Do you already live in your dream house or are you a military family and will move again soon? How special would be to have every home you lived in documented? These are all the great reason to have your home included in the photos.

How do you achieve the magazine worthy in-home family photos that you have been scrolling through on Pinterest? Read more and follow our few simple tips!

Why do we stress before family photos?

You are nervous and stressed before every family session even if you are trying so hard not to! I get it. Did you know photographers stress before taking family photos or even before having family photos taken? It means we care! I can promise you one thing, your stress will go away as soon as we start taking some beautiful photos and everyone relaxes and has fun.

TO-DOs before having family photos taken at your home?

• LIGHT. The most important ingredient for all the photographs. Observe your house during the day. What time of the day is the light the brightest and where? 99% of my in-home sessions happen around 10am. Walk around your house and snap a few iPhone photos. Send them to your photographer and determine together which rooms will you have picture-ready? You might love your master bedroom or your living room but these might be the darkest room, not an option for family photos. Look for large windows and morning light shining through them. We might pick the play room, the kid’s bedroom, the rocking chair at a nursery by the window, a large space by backyard door etc. The options are endless, every home is different and every home is a good candidate for family photos. In-home photos are extremely creative and personal.

• CLUTTER. You want your house to look like on its’ best day. One week before your shoot start with removing the clutter and not necessary toys from the areas we are going to shoot at. Everything that you DO NOT want at the pictures has to go. I am not asking you to clean the entire house and mop all the floors. I recommend decluttering the rooms that we determined together that we are going to use. It might be removing magnets from the fridge, downsizing on the kids’ toys, removing clutter from the dining table, drying rack etc.

• OUTFITS. Clothes matters, just like any photo session. Outfits have a huge impact on the final results of photos. Be your best selves. I will encourage comfortable clothing that feels like you, everyone should love their clothes. Solid light colors to reflect light to your pretty faces. No shoes and no socks :) Complement your home colors! My hope is that you will print your photos and frame them all around the house. Your clothes should complement the colors and style of your interior design.

• ACTIVITIES. We are at your house. What do you love to do as a family on Saturday morning? Is it cooking pancakes, reading books, running in circles, having a dance party, doing arts and craft, jumping on the bed or all of the above. Think about 1-2 things your kids love doing and have lots of fun while doing that. In-home sessions document your family on the very best day and if tantrums happen, that’s ok! They are a daily part of our lives as well!

How does an in-home session work ?

Ok, we are now ready to roll. The pre-session check list is done. I reserve 60-75 minutes for an in-home session and there can be some down time if kids need it. I will most likely still take pictures because I am there to document your family, and if that means an emotional toddler crying in mommy’s arms, that will absolutely get documented and it will be one of your favorite photographs. I am a very patient and empathetic photographer who will not rush you or your kids and I will never ask you to do anything you are not comfortable with. To learn more about me, click HERE.

My sessions are playful and genuine, I guide my clients the entire time. I let my prompts to unfold naturally in a way that is unique to your family. If kids do not want to do whatever I suggested, that’s fine! We move on to the next activity. To learn more about family photo shoot pricing CLICK HERE.

The most important key to a successful family session.

• Have fun! Sounds simple, doesn’t it? This applies to any session with me, at home or outside. The most important ingredients are fun and love. Without those I can’t get “the perfect shot”. Do not discipline your children during our session, don’t tell them “NO” . Instead let’s try to redirect their interest when we need to, suggest something new they like, take a break, have a snack (the beauty of being at home), pull out their favorite toy or book.

• Smile! Grown-ups need to picture ready all the time. No, I don’t mean smile into the camera and say “cheese”. Smile at your children, look at them like their are the cutest thing in the whole world even while they are doing something you would normally not be smiling about. Follow their lead, pick up any game, twirl around with them. Smile and make them smile back at you.