So you’ve booked an in-home family session. Yay! And now, maybe, a tiny bit of panic is setting in.
Do I need to scrub the baseboards? Repaint the living room? Buy a new couch?
Nope. Please don’t buy a new couch.
Preparing for an in-home family session is a lot simpler than most families expect. After years of photographing families in their homes across Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton, I can tell you the things that actually make a difference have very little to do with how clean your house is — and a lot more to do with light, snacks, and timing.
Here’s exactly how to get ready.
Step 1: We’ll plan your rooms together (so you only clean one or two)
Before your session, we’ll have a quick chat about your home. You’ll send me a few photos of the spaces you love and the windows that get good light, and we’ll talk through what time of day works best.
By the end of that conversation, we’ll know exactly which rooms we’re using — and chances are, it’s only one or two.
That’s the whole secret to a stress-free prep. You’re not cleaning your house. You’re tidying a living room and maybe a bedroom. The basement, the laundry room, the hallway closet that won’t fully close? Leave them be. Nobody’s going in there, least of all me.
Step 2: Watch where the sunlight lands
This is my favourite piece of homework to give families, because it’s actually kind of fun.
Over the next few days, notice where the sun streams into your house — and when. Maybe your kitchen glows first thing in the morning. Maybe the afternoon sun pours across your bed or makes stripes on the living room floor.
That direct sunlight is the good stuff. It creates bright, warm, energetic images that feel full of life — the kind where you can practically feel the morning coffee and the giggles.
Once you know when and where the light shows up, send me a quick text or a photo. We’ll build your session time around it.
Step 3: Snacks, water and music (in that order)
A hungry kid is a cranky kid, and a cranky kid makes for a long session. So before I arrive, make sure everyone is fed and watered — grown-ups included.
My best tip? Leave the kids in their comfy clothes until right before the session. Yogurt, crumbs, and juice have a magical way of finding fresh outfits. Snack first, change after.
And put some music on while you all get ready. Something calm, something fun, something your family loves to dance to in the kitchen. It sets the mood for the whole house, and honestly, it sets the mood for you too.
Step 4: Get yourself ready first
Mamas, I see you. You’re going to want to get the kids dressed, wrangle the dog, wipe the counter and then start your own hair and makeup with four minutes to spare.
Flip it around. Do your hair and makeup first, before you worry about anyone else.
While you change, ask your partner to get the kids dressed. Or even better — wait until I arrive and get them dressed then. Honestly, some of my favourite photos happen while little ones are being buttoned into their outfits.
Step 5: Turn off the screens before I arrive
This one’s small but mighty: turn the TV and iPads off 10 to 15 minutes before I get there.
Starting a session with a full meltdown because the iPad just got taken away is not great for anyone’s mood — theirs or yours. A little buffer gives kids time to switch gears and find something else to do (usually right in time to drag me over to see their Lego tower).
That’s it — really
One or two tidy rooms. A sunny window. Fed kids, a good playlist, and a parent who got to finish her mascara. That’s genuinely all you need for a beautiful in-home family session.
If you’re still deciding whether in-home is right for your family, here’s what an in-home session can give you that a park can’t.
I photograph in-home family sessions throughout Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton — from Wallaceburg and Chatham to Point Edward and Bright’s Grove. Reach out here and let’s start planning yours.
Chat soon, B
