Dana Bell is a very close friend of mine who also happens to be a photographer as well, so I was SO down to document her and her family in their in-home session. The Bell family’s family photo session in St. Charles, Illinois was set on the perfect summer day, and is one of the most fun I’ve documented as a family photographer. With our primary focus getting a few family photos with their youngest and some personality shots of their oldest, Dana really just wanted to document their family in action.  We spent the afternoon roaming around their backyard playing with their pups and exploring the world they love so much.  

St. Charles Family Photographer

When it comes to family sessions, it’s important to make time and space for both you and your family to relax and be present in the experience. When planning your family session, in-home or otherwise, I always recommend my clients to plan in some sort of light activity for their session. Whether it’s exploring a park, playing tag in the backyard, or anything else that comes to mind, this is a great strategy to exist in the moment of your session. With an activity you and your kids have something to focus on without directly acknowledging the camera, which leads to those wonderful moments of deep belly laughs and huge smiles. As a family photographer in St Charles I can’t stress enough how beneficial this can be for your session!

Why Have Your Family Session at Home

The Bell family loves spending time at home with their pups, so it only made sense to have their session in the comfort of their own home! As a St Charles family photographer I absolutely love in-home sessions as it makes things SO simple for the family. The kiddos, and puppers in the Bell’s case, are all in a space they know and love. This leads to a feeling of ease and comfort for everyone involved and in turn leads to more natural photos. With their family session in the comfort of their own home, the Bell family had everything they needed at their fingertips. It made outfit changes quick and easy, and let their pups be a huge part of their session without having to worry about any logistics. 

Documenting the Bell family in their home was an absolute dream, and one of my favorite family sessions to date. If you’re looking to hire me as your family photographer for St Charles and the surrounding suburbs be sure to send me an inquiry so we can reserve your date today!