How to Prepare for a Successful In-home Photoshoot

In-home lifestyle sessions are one of the best ways to capture you and your loved ones at different stages in your life, and people do not take enough advantage of it. This goes for all the families out there who no longer care for the awkwardly posed, stressed from traffic, gritted teeth smiling session. Instead, you have the desire for emotion and capturing how you are and what you do at this stage in life. This post will cover how to prepare and what to expect for you to have a stress-free and fantastic photo-shoot. 

 

What is an in-home lifestyle photography session, and why they are my favorite?

An in-home lifestyle photoshoot is where I go to you vs. having to gather your loved ones, hauling them into the car and meeting me on location. How sweet is that, right? These sessions are meant to be as authentic and as true to life as possible. We move throughout your home, capturing the essence of your day to day life and interactions. These are equally wonderful for couples, families, and pet-babies. 

I love these because people are their best selves at home. This takes so much pressure off of you as you are in your own element. We can capture your favorite pastimes, someone playing an instrument, hanging out while cooking dinner for a date night, or making cookies with the family. The possibilities are truly endless.  The point is to celebrate life and how it is. Now let's talk shop and get into the nitty-gritty!

What's your story:

Take the time to think about which activities, hobbies, and part of your life you'd like me to showcase. What is unique to you? This helps narrow down what you will need to gather for the shoot and what type of outfits you should consider. The key is for the session to be as interactive as possible and to easily have natural smiles and reactions. 

 

Choosing Activities: These can be as relaxed or adventurous as you want them to be. Let me give you some thought starters. 

-Making coffee or cooking breakfast at home 

-Snuggles on the couch or in bed

-Reading books

-Baking and/or decorating cookies

- Building a fort  

- Playing your favorite games

-Planting a garden

-Pillow fights

-Flying kites

-Bath time

- Giving haircuts 

-etc

 What should you wear?

Indoor or outdoor, I will suggest to you the same thing, dress comfortably. The fact that you are home means you can dress in a unicorn onesie and let your imagination go wild. All joking aside, I recommend you stick to neutrals or blacks. These colors allow the attention to be focused on you and not your outfit. However, I'm all for you wanting to go against the norm and be wild. This is your session. It is essential you feel confident in anything you wear; shoes are optional. Trust me when I tell you, lack of comfort shows in your photos. 

 

Additional tips:

 

1. Always wear clothing you feel comfortable & confident in.

2. Coordinate clothing with others. Think about the same tones and complementary colors. Let the fashionista in your family or relationship choose first and simply coordinate. Pinterest is your best friend. 

3. Avoid busy patterns as these can be distracting in photos.    

4. Think Neutral tones. Vibrant colors reflect lighting and alter skin tones in photos. 

5. Consider having your makeup done. There are several natural looks you can go for, but that gives you that extra oomph.  Also, who doesn't like to be pampered?

6. Stay away from logo-heavy clothing 

7. Have fun

These next few sentences are for moms. Take the time to get ready, mama. You are inviting me into your home to capture your little family with professional photos. You deserve this. You're always taking pictures, and, for some, you are never in the pictures. Let's get you looking like the super mom you are. Shower up, grab your pick-me-up, and let’s get this party started! 

Preparing the home:

Look for the areas of your home which allows for the most light as it's helpful for the shoot. This isn't a must, but it is very convenient. If there are pockets of light in your home, those lend to a more dramatic and moodier feel. Less is more as you are the focus of the shoot. Clear spaces in bright areas that you know we will be shooting in; nurseries, living rooms, and such. Think about the aesthetic that you like or an image that made you say “YES!” to a lifestyle session. If you enjoyed the lighter tones, look for white sheets or neutral colors to place at your rooms' forefront. 

 Calling all parents with little ones!

 Let's be honest. Our shoot revolves around the little ones. When scheduling your session, it's essential to discuss feeding time and nap times. The last thing you want is a hungry and tired child. Even if you did everything right and it all fails, breathe and relax. Let's make sure the little ones are taken care of and then continue our session. Finally, have a backup outfit. We never know how their little tummies may react so be prepared for an outfit change. The shoot doesn't have to be perfect for everyone else, it just needs to be perfect for you and your family. Embrace the laughs, mishaps, and emotional moments as these are what memories are made of!