Why At-Home Family Photos Are Perfect For Young Families
Taking your family photos at home can be a fun change of pace—especially if you typically opt for outdoor sessions.
While at-home photography is great for families of all kinds, this type of session can be extra special when you have small children. In this post, I share some reasons to consider an in-home family photo session with your littles. I also share a few common worries people have and explain why you don’t need to stress about them after all!
Taking family photos at home simplifies everything.
As a mom of three, I know how hard it is to get everyone out of the house on time. It becomes an even bigger challenge when you need to be photo-ready. One of the best things about an at-home session is no travel time. You get to stay put!
Beyond the fact that you don’t need to pack the family into the car, you also have everything you need at your fingertips. Toddler gets hangry? Bam, snacks are in the kitchen. Potty emergency? You’re all set. It’s a billion times easier to handle curveballs at home than from a (gorgeous) field thirty minutes away.
Little kids can tell whether their parents are stressed or relaxed. By staying home, you increase the odds of your calm and theirs.
You aren’t at the mercy of the season, the weather, or the light.
At-home photos can be done any time of year, so you can choose a more laid-back, slower month that works best for your family. And because they are indoors, you don’t need to schedule the session super early or late to hit that golden hour light.
While I totally believe fudging naps and bedtimes for the pretty light is worth it (I mean, I am a family photographer), I also get how it can cause anxiety when you have tricky sleepers.
You can also rest easy knowing that you won’t need to reschedule for rain or even check the forecast. You’ll stay dry and cozy indoors no matter what the sky looks like.
Children are more comfortable in their own spaces.
Younger children are much more likely to be themselves in their own space, which will show in your images.
More reserved children will open up much more quickly when they are in their zone, so we’ll have more chances to get the shots that show their personality. Little ones are also less likely to get distracted at home than in a brand-new outdoor space. It can be fun to capture photos of them exploring outside, but home can work wonders for a different, more intimate shoot.
At-home family photos let you capture life as it really is.
Inviting a photographer into your home is a chance to capture the simple magic of childhood in a way that will bring you back to these moments anytime. We can document daily routines like reading bedtime stories, building with blocks, or living room dance parties.
One family I photographed always brushed teeth standing in the same spots and looking in the mirror together. I got to catch a shot of mom and daughter brushing their teeth together that I know they’ll treasure forever. It was a way of making their everyday routine look a little extra magical—all while getting mom in the photo for once too!
Being at home also allows us to include the books, toys, and spaces that matter most to your family. And if you have pets, getting them on camera is a breeze.
It’s the perfect setting for a family film.
If you want to preserve what life looked (and sounded!) like for your young family, home is the perfect setting for a family film.
It’s hard to imagine the day when you won’t hear little feet running down the hallway or the shrieks of excitement while your kids jump on the trampoline. I haven’t personally hit the quiet phase of parenting yet, but I know people who have, and they tell me that you do miss those sounds.
On film, we can also document things like how your youngest pronounces her older brother’s name or how your son hugs with wild abandon. The sweet little details you’ll want to hold onto forever!
Here are three things you don’t need to worry about—trust me.
The number one objection I hear from young families about in-home photos is that their house isn’t stylish, organized, or Insta-worthy enough to serve as our backdrop. I promise this could not be further from the truth. Your house doesn’t need to be perfect because we will choose our angles carefully to make it look great. Plus, it’s where you raise your family, which makes it important. Looking back on these images, you’ll get surprisingly nostalgic seeing your children’s dressers or that living room area rug that has long since been retired.
Sometimes people also worry that their house isn’t bright enough.As a photographer passionate about the beauty of natural light, I know just how to harness light in any space.
And finally, some people worry they won’t know what to DO in their at-home photos. Like, do they need to plan an activity for me to photograph? Will the images be interesting enough?
Even at home, I will guide you with suggested prompts to help us move through the session. You don’t need to prepare anything specific to do. Just being together, playing, and snuggling look gorgeous on camera, especially with young children.
Wondering what an add on film looks like for an in-home family session?
Are you considering an in-home photography session for your family?
