In Home Photo Session
In home photo sessions hold a special place in my heart. They are a way to capture this moment in time for your family. It is not set in some picturesque location in a field or the city. It has all your effort, heart, and mementos in the background of your photos. The session captures your connection, love, and joy; but, part of the story is the setting.
In many ways, it can be easier to have a session outdoors. You don’t have to worry about cleaning up, putting away toys, or worrying about what a visitor will think of your home. However, by constantly doing shoots outside of the home, you miss out on half the memories. We all have a special connection to our childhood homes. It is such a gift to give to your children to document your love in a space where so many special memories were made.
Read on for a few pointers to get yourself and your family ready for an in home photo session.
DEEP CLEANING IS NOT REQUIRED. You will feel like you need to wipe down the baseboards and shampoo the carpets. Don’t stress! Picking up general clutter and doing a simple clean is all that is necessary. The stack of diapers in the corner, the bottles on the counter, the toys piled in the corner chair: these are all memories for you to enjoy in later years.
LET THE LIGHT COME IN. Photo sessions at home are best done in the morning hours around 9 or 10 am. The sun is filtering beautifully into your home rather than creating harsh pockets of light [which I personally love for creative photos!]. This light is perfect to create a softness in your home. It’s usually best to turn off all the overhead lights and to open your blinds and curtains in prep for your session. I love to explore different rooms of the house to find the best light. Your home does not need to be staged like a magazine to get beautiful photos. It’s all about finding the light and getting the right angles.
HAVE AN ACTIVITY PREPARED. Since you will be at home, this is the best opportunity to capture your favorite activities, with everyone involved! The activity could be baking, art, a sport for your backyard, a favorite board game, or reading your favorite books. Have the activity or items out and set aside so that it is a natural transition and you can capture your memories.
HAVE A SNUGGLE SPOT. It’s great if you can have one bed or area of your home that is clutter free and that your family can get together and snuggle up on. If there are any special mementos or items that you would like to capture, have those out as well!
RELAX. Let your children be wild. The best part about a lifestyle photo session is that it is not curated and it is totally authentic. You get to remember how your children were at this age, their personalities, their quirks, and how they interacted with each other. Don’t feel the need to tell them to sit still, look at the camera, or stop jumping on the bed. One of my favorite photos from my own family session is where we are all looking at the camera except my youngest has the lens of a child size camera in his mouth. That was him at two, his shyness, his silliness, all shows in that one photo.
