrive on their own time. And health issues can happen for mother or baby. That’s why flexibility is key when it comes to newborn photos!

2. Choose a Greenville Newborn Photographer Who will bring everything you need

One way I like to eliminate stress for my families when it comes to their newborn photos is to have everything they need and bring everything with me! I have a client closet with over 30 dresses for mamas to choose from. You can see all of the dresses in my client closet by clicking here. I also bring outfits and swaddles for babies, bows for baby girls and toddler girls, and a moses basket for baby. I also provide an outfit guide with links and shop recommendations to help you style dad and the rest of the kids!

3. Book your newborn session when baby is between 1-3 weeks

Newborn photos are easiest when baby is between 1-3 weeks old. This is when baby is the sleepiest and easiest to swaddle. Crying at this age is minimal compared to when babies are a little bit older (crying usually peaks around 1-3 weeks). One week old babies are a dream to work with. But if mama needs some extra time to heal and recover, 2-3 weeks is great! If baby was born early or is in the NICU or if mama is having health issues, we can absolutely still get amazing photos later than this! I’ve done newborn photos for babies up to 3 months old when necessary. Don’t let your baby’s age stop you from getting newborn photos taken. But when possible, earlier is better. They change so fast at this age!

4. Book In Home Newborn Photos

One misconception that I hear a lot is that parents think in home newborn photos will add more stress on their plate. They don’t want to have to worry about cleaning their home, which I totally get! But I personally think it’s easier to declutter one or two rooms in your home than it is to pack up the whole family and go somewhere with a newborn during those first few weeks. If you really don’t want photos in your home, that’s totally fine! Some families opt for outdoor photos or studio photos. You can check out my favorite locations here in Greenville, South Carolina including both outdoor locations and studio locations by clicking here.

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 9/15/24 Michelle Poteet 9/15/24

In Home Newborn Photographers in Greenville, South Carolina

I absolutely LOVED being Caden’s in home newborn photographer! It was my first time working with this sweet family, and I’m so thankful that they trusted me with their newborn photos of their sweet baby boy. They found me when they were looking for in home newborn photographers in Greenville, South Carolina, and I’m always so thankful when a family chooses me to be their photographer!

Samantha used a brand new dress from my client closet! I offer over 30 dress options for mamas to choose from for newborn photos, maternity photos, full family sessions, and studio mini sessions. These dresses are all designed to be super flattering whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, or had your babies years ago. You can see my full client closet here. I also bring outfits, swaddles, bows, and a moses basket for babies! Baby Caden used one my outfits and swaddles, and we got some sweet photos in the Moses basket as well. I love being able to bring everything you need in order to make your newborn photography experience as stress free as possible!

best newborn photographers in greenville south carolina best newborn photographers in taylors sc best newborn photographers in greer sc best newborn photographers in travelers rest sc in home lifestyle newborn photographers in Greenville South Carol

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 9/13/24 Michelle Poteet 9/13/24

Backyard Family Photos in Greenville, South Carolina

I absolutely LOVED working with this sweet family for their fall/summer family photos this year! Their youngest son just had his first birthday, so they wanted to document their family in the stage of life they are in right now with two toddler boys.

We took these photos in this family’s back yard at their home in Greenville, South Carolina. I love when families want to take photos at their home! They are so sweet, natural, relaxed, and authentic!

Don’t want to take photos in your home? No problem! Some of my families opt for outdoor photos or photos in a studio! I even have studio options that look like a home if you like that look but don’t want to worry about cleaning your own house. You can see all of my favorite outdoor and studio locations here.

Are you looking for a Greenville, SC Photographer for outdoor family photos in home lifestyle newborn photos? I would absolutely LOVE to work with you! You can get all of the details on my newborn sessions here. And you can book a session with me here.

Backyard Family Photos in Greenville, South CarolinaBackyard Family Photos in Greenville, South Carolina

Candid family photographer family photographers in greenville that are good with kids family photographers that are good with toddlers in greenville sc greenville south carolina photographers fun family photos relaxed family photos family photograph

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 9/13/24 Michelle Poteet 9/13/24

Outdoor Newborn Photos in Greenville South Carolina

I absolutely LOVED being Declan’s newborn photographer! It was my first time working with this sweet family, and I’m so thankful that they trusted me with their newborn photos of their sweet baby boy.

Danielle used a brand new dress from my client closet! I offer over 30 plus dress options for mamas to choose from for newborn photos, maternity photos, full family sessions, and studio mini sessions. These dresses are all designed to be super flattering whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, or had your babies years ago. You can see my full client closet here. I also bring outfits, swaddles, bows, and a moses basket for babies!

We took these beautiful outdoor newborn photos at the Rose Garden at Furman University in Travelers Rest, South Carolina.

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 9/9/24 Michelle Poteet 9/9/24

What is an In Home Lifestyle Newborn Photo Session?

If you’re looking for newborn photographers in Greenville, South Carolina, you’ll soon find out that you have two options for newborn photos. You can book posed newborn photos or lifestyle newborn photos. So what’s the difference? Well, I used to photograph posed newborn photos, but I found that the experience was stressful to the parents and I just didn’t love the unnatural looking results. Posed newborn photos focus on baby, putting them into poses and props on a beanbag or backdrop. Lifestyle newborn photos have a much more natural feel. They focus on the love, joy, and connection of the whole family while still focusing on those sweet, close up details of baby. We still take photos of baby alone, but the photos are much more natural. We don’t put baby into unnatural poses.

The best part about lifestyle newborn photos is that they can take place in your own home, and I bring everything that we need for the session to you! Including outfits for mama and baby. It can be so stressful to take baby somewhere during those first few days and weeks. There is so much to back up, mama is still healing from giving birth, and the parents are still learning and trying to bond with their newborn. I love the coziness of in home newborn photos. I love the memories that you get to create in your own home, in the nursery, in the living room, etc. And I love capturing the true essence and authenticity of the sweet love and bliss of the newborn stage,

What is a newborn session with me like? Most families tell me they are pleasantly surprised by how stress free the experience is! Especially if they’ve had newborn photos taken with other photographers in the past. I know how difficult those first few days and weeks with a new baby can be, and my goal is to make the experience even more joyful without adding any stress on new, sleep deprived parents.

My sessions are fun and relaxed! I start by looking around your home for the best spots to take photos. Please don’t worry at all if your house is messy! I know what having a newborn is like, and I promise I won’t judge! We can always find multiple spots that are beautiful with good lighting, whether that’s the nursery, the kitchen, or the master bedroom!

We work at baby’s pace, and we can take as many feeding breaks as we need to! My goal is to capture the joy of the newborn stage. I take photos of the whole family, breakdowns with different members of the family, and baby alone. I aim for tons of variety with an emphasis on capturing love, joy, and playfulness. I love to get older siblings involved by having fun snuggling with mom, dad, and their new sibling. Plus lots of tickling and shoulder rides for those energetic toddlers.

My goal is always to make your newborn photo experience as stress free as possible! One of the ways I do that is by including dresses for mama! This is a completely free service, and I have over 30 dresses in different sizes and styles to choose from! You can see all of my client closet dresses for mamas here! I also bring swaddles and outfits for babies. And I bring a moses basket for baby. I also send you an outfit guide to help with styling dad and the rest of the kids. You can see my outfit guide here.

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 9/8/24 Michelle Poteet 9/8/24

How to Actually Get Your Kids Excited For Family Photos

My best tip for actually getting your kids *excited* about taking family photos is to act excited when you’re talking them through the process ahead of time! If I’ve learned one thing about toddlers it’s that they feed off of our energy! They are still learning about the world around them, and they learn how they should feel about things based on how we act! I’m always amazed that by changing my own attitude, my daughter’s attitude completely changes about things like…thinking vegetables are yummy, thinking that using the potty is exciting, thinking that she’s going to have so much fun with the babysitter when mom and dad leave. The same applies to photos! If you act stressed out or assume that your kids won’t last long, they will pick up on those emotions!

Here’s an example of how to talk to toddlers about what our family photo session will be like “We’re going to go play with our new friend, Michelle, today! She’s going to have a big camera with a monkey on it. She’ll be taking pictures of us just like mommy takes pictures of you with the phone. We’re going to play games, and hug and kiss, and tickle each other. It’s going to be so much fun! Are you excited?!”

My goal is always to make family photos as fun as possible for the whole family! I focus on creating genuine, authentic connections through play, games, and fun prompts that create real memories and laughter. Even dads always tell me that they had way more fun than they expected to! So I promise, there is no need to stress! If you’re excited and convinced that the session will be fun, your kids will be too!

Interested in booking a session with me? Click here for all the details!

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 9/7/24 Michelle Poteet 9/7/24

Should You Book Maternity Photos or Newborn Photos

If you’re a local Greenville mama who is currently pregnant, whether you’re expecting your first baby or your 8th baby, I’m sure you’re wondering if you should book maternity photos or newborn photos. Well the obvious answer is that you should book BOTH! I personally have taken professional maternity and professional newborn photos with both of my babies, and I don’t regret the investment for a second.

BUT if, for the sake of budget, you have to choose just one of those options, there is no doubt whatsoever in my mind, that you should always choose to book NEWBORN photos!!

Don’t get me wrong, I love taking maternity photos AND newborn photos. I would be so happy to document both of these sessions for you. But if I was on a budget and could only choose ONE, I would choose newborn photos every time.

Newborn photos are the ones you’re more likely to hang on your walls and pass down for generations. Maternity photos are so special and beautiful but there is something extra special about your first family photos with your new addition. Plus, once your baby is born something feels incomplete when you look back on photos from before they were here. Don’t get me wrong, I love to have every stage of life documented. But if I had to choose, I would choose to document the whole family together with the newest addition. Those are the ones you would regret not taking the most.

The newborn phase is SUCH a special time and deserves to be captured so it can be cherished forever. Another option if you’re on a budget is to do a mini maternity session and a full newborn session. That way, both are still documented!

What do you think? Do you need maternity photos, newborn photos, or both?

You can see all of the details of my maternity photo sessions here.

And you can see all of the details about my newborn sessions here.

Greenville SC newborn photographers Greer family photographer Taylors South Carolina photographer Travelers Rest maternity photographer

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 9/6/24 Michelle Poteet 9/6/24

Should You Book A Fall Mini Session Or A Full Family Photo Session?

Is a mini session or a full session right for your family?

It really just depends on your goals, budget, and the specifics of your family situation!

Mini sessions might be the best fit for your family if:

- You have a smaller budget

- You don’t want or need as many photos

- You love the variety of taking photos in different seasons and with different backdrops

- You have young kids that are constantly changing and growing every few months and you want to capture all the different seasons of them to freeze time

- You’re a mama who doesn’t get in FRONT of the camera nearly often enough and need multiple sessions per year to get enough photos with your babies

You can see all of the information about my fall mini sessions this year by clicking here.

Now, I do want to do address a common misconception. I hear all the time that moms think they *have* to book a mini session because their kids have short attention spans and won’t last longer than 15 minutes. I know it may seem counterintuitive, but kids who have a harder time paying attention usually do better with a full session. It gives them time to warm up. And it gives me plenty of time to capture the sweet moments in between melt downs. We can play and create memories with zero stress.

A full session might be right for your family if:

- You want more photos and more variety from each session

- You want a super relaxed session with time for breaks and playing and exploring

- You want a customized session where you get to choose your own location and date

- You have a huge family or you want to include extended family

- Your kids take longer to warm up

You can see all of the information on my full family photo sessions by clicking here.

I hope this helps you figure out whether a full session or mini session is right for your family this fall! Still have questions or want to chat through your specific family situation? My email is always open!

Greenville family photographers, Greer newborn photographers, Taylors South Carolina maternity Photographers SC fall mini sessions

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 9/5/24 Michelle Poteet 9/5/24

How to Bribe Your Kids For Family Photos

Do you bribe your kids to participate in family photos? No judgement at all! I’m a mama too, and I totally get it!

One thing I’ve found after photographing hundreds of families over the years is that sometimes parents bribing their kids can actually have the OPPOSITE effect that they’re going for. When it comes to toddlers especially, they really don’t have a good concept of delayed gratification yet. So when you tell them they will get a special treat or get to do something fun AFTER the session is over, it just makes them want to be done with the session sooner so they can have the treat. It can potentially cause meltdowns and not allow them to actually enjoy the session, because they just want it to be over.

Bribes that you bring WITH you (like literally AT the session, not in the car) work much better for toddlers, because they really need that immediate reward!

So what types of bribes or rewards work well? Honestly, even just praise and affirmation is a great reward for any kid! Toddlers especially are still learning about the world around them and they love hearing that they are doing a great job! When they see that what they are doing is getting them attention and a positive reaction, they are much more likely to keep doing it! I always give lots of positive affirmation, but they want to hear it from mom and dad, too!

Edible rewards are also great for toddlers! Just make sure it’s non-messy. Mini marshmallows are a great option. They are small and white and won’t be visible or distracting in photos.

Did this help you have a better plan of action when it comes to making your next family photo session stress-free? Let me know what other questions you have about making family photos fun and reducing the stress! I’m all about making family photos a special time that the whole family actually LOVES!

You can see all the details about newborn photos with me by clicking here.

Or, you can see all the details about family photos with me by clicking here.

Michelle Poteet 9/5/24 Michelle Poteet 9/5/24

Why You Should Book In Home Newborn Photos

If you’re currently a pregnant mama in the Greenville, SC area, here’s why you should book in home newborn photos:

Comfort - whether you’re breastfeeding, pumping, or formula feeding, all of those options are easier at your own home, especially in those first few weeks! You have everything you need, comfy seating, and all of your supplies. You can lounge on your own furniture when not in photos. We can lay on your couches and bed for sweet, snuggly photos with baby. I just love the cozy feel of in home newborn photos. We can also take plenty of breaks as needed if toddlers need a snack, mama needs a water break, or baby is ready to eat. We can even put the toddlers down for a nap while we continue taking photos of baby!
Convenience - It’s so nice not to have to go anywhere those first week weeks with a new baby! It’s a LOT of work to get everything you need all packed up, get baby in the car seat and go somewhere new. Especially when you’re still healing from giving birth, learning how to be a new parent, and trying to bond with your baby. I know some parents worry about cleaning the house with a newborn. but I personally think it’s easier to declutter one or two rooms than it is to pack up the whole family in those early days. To make things even more convenient for you, I bring everything you need for the photos to you! I bring dress options from my client closet for mama, outfits and swaddles for baby, and a moses basket for baby. I also provide an outfit guide for styling dad and the other kids!
Authenticity - When I became a mom, I realized how important authentic photos are. The photos I cherish the most are the ones that feel real, the ones that feel like us. The ones where I can feel just how much we love each other and see how much fun we have together. In home photos are authentic because they show you in your own space and show what your life together is really like. That’s what makes them extra special to print, keep forever, and pass down to your kids
Memories - Make new memories in your home together. My photo sessions are fun for the whole family. We snuggle, laugh, tickle, and play games. Make real family memories that you’ll look back on with fondness in your own home. Be reminded of those special times when walking the halls or putting your kids to bed.

In home newborn photos are so special in my opinion, but at the end of the day - it’s up to you! If you really don’t want to take your newborn photos in your home for whatever reason, you can check out my location guide here. I list my favorite locations around the Greenville area as well as two studio options if you prefer!