Cassandra Rene Photography | The Blog

Hi! My name is Cassandra Rene but my friends call me Cassie. I am a Seattle-based Family Photographer specializing in warm + bright candids for playful, affectionate families.

Lately I’ve been feeling even more drawn than ever before to “documentary” style photography, and there’s nowhere better to achieve that style than in your home.

When considering locations for family photo sessions, most people think of Seattle’s scenic beaches or beautiful parks. And while those are certainly valid, I would like to propose an option you may not have thought of…your own home!

Here are 4 reasons you should consider doing your next family photo session at home!

1. You don’t have to go anywhere.

Ok…obviously, Cassie. But hear me out. Every parent knows the stress of just. getting. out. of. the. house. Seriously, WHY does it take our children so long to find their shoes?!? Add to that the pressure of getting everyone through Seattle traffic to your destination, with no food stains on the outfits you spent months picking out, and still in a relatively good mood by the time you get there.

If you do your family photos at home, I come to you! So you can ex-nay all that stress I just mentioned.

2. Shy kids warm up to me (and the camera) faster.

Being in their comfort zone means it takes less time to “open up” and that equates to more photos with genuine emotion. As soon as I say, “can you show me some of your toys?” most toddlers gleefully run and start playing with them. And when the parents jump in, voila! I can capture candid, authentic photos that showcase your kids true personality and interests.

3. Access to snacks, naps, and potty breaks.

Full bellies and empty bladders = happy kids (ESPECIALLY with an infant + toddler combo.) Need I say more? No more stressing about skipping a nap or having a blow out diaper catastrophe. My style for in-home sessions is to follow your family’s pace. Toddler needs a snack break? Great! You need to nurse baby and put him down for a nap? Awesome! These real life moments seamlessly slide into my in-home photography flow.

4. We capture the tangible things you actually want to remember about this season of your kids’ lives (and the intangible emotions connected to them.)

💕 In this in-home session, I literally told the family to just play together and do the things they would normally do together as a family. So when their daughter got out her favorite puzzle, Mom instinctually sat on the floor to play with her. As she dumped it out on the floor, Mom commented, “this one piece is really the only one she cares about and plays with. It’s ALL about Mr. Giraffe.” So I captured it.

Then when baby brother needed a nap I followed them upstairs to photograph their routine. Mom nursed baby while reading a book to big Sis. While reading Mom told me, “this was actually MY favorite book as a little girl, and now it’s hers.” GAH! Like, isn’t that the sweetest thing?! So now, Mom will forevermore have a picture of this incredibly sentimental moment and memory.

So yeah, you get the drift, right?!? In-home sessions give the opportunity to preserve all those little things you never want to forget.

If you made it this far, DON’T click away because you have to see the highlights from this sweet Seattle family’s in-home session. This is just a glimpse of the memories we captured but will give you a good idea of what an in-home session with me looks like!

I’m curious for those of you who have had a family photography session before – what went well for your family and what didn’t? If you did a session at home, what activities would you want to highlight that are unique to you? I’d love to hear, so tell me below!

And if you’re ready to book a session with me, you can book instantly on my website. Spring and Summer are the best seasons for in-home photography too, not just outdoors in a meadow. We want to get all that gorgeous sunshine streaming in through your windows!

Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram for all things Family Photography 😉

A photography blog for Seattle Families