An in-home session is designed to meet you exactly where you are in this season. My role is to guide the flow, notice the special details, and create space for genuine connection… not to add more to an already full plate.

Translation: you do not need a spotless, magazine-worthy home.

Here’s what actually matters when preparing, and what you can let go of.

Start with what your children already love.

Activities during an in-home session are never random.

Before your session, we’ll talk through what your kids are drawn to right now… the routines, moments, or little joys that feel most meaningful in this season. From there, I’ll help you choose activities that translate beautifully into photographs without overcomplicating the day.

Typically, we plan for one main activity with a few smaller natural moments woven in between. This keeps the session focused and enjoyable for little ones… especially babies and toddlers who thrive on familiarity.

Choose activities that feel easy and real.. not necessarily impressive.

Larger activities are always structured with ease in mind.

For example, if baking is something your family loves, I won’t ask you to bake from start to finish during the session. Instead, you’ll prep a few things ahead of time so we can skip the waiting and focus on the good part… little hands in the flour, sneaky taste testers, shared giggles… followed by images of everyone enjoying the finished treat together.

Alongside the main activity, we’ll leave room for whatever unfolds naturally. We might read a favorite book, play on the floor, or simply snuggle.

Before your session, I’ll have you jot down a short list of things that feel extra special right now. I’ll use this list as a loose guide to help me through the session… not a list of shots to get.

The goal is always the same:
To create space for real interaction while keeping everything relaxed and stress-free.

If you need inspiration for family activities, start here.

Activities during an in-home session are meant to be deeply personal… these examples are here simply to spark ideas, not to set expectations:

• A pancake breakfast at the kitchen table
• Baking bread or cookies together (focusing on the playful moments rather than the full process)
• Bath time in the kitchen sink or tub
• A quick run through the sprinkler or hose on a warm day
• Popsicles or ice cream
• Helping with farm chores or outdoor routines that are part of daily life
• Bedtime routines like brushing teeth, reading a favorite book, or snuggling before lights out

Your session doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. What matters most is that it reflects your rhythm and your world.

Trust that the session is planned for efficiency.

You don’t need to stress about choosing an activity that takes time, creates a mess, or feels hard to stop.

I plan the flow of every session intentionally so those moments work for us — not against us.

If running through the sprinkler is part of your session, we’ll plan to end there. That way, we can wrap things up naturally and your child can keep playing without the stress of stopping mid-fun. The same goes for messier or more immersive activities… they’re always timed intentionally so everything feels smooth.

You don’t need to “perform” for the camera.

One of the biggest things parents worry about is whether their baby will cooperate.

Here’s the truth:
Your baby doesn’t need to do anything special.

They can be shy. Wiggly. Curious. Clingy. Loud. Quiet. Somewhere in between.

In-home sessions are baby-led by design. We move at your child’s pace, take breaks when needed, and follow their cues. Some of the most meaningful images come from the in-between moments… not from trying to get something “right.”

The small moments matter more than you think.

Some of the images that tend to matter most come from moments that feel almost too small to mention.

The everyday movements.
The familiar routines.
The quiet ways your child connects.

These are easy to overlook when you’re in the middle of life with little ones… but they’re the details that often carry the most weight with time. They tell the story of who your child was in this season and how life felt inside your home.

While we’ll likely plan out a main activity, what we choose isn’t truly that important. Paying attention to these simple, ordinary moments is where the heart of the session really is.

One simple thing you can do to prepare.

If there’s something simple you love right now…. a habit, a routine, a small moment that feels meaningful — jot it down.

Nothing is too small.
Nothing is too ordinary.

Those details are often the ones you’ll want to remember most.

And we’ll take it from there… together.