Do you dream of doing a lifestyle session at home, but don’t know where to start? Do you have questions like, which room should we take pictures in? Or maybe, what should we wear? I’m here to cover all the bases of what you need to know to prepare you for your very own lifestyle session.

What is a lifestyle session?

First and foremost, let’s answer the most important question. What is a lifestyle session? Lifestyle shoots are real and authentic. Within the comfort of your own home, these session are more intimate. You’ll experience just living your day to day life, but having a photographer capturing those moments. Personally, I always love to find the real moments amongst the posed ones.

I recently did a lifestyle session in the Bhathal Family’s home. This family had recently moved into the house. They wanted to do a session to solidify the memories they were making there. They envisioned hanging the pictures in the playroom and having their girls look at these as they grow up. A lifestyle session are pictures that you’ll be able to cherish and reflect on forever. If these types of pictures are what you’re looking for, keep reading on how to prepare!

Which room do we choose?

The best room (or rooms) for a lifestyle shoot are the ones with the most light. These will be rooms with the most windows that allow natural light to come in. If you have a specific room in mind, find the time of day the lighting is best in that room.

Before your session, you’ll want to clear off one whole side of the room. This will allow the photographer to move freely and capture multiple angles of you and your family. Also, you’ll want to take into consideration the amount of space the room will have for you all.

What do we wear?

When I think of home, I think of comfort and relaxation. You’ll want your outfits to be exactly that. Wear something comfortable and easy to sit in. Some examples will be a dress or pants with the an elastic waistline. If you are wanting to wear jeans, I strongly suggest trying them on and moving around. You don’t want to be restricted with your poses or let alone uncomfortable.

What miscellaneous would we need?

A key tip of mine to make a lifestyle session more ”home-y” is to add soft elements. This could include adding a vase of flowers, a blanket as a prop, or pillows for comfort.

If you have small children, be prepared with the items you’ll need for them. As an example, in my recent session with the Bhathal family, we had to have a ”shusher“ to keep the baby asleep. We placed it behind a pillow and had the mother sit against it. For the older sister, we had YouTube videos playing music to keep her occupied dancing while I was taking photos of the parents with the baby.

You’re ready!

There’s not too much to prepare for when you’re getting ready for a lifestyle session, so try not to overthink it! Just remember the few points I shared. Find the best room with natural light, wear something comfortable and easy to sit in, add soft elements, and be prepared for what the children may need.

Ready to book your family photo session? Click here to get in touch!

And follow on Instagram at @kathleencurto for more behind-the-scenes and inspiration photos!