If someone were to ask me what my favorite kind of session would be, it would probably be an in-home lifestyle session. I don’t know, there’s just something about them. Getting invited into my client’s home, just to be a fly on their wall as I document their family dynamic and their typical day… there’s something special about it. For this particular session, I traded sessions with another local photographer. She photographed my family in downtown Morgan Hill, and I went to photograph her family in her home. That’s a win-win if you ask me.

When I arrived at her house, her 4 kiddos greeted me with “HI MY NAME IS______” and “Hey! Look at this picture I drew!” These kids personalities were so individually unique, yet collectively so charming and loving. These four siblings love each other, and I think that was what was so sweet to witness. They genuinely cared for one another and enjoyed spending time together. Their parents also shared that love for one another and their kids. Their interactions between one another were filled with romantic passion yet playful youthfulness. All together this family of 6 made a beautiful dynamic to watch and a story I was able to tell through images.

I sat in their living room with them as they cuddled on the couch and read books. I watched the kids play with legos and color with crayons. I then followed the parents upstairs where we took some photos with just the two of them, and then went back down so they could have some wine as their kiddos were wild around them. It was a fun-filled, easy going, lovely afternoon spent in this family’s home. 

So next time you think about family photos, maybe opt out of the posed family photos in some random park, and go for the real moments. Go for the in-home messiness that is your every day life, or the real moments that your kids share together daily. Because when it’s all said and done, those are the moments you will want to remember. Those are the times you will cherish.