5 Quick Tips To Prepare For In Home Family Photos

Preparing for your in home family photos may sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Read on for easy and stress-free tips on how to get ready for your family photoshoot. 

Getting in the right mindset is just as important as picking the right outfits or tidying up your home. Here’s the advice I give my clients that makes for the most meaningful and joyous family photos.

How To Prepare for Your In Home Family Photos

Here are 5 easy and actionable tips to help you get ready for your in home family photos.

1. Maintain a positive attitude during your family photoshoot

Know that a positive attitude is much more important than an impeccable home or perfectly matching outfits. The real secret for a successful session is your ability to roll with the punches. Having young kids teaches parents very quickly that we have very little control over… well, anything. Embracing this notion during your photoshoot (and life!) will make things go smoother. 

It’s helpful to remain flexible and open to surprises other than hoping that everything goes according to plan. Because spoiler alert: It won’t!

What’s more, the unplanned moments can make for the most beautiful images.

So how to put yourself in the right mindset?

• Take a moment to collect yourself before taking photos.
• Ask the photographer for a break if things feel too crazy.
• Focus on your kiddos. Take in all the little details to help you refocus on them versus being in your head. 

2. Identify 1-3 rooms where you’d like to take your in home family photos

Pick 1-3 rooms you’d like to use for your at-home family photos and don’t worry about preparing the rest of the house.

If you have a fun playroom, now is the time to show it off. Otherwise, the parents’ bedroom is often a great spot for kid’s portraits and family photos. I suggest light and simple bedding to avoid clashing with outfit options and letting you shine in the photos.

Finally, the living room tends to work well and is the area of the house where you’re likely to be hanging out anyway.

I’ve also seen other rooms work such as the kitchen or patio. Your photographer will help you select the best areas within those rooms based on lighting and other factors. 

3. Only Tidy Up Main Rooms Before Your Newborn Photographer Arrives

Don’t worry about cleaning up your whole home. Most areas won’t appear in your family photos, and you don’t need to do it for the sake of your photographer. Family photographers have seen it all! 

The younger the kids, the more stuff in your home than ever before and less time and energy to clean it all up. Focus on the areas you want to feature and tidy those up. Put away items such as:

• Laptops
• Computer cables
• Dirty socks/laundry
• Dirty dishes
• Phones
• Phone Chargers

4. Pick simple outfits that compliment your home decor

Picking outfits for in home family photos can be its own pain point. If this is something you’re concerned about, check out my article on What To Wear For A Family Photo Session. 

Picking light, simple colors, with a variety of textures is a great and easy way to go. Layers work well for the adults. I suggest having the kids help pick their outfits, and doing so ahead of time to avoid day-of power struggles!

Some things to AVOID are:

• All black
• All white
• Logos
• Distracting patterns
• Matchy-matchy

Finally, make sure to have a Plan B. Keep extra outfits on-hand in case you need a change of clothes due to unforeseen circumstances! This especially applies to the little ones.

5. Relax and Enjoy Your Family Photo Session

I know telling someone to relax, especially when they have a big camera pointed at their face, is easier said than done. But this is important because your mood will show up in your photos. Additionally, you’ll only love your final images as much as you enjoyed your experience. The two things really go hand-in-hand. 

If you are worried about feeling self-conscious in front of the camera, check out my article on The Secret To Relaxing In Front Of the Camera. 

To summarize, the trick is to stay as present as possible. How do you do this? Focus on your partner. Focus on your kids. Take time to slow down and enjoy your family. Look at your your child and remind yourself how little they still are. See if you notice anything about them you hadn’t seen before, or something that’s recently changed.

Life with young kids can sometimes feel like a blur. Take advantage of your in home family session to savor those moments with your kids before it’s gone. 

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5 Quick Tips To Prepare For In Home Family Photos

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Marjorie Cohen is a Los Angeles Family Photographer offering at-home sessions to families in LA County. Marjorie works with parents who want relaxed and natural photos with their children. Follow along in Instagram and Pinterest for her latest work!