How I make a studio session feel like an in-home session | Oklahoma Family Photographer

It’s no secret that in-home documentary family sessions are my absolute favorite. I get it though, not all of the Oklahoma families that I work with feel like their home is photo session worthy. Or maybe they just don’t feel comfortable inviting a photographer into their personal space. Either way, there’s a way to get the same cozy in-home vibe in a photography studio, or at least there is in my Norman, OK studio.

Let’s start with the bed.

I mean, what’s cozier than a bed?! When my kids were little, we spent a lot of time hanging out in bed cuddling, reading books, talking, playing, and just spending time together. This is something I like to recreate with my families because it makes them feel comfortable and relaxed right away. These photos have an intimacy about them that you just can’t get in a public setting.

Let’s play on the floor!

What’s the other thing that families do most when they have young children? They sit in the floor and play! We have a basket full of natural wood toys in the studio for kids to play with, and I also encourage parents to bring their kids’ favorite toys to play with too. The toddler in this family brought his dinosaur and octopus and help onto them for most of the session. If it makes your child comfortable, then its great with me.

I’ll have you hold your kids.

This is pretty standard for any type of session that I do whether it’s in the studio, in your home, or out on location. Kids usually love to be held. It’s comforting and it conveys the love that a parent has for their child in photographs. This mom informed me in her questionnaire that her boys are both diagnosed with autism. The oldest had some hard moments during the session but almost always seemed to calm down when a parent held and soothed him. I love that they now have photographs to document this caring and affectionate parental instinct.

Let’s not forget about the parent photos!

The kids in this session were high needs so we had to be quick with the parent photos. Regardless, it’s so important to celebrate a couple’s love for each other. We spend so much time caring for children and tending to their needs that it’s crucial to stop and realize that we’re more than just parents. If we weren’t in such a rush to grab just a few photos without the kids, I would have put mom and dad back on the bed for some loving cuddle photos. Or maybe on the couch sitting or laying next to each other just like you’d do at home.

I hope I’ve shown you just how cozy and intimate a studio family photo session can be and you’ll consider booking one with me in my Norman, Oklahoma studio. It’s conveniently located on Main Street in the heart of Downtown Norman. You can make a day out of it! Get your photo session out of the way then afterwards, walk around Main street and go out for lunch or frozen custard. Sounds like a win win for everyone!