People work together on assembling a jigsaw puzzle on a patterned carpet in a cozy living room.

In Home & Nostalgia Sessions

Everything you need to prepare for our upcoming Session

 

The love you have for your family is a tapestry woven full of both your mundane moments and special traditions. Each stage and season is devastatingly temporary but also incredibly beautiful.


And that is why this work is so important.


These sessions are meant to serve not only as a time capsule, but your way back to each version of both yourself and the ones you love most. My goal is to help you preserve all the nuances of how special this time in your life is right now in this present moment.

 

My hope is to give you images you can feel. something tangible and sacred. and That decades from now, these photographs will reflect back everything that meant the most in this season of your life.

A sequence of seven photos showing people playing and rolling on grass in a playful manner outdoors.

 

Real> Perfect

 

I am going to be honest with you, but stick with me- because I am also hopefully going to give you a bit of relief. As you prepare for our time together, it is likely going to stir up some vulnerable feelings. You may feel like your home isn't "perfect" enough or you have to be (or look) a certain way. You may stress over a number of things that I promise will not even be a factor when all is said and done. As much as it feels safe when we have full control- letting go and allowing yourself to be present will create something more gorgeous than a false sense of perfection will.

I understand how you are feeling because your feelings are both natural and normal, but the focal point of these images is what life feels like-not necessarily what it looks like. You do not need a showroom home. You do not need everything to be sparkling clean (in fact a little bit of dust can be magical, weirdly enough ha). Your clothes can be as casual and comfy as you like. I promise as your photographer the focus will be on what matters most and the images will be so profoundly meaningful, all of the rest will not matter.

Children play together outdoors on a sunny day while blowing bubbles and enjoying summer activities.
A tender black and white portrait of a parent embracing their infant child against a blurred outdoor background.
A group enjoys blowing bubbles together while relaxing on a blanket in a backyard on a summer evening.
A playful couple lying in grass sharing a snack on a sunny afternoon.
A sequence of black and white photos showing someone helping a child blow bubbles outdoors.
Bare feet walking on grass in a sequence of steps showing natural movement outdoors.
Multiple shots of bare feet resting on green grass in a garden setting.
A tender moment captured as parent and baby lie together on green grass in warm sunlight.
People relaxing on grass in summer wearing light blue and yellow clothing on a sunny afternoon.
A family shares an intimate moment together in their backyard with a colorful playground in the background.
Tender family moment captured outdoors showing intimate bonding and affection.
People relaxing in lawn chairs on a summer evening in a backyard garden setting.
A series of photos showing a baby's bare belly while being held outdoors in natural lighting.
Bare feet walking on natural ground covered with fallen leaves and twigs in a sequence of steps.
Children playing at a colorful outdoor playground with climbing equipment on a sunny summer day.
A playful sequence shows two people practicing acrobatic partner moves on a grassy lawn in summer.
People lounging on green grass during a warm summer day in the backyard.
A sequence showing a couple tumbling and playing together on green grass.
A playful family moment in the backyard with people interacting and having fun on a sunny afternoon.
People climbing and playing in a large tree on a sunny day.
Black and white photo of someone leaning into a car parked outside a house.

 

Styling Tips


Dressing to Express


Your story is the focal point of your session. The ones you love and how you love them. Your unique blend of personalities, your culture, what you find meaningful plus your own personal taste all should influence the way you choose to style everyone for our time together. This is a lot of words to simply say I want you to feel like yourself. We can do this in a way that both honors you and your family while also giving your images a beautiful foundation to work off of.

 

Colors matter most


The style of clothing isn't as relevant as the colors you wear. You have a huge range to choose from, the biggest goal is there is a flow and things are cohesive. You also want to avoid overly "loud" colors such as neons because these will distract from your moments. I can help send examples of color pallets once we establish a base and we can go from there if you are needing a starting point.

Patterns & Textures


Patterns and textures really give your images a bit of personality. Mixing and matching patterns will also give your photos a fun and personalized touch. Textures pick up in detail images beautifully and can emphasize a special moment. This could be as subdued as lace or buttons or as whimsical as a bold stripe or polka dot. Gingham, shapes and floral patterns also always work great.

Comfort over everything


Our inclination is to want to go over the top with our styling and you can in the way of being intentional, but you don't want this to feel like your best formal holiday attire. Dresses are absolutely okay but think of a sun dress or something you would feel more comfortable in at home. While I wouldn't recommend sweat pants comfy pants or blue jeans are also welcome.

A baby lies on a patterned carpet while reaching up to play with a toy during tummy time.
Two people playing together in a cozy living room with a TV, bookshelves, and toys on a patterned rug.
A playful moment between family members sharing food and laughter while relaxing on a couch at home.

Fun Tip:

Let your children help choose their outfits, or allow them to choose an accessory that they can wear such as a bracelet or pair of socks or anything that makes them feel a part of the session. As our session is coming up, talk to them about our time together as a fun experience. It will give them something to look forward to and help them be more at ease with me being in their personal space.

Creating Authentic Moments

how we capture natural emotion during your session
A series of candid moments showing a parent and baby bonding together in various tender interactions at home.
A sequence of black and white interior hallway photos showing an empty corridor with dramatic lighting and shadows.

Preparing for our Time Together


The majority of these sessions are held at the homes of my families. You do not need a perfect home to have gorgeous images and I can not stress that enough. I find that there are always certain rooms, however, that are the heartbeat of the home. The goal is these images represent this season of life best of you. This means we want to focus on the spaces you find your family spending the most time in. I am happy to spend upwards of a few hours with you so we can capture as much of this as possible, but ahead of time I want you to really think of where in your home you would like me to photograph you in most.

Authentic Moments require honesty


Just like your outfits, we want to personalize this experience for you as well so your images feel like you. This means if you are a family that loves to hang out in bed, this may be an area of your home that we capture. This could include being silly and jumping around, having pillow fights or snuggling up and reading a book.


If you spend a lot of time in your backyard this could include running through the sprinklers or the kids splashing in the kiddy pool while you cook out. This could also be climbing trees, taking a stroll around your neighborhood, dancing to your favorite music. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen this could be making home made pizza or baking or anything that you want to remember most from our time together. The options are honestly endless.

Details make a difference


We are going to follow the nostalgia. What are the things you think back on now and miss already? We want to do that with this season of life for you.


This means you are absolutely welcome to change clothes. If you plan to let the kids run through the sprinklers there may be a moment when they change into their bathing suits, or if your kids are in a season of life where they love dress up- they may want to put on a little performance and we can also capture that.


There really aren't any rules except for that you are fully present and allow yourself to create memories with your children while we photograph them.

A tender moment between parent and baby in a collage of intimate close-up photos.

Making memories together

Planning and Prep

No two sessions are alike because no two families are exactly alike. The best way to keep these fun is to have some  activities planned. You want them to be both meaningful and true to you. We usually host these leading up to sunset-so if you choose 3-4 hours before sunset, we can usually get a few activities in. You just want to plan an afternoon and we will work together to translate that into gorgeous images. We can also do these earlier in the day as well since they revolve around your home.

 

There are a couple ways we can go about this session and then a hybrid version of that. We can design these around activities and fun things to do or we can create them around your normal routine.


The session I am sharing here was a hybrid. We spent the first part at this family's grandmother's home and hung out in her backyard. Then we went to their own family home and we hung out doing the things they typically loved to do. We ended the session when it was dark outside with part of their normal routine.

 

you are always welcome to invite grandparents over for these as well. If you need more time I also have an hourly rate that gives more than four hours as well as a full day rate. Families that do upgrade to a full day rate will get an additional 5 minute home movie at no extra charge for this year only. You can message me if you think you'd be interested in that.

A couple shares a tender moment while lying on a striped blanket outdoors in a natural setting.
A group sits together reading books on a blanket in a sunny outdoor setting.
A black and white photo series shows tender moments between a parent and baby relaxing together outdoors.
A group of people sitting on blankets in a park enjoying a casual outdoor gathering on a sunny day.
Two people relax on a striped blanket in the grass while enjoying a sunny summer afternoon together.
Someone braids hair while sitting on a striped blanket with others gathered around during an outdoor gathering.
Family enjoying a tender moment together on a blanket in a sunlit backyard during golden hour.

Grandparents are always Welcome


While these are not an extended family session in a traditional sense, I absolutely love including Grandparents. While the core of the images will always focus on the family that booked with me, I love to create special memories with your family and the ones you love most. You are also welcome to invite cousins or Aunties & Uncles!

Hands holding and reading a colorful children's book in a dimly lit room with turquoise walls visible in background.

Fun Activities to Plan


Baking or Making Dinner or even Cooking Out. Roasting Marshmallows. Backyard Camping. Running through the sprinklers or sun bathing or picnicking or mowing the lawn. Playing with backyard toys or jumping on the trampoline. Bedtime Routines or Morning Routines. Playing Dress Up or a Puppet Show or Dance Off. Baby Sink Baths or the sweetest mundane details like brushing hair. Arts and Crafts or Painting Rocks or Pretending to be fairies or airplanes or birds. Blowing bubbles or hoola-hooping or snuggling up on the sofa or in bed. Making Forts or exploring your neighborhood or playing musical instruments. If you can dream it up, we can do it.

Frequently asked questions

What time do you typically host these sessions?

If you would like your session to be both indoor and out or you want to capture part of your bedtime routine, I would recommend a few hours leading up to bed time. This will give us the best light in and out.

Can I make this an extended family session? How is that different than inviting grandparents or aunts & Uncles over.

With these sessions as they are designed, the images you will receive will revolve around your own family. While you will have extended family members in them, I won't be photographing extending families separately. If you want more images just for them as well (say at a grandparents home or even in your home) then we can do that as well. Those sessions have a different rate so you just want to inquire about that.

What if I need more time?

I have great options for you! I can either come spend the entire day with you for you can add time on to the four hours with an hourly additional rate of $75 per hour.


I know there is a lot of ground to cover and you don't want to miss a thing so I am happy to accommodate you in anyway that works best for you.


For a limited time, I also offer a second session at half off. This is great if you want to work these around seasons of life such as kid's birthdays or even just different things your family may love to do in the Fall versus the summer  (or even to ring in the Holiday season!)

How do I print photos like these?

These aren't supposed to be just for your walls, they are also meant to be a time capsule and preserved for future generations. These images work beautifully in photo albums. I also love to make loose prints and write little notes on the back of them for my children when they get older.


I do offer professional quality prints at a special rate through my galleries if you would like to purchase them from me. They aren't much more in cost than you would get from a consumer lab and the quality is much better. They are shipped to you directly from my lab.

A series of four sequential images showing someone brushing teeth at a bathroom sink.
A child in a mint green top playfully peeks around a doorway in a sequence of candid shots.
A student stands in front of a wall covered in dinosaur drawings and illustrations in a warmly lit room.
A series of candid lifestyle photos showing people relaxing on brown leather couches in a cozy home setting.
Students working together at desks while writing and studying with papers and notebooks.
Family relaxes together on couch while watching television in dimly lit living room.
A series of six photos showing people sitting together on couches looking at mobile devices and screens.
People relaxing on a brown couch in a living room with a patterned rug and wall art.
Family sits together on couch reading a book in soft natural lighting.
A group relaxes together on a couch with inspirational wall art reading 'Let Faith' and 'Not Fear' visible in the background.
A family relaxes together on a brown leather couch in a cozy living room with framed wall art.

 

Resources


Styling & Inspo from Pinterest


While these images will revolve around your family and will be in my distinct style, I am always adding ideas for clothing, colors and activities as inspiration you can use for our time together. Here are a couple Pinterest boards to give you some ideas:


Styling: Mom HERE

Styling Babies & Little Kids: HERE

Styling Big Kids: HERE

Pretty Color Palettes for Styling Clothing: HERE

Activity Ideas: Crafts HERE

Session Ideas: HERE


Note: These are all a suggestion and can be interchanged. These links are just to help plan activities or jump start styling ideas. You can also find more session prep and styling inspo here with shops I love.


 

A series of black and white photographs showing an overgrown garden path with dense foliage and scattered debris.

 

Get in touch / Ask a question

 

If you need help with anything at all or would like to add time onto your session, send me a message here and I will get you taken care of!

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