New Year's first pajama party (at-home family photoshoot)
Pajama party anyone? For this large family’s photoshoot their smart mama chose a theme that was fairly easy to prepare for and was super easy to execute. There was no trying to figure how to dress each family member to make her match the rest of the gang and no rushing around to get to place on time (good luck doing that with 5 kids - I have a hard enough time with 3, can’t even imagine how this super-momma does it!)
On the scale of all family photoshoots this one is the most stressless hassle-free! It was an at-home photo session and everyone was dressed in PJs! It was right after Christmas, their tree was still in its place in the living room, so that’s where most of the action took place. There was lots of silliness, climbing on each other and, laughing, and some crying (don’t they go hand in hand in a large family?).
One thing that amazed me was how affectionate the older kids were with their youngest brother, who was about two at the time we photographed. “Come here, Elijah, let’s play! Come sit with me.” And lots of hugs and snuggles. Nobody was telling them to take care of their little brother, they just simply genuinely wanted to do it and they did it with so much love.
The culmination of the photoshoot looked like this: everyone gathered at the kitchen table, drinking tea, eating breakfast, reading, climbing the table.
Though a part of an at-home family photo session is posed, it gives a unique way to preserve the memories of this season of your family’s life: the photos are taken at home so everyone is at ease and interacts with each other the way they normally would, so the photos that are captured are actually moments that really happen in the everyday family life.
The advantages of an at-home family photoshoot are many:
No need to drive anywhere - the photographer comes to you (save time and gas)
No need to get dresses up - you can do it in your PJs!
Everyone feels comfortable and at ease because they are at home in a familiar and familial setting.
Lots of familiar things to grab, hold and use as props.
Real everyday and seemingly insignificant moments captured on camera (brushing your daughter’s hair, feeding your son, having breakfast together) - seeing those moments years later might bring tears to your eyes.
Create documentary-style (candid) images AND posed images (the best of both worlds).
Easy access to outfits and accessories if inspiration strikes to create an improvised look.
If siblings get into a fight, one can go into his or her room to cool off and then, hopefully, come back to join the fun in a little bit.