When thinking of having your family photos taken do you automatically think outdoors in the fall verses an in home photoshoot in the winter? Fall is a very popular time for families to have their picture taken in this region. The beautiful autumn foliage and pleasant temperatures are an obvious draw, and I love getting outdoors and shooting families for this reason. However, even fall weather can be temperamental and this time of year can be very chaotic for families with school obligations and holiday events filling their schedules. Quite often, newborn sessions happen in the winter, but many families don’t realize that this is a great time for a lifestyle photo session at your home. For this reason, I encourage families to think creatively and schedule their in home session now.
HERE ARE MY TOP 10 REASONS WHY WINTER IS AN AWESOME TIME FOR AN IN HOME PHOTO SHOOT:
1.) Shooting at home allows you embrace the chaos and let you document those everyday moments that you will miss once everything calms down.
Children won’t remember a good part of the beginning of their lives. Looking back and being able to see what their living room/bedroom/kitchen looked like when they were a wee one, is like giving them the ability to travel back in time.
Parents may look around their house and get frustrated by the mess of toys being strewn everywhere, but they forget that this is a phase that will be missed once the kids are grown. Shooting at home helps preserve those moments for memory lane…you know, when you are no longer stepping on legos and slipping on stuffed animals!
Plus, lets face it…we spend a lot of time and money in/on our homes, celebrate the memories you are making together in it.
2.) It is a great way to document milestones.
It feels like in the blink of an eye, your once immobile baby is all of the sudden crawling and climbing. These are very short phases filled with cuteness that you want to remember. Memories like crawling, finally being able to climb onto the couch, or putting their shoes on by themselves are some of my favorite childhood milestones.
3.) You can capture pictures of them playing with their cherished toys.
Being at home gives them access to all of their toys. This is so comforting for kids to be around their favorite stuff and they typically show it off with pride. Being able to document their little hands playing with their favorite toy is another way to authentically document their childhood. An added bonus is when they grow up and are able to see how they played in their own room.
4.) You are able to document the relationships in your family on a whole other level.
Lifestyle photography goes beyond the posed shots and captures the family’s connections and interactions, which are memories that will only become more treasured over time.
5.) You can document the fun siblings have when they are home together.
Even though they may fight a lot, siblings create so many memories together through playing at home with each other. Watching kids create games, burst out laughing together, or just snuggling together is so heart warming.
6.) You can document everyday activities…and actually be in the picture.
This past Christmas, my daughter and I did a lot of baking. Here are some images from our time together. Do you see something that is missing? ME! I am hardly ever in the shot because I am the one taking the pictures of their childhood. Don’t be Claire…get in the picture so your children know you were there too. Being able to photograph you and your child baking cookies, having a tea party, building a fort, or playing with blocks are just some of the activities you can do together.
7. ) You can document the quiet moments.
Let’s face it, the giggles and games are fun but parenting is exhausting. Those moments when a child passes out on the sofa or is quietly playing in their room are highly cherished.
8.) You can include family pets.
Your pets are such an important part of your life so why not make sure they are included in the pictures too.
9.) Winter is a great backdrop for fun.
Even though the leaves may have fallen and everything can be gray, snow makes everything fun and magical.
10.) Winter is way less stressful than fall.
Now that the holidays are over and the cold weather is in full effect, life tends to calm down. This means you are way less stressed and can concentrate on having pictures taken purely for your enjoyment. This equates to happier kids and parents and photos filled with love. Plus, why not make it super easy and stay in your pjs and document some very authentic moments. Before you know it, the warm weather will be here and your schedule will be packed again. Take this time to concentrate on your family.
