I can talk all day about my favorite spots around Tacoma to take family photos, but let’s talk about a place that’s completely unique – family photos in your home.

Yes, your home!

I already know what you’re thinking – “…but my home’s not clean”, “…but we just live in an apartment”, “it’s not magazine-worthy”, “it’s not (insert any other reasons here)”.

I hear you, but keep an open mind as I  show you why your home could be the perfect spot to document your family.

Why Choose to Take Family Photos at Home?

• Comfort and Familiarity:
  It’s your home, the space where you feel comfortable. It’s where you are the truest form of yourself and have the most natural interactions with your family. It’s where your kids are comfortable and where their favorite things live. It’s where they (and you!) play and relax, and maybe even where they get to splurge on tablet time.
  
  All of those things mean that it will be so much easier to relax, be yourself, and get real emotions and connections with family photos at home
  
• Natural, Candid Moments:
  Home is where spontaneous, genuine interactions happen between you and your family. From hugs after bonking a head or scraping a knee, chatting over breakfast or lunch, or playing with your kids on the floor; it’s where the good stuff happens. These things are so much easier to capture with a home family photo session.
  
• Personalized Background:
  Your home offers the most personal backdrop possible. That could be a favorite room or a favorite reading chair. It may be the backyard where your kids play and you enjoy summer evenings together, or even the kitchen where you spend time cooking together. No matter the specific spot, it’s all stamped with the uniqueness of your family.

How to Prepare for a Family Photo Session at Home

• Declutter Strategically:
  Focus on small areas where photos will be taken, but don’t stress over a pristine house. Real family life is the goal!
  
• Lighting:
  Light is key, so open all curtains! We will want to let as much light into your house as possible before your family photo session starts. We will capture your interactions in the spaces with the most light pouring in.
  
• What to Wear:
  Comfort is the theme here, and what to wear is no exception. Bare feet look best in-home sessions. I always ask to avoid wearing tops with words or characters on them. Also, it’s best to avoid neon colors, golf polos or athletic tops, and things with really distracting/big/loud prints.
  
  Everyday clothing will give you a laid-back feel. Choosing items that are more neutral in color will help with a cohesive look with your home decor.
  
  Psst – I’ve got a whole separate ‘what to wear’ post here –> what to wear for family photos
  
• Prep the Kids:
  Tell them ahead of time that a friend is coming over to take pictures of the family. Get them excited about sharing their space and showing off their favorite possessions and games to play at home.
  
  My biggest ask will be to let them be and make it a “yes day” – or at least a yes couple-of-hours 😉  family photos are not the time for serious discipline. We want them to have fun and to feel like they have a say in the photos that are supposed to be representing your true selves.

Creative Ideas

• Lifestyle Moments:
  We can take photos of doing just about anything you’d like as a family at home. Everyday activities from playing games, cooking, reading, or even doing chores together are all great for authentic, emotion-filled shots.
  
• Seasonal + Themes:
  Who doesn’t love a good Christmas cookie? Baking holiday cookies, carving pumpkins, or hosting a family date night complete with dinner and a movie are fun ways to capture your time together and the season of life you’re in.
  
• Outdoor Spaces:
  Taking family photos at home is by no means limited to the inside of your house! We can hang out in the backyard, roam your garden, or play catch out front. Porches make a great spot for the more posed family photos, and there are endless possibilities for candid photos and the “at home” feel.
  
• Pet Involvement:
  Have a pet that is basically another member of the family? The answer is yes, they get to be included in the fun 🙂

What to Expect from the Experience

• Relaxed Pacing:
  Home family photo sessions tend to be more flexible and adaptable, perfect for little ones who need breaks or time to warm up to the camera (or an emergency diaper change!)
  
• Natural Interaction:
  As your photographer, I’d be guiding or encouraging certain interactions or leading you to a spot with yummy light. However, I’m also going to be getting those fly-on-the-wall images. Those moments where you may not even know I’m taking a photo tend to be favorites!
  
• Versatile Settings:
  You may initially think that there won’t be much variety in family photos at home, but I assure you that’s not the case! By making our way through different rooms of the house, getting different angles (don’t be surprised to find me lying on the floor to photograph a child playing!), and engaging in different activities, there will be a wide range of moods and moments to capture.

Final Tips for the Best Family Photos at Home

• Trust Your Photographer:
  We can envision how a scene will look and have an eye for where the light is falling. It may feel weird to have someone documenting more emotionally charged moments in your home, but those genuine, unposed moments are some of the most beautiful you can have.
  
• Embrace Imperfection:
  The beauty of a family photo session is the imperfections – the messy hair, the unexpected giggles (or even tears!), and the everyday chaos that makes your house a home.
  
• Don’t Be Afraid to Get Creative:
  Think outside the box for things you can do together as a family to create some unique memories for everyone – BUT, also don’t feel like you have to orchestrate a day of activities to get good photos 🙂

Well, did I convince you that your home is an amazing place to land for family photos? 😉

Your home is a unique way to capture authentic memories of your family within your own space. It’s a place that is yours and where your everyday moments occur, where milestones are reached and tears of both joy and growing pains have fallen. It’s the place you lay your head and where you share meals and work together to make your house feel like home.

If a family photo session at home sounds like something you’d love to do, let’s connect and see how we can make that happen!