What It’s Really Like to Have In-Home Family Photos in Portland

If you’ve ever wondered what in-home family photos in Portland can look like, I’m sharing my top tips for a cozy, joy-filled session that feels just like a regular day at home. These sessions are perfect for families who want a low-stress experience, prefer to stay in their comfort zone, and want to capture the little things like pajama snuggles, snack breaks, dance parties in the kitchen, and all the perfectly imperfect moments in between. Keep reading for ideas to help your session feel relaxed, playful, and 100% you. 

What kinds of things can we do during our in-home photo session?

That’s entirely up to you, but we will work together to decide on 3-4 activities ahead of time. I’ll encourage you to brainstorm things your family would usually do on a rainy day at home together, but it’s also fun to throw in a new activity that you think your kids will really enjoy, as well. This is a great time to allow them to do something they wouldn’t usually be allowed to do. Like take turns squirting whipped cream into each other’s mouths after decorating a pie, having a small flour fight in the kitchen, or taking turns jumping off the couch. Anything out of the ordinary is almost guaranteed to make the kids super excited.

Huge list of ideas for Portland in-home family photo activities

Just in case you’re having a hard time coming up with ideas, here’s a list of some things I’ve either done, or always thought would be fun to do during an in-home family session:

• Cuddle on the couch
• Roughhousing and tickle fights in the living room
• Bath in the kitchen sink (for tiny ones)
• Filling the kitchen sink with bubbles and playing with them.
• Car races
• Baking something together (a pie, cookies, scones, whatever!)
• Jumping on the bed
• Playing peek-a-boo in the sheets
• Reading a book together
• Building a block tower
• Quick art project
• Cuddling or playing with your child’s favorite toy
• Playing dress-up
• Having a  tea party
• Pillow fight
• Creating a blanket fort
• Playing with the dog or cat
• Dancing in the kitchen
• Making and/or playing with Playdoh
• Eating Tillamook ice cream or Voodoo donuts in bed
• Drinking hot cocoa (and maybe squirting the whipped cream into each other’s mouths)
• Small flour fight in the kitchen
• Making blueberry pancakes and then eating them at the table
• Playing a quick card or board game
• Kids taking a bubble bath in the master bath
• Mom and baby in the shower (especially if the morning light streams in through your bathroom window)
• Decorating cookies
• Jumping contest off the couch
• Painting toenails
• Cuddling and playing airplane on the master bed
• Playing with a train set
• Blowing bubbles

But what if my home isn’t perfect?

Good! No one’s house is (or should be) perfect, especially when you have kids. Consider which rooms in your home get the best light in the morning, and also consider what activities you’d like to focus on. Then choose 1-3 rooms you think would work best after taking into account those factors and tidy them up a bit. But don’t clean them so much that they don’t even look recognizable to your family. Basically, I don’t want you to stress and I promise not to check your closets or under the beds 😆

What should my family wear for our in-home photos?

Dressing for an in-home session is a little different than an regular outdoor family session. Let the activities you’ve chosen help dictate what you should wear. If you’ve chosen to make pancakes, read by the fire, and eat donuts in bed, then maybe pajamas would make sense for your family. If you’re thinking of baking a pie together, creating a fort in the living room, and playing with blocks then you could wear some casual outfits. I do think that lighter, neutral colors look best inside, or colors that compliment the decor in your house. One of my favorite things is helping families figure out what to wear for their photo sessions so ask for my help because I’d love to give suggestions! I also might have something in my client closet that you’d like to borrow.

Can we add a family film during our in-home session?

Yes, and it might just be your favorite part. Adding a family film to your in-home session means you’ll get to remember not just how this season looked, but how it felt. The way your baby stretches after a nap, your toddler’s little dance moves, the slow transition from your child’s pout into a smile… those things just feel more vivid on video.

Each film is set to licensed music (so you can share it!) and made up of real moments from throughout your session. I’ll guide you through everything the same way I do for photos, and it all flows naturally.

If you want a keepsake that captures movement and connection in a way photos can’t, a family film is the perfect addition.

What if my kids are wild?

Perfect. That’s exactly what I expect and want!

Seriously, if your kids are bouncing off the walls, refusing to wear pants, or talking nonstop about poop jokes, I’m ready. That’s the good stuff. In-home sessions aren’t about getting your kids to “behave” or pose like little statues. They’re about letting them be themselves in the space where they feel most comfortable. And that usually means a little chaos, which just happens to make for the best photos.

We’ll let them lead, play, snack, and maybe jump on the couch a little. I’ll guide you through fun prompts and activities, but we’ll keep it relaxed so nothing feels forced. The big laughs, snuggly moments, and goofy in-between stuff is what you’re going to want to remember.

I actually just found a really old video of myself singing at the top of my lungs in a southern accent (I don’t have an accent 😆) while my sister giggled and cheered me on from the couch. It’s hilarious, and I absolutely love that I have that moment saved. Your kids will love seeing photos and videos of themselves being silly and weird… and so will you.

So don’t worry about them being perfect. Let their personalities come through, even if that means they bring the energy. I’ve got it.

How can I book a Portland in-home family photography session?

I’m so glad you asked! 😉

If you’re ready to book a session and you live around the Portland, Oregon area, you can check out my booking calendar or message me to get scheduled.

If you need a little more info first, you can check out my pricing for family sessions.

Don’t forget to check out my in-home family photo booking calendar for my available dates in the Portland area!