Last weekend, I had the pleasure of capturing the most adorable family in their absolutely stunning home. This in-home family photo session in Cheyenne was filled with a ton of joy, a lot of giggles, and a touch of chaos.

In-home sessions allow a family's true personality to shine through. Being in your own space gives every family member, from pets to kids to parents, permission to just be themselves. For this session, I let the girls show me around and introduce me to all of their favorite toys and books. The result is a little time capsule of this season of their lives.

When your kids are little, favorite books become somewhat of a soundtrack for your daily routine. For example, I might still have "Hippos Go Berserk," by Sandra Boynton completely memorized from when my girls were tiny! I love incorporating books and favorite toys into sessions to bring back those memories later on. My hope is that, in years to come, these photos will remind you all of the joy you shared within the walls of your home.

Does the idea of photos being taken in your house make you panic? I can definitely relate! Even having friends stop by can send me into a cleaning frenzy that borders on illogical. My husband jokes that I attempt to make it look like no one lives here. But the idea of an in-home session is to show exactly the opposite....it's to show how you actually live inside your most cherished spaces. I wanted to give you a few tips about preparing for an in-home family session to put your mind at ease.

Don't Exhaust Yourself Cleaning

Toddlers, pets, and busy kids make keeping things tidy impossible. That is also part of your story right now. I am not expecting you to have an immaculate house that looks staged. Your home should look and feel real. Please don't stress about cleaning a bunch. If you pick up dishes, put away food (unless you want to make something together while I'm there), and pick up enough toys that we can walk through the room, we are truly good to go. Dust, fingerprints and little things are just not going to show up in photos.

Prioritize Common Areas with Big Windows

We will shoot where there is natural light. Don't worry about me being in any other places. I likely won't be in places like bathrooms, basement rooms, or places without big windows. For in-home photos, natural light is best. I will likely come in and turn off all overhead lights, which seems counter-intuitive. Overhead, artificial light often casts funny shadows and weird color onto skin.

If you truly have zero rooms with big windows, please give me a heads up and I will bring a studio light that emulates window light.

Think About Fun Activities To Do During Your Session

Nothing means more during an in-home session than capturing something truthful you do together as a family. For this one, we decided to read books. We can also bake cookies, make pancakes, play a boardgame or take a walk around the neighborhood. In warmer months, we can play outside in the backyard, blow bubbles on your front lawn or jump in leaves. For family photos in Cheyenne homes, winter months usually preclude us from getting outside, but not always. Every now and then, we get a non-windy day in these winter months.

My only ask is that electronics be put away for your session. Photos of kids on iPads or phones are just not what we're going for. Parents, please put your phones away as well. Leave them somewhere where you won't be tempted to check an in-coming text or the game score. Our goal instead is to capture photos of you interacting together as a family.

Make Sure Each Family Member Comes Ready to Relax

In-home sessions are relaxed and fun and truthful, but only if everyone is on the same page. This goes for regular outdoor sessions as well, but if even one person shows up and starts demanding that children "smile!" and "look at the camera!" or "sit still," it can destroy the dynamic of the session. Parents, please just concentrate on relaxing and hanging out and engaging with your children. If I need something to change, I will do the directing, I promise. Let your children be themselves. Not every photo needs to have kids smiling.

Please prepare kids by telling them I'm coming to hang out and take some photos of them being themselves inside their home. I often let kids take the lead when I'm in their space. I will definitely encourage them to be in places with better light, but if they want to show me their favorite stuffy or their newest piece of art, I'll just follow them with my camera in hand. One thing to note....I absolutely defer to parents on safety issues. Rules should not change just because I'm in the house!

But kids will often communicate to us when it's time to move, change location or end the session. I try to keep sessions light, low-key and fun. I often joke that toddlers have a timer that goes off like a ticking time bomb. Sometimes, there's no coming back. If it's early on in the session, we will try giving them a break from the camera or redirect them, and that usually does the trick. If it's later on in the session, that's usually my cue that it's time to wind things down and let you have your home to yourselves again.

Wear Clothes that Are Comfortable But Cohesive with Your Home Decor

This is another piece that is also applicable to any family session, but wear colors that fit inside your house. If you have vibrant pops of color, choose bold colors within the same palette or punchy primaries that would still look good with all of your home furnishings. If your home is full of soft neutrals and black and white, like this home was, wear clothing in neutral tones with a touch of black and white. Kallie and Nick nailed it for this session.

Please, please, please, be comfortable! Don't put kids in itchy fabrics. Make sure clothing fits well and is soft and cozy. Don't put them in new shoes that don't quite fit. In fact, most often for in-home sessions, I'll request that shoes and socks come off. For moms and dads, make sure you're also in comfy clothes and that you're not in anything that will be too hot. If you have small kids, we will do quite a bit of cuddling and you might be too warm if you're in a big chunky sweater.

Jeans and casual clothing are totally fine for adults. Ladies, if you wear dresses and skirts, feel free to wear them, as long as they are comfortable and moveable. Maxi dresses could work well. Stretchy pants are totally fine...yoga gear, whatever you want, honestly. Be comfortable. Just be sure it's something you are comfortable in both standing and sitting.

For more info on choosing colors for photos, see my blog post here: 4 Tips for How to Choose Colors for Photos or What to Wear & How to Prepare for Family Photos.

Reach Out if You Have Questions About In-Home Family Photos in Cheyenne, Laramie or Fort Collins

Let me know if you have questions about an in-home session. I am offering family photo sessions at home in Cheyenne, Laramie and Fort Collins during the winter months. In the summertime, I'm happy to make them work around the state based on my own travel schedule, so reach out if you're in Jackson, Lander or Pinedale and are interested in one. We can also do a combo of indoor and outdoor family sessions in warmer months if you're up for that.

In-home family sessions are so meaningful and fun, especially once your kids are bigger and you look back on those photos. Please reach out with any questions or to get one booked.