You might think your home needs to be magazine-perfect — but what really counts is that it’s yours. This post walks you through using natural light, hiding distractions (hint: laundry basket = lifesaver), and choosing meaningful activities like baking or reading that let your family’s true story shine through.
Admit it, your first thought about an in-home family photo session is “My home isn’t cute enough!” Pinterest and HGTV have made us all long for magazine-worthy homes. How intimidating, right? But you don’t need the perfect home. You just need your home!
Your home is a reflection of your family's story. It's where your kids take their first steps, where you gather for family movie nights, and where memories are made every day. Embracing the imperfections of your home in your family photos can actually add to the charm and authenticity of the images.
Think about it: a perfectly styled home might look beautiful, but does it truly capture the essence of your family? Your home, with its lived-in feel, tells a story of love, laughter, and togetherness. Those are the moments you want to remember and cherish forever.
When you look back at these photos years from now, you won't be focused on whether your throw pillows were perfectly arranged or if there was a toy on the floor. You'll be transported back to that moment in time, surrounded by the warmth and comfort of your home and your loved ones.
What Really Matters For an In-home Session
When preparing for an in-home photo session, it's easy to get caught up in the idea that everything needs to be perfect. But that’s not the case. Focusing on just a few key elements can make all the difference in capturing beautiful and meaningful photos of your family.
Lighting.
Natural lighting will play the biggest role in creating beautiful images, so turn off all those lights and open up the curtains and blinds! The best natural light is soft and flattering. If your home receives lots of intense sun, we can use sheer curtains to soften the light.
Be open to the possibility that sometimes amazing light will occur in a location that you weren’t initially thinking of for pictures - a hallway, the landing on the stairs, that one corner of the room blocked by the couch. Sometimes it’s necessary to move furniture or position everyone against the wall to take advantage of that light because beautiful lighting is the key to beautiful images.
Tidiness.
No, you don’t need to hire a housecleaning service to prepare your home before our session nor do you need to spend hours cleaning! What a relief, right?! The goal is not to eliminate evidence of living in the home but to eliminate items or details that will pull attention away from you and your family.
Take a few moments to survey each room. What don’t you want in the pictures? Look for items that tend to collect on night stands and coffee tables: water bottles, charging cables, remote controls, Kleenex, piles of mail, and other such items. Clear it all away.
Seriously. Grab a laundry basket. Toss in the items. Hide the basket in the closet. Done! Took two minutes, right?
Looking for a room by room checklist to help you tidy up? Check out this blog post: "How to Prep Your Home for an In-Home Photo Session."
Activities.
The dreaded “What are we going to do during the session?” You won’t just be sitting there, that’s for sure! An in-home family session is where I as the photographer have the privilege of capturing your family engaged in the wonderful activities that make your family unique. This could include baking cookies, finger painting, reading, playing a board game, or some other activity that your family enjoys doing together. If your session includes little ones, you could also include a sink bubble bath, practicing those first steps, or snuggling with mom.
Whatever activities you choose, please prepare them before I arrive. Place the mixer on the counter; gather the paints, brushes, and paper ahead of time; pull out the books you want to read together. This does two things: 1) reduces your stress because you know exactly what we’re doing and have the materials ready to go and 2) includes your children in the planning and anticipation of the session.
Perfection is Not the Goal
As you prepare for your in-home photo session, remember that perfection is not the goal. Focus instead on creating a comfortable and welcoming environment where your family can be themselves. Set out your favorite activities, clear away any distractions, and let the magic of the moment unfold. I can’t wait to see the joy and love that will shine through in your photos!
