Happy New Year, y’all! Howwww is it 2026 already?! It’s blowing my mind. On one hand I’m so ready to put 2025 behind me, but at the same time it just seems like the year went by entirely too fast.
More on that next week.
Today’s post is going to be all about prepping for an in-home photo session and putting your mind at ease that you don’t have to have your dream house for your in-home session to be really freaking cute. In-home sessions are lifestyle sessions, and showing your life as it really is … is kind of the whole point. If you’d like to see more photos from this precious session, click here!
Why You Should Book an In-Home Photo Session
When you look back at these photos in 20 years, you’re going to want to see the apartment you lived in when you first got married. You’ll want to see the house you brought your firstborn child home to. You’ll want to see the furniture you inherited from your grandma. The table with the leg your dog chewed on as a puppy. The smudges on the window from your toddler watching for dad to come home after work. Right now it may seem less than ideal, but in 20 years it’ll feel nostalgic. I promise.
Another (less sentimental) reason to book an in-home session is that it’s a lot easier to schedule. Finding a time when we’re all available becomes a lot less complicated when we don’t have to factor in driving time, calculate when the sun sets, wonder if the location will be crowded, have a back up plan for bad weather, etc. These are especially great for winter sessions, newborn sessions, sessions with grandparents, dog sessions, boudoir sessions, or any session that could feel overwhelming in a public location.
One thing that holds many people back from booking an in-home session is the prep (hence the reason I really wanted to write this blog post!). So here we go,
Six Tips to Prep for an In-Home Photo Session
1. Tidy Up
Now, I don’t mean that you have to deep clean your entire house the day of the session. Absolutely not. Like, if there’s dust on the windowsill, it won’t show up in the photo. Just whatever rooms we plan to shoot in, put away any extra clutter that may be laying around. Intentional clutter is one thing, especially depending on the aesthetic of the shoot, but maybe take the recycling out to the garage.
2. Notice the Light
You live in your home. You know which rooms feel cozy and warm when the sun is setting. You know which rooms get the southern light in winter. I will likely be visiting for the first time on the day of the session, so I am really depending on you to show me the best light in the house for the time of day your session is (and tell me what time of day is best for the rooms you want to shoot in!).
3. Think Outside the Box
Because we see our homes every day, it can be hard to see what’s special about it (I’m guilty of this too!). But when I come in as a photographer with fresh eyes and a different perspective, actively looking for a spot or an opportunity to take a good photo, it’s important that you let me run with any ideas I may get* – even if you may not see the vision at the time.
*I always want to prioritize your comfort during our session, so that is different than just letting me run with an idea that you don’t really get. If you are ever uncomfortable with something I suggest, I definitely want you to let me know and it’s no big deal!
4. Go With the Flow
What does a normal day at home look like for you? Maybe it includes washing dishes, reading a book to your kids, building a cozy fire, or playing tug of war with your dog. These are the exact kinds of moments that I want to capture during your in-home session, even if they feel mundane to you. This is where the “lifestyle” part comes in!
5. Choose Cozy Outfits
I could be wrong, but I’d say that most people probably don’t wear fancy dresses or a jacket and tie when they are hanging out at home. Choosing cozy outfits can really help your photos to feel warm and homey, which is exactly what we want from an in-home session. The style guide section of the welcome guide all my clients get after booking with me has a lot of great tips for choosing outfits that photograph well, but specifically for in-home sessions you get to show off your personality a bunch in ways other than your outfits, so opting for cozy is definitely encouraged!
6. Be Yourself
If you never sit at the dining room table, I don’t want to take your photo there. I want to see you watering your plants, snuggling your pet, dancing with your toddler, laying on the couch with your partner … all of it.
Final Thoughts
Don’t wait. Book the session. Make the memories. You won’t regret it.
*All my blog posts contain a selection of images that I’ve taken. If you are interested in booking a wedding or session with me, I am more than happy to send you a full gallery upon request!
I’m a wife, a dog mom, a foodie, a wanderer, a registered nurse, and a portraits/elopements/branding photographer … and this blog will cover it all! If you enjoyed this post, first of all thank you, and second of all please follow me on Instagram + Facebook and sign up for my monthly newsletter to get exclusive wedding planning advice and access to all of my new (and old) freebies! If you have any questions about elopement photography, my journey from nursing to photography, or my time spent as a full-time RVer, drop a comment and I just might write a blog post answering your question (but I definitely will)!
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