Your Simple Guide to Having Professional Pictures Taken at Home

Have you ever considered having your family photos taken at home? There’s something so beautiful and simple about having professional pictures taken at your house. I love it. It’s intimate. It’s unique. And everyone’s always more comfortable and at ease.

So today I wanted to share with you the benefits of having your professional pictures taken at home, tips on preparing for your in-home session, and how to ensure a smooth photo session at home.

Benefits of Having Professional Photos Taken at Your House

There’s something intimate and authentic about having your family’s pictures taken in your house. These are your family photos, and more than likely, other than a few social media posts, they’re only going to be shared with your family and closest friends. 

Having a professional photographer come into your home and take pictures of you and your family gives a little snapshot into the day-to-day life of your family and helps cement the smallest of moments in tangible ways.

No matter what’s going on in your life, there’s something beautiful and simple about your home. It’s your safe haven. Even if it’s messy or outdated. It’s your home.

So not only will your photographer be capturing incredibly sweet moments of you and your family in your home, but your family is going to be way more comfortable posing and being on camera while in the comfort of your own home.

It’s also a great way for you to let your family’s personality shine in photos. Your home may be decorated completely different than your neighbor or best friend’s home. So how cool is it to have photos of your family in YOUR space that reflects YOUR personality?

How to Prepare for Your Professional Pictures at Home

Schedule the timing of your photo session strategically. There are at least 3 things to keep in mind when scheduling your family session. But your photographer will guide you on the best timing—typically during what we call “golden hour”, about an hour before sunset.

Find the room(s) with the best natural light. Typically this is going to be the room with the most windows, but since you’re aiming for that golden hour timeframe, be sure to peek at the rooms in your house around that time.

If more than one room has great lighting, you can ask your photographer to shoot in both locations or just choose one of the rooms. It’s up to you.

Clear the clutter from the locations you’re going to have your photos taken. Nothing distracts more from family photos than a cluttered background. So be sure to give your rooms a good cleaning and clear the clutter away… remote controls, toy bin overflowing, pile of unread mail… clear it away. Even if the rooms tend to have more nick-nacks, you may want to consider putting some away for the shoot just to make for a cleaner background.

If you’re going to have photos taken outside, make sure your yard is cleaned up a little and that your porch is swept. Don’t stress too much about it, but at least give it a once-over.

Choose your props wisely. Incorporating props into your photos can help you and your family members feel more comfortable and relaxed. But choose the props wisely. You don’t want a toy that’s going to distract your child so much that they refuse to look at the camera. Some ideas for props: a neutral colored blanket, bubbles, books, a simple stuffed animal, and coffee mugs.

Carefully choose your family’s outfits for your in-home pictures. Make sure the colors of everyone’s outfits coordinate and complement each other without competing. Here’s a whole blog post to guide you in choosing the best outfits for your family photo session.

How to Ensure a Smooth and Successful In-Home Photo Session

As mentioned before, make sure your kids are well-rested and well-fed. Nothing’s worse than a cranky, hangry, or tired toddler or kid.

Give yourself some buffer time between getting your house and kids ready before our photographer arrives so you’re not running around at the last minute.

Let your photographer guide you through posing (and not!). Some of the best photos are going to be the ones where you and your family are doing your thing and your photographer is quietly snapping photos. Those candid shots are GOLD.

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I hope that helps guide you through having your professional pictures of your taken at your house. If you’re not sure what to do with your photos once you get them back, I’ve got some ideas for you to consider. 

And if you’re still looking for a family photographer, let’s chat!