10 Reasons To Have An In-Home Family Photo Session
After starting to take photos in my clients' own homes, I've gotten immensely more inspired about my work. I started thinking about why that is, and came up with 10 reasons for you to get as excited about in-home family photo sessions as I am.
1. MOST OF YOUR FAMILY'S MEMORIES HAPPEN HERE
Your home is the place where you spend the biggest chunk of your family time, yet the cameras don't often come out until leaving for a day trip or vacation.
2. EVERYONE IS COMFORTABLE AT HOME
You will be more comfortable in familiar surroundings; that's just how we humans work. There is no pressure or bribery involved to get kids to do something specific for photographs; they are just happy to get to play and spend time with their parents. Temper tantrums are sometimes inevitable, though, and at home you can just let them take their natural course. Temper tantrums can make for some really fun pics!
3.YOU DON'T WANT THE HASSLE OF A TRADITIONAL PORTRAIT SESSION
Putting kids (and reluctant parents) into clothes they don't usually wear, getting them to not pick at hairdos they don't like and making sure everyone gets to a studio without getting dirty; all that frustration will be gone when it comes to a documentary in-home session. You don't need to worry about getting everyone ready and in the car in time to make it to your session, either.
4. YOUR PETS ARE A NATURAL PART OF THE SHOOT
Pets are just as important as everyone else to have in family photos.
5. YOU'LL HAVE EVERYTHING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Clothes can get stained or diapers have to be changed. Whatever happens, you are in your own home and you'll have everything you need right where you are.
6.YOUR HOME IS A UNIQUE SETTING FOR YOUR PHOTOS
Nobody else will have images like yours.
7. BAD WEATHER IS NOT A PROBLEM
Taking pictures in a scenic place can be amazing, but if the weather is crazy you don't have to cancel an in-home session. If you still want to take some pictures in the rain and hop in for hot apple cider after, go for it!
8. YOUR STUFF BRINGS LIFE TO YOUR PICTURES
The items in your home are a part of your family's life. Everyone has precious items in their home and photographs are a great way to remember them, too.
9. YOU MIGHT MOVE SOMEDAY
Where we live, it seems everyone is in a state of flux, and the first home may be a temporary one. Your kiddos may not be able to remember everything about their first home, but the photographs will fill in their story. My family never moved, but I think it's so fascinating looking at pictures of my childhood home from when I was little – so many things have moved around, been thrown out or stood the test of time. My room switched a good few times, as well as the decor of it – when I was a teenager I painted my bookshelf purple and made cut out heart-shaped stickers in a matching purple to plaster along the walls. Yes, I really did that...
10. THE PHOTOS WILL BE A PEEK INTO YOUR WORLD
The photographs will capture what your life looks like when "no one is looking".
Can you think of any other reasons? Let me know with a comment!