I have always loved at home sessions, but I don’t get many of them. Most people want the traditional photo session, and that is fine. But, I just want to showcase some images that I took of my children in a forced environment verses at home. This comparison was not something I had planned to do intentionally. It was just me feeling a sudden burst of motivation one day to take my kids out (on a beautiful day) and get some nice pictures of them. The session ended up feeling forced. I don’t like staging or directing because the result of that creates images that are unnatural, but I found myself doing those very things. Yes, they are my kids, but after an hour of shooting , we left with me feeling very frustrated and defeated. I like to document people’s adventures big and small and as much as I tried to do that with my kids and their stink bug finds, it just wasn’t happening. The kids were all over the place. The first 3 images are examples of the best shots I got of the 3 of them in a forced shoot. The most natural shots that I could get in 1 hour. I do ADORE these images because it is of my kids being goofballs at their very best, but it’s also just them preforming for the camera.

The next day I was in house cleaning and laundry mode while the kids did whatever it was they were doing. I was not paying attention or even interested because I was in a mode and on a mission. At one point while Blake was napping, the house was quiet and somehow that pulled me out of my mode a bit. That is when I saw Amelie and Eloise playing nicely together. They squabble A LOT, and this was a long stint of playing nice. I forced myself to put the laundry basket down and get my camera. I took pictures for about 5-10 minutes and they had no idea that I was even taking pictures. They were so interested in playing, that I was just not a distraction for them. These images are real. These images captures the things that I want to look back on and remember and I am sure the girls will want to as well.

Not only is an at home session going to allow you and your family to feel comfortable, but it will also hold so many more memories than an hour session at a beach or a park. Your home changes over time and just having memories of your family in your home, whether it’s your first home, or the home with the ugly kitchen that you are saving up for remodel, or the home with toy ridden floors, whatever it is, it’s worth preserving. I have lots of fond memories of my siblings and I taking sleeping bags and sliding down the stairs or in laundry baskets or just sliding down the banister. Luckily, the banister has stayed the same, but if only I could have some pictures from those fun times, with the ugly carpet and linoleum, I would be over the moon.

An at home session can create lasting story telling images and you should definitely consider it when you book your next session.

MY 3 GOOFBALLS!

TWO BALLERINAS