Simple Ways to Personalize your Session at Home

Home sessions are the perfect fit for families who want a little more cozy and casual vibes for their photos. They're especially great for younger kids, but all ages can get on board with a session that takes place where you actually sink in the most. No sweeping backdrop required. Just your people and the place you feel most yourselves + a little bit of intention that goes a long way.

Home Session Options

I have two options for sessions at home - the Home Sweet Home session and the Story Session. They vary in a few ways, but either works perfectly for the family who wants some space to sink in with the comfort and familiarity of home.

What You Don’t Need to Over-Plan

Baking pancakes from scratch sounds lovely and it can be super special to photograph that tradition – but it’s also the kind of activity that can take an hour in itself and leave little room for anything else. That’s the kind of activity better suited to a Story Session, where we have more time and space to let something like that breathe.

For a Home Sweet Home session, we’re looking for smaller, everyday things. The stuff that would probably happen on a Saturday even if I weren’t there to photograph it.

If you need some ideas, start by thinking - “what do we actually do around here?”

Activity Ideas to Make Your Session Feel Personal

A few examples of the kinds of activities that work beautifully for a family session at home:

In the Yard or Driveway

• Sidewalk chalk, scooters, or shooting hoops in the driveway
• A backyard game of baseball, or whatever sport your family likes to play together
• Popsicles or ice cream on the front porch or back deck
• Playing in a leaf pile or carving pumpkins in the fall
• Drinking coffee or having breakfast on the patio
• S’mores or time around the backyard fire pit

Inside the House

• A favorite card game or puzzle at the kitchen table
• Time in the kids’ rooms doing whatever they actually do in there – jumping on the bed, building a fort, playing guitar, working at a sewing machine. These personality-driven moments in their own spaces are some of my favorites to photograph and are really special keepsakes as they grow.
• Playing with the dog
• Playing the piano or having a big dance party

The through-line in all of these ideas is that they’re probably things your family would do anyway.

They don’t require prep, props you don’t own, or a family meeting to organize. They just require showing up in your own home and doing what you already love doing together.

What to Wear

This is one of my favorite things to talk about for home sessions, because the wardrobe question is actually a lot simpler at home than when you're having to consider unpredictable weather and temperatures.

Dress the way you would if you were just hanging out at home – but maybe one small step above your most worn-in pajamas.

• Kick off the shoes. You probably don’t walk around your house in shoes, so you don’t have to do it for photos either.
• Relax on collared, buttoned shirts or fancy dresses. This isn’t a traditional family portrait. It’s a Saturday at home, so you can dress like it.
• Comfortable, everyday clothes that feel like you (and your kids). Worn-in jeans, a favorite sweater, your kids favorite bright red beanie. Yes to all of it.

The wardrobe should match the feeling of the whole session: relaxed, real, and at home.

Your next steps

If this feels like your speed, my home sessions were built for you.

The home you've poured your love into and where you do life together. Your kids being kids. Sinking in and celebrating family.

If you’re curious about what this could look like for your family, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach out through the contact form here and we’ll get started with plans to make some really special photos for your family.

You might also like:

Winter newborn photos with three brothers

6 Ways to Change up your Fall Family Photos in Charlottesville

What to wear for family photos besides dresses