Preparing Your Home for you At Home Session

01. Tidy Up

I know it can be intimidating having a stranger take photographs inside your home, it’s like this for anyone & everyone (not just photographers). But I believe the beauty of your home is that THIS is where real life happens, the beautiful memories and stories that make of your life, live inside these walls.

We will wholly concentrate on YOU & your family during your session, not your house please don’t feel the need to clean it from head to toe (unless you want to photograph all over your phone). Instead, focus on tidying up 2-3 rooms you want to photograph in. I recommend choosing the rooms with the best natural light or your favorite rooms in the house.

Think of your home as the “scene in a tv show” & the items home are all of the props. If the props in the room don’t add more meaning or important information to the scene, move those items into another room. Coats on the sofa, laptop chords on the table, remote controls on the counter, laundry in a basket on the floor, grab those items and put them in rooms & spaces where they below or can stay until your session is done.

Prepare your home as if you were having company over, it’s as simple as that.

02. Prepare your family by talking to them

Your home is your family’s place to relax, play games, watch tv, and be themselves. For our short time together I’ll be the stranger in your home giving instructions & posing your family members around the house. Communicate to your children what will be happening days in advance so they don’t feel surprised.

Feel free to also tell your tribe your expectations on behavior, but make sure to tell them to get ready to have fun! We will laugh, have fun & we might play a game of “Simon Says” . The more relaxed everyone is, the more genuine & true to you, your photos will be.

03. Let the Sun in!

Pull back all the shades & let as much natural light fill your home. The most flattering light is natural sunlight, the more we bring into your home the better!

04. Set the temperature!

Moving, posing & added sunlight might make you warmer than usual during your photoshoot. Set your homes temperature to something you’ll most comfortable in.

If you have infants or newborns, they are happiest when they are warmest so create warmth for them (especially if you plan to change their outfits).

05. Give the Photographer the “talking stick”

Photographers are pros, chances are they know exactly what works & what doesn’t while photographing families, especially children. Let the photographer give the instruction to your kiddos & step in only when you see that your kids might becoming tired from the session & will require mommy & daddy’s love and attention. You just think about smiling & enjoying your family being all together & let the photographer find a creative way to make your kids smile for the camera.

As an auntie to 14 precious kids (ranging from ages 1-13), I’ve been known to sing songs from all the latest Disney movies at any given moment or tell the silliest jokes, no one can resist giggling.