Capturing beautiful, heartfelt family portraits at home can be a wonderful experience, offering an intimate, relaxed atmosphere that truly reflects your family's unique dynamics. However, a successful in-home family portrait session requires some careful planning and preparation. Here's a guide on how to get ready for this special occasion.

Choosing the right time of day

I usually opt to photograph mid-morning to dodge nap times and capture the best light in your home. As a general rule, everyone is feeling fresh and energised (not too energised!) in the morning, too.

Include personal elements

Part of the fun of coming to your home is the ability to capture you truly as you are - in all the wild, loving chaos that is family life. Please let me know if there are any meaningful items or favourite spaces in your home that you’d particularly like me to capture.

Planning your outfits

Coordinate your family's outfits without going for an overly matchy look. Choose a color palette or a theme that complements your home decor and makes everyone feel comfortable. Avoid bold patterns and opt for solid colors or subtle prints that won't distract from your faces. The best thing about at home portrait sessions? You’ve got back up clothes to deal with mess (or better yet, let’s keep it raw and real and capture the mess!).

Preparing your home

Your home certainly doesn’t need to look like something out of a magazine - remember we’re keeping it real and raw. However, it can be a good idea to give areas you know we’ll be photographing in (usually a living space, master bedroom and perhaps the backyard) a quick tidy - too many elements can distract from the important part of the photographs (you guys!).

Natural light is key

Natural light adds warmth and a soft, flattering quality to your photos. I’ll be scouting for the spaces in your home that have the most light so consider opening blinds and curtains ahead of my arrival.

Relax & be yourselves

The beauty of in-home family portraits lies in the natural interactions and candid moments we’ll capture. Encourage your family to be themselves, play, and have fun. Authentic smiles and genuine connections make for the best photographs. And if there’s tears along the way, that’s OK, too. I don’t expect you to be perfect.

In-home family portrait sessions can be incredibly rewarding, offering a glimpse into your daily life and the genuine connections within your family. These are my favourite offerings so I love to ensure it’s an hour of connection and fun. You’ll have a collection of treasured images that capture the love, warmth and wildness of your home.