The Magic of In-Home Family Photography: Why Your Messy House Is Perfect

If you’ve ever thought about booking family photos but stopped yourself with the thought “our house is too messy” — I promise you, it’s not. Your kids aren’t going to remember whether the dishwasher was stacked or if there was a basket of washing on the couch. What they will remember is the laughter in the kitchen, the cuddles on the bed, and the feeling of home.

That’s the beauty of in-home family photography. It’s not about creating picture-perfect spaces. It’s about documenting the real, raw, love-filled moments that happen inside your walls. The crumb-covered floor, the toy explosion in the corner, the half-drunk coffee on the bench — those are the signs of life being lived.

I know this firsthand. When we had newborn photos done with our daughter Adelaide, she screamed almost the whole time. My husband and I were flustered, apologising to the photographer and stressing about how on earth we’d get one decent photo. Eventually, we stopped, put on her favourite music (believe it or not — heavy metal), and something shifted.

She didn’t calm immediately, but the photos captured us. Two new parents, doing our best in that messy, chaotic moment. Those images are some of my favourites to this day because they’re honest. They remind me that even when it felt overwhelming, we showed up for her in the only way we knew how.

That’s exactly what I aim to give you too — not perfect, not staged, but true-to-you memories that make you smile for years to come. Book in your own family photoshoot here.