Which family session is right for you?


While thinking of booking a family photography session, you might be wondering which location you should choose? You have the great outdoors here the Seattle area with mountains and waterfronts for adventurous families. But an in-home session works just as well for those families wanting something more cozy and laidback right in the comfort of their homes. If you've lived in the Pacific Northewest for a while, you know how famous the weather is especially in the Spring or Fall. Some days when we see rain the the forecast, we can't accurately pinpoint when the rain is actually going to make its appearance. For this reason alone, some families prefer staying close to home or I give them my Plan B, C and D for weather-related changes.


As your Seattle family photographer, I am going to some of the perks and differences of both outdoor and in-home family sessions. You can decide what would work for your family based on what you see below.

View photos from a Seattle summer family photos in Discovery Park

outdoor family photo sessions

  • You have a variety of landscapes to choose from
  • Which also means we sometimes have to accommodate for changing weather
  • Kids can run around and explore and interact with nature (with some direction from me)
  • New places can be overwhelming for some kids so some pre-session prep about expectations is necessary
  • There is a lot more space to pose and accommodate larger family groups.
  • You might not always be able to include your pet (in case your dog is reactive or the location is not pet-friendly)
  • We can plan a family photo session around an activity or game for part of the session.
  • Can happen at different times of the day.
Seattle family photographer: A mother and father sit on a blanket holding their son. Lupine wildflowers can be seen in the background
A couple with their pet dogs at a family photo session with green evergreen trees in the background in Kubota Gardens
Everett family photographer: a close up of a young boy's smiling face with tulips in the background at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Snohomish family photographer: a young girl runs through the sunflower fields in Snohomish WA
Seattle lifestyle photography: A mother and father stand close together with their son in between them at Washington Park Arboretum Seattle
a girl carries her young sister. only the back of one girl's heads is visible
Snohomish family photographer: A mother kisses the cheek of her toddler at Willis Tucker Park in Snohomish WA

in-home or indoor family photo sessions

  • Very predictable environments which works well for kids with neurodivergence or accessibility needs.
  • No need to worry about the weather outside because we will be indoors for the photos.
  • Kids can feel more at ease being in their homes without too many external distractions.
  • All homes can work for an in-home session but there will be differences in how the photos look when compared to outdoor photo sessions.
  • You can always involve pets.
  • An in-home session can be planned around a family activity like a baking session, for example. I give you more ideas here in this post.
  • Mainly scheduled for the daylight hours when the sun is still at it's highest, so that there is enough lighting inside. An off-camera flash might be able to offset some low-light conditions but even so, 8am-3pm are the most solid hours for in-home photo sessions.
  • In-home family sessions can work for newborn, maternity, Fresh 48 sessions too!
A queer couple hold their newborn daughter at an in-home family session in Everett WA
a mother and father sit on the stairs with their 6-month-old son in their home in Queen Anne Seattle
a grandfather and grandmother sit on the couch with their infant grandson in Everett WA
a mother and father in their front yard in Snohomish WA. The father is carrying their 6-month-old on his shoulders.
a mother tickles the chin of her daughter and an in-home family photo session
a mother and father sit on the couch with their newborn baby and their 18-month-old in Everett WA
A mother holds her newborn baby as she looks out the window at her home in SIlverlake Everett WA

book an in-home or outdoor family photos

If you're ready to book your family photo session, head over to my contact page and send me an inquiry. I customized it so you can let me know the backdrop you want for your family photos. If you want your family photos during summer or fall, now is the time to get in touch. We can plan the best spots for your family, whether you want to take a drive or stay close to Seattle or Everett. I also work with families in Seattle, Everett, Mill Creek, Edmonds, Bothell, Mukilteo, Lynnwood and the Eastside.