So many times in family documentary photography, I hear the common concern that the house just isn't a good setting. It's too "old," too cluttered, too small, too dark, {insert any common qualm we all have about our own homes}. Many people genuinely feel like this will inhibit their images but I am here to tell you: they're wrong. Maybe not wrong, but misinformed.

Your house is part of your story.

Empty walls, couch clutter, bummy clothes. None of that matters when I see this photo. All I see is my awesome husband bonding with our adorable baby.

I like to start by pointing that out. So many times, we get caught up in the "ideal" and this includes our homes. I'm absolutely guilty of this; I love decorating my home and it drives me absolutely crazy when there is clutter. And all of those concerns I listed above about homes (old, small, dark) - my house could be put into all of those. But when I look at pictures of my family a year ago and see the pillows, blankets and unhung clocks laying around our then un-renovated living room, it brings a true and honest smile to my face. This was our story a year ago and the plain walls and clutter doesn't bother me in the slightest. I can promise that it will be the same for you when you look back at your images in years to come. You wont even notice the clutter and if you do, it will likely just bring back all the feels that come with reminiscing about your younger children.

The image can be great because there's the composition of the photo vs. the "pullback."

The pullback is what photographers refer to when describing the full setting of an image or the "wide shot." Often, the pull back is shockingly different than the actual image. Part of what makes an in-home photographer "good" at their job is being able to find the best layout and composition for an image within the setting they are presented. Just take a look at these images and then their pullback counterparts:

So if you have been holding back from booking a documentary in-home session because you felt like your house wasn't up to par for a photo shoot: DON'T! Just do it! Your future self will thank you as will your children when they get a glimpse into their everyday when they're older.

Like what you see? CONTACT ME.