6 Reasons to Move Your Family Portraits Inside Your Own Home

While I adore photographing at the beautiful Indy Family Photo Studio, I love when families schedule portrait sessions inside their own homes. When I look back through family photo albums, I am always the most struck by images taken in and around the houses I grew up in. There aren't very many of these photos, which makes them all the more important.

The Beauty of In-Home Family Portraits

You see… those trips we took to state parks, mountains, museums, etc. — they were all important. But playing in my house with brother and sister and parents — THOSE are the memories and moments that make me who I am today. I only have a few memories of the first houses I was in — the brown house with the beautiful deck, the gray house with the treehouse, and the armchair that I loved in all of them. But looking at photos from those times helps fill in other moments of my childhood.

It may be cliché, but home truly is where the heart is. I love when I can photograph my client sessions in their own homes. With that in mind, I wanted to share six reasons why you should consider moving your family portrait session inside your home!

Reasons to Move your Family Portrait Session to your home

1. The comfort of their own home

When I meet you in your home, you have a home-field advantage. Right away, everyone is more comfortable. There’s no need to get used to the studio! Your children are in their space. Since they are already comfortable and at ease, their natural expressions and characteristics can shine.

2. Eliminate Weather Worries

With an in-home family photoshoot, we don’t need to worry about weather! And, even if the weather is “good enough” for an outdoor photoshoot, we’d still have to deal with wind, bugs, runny noses, wet shoes, and too much sun — all factors that can pose a challenge. Having a family portrait session in your home means that we can control those natural factors.

3. Take a Moment to Slow Down

If your little ones need to take a moment for themselves, it’s easier for you AND the kids — your children can feel safe, but also be able to easily grab a snack, go snuggle in their bed (or yours!), have a bottle, change outfits, or throw a tantrum — or anything else! — without the stress of everything being public

4. Cherish the Memories of Home

You’ve taken so much time and care to build your house into a loving and beautiful place. Your home should be celebrated! Within those walls, precious memories are built. Plus, you’ve spent time and money decorating your home as well! Capturing your home in a family photo session allows you to truly celebrate and document the home you love.

5. Create Priceless Family Heirlooms

Your children will LOVE these photos when they’re older! Most of us only have traditional family portraits, photos taken outside, or vacation/event photos. Professionally photographing your children in your home gives them beautiful photos to look back on when they are older, and even to share with their own children and grandchildren. Memories of the homes we grow up in can fade over the years, so having professional portraits can preserve those memories. When printed out, those memories become heirlooms.

6. Capture the Magic of Childhood

We’ll capture playtime. Here at Indy Family Photo, we firmly believe in the importance of the magic of childhood, which includes LOTS of make-believe play. One day, your children won’t engage in pretending anymore — and we want to make sure we’ve captured that magical time before it slips away.

Family Portrait Photography in your home

As a child and family photographer, I realized that children act differently around a camera when I'm in "their territory" — their home, their play-space, and their rooms. They are more comfortable, at ease and confident. They slip into their natural personalities more easily. They show me their REAL smiles and expressions more quickly. They show me who they really are. And really, that is what us parents truly want documented. Real emotions. Real smiles. Real moments. Not cheesy, fake grins and forced poses. Having a family portrait session in your home makes it easy to do.

To learn more about scheduling an in-home family portrait session, make sure to contact us! I would love to hear from you and to get to know your family!