Why Documenting Your Maternity, Newborn, and Family Is So Important

Alyssa Charboneau is a newborn and family photography serving areas in and around Las Vegas.

Life moves fast. One minute you're feeling those first little flutters of your baby kicking, and the next you're chasing that same child around your living room while they giggle in a tutu or superhero cape. These moments—both ordinary and extraordinary—make up your family’s story. And they deserve to be remembered.

Mt. Charleston Family Session

As a photographer, a mother, and someone who values beauty in the everyday, I believe deeply in documenting these fleeting chapters—maternity, newborn, and family life. Here's why:

1. You’ll Never Regret Being in the Frame

Moms are so often the ones behind the camera, documenting the milestones and the messes—but rarely stepping into the photo themselves. These seasons—your glowing belly, the sleepy newborn snuggles, the wild toddler years—are part of your story too. You deserve to be seen and celebrated.

Afternoons in the Meadows of Mt. Charleston are magic.

2. Tiny Details Fade Faster Than You Think

That scrunchy newborn face, the way they curl into your chest, the milk-drunk smiles, the wispy hair—all of it changes so fast. A newborn session freezes these details in time before they become a blur. It’s not just about the posed photo; it’s about the feeling of that moment.

Twirling is a must with toddlers.

3. Maternity Photos Celebrate the Beginning

Even if you’re not feeling your best during pregnancy, this time is sacred. Your body is doing miraculous work. Maternity sessions aren’t about perfection—they’re about honoring the anticipation, the connection, and the transformation. It’s the beginning of your baby’s story and your next chapter as a family.

Will be use wildflowers at Mt. Charleston? Always.

4. Family Photos Are Your Legacy

Photos aren’t just for now. They’re for your kids to look back on one day and say, “That was my childhood. That was how much I was loved.” Your home will change. Toys will come and go. But framed family images—those last.

Classic family images in black and white.

5. You Deserve More Than Just iPhone Photos

There’s nothing wrong with quick snapshots, but there’s something magical about intentional, artful photography. It allows you to pause. To reflect. To step away from the noise and truly connect as a family. It’s less about being "perfect" and more about preserving what’s real.

A playful family session in Las Vegas.

Let’s Tell Your Story

Whether you’re expecting, just brought your baby home, or are deep in the joyful chaos of family life—I’d love to help you preserve it. My sessions are relaxed, playful, and full of light. We’ll create images that feel like you—beautiful, timeless, and full of heart.

Let’s document your story. It matters more than you know.

Lifestyle family session in Mt. Charleston.

Las Vegas fall family pictures.

Wardrobe styling is important, and I can help!

My Favorite Las Vegas Locations for a Family Summer Session + One Cali Destination

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I 100% prefer summer for family photos over fall, even here in the desert of Las Vegas. For me, it’s relaxed energy, I love summer style and fashion, and the fact that kids are out of school make it the perfect time to update your family photos. Whether you’re dreaming of something playful, editorial, or effortlessly candid, I’ve gathered a list of my absolute favorite places to shoot family sessions during the summer months in Las Vegas, plus a surprise destination location that is a road trip away:

An Omni Lens Baby kit is my go-to for creativity during family session.

1. The White Space– Downtown Las Vegas

The White Space is a natural light studio I own in DTLV. I designed the layout and with intention specifically curated all the props. The White Space is perfect for clean, timeless family portraits—especially during those scorching Vegas days when outdoor sessions just aren’t ideal. The large windows, minimal design, and soft textures allow your family’s connection to shine without distractions. Bonus: it’s air-conditioned, comfortable, and toddler-proof.

2. Mt. Charleston – Just Outside Las Vegas

Only 45 minutes from the city, Mt. Charleston offers cooler temperatures, tall pines, and sweeping mountain views. I literally get gitty when a client mentions a session here. It’s such a dreamy escape from the desert heat and creates a completely different look for your gallery. Think cozy blankets, wildflowers, and barefoot kids running through the woods. Sometimes wild horses and deer pop. Sessions can either be stylish and elevated in the Meadows, or we can light a fire and break out the smores with your kiddos. How fun would that be? Either way, you’ll be the best time with your family and I’ll be here to document it for you. Check out a family session from Mt. Charleston HERE.

3. Your Home – Your Personal Haven

There’s something incredibly special about photographing families in their own homes. The comfort, the familiarity, the little details that tell your story—these sessions are always deeply personal. Whether it’s baking in the kitchen, playing in the living room, or snuggling on the bed, your home is full of beautiful light and love. Homes are particularity for newborn sessions, and session with toddlers. I promise that you’ll look back on these for years and years and not only love the younger faces, but your old couch, or that first family home. These are super sentimental! Check out an In-Home Family Session HERE.

A sweet personality portrait during this family session at The White Space.

4. Backyard or Pool Sessions – Playful + Personality-Packed

Summer screams pool days and popsicles. Backyard sessions are fun, relaxed, and full of personality. We can photograph your family splashing in the water, lounging poolside, or enjoying golden hour with games and snacks. These are especially great for families who want a documentary-style gallery filled with color and movement. I had Hi & Hello Photography do a backyard session for us this summer, and I feel so incredibly lucky to have such beautiful images of my family in our favorite spot where we spend so much of our time together.

5. Santa Barbara, CA – Beachy, Breezy, and Beautiful

Ok, so definitely not in Las Vegas, but just a six hour drive away. Santa Barbara is a dream location, and I’m lucky to have family there, so I love to take the kids there when I can. With stunning beaches, soft pastel skies, and Spanish-style charm, it offers a coastal vibe that’s hard to beat. So if you are thinking of a quick family getaway, and want to include getting family pics taken, I’m often there visiting family and would love to photograph yours, too.

Crayons and plexiglass give this a rainbow effect.

Ready to Book Your Summer Session?
No matter which setting speaks to you, my goal is always the same: to capture your family as you are right now. I want it to be fun, goofy, chaotic, snuggly, all of it.. Reach out to reserve your summer date—openings are limited through August, and I'd love to help you create something truly special this season.

Let me know which location feels most like you, and we’ll bring your dream session to life!

Alyssa Charboneau has been photographing families and newborns for nearly 10 years. With experience as an elementary teacher and a television journalist, Alyssa has combined her love of visual storytelling and working with kiddos. Ready to plan your newborn, family, or other session?

My Favorite Session Locations - Las Vegas Newborn and Family Photographer

Las Vegas Nevada Family Photographer. I’ve been in Las Vegas for exactly TWO years now! Therefore, I’m officially an expert in the BEST locations for your family session. I hope you sense a lot of sarcasm there. Scouting locations is a major part of being a photographer. There are places that I want to try but haven’t, and probably so many places I’ve never heard of, stumbled upon, or considered going to. However, I have done my fair share of scouting so far, these are simply my favs!

My first favorite place will always be your home. Please, please, please don’t be scared to do an in-home session. The focus is on your family, not your interior design skills. These images are for you and your kiddos to look back on. Decades from now, you’ll more than likely not be in the same home or even same city. However, you’ll look at the images and remember all the memories that a home can have. It really is sentimental. Personally, I haven’t had an in-home session, but I so wish I could go back in time and get one done at our home in Texas. It’s where we brought our babies home, where they crawled on the floors, where we held the most amazing impromptu parties with our neighbors, and so many other memories.

Let’s venture outside.

Symphony Park is in Downtown LV. I LOVE this place! So colorful, green grass (like real grass, not turf), room to run. It just really embodies my style. So perfect for a kiddo milestone or family sessions.

I absolutely love going to the Dry Lake Bed. This was new for me recently to try out. The place is so big and open, I was kind of intimidated by the whole location. Woah, was I missing out! It is the perfect backdrop for family sessions. The dry lake bed is basically a blank canvas. If you like to dress in bright colors and fun prints, this is the place to get your session done! And what can I say about the lighting? In a span of 20 minutes, you’ll get bright sun, golden hour (like golden 10 minutes) and then cool hues of sun behind the mountains. Just gorgeous!! If you hire me and want to go outside, let’s go here!

Downtown Las Vegas is such a fun spot, but I must admit I have only done senior sessions there. The sidewalks are colorful, new murals are always popping up, funky alley ways, and then I’ll make you go to the top of a parking garage for a few more pics. Trust me, parking garage pics are fun!

I started venturing to Mt. Charleston this fall for family sessions, and I fell in love. When the Aspen trees turn golden, it is a completely different world up there. October is definitely the month to book your session there. There were colorful flowers, pops of pink and purple, yellow flowering bushes everywhere, green and golden leaves, it was literally magical! That’s where I WAS going to have my own family’s pictures taken, until Little League changed our plans, I’m not over it. 😤

Of course, there are so many other places that are beautiful in and around Las Vegas, but when clients choose one of these, I do a happy dance. Want to have a session at one of these amazing locations and make me happy dance? Let’s chat!