At-home photo sessions are quite literally a photographer’s wet dream (Especially with these Minnesota winters!). What more could a photographer ask for: a cozy couple, comfortable in their element, AND, of course, indoor heating! Nah… but in all seriousness, indoor photoshoots have blessed us with some of our most amazing work yet! And we wanted to take a minute to delve into more of why these sessions are so amazing! So let’s get to it! Here are three benefits of having an at-home photo session.

Benefit #1: Relaxed, Comfortable, and Laid Back

Now who wouldn’t want their photoshoot to be described using those three words?! And that’s exactly what you’ll get with an at-home session!

Often times, we get couples who hear the word “wedding” or “engagement” or “professional photos” and it triggers a flight-or-flight response where they frantically search for the most amazing (and oftentimes expensive) outfits and researching cool places to get photos done. What if we told you that the majority (if not all) of that anxiety could magically disappear when you book an at-home session?

First and foremost, you don’t have to worry about where to host your photo session! You can stay in the comfort of your own home! That way, you don’t have to worry about driving anywhere, getting permission to shoot somewhere in public, or deal with any of the other endless stressors that come with having an outdoor session! What happens indoors, stays indoors! Additionally, you can come over to our house and have your session! As photographers, we’ve maximized our home to have endless possibilities for photos! If you’re not comfortable with us shooting in your home, no reason to fret! Our door is always open to our couples and we’d love to have you!

Secondly, your at-home photo session means you have access to your closet AT HOME! You can wear whatever you’d like that makes you feel comfortable! We always advise our couples (especially for at-home sessions) against wearing something they wouldn’t normally wear. Trust us when we tell you that if you’re uncomfortable with what you’re wearing, it comes across in your photos! If you and your significant other love cozying up with a baggy sweatshirt and sweatpants on the average night, why make your photos any different? We encourage our couples to cater their photos to a genuine representation of their relationship, whatever that may look like.

Finally, at-home photo sessions are sooooooo laid back! When you’re chilling at home, in your comfort zone, you’re your most relaxed. When you book an at-home session, you don’t have to deal with the awkward stares of passing people (I swear, we could talk for hours about just how much this irks us) or the pressure to make sure you don’t act like a fool in public! It’s just us, you, your significant other, and all the good vibes we pour into your session!

Benefit #2: Make Your At-Home Session Your Own

In our eyes, one of the most appealing aspects of at-home photo sessions is the ability to completely customize your session! This is your chance to bust out those Pinterest boards and live out your HGTV dreams!

If your hosting your session in your home, you have the creative liberty to design a photo space however you’d like. Are you an avid interior designer? This is the perfect chance for you to show off your skills and put ’em in the spotlight. If you have a space that is customized to you as a couple, we’ll use that and bring out those nuances of your relationship. And by no means does your house or space have to look cookie cutter clean! It’s more so about allowing yourself to be captured in a space unique and customized to you!

When we schedule your couples session, we always encourage you to make your session unique by doing something that is unique to you and your significant other. For example, we love it when couples will bring snacks or activities that they enjoy doing together! We’re all about creating that comfortable atmosphere and this is a great way to do that.

For some more specific examples, we’ve had a couple come over for their engagement session and bring their favorite Harry Potter board game, drinks, and their favorite snack: Lay’s potato chips! They basically made it a little date night that they would typically partake in. It was genuinely so much fun to witness and capture for them! Another example was a couple that came over to our house, brought their cute faces, and, of course, the cocktails! This couple really enjoys a night in, making some cocktails, and cozying up on the couch together! And what other way would we capture your love than what you enjoy doing together!

Benefit #3: We’re All About the Candid Moments Here

As photographers, we’ve learned there are so many styles of photography. One of the most amazing things about photography is the way that no two people will take the same picture. Everyone has a different style with a unique philosophy on photography!

But when it comes to us, we’re all about those candid moments. Of course, we believe there’s a time and a place for staged or posed photography! And every photo is somewhat posed or staged anyways! But what we really love to capture are those sweet little moments between our clients. And an at-home photo session allows for the perfect chance for those candid moments.

For example, we always talk about how some people have a certain look they give their significant other. We call it THE Look! It’s this look of extreme adoration and you can really feel the love in the moment. That’s what we’re all about! We love creating photographs that you can look back on and remember your session with how you felt in that moment.

And that does not mean we won’t grab those Christmas card/ultra-staged photos for you! We always like to include a variety in your gallery! But especially in lifestyle sessions where we are genuinely capturing you in the moment, we love being able to capture the laughs, the intense looks, the intimate moments, the movement.

Additionally, an at-home photo session can allow you and your significant other to be as intimate as you like. That level of comfort that at-home sessions offer can leave room for moments that may not feel as natural if your session was held in public or outdoors. If you want some steamy shots of you and your boo, we’re always down to do that for you! KC shoots boudoir over at Winsome Boudoir and we’ll never shy away from those more steamy shots. We like to create a space for our couples that promote vulnerability and if that means getting steamy, we are here for it!

So What Are You Waiting For? Let’s Have An At-Home Session!

Basically, at-home photo sessions are literally the best thing ever! Seriously, these sessions allow for a level of intimacy and transparency like no other. And better yet, you can customize your session however you’d like! We love seeing our couples take advantage of their creative agency and really make their session their own!

So by now, maybe you’re hooked and ready to book an at-home photo session! That’s awesome! Let’s do it! You can reach out to us here and we can set something up! Maybe you’re reading this and thinking, “Ehhhhh… I still really want to do something outdoors!.” That’s alright! Come read about this awesome memory map engagement session or all about the benefits a winter session offers! And finally if you’re looking for some more tips and tricks regarding at-home sessions, check out this blog post from the Wedding Chicks we helped write!

Stay cozy out there folks! xoxo