Ideas for documentary family photography sessions outside your home

Interested in documentary family photography, but can’t get over your fear of your home being exposed in your family photos? Here are some great alternatives to get you out of the house and your house out of the pictures.

the Beach

Pack a giant beach bag, throw on some flip flops, load up on the sunscreen, and spend a day in the sun and sand with your family. When you opt for bathing suits and coverups (or for those more adventurous, nothing at all 🤭) instead of matching outfits, the potential for relaxation, fun, and great pictures rise dramatically! 

the Grandparent’s House

Head to Grandma’s house! Let her be the one to worry about cleaning the house — she likely has more time and is probably the reason why your house is so cluttered anyway (at least that’s how it is here)! Plus, it’ll be such a treasure to capture grandparents and their grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) in action!

the Grocery Store

Into multitasking? Who isn’t? Why not kill two birds with one stone and get something accomplished during your photoshoot (you overachiever, you!)? 

a Restaurant

As above, we all need to eat. How about focusing on your family and getting waited on instead of creating the giant freaking mess that comes of preparing twenty different meals in hopes that your picky eaters will eat SOMETHING if given enough options??

Kids’ Activities

Ah, the formative years… budding Picassos, future Rockettes, little Michael(a) Jordans. You spend enough time and money lugging them back and forth from all their activities, let’s go beyond a team picture and show them their proudest/strongest moments, their struggles, their earliest passions… while you proudly look on. Then in the future, you can show them how much you gave to make their dreams a reality.

a Lake House

Have a lake house in your family? These are meant for endless days — chilling and having a blast with friends and family. No one cares if the lake house is a disaster!! The memories made in and around these wonderful spaces are too good to not preserve.

a Favorite/New Hike

Do you love hiking? Wind up bribing the kids to go? Carrying them part way? Or do they love exploring as much as you? What could make for more beautiful photos than a hike with your family in the great outdoors? 

a Museum

Been eyeing that museum for a couple years now? Or do you have a family favorite? Whether it’s a fun kid-centric science museum or a super serious museum of the finest impressionist paintings, the pictures we’d make in museums will certainly be worthy of your walls (or a coffee table book)!

a Special Tradition

Is there a special tradition in your family you’d like to enjoy fully while having someone else take all the pictures? Do you have dinner with extended family every Sunday, surprise Dad at work with lunch once a month, have an epic outdoor movie night with your neighbors, spend a night at a local hotel just to get away and swim in the middle of winter, select and cut down your very own Christmas tree each year? These things are the stuff your happiest memories are made of, let’s make some photos so you can relive them over and over!

a Mommy & me class

What could be more special than photos from a Mommy & me class? They’re only little enough for such a short time. And since it’s usually just you and your kiddo(s), possibly a friend and their kiddo(s), there’s no one to document your adventures because you both have your hands full… that is, unless you invite me along!!

These are just a few ideas — I’m game for pretty much anything!! The sky’s the limit! So if you want me to tag along for a tattoo, baby’s first haircut, sky diving, beer fest with friends, friends and family meeting a new baby, or whatever else, I’m there! Just let me know! 

=) Anna

#youreverydayisworthit