How to Prepare Your Home for a Photo Session
A few simple things that make a big difference — and a few things you definitely don't need to do.
Home sessions are some of my favorite sessions to shoot. Whether it's a family portrait session on a slow weekend morning or an at-home engagement session in a Brooklyn apartment, there's something about photographing people in their own space that produces the most genuine, relaxed images.
But I hear the same thing from almost every client before we shoot at home: should I clean? Should I redecorate? Should I hide the fact that we own a couch?
Here's everything you actually need to know.
Meet your photographer first
If at all possible, grab a coffee with your photographer before your session. Not to just plan shots or talk logistics but to meet as humans. The difference it makes on shoot day is enormous. When you already have a rapport with the person pointing a camera at you, that initial awkwardness dissolves much faster. The photos that come out of a relaxed session versus a stiff one are night and day. A 30 minute coffee is one of the best investments you can make in your gallery. Coffee is always on me :)
Now is not the time to redecorate
I mean this genuinely. Your home as it is right now, including your furniture, your art, your particular chaos, is exactly what makes your photos yours. I'm not showing up to photograph an Airbnb. I'm showing up to photograph your life. The mismatched throw pillows, the gallery wall you've been adding to for years, the stack of books on the nightstand — that's the good stuff. Don't touch it.
Do a quick, targeted sweep
That said, a little editing goes a long way. You don't need to deep clean the whole apartment — just think about the areas we'll actually be shooting in. The main things worth tucking away: charging cables and tech clutter, anything on the kitchen counter that doesn't need to be there, and any particularly distracting items in the background of your main living spaces. Five minutes of intentional tidying is plenty.
Turn off your overhead lights
Turn off your overhead lights
This one is simple and makes an immediate difference. Overhead lighting is harsh, unflattering, and works against almost every photo. Before I arrive, turn off your overhead lights and let natural window light do the work instead. If you have lamps with warm bulbs, turn those on. Soft, directional light — even from a single window — will make your home look beautiful and your photos look intentional.
Have an activity ready
This might be my favorite tip. One of the best things you can do to guarantee genuine, unposed moments is to have something to actually do together. For family sessions: set up a coloring activity, plan to bake something, or just let the kids play outside in the backyard. For engagement sessions: make a pot of coffee, pull out the Scrabble board, put on a record. The activity gives everyone something to focus on other than the camera — and that's when the real moments happen.
Set realistic time expectations
A home session doesn't need to be a half day production. In fact, the best ones rarely are. An hour to an hour and a half is usually the sweet spot. It’s long enough to move through a few different spaces and activities, short enough that nobody runs out of energy. Know this going in, share it with your kids or your partner, and let it take the pressure off. We're not here to document everything. We're here to document something real.
Ready to shoot at home? Whether you’re looking for a lifestyle newborn session in Brooklyn or a documentary engagement shoot in Connecticut, I'd love to talk through what it could look like for your space
📸 If you're looking for a NYC wedding, engagement, or family photographer who focuses on real, documentary-style moments, I’d love to connect.