An Argument for the Kitchen

All homes are created differently, even in cookie-cutter neighborhoods where it seems every house is the same. But one thing that lots of kitchens have in common is great light. Breakfast nooks are often crowded with windows, morning light streaming in to blind you at the breakfast table. Or, if your home faces another direction, you get that lovely golden evening light as you wash dinner dishes in the sink.

I’m here to argue that kitchens are the perfect place to hold your family photo session.

Now, granted, not every home has great light in the kitchen. That just means that the great light is in another area of the house, and I’m happy to shoot there instead. But for those of us whose kitchens hold all the beautiful light, I’m here to let you know that family photos in the kitchen can be the most fun. We can make a few small tweaks to hide the clutter, just like we’d do in your family room where the laundry is hanging out (or is that just me?).

The fellowship and connection that food creates is well known. Search “connection of food” in Google and you’ll get hundreds of results talking about the science and art of how food connects us to each other and to our cultures. I’m not suggesting that we take a bunch of photos of you chewing, but the preparation of said food is one way to document your family’s connection, as you work together to bake a passed-down cookie or bread recipe. Feel free to spill flour, lick the beaters, or pour on the sprinkles.

The kitchen is considered the heart of the home. You demonstrate your love for your family as you make meals (even if that means transferring food from takeout containers to plates). It’s a (relatively) safe place for toddlers to finger paint. Everyone uses the kitchen daily, while other rooms are set aside for specific uses and users.

There are approximately 150 activities that you could do during a family session in the kitchen that would allow for natural, easy connection, laughter, and fun. Here are a few:

• Baking cookies

• Cooking/prepping a meal

• Washing dishes (or a baby) in the sink

• Feeding the dog together

• Playing a board game at the kitchen table

• The aforementioned finger painting (these paints come right off with just water. Thanks, Crayola.)

• Eating a snack

• Doing a science experiment

• Holiday-related traditions (decorating cookies, building a gingerbread house, making ornaments, etc)

• Eating. Don’t discount the beauty and simplicity of sitting around the table together, with evening light streaming in. Infants smearing themselves with pureés, toddlers learning how to use utensils, adults attempting to catch up after a day apart. It could be the perfect wrap-up to your family session at home.

As the weather turns from beautiful to chilly to downright winter-cold, and family photography sessions move indoors for comfort, don’t forget to check the kitchen for beautiful light. It could be your most fun family photo session ever.

If you’re interested in scheduling an in-home family photo session, schedule a time to chat with me and we’ll get the process started. Don’t worry, you don’t need to know which room to use for your session beforehand. And I’m happy to share that I’m vaccinated and also fully masked while in clients’ homes. Hit me up.