IN HOME SESSION GUIDE
Everything you need to know before we hang out at your place
Home is where the good stuff happens!
The sleepy cuddles on the couch, little feet running down the hallway, feeding your baby in the nursery, making pancakes in the kitchen, jumping on Mum and Dad’s bed, kicking the footy in the backyard, these are the moments that become the memories you’ll want to look back on and that’s exactly what we’ll be capturing!
My sessions are relaxed and completely baby and kid led. There are no stiff poses, no pressure for everyone to smile at the camera and absolutely no expectation that your home has to look like it belongs in a magazine.
I’ll gently guide you when needed but for the most part we’ll simply hang out while I document your family as you are.
If you’ve welcomed a new baby…
First of all, congratulations!
Please don’t stress about trying to have everything “ready” before I arrive.
Your baby doesn’t need to sleep the whole session, they don’t need to be perfectly settled and your home certainly doesn’t need to be spotless.
We’ll work around feeds, cuddles, nappy changes and whatever your little one needs. If we need to stop, we stop. There is never any rush.
Some of my favourite images are captured during those quiet in between moments, feeding your baby, settling them back to sleep, siblings peeking into the bassinet or simply soaking in those first few weeks together.
Your House Does Not Need To Be Perfect
Your home doesn’t need to be ‘photo ready’ I’m not coming to inspect your house, promise. I’m here to photograph your people in the place where you actually live your life. A little mess, toys on the floor, washing on the couch, it’s all part of the story.
If there’s anything you really don’t want photographed, feel free to pop it away but please don’t feel like you need to deep clean the house before I arrive.
What should we wear?
Wear what feels like you! In home sessions work best when everyone is comfortable.
Don’t feel like everyone needs to be perfectly coordinated. Neutral, earthy tones and natural textures photograph beautifully but the most important thing is that you feel good!
Don’t worry about how to pose or where to look
You don’t need to know what to do. You won’t be standing around wondering where to put your hands or staring at the camera for an hour. I’ll give you little prompts when needed but most of the time I’ll let things unfold naturally.
If your toddler wants to run off, your baby needs a feed or everyone ends up piled on the couch, that’s okay. Those moments are part of the session too.
You don’t have to look at me and smile the whole time, In fact, you probably won’t very often.
Talk to your kids. Cuddle your baby. Make breakfast. Dance in the kitchen. Sit on the couch. Have a tickle fight. Do whatever you’d normally do.
I’ll step in with direction when I need to but I’m mostly there to capture what’s already happening.
Connection over perfection, always.
What rooms do we use?
We don’t need your whole house. I’ll usually look for the rooms with the nicest natural light and we can work from there. This might be the bedroom, nursery, living room, kitchen, hallway or even the backyard.
Don’t worry if one room is dark or doesn’t look “Instagram worthy” I’m looking for good light and little pockets of your everyday life.
If there are rooms, objects or areas of your home you’d rather keep out of the gallery, just let me know when I arrive. No explanation needed.
What if the kids aren’t cooperating?
Your kids don’t need to “behave” for photos. Kids are unpredictable. Some will jump straight into it, some will hide behind your legs, some will refuse every suggestion I make. That’s okay.
Please don’t feel like you need to force smiles, make them sit still or repeatedly ask them to look at the camera. I’ll work with what they’re giving me and follow their lead.
A few little tips
• Open up the blinds and curtains before I arrive so we can make the most of the natural light.
• If you have a newborn keeping your home on the warmer side usually helps Bub feel cozy when they aren’t being cuddled.
• Feel free to have your favourite music playing, make a coffee or settle in however you normally would. The more comfortable everyone feels, the more natural your photos will be.
Most importantly, just come as you are.
The beautiful thing about an at home session is that years from now these photos won’t just remind you what everyone looked like, they’ll remind you what life felt like, home.