Stress-free In-Home Family Photo Sessions
There’s an old photograph in my dad’s collection — him and a friend on what looks like a canoeing trip in his 20s. Mustaches, beards, probably cold. I love it because of the background: an open beer bottle, some fishing gear, the gear they wore. That’s the whole story right there.
That’s exactly why I love in-home family photo sessions. Your home is the background. The couch you’ve had forever, your kid’s favorite toy, the art on your wall — those details will mean as much as the expressions on your faces when you look back at these photos years from now.
But I know what some of you are thinking. It’s too messy. It’s not Pinterest-worthy. It’s too small. The light is terrible. I hear this all the time — and I’m here to tell you that none of it is as big a deal as you think. Here’s exactly how to prepare for your in-home family photo session without losing your mind before I even arrive.
Serving Boulder County and Northern Colorado — get in touch here to book your session.
What to Do Before Your In-Home Family Photo Session
1. Clear the clutter — but don’t deep clean.
This is the one thing that actually matters. Piles of mail, laundry on the floor, toys everywhere — those will show up in the background and pull attention away from your family. Tuck things away before I arrive. If your kids immediately drag their toys back out, that’s fine — go with it. What I’m trying to avoid is visual chaos, not evidence that you live here.
That said, you do not need to deep clean. I’m not inspecting your carpet or your bathroom sink. If the floors didn’t get vacuumed, I won’t notice. Save your energy.
2. Think about your bedroom.
If you have young kids, bed photos are some of the best — snuggling, jumping, piling on. Make the bed or put on simple white or plain sheets and we can tuck the comforter out of frame. Same goes for the kids’ rooms if we shoot there.
3. Think about your couch.
Couches are workhorses for in-home sessions. Take a look at your throw pillows and blankets before I arrive — add the ones you love, remove the ones you don’t.
4. Think about your yard.
If we’re shooting outside, a recently mowed lawn helps. And please pick up after your dog — for everyone’s sake.
5. A small finishing touch that always works.
Fresh flowers on a table. That’s it. Totally optional but they photograph beautifully.
6. Don’t stress about the rest.
When I’m photographing your family, I’m watching the light on your faces first. After that I’m scanning the background and I’ll move things around if I need to. If you ran out of time to prep, tell me when I arrive — I’ll work around it. Your home doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours.
Additional In-Home Family Session Resources
If you want to see what an in-home family session actually looks like, this Boulder, Colorado in-home family session is a good place to start. And if you’re expecting a newborn, I have a more specific guide here: how to prepare your home for an in-home newborn session.
Ready to book? Get in touch here — I’d love to photograph your family in your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to clean my whole house before the session?
No. Focus on clearing visible clutter in the rooms we’ll use — living room, bedroom, maybe the yard. Everything else you can leave as-is.
What if my house is small?
Small homes photograph beautifully. I work with the light and the space I have. Some of my favorite sessions have been in tiny apartments.
What if my kids won’t cooperate?
They almost never do at first — and that’s fine. I build movement and silliness into every session on purpose. The best moments usually happen when kids stop performing and just start being themselves. And over the years I have found that kids are more themselves in their own homes than in outdoor photo sessions.
How far in advance should I start preparing my home?
An hour is plenty. Tuck away the clutter, make the bed, pick up the yard if we’re going outside. That’s really all you need.
How long does an in-home family photo session take?
Most sessions run about an hour to an hour and a half. I don’t set a hard stop — if the kids are just warming up at the 45-minute mark, we keep going. In-home sessions tend to move at a relaxed pace because everyone is already comfortable in their own space.
Which rooms work best for an in-home session?
Wherever the light is good. That’s usually the living room and the master bedroom, but it varies by house. I’ll do a quick walk-through when I arrive and we’ll go from there. You don’t need to prep every room — two or three spaces is plenty.
