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Can We Also Take Outdoor Photos During an In-Home Family Photoshoot?
One of the questions I get asked all the time is whether we can take photos both inside and outside during your family photo session.
The answer is yes, absolutely!
We’ll usually spend the majority of our time inside, but I’m always happy to pop outside at the beginning or end of your family photo session for a few outdoor family pictures if you’d like.
But in typical Jaye fashion, there’s a little more explanation that goes along with that.
Why I Prioritize Family Photos at Home
You probably already know that my heart really lies in capturing families inside their homes. I’m an in-home lifestyle photographer after all.
It’s not because I don’t appreciate beautiful outdoor photos. I do. But home is where people are most themselves.
Home is where the snacks happen.
Where the morning routines happen.
Where your kids’ favorite toys are scattered all over the floor.
Where your toddler insists on showing me the same truck collection three separate times.
Where your daughter climbs onto the kitchen counter “because this is where I always sit.”
Home is where people settle into themselves. And when people feel comfortable, they stop performing quite so much for the camera. That’s the sweet spot for me.
The less aware you are of being photographed, the more natural your photos feel. The more your kids are allowed to simply be instead of “behave,” the more your gallery starts to feel like a time capsule of what this chapter of your family life actually looked and felt like.
That’s what I’m always chasing during my in-home photo sessions.
The Secret Behind Relaxed In-Home Photography: Light
A big part of making all of this work is planning your session around the best indoor light.
Most of my in-home family photoshoots happen in the late morning, when soft directional light is coming through the windows of your home. That beautiful window light is a huge part of what makes ordinary moments feel beautiful in photos.
The more spots inside your house that have beautiful light, the less I have to interrupt what’s naturally unfolding to move you somewhere “better.” The less I have to boss you around, the more natural you feel.
Instead of constantly repositioning people and directing every tiny movement, I’m able to observe. To give little prompts and to let moments unfold.
That’s when the magic happens.
Your kids start playing instead of posing. You start paying attention to each other instead of me. Everybody just relaxes, and suddenly the photos don’t feel stiff or “posed”. They feel like your family.
You don’t really have to think too much about this part, by the way. Figuring out the light is my job.
So Where Do Outdoor Family Pictures Fit In?
We can absolutely step outside for a few photos. We often do during my in home family photoshoots!
But the light outdoors is very different from the light indoors. Inside your house, the light is soft and directional and wraps around you gently.
Outside, our light source is the sun. And since my sessions are generally timed to optimize indoor light, we’re not usually working with dreamy golden-hour sunshine outside. Midday sun can be harsh. It creates heavy shadows under eyes, bright highlights on foreheads, squinty faces, and all kinds of weird color casts bouncing up from grass and pavement.
Not exactly the vibe we’re going for.
Of course, you’ll never actually see that awful version in your gallery — I can work in any light, but I’ve got to treat that potentially harsh sunlight as the main character it is and the actual human characters are less free to do as they please.
When we head outside, I know I’ve got to use my photographer magic to strategize around the harsh midday sunlight. We might look for open shade near the house, hang out on the porch, or play in the driveway instead of the middle of the lawn.
Maybe I’ll tell you to look at each other instead of looking at me. Or suggest that you just play and ignore me, and I’ll bring your shadows into the frame as supporting characters. I may find some weird angle by lying flat on the ground to create a backlit image.
We really can get some fun outdoor family pictures this way. Those bikes, scooters and bubble wands can absolutely become part of your story.
Why I Keep the Outdoor Portion Short
But here’s the thing. All of that outdoor magic usually requires me to direct you (and your little people) more than I prefer to.
I’m watching the sun more carefully and moving you around more intentionally. I’m preventing little Johnny and Jane from running directly into harsh light and from doing exactly what they want to do.
And the more I have to direct everybody, the less natural the photos tend to feel.
That doesn’t mean outdoor family pictures can’t be wonderful. They absolutely can. But they feel different from the slower, more relaxed storytelling that happens inside your home.
So I usually keep the outdoor portion of your family photo session fairly short.
Family Photos That Capture Real Life
My goal is always to help you remember what this season of your life actually felt like. I want to tell the story of the way your family gathers naturally in the kitchen and the way your son zooms through the driveway on his scooter.
If you’re looking for relaxed family photos that feel natural, connected, and true to this chapter for your family story, I’d love to help you remember this chapter.
Inquire about your in home family session here
Thanks for looking,
Jaye
Jaye McLaughlin is an award-winning newborn and family photographer serving Westchester, NYC, and beyond since 2010. Her work focuses on natural, lifestyle photography that helps families slow down and remember the beauty of everyday life together.
