Is the living room one of the last places you’d think of for a photoshoot? Well, imagine this: I once arrived at a groom’s house for getting-ready photos and was greeted by a mountain of laundry, overflowing takeout containers on the floor, and—believe it or not—a pile of McDonalds bags taking centre stage in the living room. Surrounded by clutter, with just a 30cm square of clear floor space, I had to get creative. Most of his photos ended up with the ceiling as the backdrop… some jaunty angles were involved!
While I’m a big believer that your home is the perfect place for family photos and maybe even the other hidden member of your family (and therefore definitely worthy of being included), I also know a lot of people are worried about including it in their family photos.
Where I see a safe space, walls that whisper stories of your adventures and play together, you only see scuffed door frames and jobs that need ticking off endless DIY to do lists that never get addressed.
Why Your Living Room is a Hidden Gem
Your home is more than just walls and furniture; it’s the fabric of your life together. Imagine never stressing about the weather because we’re capturing magic right there in your living room. When kids can play with their own toys and show off their rooms, they’re natural in front of the camera. The same goes for nervous partners—they’re automatically at ease in their own space.
This isn’t dressing up in your Sunday best and parading round the park finding another bench to pose on, this is you all being your most authentic selves in the place where you are most relaxed. That energy shines through in your photos.
Tips for a Successful At-Home Photo Session
Embrace the Imperfection
You might feel the urge to repaint those scuff marks or deep clean, but resist. Your home’s quirks are part of its charm, and they won’t outshine the love in your photos. If there’s something you truly don’t want captured, just tuck it away. I always recommend putting TV remotes out of sight for younger kids so that they can’t get side tracked in a screen related meltdown when you’re trying to wrestle it off them mid-shoot!
Maximise Natural Light
Throw open those curtains and blinds. Natural light is your friend, and we generally want to avoid overhead lights. It’s so much more flattering for you to play in the light from a window than have downlighters casting shadows on you.
Prep the Space
While clutter doesn’t scare me too much (remember my industrious ceiling photos?), finding a distraction-free zone can help the focus stay on the beautiful connections between you and your loved ones. Find spaces for all the things you wouldn’t necessarily want in your photos. The less distractions in the frame, the more your eye will travel to you and your family when you look at the photos.
Turning Memories into Timeless Keepsakes
By choosing to have your family photos taken at home, you’re not just creating images, you’re preserving a moment in your life. This living room may be where your kids took their first steps or where you celebrated countless holidays. Down the line, should you move, you’ll always have these pictures as a time capsule of those days.
Let’s Make Your Home the Star
Ready for a photo session that feels less like a chore and more like a hangout with an old friend with a camera? Your home is primed to capture real, relaxed, and joy-filled photos. Let’s chat about creating these family memories together!
