How to prepare your home for a family photo session
Your home is already full of stories, warmth, and love, and that’s exactly why it’s the perfect place for your family photo session.
You don’t need to redecorate or hide all the toys. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about capturing your life just as it is, so your child can remember it growing up. Think of those documentary family photos in your home as a small time capsule, a very precious one.
So how do you prepare your home for a family photo session?
Here are a few tips to help you get your space (and your mind) ready, effortlessly.
Choose 1 or 2 rooms to tidy
We don’t need a spotless house, I promise. But choosing one or two rooms to tidy up a little can help us move freely and keep distractions out of the frame. Usually, the living room, the parents’ bed, or a playroom are great spots.
Don’t worry about toys on the shelves or books by the bed, they tell your family story. Just aim to clear clutter from surfaces or floors so we can focus on you. When I say tidy up a bit, I don’t mean spotless! It’s your home and you live here, it should show on your photos. I promise you won’t be able to see dust on your pictures.
Let the light in
Natural light is a documentary photographer’s best friend. When you prepare your home for your family photo session, pull back curtains and open blinds.
I’ll take care of reading the light once I arrive, but a bright space will always bring a soft, warm glow to your images.
You can safely turn off all the lights, particularly overhead ones, unless I specifically ask to keep them on.
Think about what you love doing at home
What are your family’s favorite little rituals? Breakfast together, reading on the sofa, building block towers, or chasing each other around the hallway? Let me know in advance — we can center your session around the things that make your everyday life unique. Here are some activities ideas for an in home session.
This is your chance to preserve these fleeting moments forever. Curious to see what a full in-home session looks like? Read Dublin family photoshoot – Your life as it is and Natural family photography at home — Dollymount / St Anne’s Park
Don’t worry about the mess
Children live here, so of course it’s not going to look like a magazine cover or an Ikea showroom. The crumbs on the table, the art projects on the fridge, the favorite toy basket in the corner… those things are part of your life.
The most meaningful photos often come from the most ordinary moments, so please don’t stress about making everything picture-perfect.
Involve your kids in the process
Let your children know that someone is coming to visit, and that you’ll be spending time together — not “posing for photos” but playing, snuggling, baking, or whatever you love to do.
When they know they’re not expected to perform, they’ll feel much more relaxed. And we’ll get those beautiful, honest moments you’ll treasure forever. Read more about getting your kids ready for a photo shoot
No space is too small
Your home is a safe haven for your kids. They love their home, and it loves them back by providing the perfect shelter to grow up, happy and carefree. I promise you no home is too small for a photo session, I have the perfect lens for small rooms.
The little things matter too
Beyond the moments shared between you and your family, I love to photograph the tiny, meaningful details in your space — the handpicked decor, the little notes or drawings stuck to the fridge, the well-loved books on the shelf. These are part of your story too. One day, looking back on these photos, you’ll remember not just what life looked like, but how it felt to live there, surrounded by all the little things that made your home uniquely yours.
Ready for a session that feels like home?
If you are wondering if your home would be a good fit for a photo session, send me a message and let’s chat. I’d be happy to reassure you about your home: it’s probably more photo-ready than you think!
