Most photographers walk into in-home family photography sessions and just start shooting wherever the light looks nice. This series for photographers is about doing it differently – starting with what you do before you even knock on the door.

Download the in-home family photography series companion guide for quick reference to all the tips in this collection:

The two in-home session traps photographers fall into

When you’re getting started with in-home family photography sessions at home, it’s pretty common to go one of two ways: you either freeze when you see a small, dark space or get overwhelmed by a large beautiful home and end up shooting on the couch because there are too many options.

I used to default to wherever the nicest light was and treat the whole thing like an outdoor session with furniture.

It was fine at first but the sessions felt too staged, and didn’t really feel like they held the sentiment or personality that I was hoping for.

Then I started settling in and realized – it’s not the home that sets the tone.

I had to stop expecting the home to do all the work, the same way I’ve talked about not expecting your clients to know what to do. I began to understand that the energy I brought through the door was the difference between a session that felt stale and one that felt true.

The walkthrough video

About two weeks before an in-home family photography session, I send a prep email asking the family to send me a walkthrough video of their space. Just a phone video they can text to me with no need to tidy up or make official in any way. I take down as many barriers as I can because the goal is equal parts preparation and a casual step toward familiarity before I arrive.

Two things happen when they do this.

First, it takes the relationship from strangers to more friendly.

Second, families often mention things off-the-cuff as they’re walking around: where they eat breakfast, the spot where they always do puzzles, the way they ride bikes in the driveway. A lot of times they don’t think to mention that in a questionnaire, but it shows up naturally when they’re just walking through their own home.

If they don’t send the video

If they don’t send the video, I don’t push — I’m experienced enough to work with whatever I walk into.

In this case, I will often Google the address and pull up the latest real estate photos. Of course, it’s not the same, but this at least gives me a frame of reference about things like spacing, tree coverage, windows, if there’s a front porch, etc.

What I’m looking for in the walkthrough video: Light, Life, and Layers

When I watch a walkthrough video, I’m scanning for three things: light, life, and layers.

Light — where is it coming from, and when? Front of the house, back, side? I’m building a mental map of which rooms will be working for us the best at the time of day we’re shooting.

Life — visual cues of where the family actually lives, not where they think they should pose. The game table. The counter where they eat breakfast. The worn-in couch. Life wins over a technically perfect room for me every time. It’s how I end up shooting in mud rooms and messy kids bedrooms all the time.

Layers — architectural elements or unique home elements that add interest. A doorway painted in a cool color. A bay window. An exposed brick wall. A pretty mirror. These are the details that make an in-home session feel considered rather than accidental.

The whole thing takes five to ten minutes. I consider it the indoor equivalent of location scouting. You can’t exactly ask to tour someone’s home in advance, and honestly I’d find that a little awkward anyway.

But this gives you the same thing in a very concise and approachable way.

Planning for confidence, not execution

One caveat worth naming: coming up with ideas doesn’t mean you have to execute all of them.

The goal of this planning phase is to feel like there are options. You are not going to hit every spot on a mental list and you’ll likely have to kill some darlings. The point is to walk in as a trusted professional who’s already done some thinking instead of just flying by the seat of your pants and hoping it works out.

Find It Quickly:

1:30 – The two traps in in-home sessions
3:00 – The mental shift required 
4:30 – Asking for the walkthrough video
7:00 – When they don’t send it 
8:30 – What to look for : Light, Life, and Layers framework
12:30 – The real win, regardless of how it’s executed in the end
14:30 – Part 2 preview + The In-Home Session Field Guide

Mentioned in this Episode:

In-Home Session Field Guide: leahoconnell.com/home-fieldguide >>

Episode 69: Stop Posing, Start Playing >> 

Episode 55: Set the Table – how to stop expecting your clients to perform for you

Free resources: leahoconnell.com/learn >>


CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM: @leahoconnell.photo