How to Prepare your Home for a Lifestyle Photography Session
With the dreary, wintery months ahead, many photography sessions will start to be taking place indoors and in the comfort of your own home. However, time can get away from you (especially when you have younger kiddos) and as that session date gets closer, many parents or caregivers will contact me panicking that their home won’t be ready for their session. So- here are all of my best tips to help prepare your home for a lifestyle photography session!
Tip One: Declutter target shooting spaces.
The most common areas of the home that photographers will want to shoot in are shared living areas like the living room or kitchen, the parents'/caregivers’ room, and/or a nursery, if applicable. These spaces should be cleared of unnecessary clutter or distracting elements. Try to temporarily relocate items such as brightly colored toys, laundry, cords, and small appliances to another area of your home. This doesn’t mean your home has to be spotless, so don’t start spring cleaning just for a photo session! Items can always be moved around during the session as needed. I am even known to ask if I can move furniture around during the session to make best use of the available light.
Tip Two: Make the most use of your home’s natural lighting.
The most important thing to remember is that Light is our best friend! The more access your photographer has to a natural light source (aka the sun), the better. This of course doesn’t necessarily apply if your photographer will be bringing an external lighting system. When looking at ideal spots in the home, I personally look for large windows and open spaces. But, even if we only have one good window, we can make it work.
You can also help the lighting in your home by selecting white/light grey accessory linens and bedding and/or selecting rooms with similar paint palettes for the session.
Tip 3: Stick to your home routine.
The morning of your session, try to stick to your normal routine as much as possible. Have breakfast where you normally would eat. Let the kiddos play. Take the dog for a walk. Having a photographer in the home is already such a big change in normalcy that trying to replicate your routine as much as feasibly possible can help prevent over-stimulation or over-excitement (not always, but it can help).
Tip 4: Don’t forget your backyard!
Or even the front yard. Your home’s exterior spaces are a big part of your story too. If the weather permits, plan some playtime or exploration outside. Try to declutter the space as much as possible, but don’t worry too much about cleaning up too much. Leave some foliage on the ground (especially leaves!) for kiddos to romp and play in, if safe.
FINAL TIP. Don’t overthink it. It’s ok for your home to look lived in. It’s ok to let your kiddos play. It’s ok for your pets to be out (if they’re friendly of course). Have fun!