If you’ve ever wondered how an in-home family photo session works, you’re not alone, and it’s also pretty common to have slight reservations about inviting someone into your sacred space. You don’t want me to see the mess, and you also don’t want to deal with directing a mass clean up prior to getting all your kids ready for family pictures. Guess what…I have kids and a messy, lived-in house! We have brief moments of cleanliness+tidiness, and then life happens again. Also, most in-home sessions happen in one room of your house, so there is 0% necessity to do a giant purge (though you can if this happens to bring you joy, I know some of you might). Speaking of rooms, we usually choose the room with the most natural light, and this is something we discuss prior, during your phone consultation. If I haven’t scared you off yet, keep reading, and you’ll get a little peek into how I work.
1. We start slow: no pressure, no posing right away.
I never rush in with a camera the minute we meet.
Kids need a minute (or five!) to warm up, and parents often do, too.
We chat, we walk a little, I say hi to your kids, and we let everyone settle. I get a read on the vibe of your family and how you are interacting, I might peek my head into each room of your house just to make sure we aren't missing any gorgeous light, and then...we begin!
2. Your kids lead more than you think.
This surprises a lot of families, but it’s one of the reasons photos turn out so naturally.
Your toddler wants to explore? Perfect.
Your baby needs a nursing break? We pause.
Your older kids want to show me something cool? I’m all in.
When kids feel free to be themselves, their personalities get a chance to make an appearance, and that’s what you’re going to want reflected in your photos. I do lots of moving around, too, so you’ll enjoy a wide range of images from many different angles.
3. You’ll hear me give gentle direction, not rigid posing.
I might guide you into soft movement like:
-walking together
-snuggling in close
-whispering something silly
-holding hands
-twirling little ones
Nothing stiff. Nothing forced. I will give little prompts that help you interact the way you already do naturally. I also encourage families to play games together during sessions, a 5-minute UNO game, or a round of Tenzi or Jenga. It keeps people engaged and having fun. Incorporating things your family enjoys together, maybe reading or baking cookies or doing a puzzle, are also great options. If we happen to step outside for a few photos in the yard, you could kick around a soccer ball or blow bubbles (I keep these on hand!). You’ll love how those photos turn out, and you’ll actually get to be in them since you’re not the one taking them!
4. I focus on the way you fit together.
If your child won’t look at the camera… that’s okay.
If someone has wild hair…let it be wild!
If there’s chaos, laughter, the wiggles, the blur of a bouncy kid in your photo… I consider this photography gold.
The beauty of lifestyle photography is that it celebrates real life, your real life. You and your family are in a season, it could be a season of newborns and toddlers, it could be a season of high schoolers and college kids, you might be new grandparents. Whatever it is, who you are together is the story being told.
5. Sessions move at a calm, steady pace.
No rushing. No pressure. We go slow.
Just time set aside to be present with your family in a way that feels easy and natural.
We take breaks as needed. We reset if someone needs a moment. We switch rooms if we need to. Before I was a full-time photographer, I was a teacher, both a homeschool mom and also in a formal setting to students in 5th-8th grade. I had to learn how to assess and pivot quickly if that was what the situation called for, and this skill has served me well. If something isn’t working, we move on!
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After a family session I have had more than one kid say “that was fun! I wish we could take pictures everyday!” Yeah, I know it sounds like a cheesy thing I just made up to close my blog with, but it really happened, and one of them was a middle school boy (this is how I know it’s true).
Anyway, if you're thinking about winter or early spring photos, now you have somewhat of an idea of what to expect and I’d love to help you plan something that feels true to your family.
This is a paragraph. Click edit and enter your own text. You can make changes like making the text bold, underline or italic. This is a great place for you to tell your clients more about your story and to describe the type of photographer you are. You can come back at any time to make more changes.
This is a paragraph. Click edit and enter your own text. You can make changes like making the text bold, underline or italic. This is a great place for you to tell your clients more about your story and to describe the type of photographer you are. You can come back at any time to make more changes.
