Why you should have an at-home family photo session | Olympia Family Photographer
“What if my house isn’t enough?”
A common hesitation I hear about doing family sessions at home is: “my house isn’t clean enough,” “pretty enough,” “bright enough” (insert your own objection here). Families will see the photos in my sample albums and say “but these homes look like they’re right out of a magazine! My house doesn’t look like that!”
Well here’s the truth about at-home sessions: they’re actually easy to prepare for AND super fun! I promise! And your house doesn’t have to be magazine-worthy either!
In my own life as a mom of young kids, I’ve dubbed this season of constant toys on the floor and never-ending mountains of laundry The Messy Years. Things are generally chaotic most of the time. And whether both parents work, one stays home, or you have outside help like a nanny or au pair, it’s the same for the families I photograph no matter what.
Despite that — actually, because of it — home is often the best place for family photography sessions.
FIVE REASONS Why home is PERFECT for family photos
“Real memories already happen at home.”
Real memories already happen at home. It’s a beautiful, comfortable, authentic place that’s already full of your family’s memories.
It’s the place where it’s easiest to relax and be yourselves. I believe it’s important to embrace the jumble of beauty, havoc, and humor in your lives so you can remember things the way they actually are.
Snacks are abundant at home! This is a helpful one!
Your home includes the outdoor spaces (front porch, backyard, garden, chicken coop, etc). In the PNW, it’s not hard to find homes that back up to forests and woods, or sit up on a cliffside with access down to the puget sound. If that’s part of your home, it still counts as an at-home session.
Kids feel totally at ease there and love to show me their homes. They rooms, their favorite toys, their artwork on the wall, and all the things that make them proud to be themselves is at home.
My Advice as an artist
My best advice for a successful at-home photography session is this: embrace the messy years.
I get it, it’s hard to let go and let your kids get messy during a photography session, especially when you just want the photos to look amazing! But I encourage all my families to let their kids (and themselves!) stomp in puddles, jump on the bed, dance in their underwear, or paint their hands with glitter glue.
It’s the stuff of life and exactly what you’ll want to remember.
You won’t believe the moments I can capture when you’re all having the time of your lives in your own home. (The cleanup will be totally worth it. I promise.)
And if you’re still worried about how to prepare for your photo session, I’ve got you covered. I send all my families a preparation guide to make it simple!
