If the idea of getting dressed up and hauling the children to a local park for family pictures stresses you out to the point that you avoid having professional family photos taken at all, this post is for you! While I love a dreamy sunset session at a local park, there is something unique about capturing a family at their home.

I truly believe each family, and their home, are unique and beautiful! With that being said, I’d love to share a few thoughts on why I think you should consider booking your next family portraits at your home.

Even though an in-home session obviously takes place inside the home, it’s actually not about photographing the home. Your address, the finishings in the home and carpet colors don’t matter so much as the people and relationships we will document inside of your walls.

As a Virginia Beach family photographer, I document growing families in lots of beautiful locations but one of my FAVORITES locations to photograph families is...right in their own home!

Here are 5 reasons to consider booking family photos at HOME this year!

Family photos at home are a great option because they take place where your family is the most comfortable. Home is the place where life naturally happens and where the children will all feel at ease. Home is the place where we can capture the very real and raw beauty of the love, relationships and bonds between each of you in the most effortless way. So don’t get hung up on what your home looks like. It pales in comparison to who you are as a family and how you love one another.

1. COMFORT

Home is your children’s safe space! Having your photographer come to your home for photos will help children to feel comfortable and their personalities will SHINE through in your photos. Children will feel safe at home with their favorite people and this will allows your photographer to document the children’s natural personalities.

2. CONVENIENCE

No travel time! I LOVE efficiency and am always looking for ways to help my clients save time & energy so they can spend their days doing what they love – making memories with their families! We can schedule your at home family session around your life, and I will show up the day of ready to capture you as you are. But don’t worry – I always give you enough encouragement & guidance that you LOVE how you look in the photos we capture, as well as enjoy the time in front of the camera. 🙂

By having your family photos taken at home, you will save time by not having to even leave the house to travel to a local park or studio. You will save time but not having to stock the diaper bag, pack snacks, and you will save MONEY by not having to stop by the drive-thru after the session to pick up dinner.

My MISSION is to serve busy Moms with a joyful & unique portrait experience and at home family photos definitely falls into the categories of joyful and unique. 🙂

3. AUTHENTICITY

Let’s face it, not every family enjoys frolicking in a field or splashing in the water at the beach! The more the location feels like “you,” the more you will love your photos.

You will FEEL the feelings of “home” each time you look at the artful images we create of your family. Whether this is your first home; your final home, or “home for the meantime…” as you save for your dream home – the space is special and will always be there in memory of this exact moment in time with your family.

4. NO BAD-WEATHER WORRIES

One of the many reasons I love in-home family photos is that, even if it is raining, we can still take photos! No need to have a rain date, or worry about last minute rescheduling if it is too windy to take photos outside. If you live in Virginia Beach, you know just how windy the Winter & early Spring months get!!

5. VARIETY & UNIQUE PHOTOS

Talk about a unique family photoshoot idea – booking at home family photos will allow us to get SO much variety, in a quick session! Because a home is not as spread out as a local park; we are able to move super quickly through your favorite rooms in the home and to the spots in the home with the prettiest lighting – much quicker than if we were outdoors.

With that being said, no one has a home just like yours so your photos will be completely unique! Whether this is your dream, forever home, or this is your family’s 1st, starter home – your home is unique and has so many special touches that you and your family will cherish forever.

When we photograph your family in your home, you will have these memories to physically carry with you in an heirloom album or in framed portraits to take to the next home to remember this time forever.

What do you NOT NEED for at home family photos:

Even though an in-home session obviously takes place inside the home, it’s actually not about photographing the home. It takes place in that setting because it’s where you’re most comfortable.

It’s the place where life naturally happens and where you all feel most at ease. You do not need high end furniture, a fully updated kitchen or a brand new home for your photos to be stunning!

While we may see glimpses of the beautiful finishes of your home and the details you so thoughtfully considered for your baby’s nursery – I (and others) will see so much more when seeing your family’s photos from a session captured in your home. We will see the EMOTION, the COMFORT and the LOVE in your at home family photos.

If your home is filled with people who love each other deeply, that makes it absolutely perfect for your family portraits.

Session Details for this gorgeous in-home family session:

Mom’s hair and makeup: services done in-home by Kristen Bacon, owner and lead artist with Unveiled Beauty Lounge. complimentary when you book a signature session with Chelsey Kraus Photography.

Session location: My client’s home in Moyock, NC! While my family and photography business are located in Virginia Beach, VA, I often travel to my home island of the Outer Banks, NC, and photograph families on location at their homes throughout Hampton Roads as well.

Photographer: Chelsey Kraus, owner and lead photographer of Chelsey Kraus Photography. Chelsey is a luxury family photographer serving joyful families with a unique and effortless portrait experience and custom heirloom artwork. Serving Virginia Beach and surrounding cities, as well as the Outer Banks, NC.

Considering Booking your Family Photos at home and live near Virginia Beach?

With the cold Winter months coming, it would be an honor to photograph your family IN the comfort of your own home, with your loved ones all around. You deserve to have this season documented and I’d love to be the one to do it for you! <3

You can learn more about the unique & joyful family portrait experience with Chelsey Kraus Photography here.

Inspiration: What Your Family Photos At Home Could Look Like