Outdoor vs. In-Home Family Photos in Huntsville: Which is Right for You?

Deciding where to have family photos in Huntsville, Alabama can be tricky. We’re blessed with some absolutely beautiful scenery here, but maybe you’ve also seen in-home photos that pull at your heart. How do you decide whether outdoor or in-home family photos are right for you? Let me help!

First of all, let’s list a few things that shouldn’t contribute to your decision, because that can be helpful, too!

• Don’t decide based on what you’ve always done. Maybe your family has traditionally taken photos in pretty locations that don’t really mean all that much to you. Just because it’s what you’ve done before, doesn’t mean you have to do it again!
• Don’t choose based on other family photos in Huntsville you’ve seen online. Did your child’s friend’s mom post theirs, and now you feel like you need to have yours taken where they did? You don’t! Every family’s photos should be different, because every family is different.
• Don’t default out of fear. Do in-home photos call to you, but you’re scared your home isn’t big enough or decorated enough? Those things honestly don’t matter at all!

Consider your own family, and what you want to remember about this season.

Why you should choose in-home family photos in Huntsville, Alabama

Now that we’ve talked about what shouldn’t affect your decision, let’s consider the reasons to choose either in-home or outdoor photos. In-home photos would make sense for you if:

• Your season of life has you making lots of memories at home right now. Some families are “home bodies,” and they love being home together! This would be a perfect opportunity to tell your family’s honest story.
• You want to remember what your family actually felt like. The beauty of in-home photos is that adults and kids alike are often most themselves at home. This gives us the chance to capture personalities, things you love to do together, and real moments.
• When you look back at your photos thirty years from now, you want to be transported back to memories, not perfect poses. While there’s nothing wrong with a beautifully-posed photograph, maybe you really want to document real life, right now. Truthfully, in-home photos do this so well. This is where you spend your life with your people, and we can freeze it all in time right at home.
• In-home lighting can be magical! There’s something so nostalgic about light pouring in through the windows, illuminating the people you love most. It’s so dreamy!

Why you should choose outdoor family photos in Huntsville, Alabama

Here’s where my answers might surprise you. I’m a photographer who doesn’t think that the scenic background should influence your decision, unless it’s a place that actually means something to your family. Yes, beautiful scenery is wonderful. I’m a nature-enthusiast, and I know how lovely it can seem to have family photos in front of a pretty backdrop.

But if your goal in having family photos in Huntsville goes beyond just pretty pictures, try to ignore all of that! Here’s why you should have your photos outside, though.

• There’s a special outdoor location that means a lot to your family. Do you spend a lot of time playing at the creek together, exploring and splashing? Do you take walks downtown regularly? Do you have a beautiful yard or a lot of land that you hang out at together? These would all be wonderful options for photos!
• The outdoors helps tell your family’s story. I’m not saying that in-home photos are the only way to authentically capture your family. Maybe you all come alive outside, and you want to freeze the way your son lights up when he’s chasing bugs. Maybe some of your favorite memories together are actually on the trails or flying kites. If years from now you close your eyes and your favorite moments involve the outdoors with your kids, outdoor photos may be just perfect.

My approach to photography isn’t to capture perfect poses in a beautiful field. Don’t get me wrong: there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that if it’s what your heart desires! There are amazing photographers in our area who do that magically. But if you want nostalgia, connection, and real moments, think beyond the beautiful scenery and look at the possibilities in-home or in special locations to your family. Remember, these photos are for you. Not for social media. Not even for the Christmas card.

Interested in scheduling photos that you’ll love decades from now? Let’s talk!

Film scanned by PhotoVision.