When you live in a place as beautiful as Southwest Florida, you naturally picture your family portraits on the beach during golden hour. And while I LOVE a good sunset, there’s also something magical about photographing a couple or family in the place they spend the majority of their time. There are also a few logistical things that make your home a fabulous place for lifestyle portraits. Here are the top five reasons to book and indoor photoshoot in Cape Coral, Florida (or beyond!).

1. There’s No Place Like Home

I won’t beat around the bush, photoshoot days can be a bit stressful. Between getting everyone ready and out the door, to dealing with unexpected things like weather and traffic, it’s no surprise that some clients show up to their session in a frenzy. I never want this for my clients, and do everything I can to help reduce stress and chaos, but for some clients, it just makes sense to reduce any unnecessary stressors. Being in your home where kids are relaxed and in their element and things like weather and traffic won’t impact your session, can take loads of stress off your plate. In fact, being home may give you a sense of “calm” that you can’t get anywhere else.

2. More Flexibility with Shooting Time

When shooting outdoors, we’re limited to a small window of good light. During certain times of the year, this may mean you have to work around crowds and arrive early to get a parking spot. Other times of the year may require you to drive through rush hour traffic or keep your littles up past bedtime to get excellent lighting for a beach photoshoot. When shooting indoors, we have a much larger window of time when we can shoot making it easier to work around nap time and work.

3. Preserve Memories in Your Home

So many memories are made in our homes but we rarely photograph these special places. I’m not sure I even own a photo of my childhood home. Do you? By doing your portrait session in your home, you’re preserving memories that will be cherished you by you and your children for decades to come.

4. Looking Your Best Has Never Been Easier

Ever had your hair and makeup professionally done just before going outdoors to melt it off and have your har blown in every possible direction? The whole “beach hair don’t care” vibe is cute unless you’re in the middle of family portraits and you look like a dog with her head out the window. The truth is, there’s no way to know if you’ll have a cool, peaceful evening on the beach or if we’ll be fighting the wind and the heat. Suddenly being in your air conditioned home, playing and snuggling with your kids while looking your best sounds pretty great!

Disclaimer: Although it has happened a handful of times, I rarely have a session where the wind is totally unbearable. I will always do what I can to make it right if something like this happens.

5. Zero Travel Time

I’ve mentioned how traffic and parking can add additional stress to your picture day. But imagine having your hair and make-up done, getting dressed and doing your pictures all in the same place. It doesn’t get any easier!

In-Home Portraits May Not Be For You If…

While there are so numerous benefits to indoor photoshoot in Cape Coral (or elsewhere), they are not for everyone. Having to clean and de-clutter your home to prepare for this session can bring a different kind of stress. In addition to this, not everyone has the space and the lighting needed for a session of this sort. If your home is very dark with little natural light, I don’t recommend doing an in-home session. If you have a lot of clutter or little open space in your home, I also don’t recommend doing an in-home session. And lastly, if being outdoors in nature, lights your soul on fire, then it just makes sense to do an outdoor photoshoot at the beach or one of our nations beautiful parks. Both session types are incredibly beautiful in totally different ways. If you need help deciding what’s the right fit for your family, maternity or couple portrait session, I am always available to chat.

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