Not all that long ago, the idea of hiring a professional photographer for a home session was pretty unheard of.  Portraits were a bit more of a formal event, occurring at milestones in life like childhood birthdays and senior graduation.  And the obvious place to capture those milestones was of course a studio!  Complete with backdrops to match every outfit, props, and lighting equipment.

But as digital photography continues to evolve, more and more styles of portraiture are emerging, and my favorite approach to photography is hands-down lifestyle photography!  Capturing those real life moments that are happening every day and we don’t even realize it.  I’ve found that my absolute favorite place to document family life and sweet moments in marriage and the silliness of childhood is always, always, always your home.  A post is coming soon with more on my take on lifestyle portraits, but what I want to share today are some ideas of things that you can incorporate into your home session to capture those incredible memories that reflect who your family is right now in this very moment.  Maybe you’ve tossed around the idea of a portrait session in your home, but you’re thinking….”What would we do?!”  Don’t stress about thinking you need to have a plan before inviting a photographer into your home, I’m here to share with you a ton of great ideas for things we can do to make your home session AWESOME!  And chances are, these are all things you are already doing anyways :)

Ideas For What To Do During A Home Session  |  Tips & Tricks

Couch Snuggles

It sounds easy enough, right?  And it is!  Piling onto the couch with your kiddos or snuggling in with your love is probably the easiest thing ever, because you do it in real life!  And you can’t help but smile and laugh when you get to dog pile on the couch!

Read A Book

Is there anything better than curling up with a good book?  This is one of my favorite things to have parents do with kids, because it allows me to really capture genuine interaction within the parent-child relationship.  Pick a favorite book that kids will love flipping the pages of or giggle at the silly voices you use for each character.

Make Something Yummy

Roll up your sleeves, bust out the flour, and let’s bake something yummy!  Rolling out sugar cookies, frosting cupcakes, and flipping pancakes all have one thing in common – it’s FUN!  Time in the kitchen together is always a good idea, not to mention the bonus that we get to eat yummy treats by the end of your session!

The Backyard

If the kids are getting a little crazy and need to burn off some energy, or if it’s a nice day and the sun is shining, let them loose in the backyard!  The backyard is that magical place where entertainment is endless – jumping on the trampoline, swinging on the swingset, climbing trees, running through the sprinkler.  So much fun to be had!  Even something as simple as taking a little walk in the backyard gives us time to get fresh air and do some exploring.

Dance Party

Yes, you read that right.  DANCE PAR-TAY.  Being in front of the camera can be a little intimidating, and feel just plain awkward.  I totally get it!  But I will always make you feel incredibly comfortable, and one of my favorite things to do during home sessions is turn on a good Spotify playlist and just dance it out!  Yes, I’ll be dancing with you.  Sorry if these ones turn out a little blurry!

Jump On The Bed

I’ll make sure it’s cool with Mom and Dad first, but letting the kids have free reign in your bedroom can be a blast!!  This is another one of my favorites!

Freestyle

Freestyle is where I ask kids what it is they feel like doing, and let them do that.  Crazy, I know!  But whatever it is they’re into these days can be the most fun to capture, even if it is your hundredth tea party of the week or third coloring book this month.  Pounding out a tune on the living room piano or showing me every airplane in their room is just plain awesome!  And if your little girl is really into painting her nails these days, well, there’s always time for a pedicure at a home session!