At Home vs. RVA Park: A Quiz for Your Photo Session

You’re in the planning stage of your family photos and you’re stuck on location. Inside, or outside? Your home is always messy. You haven’t finished unpacking since the last move. There’s construction happening in the kitchen. A tornado blows through the family room on a daily basis. But, if we’re inside, we don’t have to worry about the weather. Too hot or too cold. Rain or sun (or snow). And back and forth you go with your waffling. (Mmm. Waffles.)

I can’t tell you which is best for you, unless you have a newborn, in which case I’ll tell you we’ll be at your home (though we can still go out to the porch or yard).

What I can do, though, is give you a series of questions to ask yourself, to help you determine if your home or a park is a better location choice for your family, maternity, or newborn photos.

Let’s get started:

Are you planning family, maternity, or newborn photography? 1 point for newborn, 2 for maternity, 3 for family

How many family members are joining us? 1 point for 1-4 members, 2 points for 5+ members

Any little kids? 1 point for yes, 2 points for no

Are you worried about the weather? 1 point for yes, 2 points for no

Do you want to document your every-day life together? 1 point for yes, 2 points for no

Do you have a special place in Richmond where your family visits regularly? 1 point for no, 2 points for yes

Is that place pretty? 0 points for NA, 1 point for no, 2 points for yes

Do you go on walks around your neighborhood with your family? 1 point for yes, 2 points for no

Do you play with your kids in your backyard? 1 point for yes, 2 points for no

Do you like to explore or feel more comfortable in places you’re already familiar? 1 point for familiar, 2 points for explore

Time to total up your score!

If you scored 13 or fewer points: An at-home session might be best for you and your family! Small kids especially open up when they’re comfortable and in familiar environments. Plus, sticking close to home (or inside) means you’re always near snacks if you need them. If you regularly go for walks around your neighborhood or play in the backyard with your family, we can include that as one of our activities together as we document your life together as a family. I’ll send you a prep guide once we book your session, to help you prepare your home, and we’ll work together to not document every pile of clutter in your home.

If you scored 14 or more points: Let’s explore! If you have a place that is special to your family, like a park that you visit often, that could be the perfect familiar spot for your photos. Don’t have a favorite place? No problem. I have a whole Google map full of Richmond-based location ideas, and I’ll suggest three based on your needs. You can choose the one that appeals to you the most.

If you scored 14 or more points and you’re planning a newborn session: Congratulations! This kid is going to love your outdoorsy spirit. We’ll still stick to your home for your newborn session, but we can poke outside a bit, depending on the weather. We’ll spend the first few minutes of our session finding the room(s) in your house with the best light, and have our session there. The space might be a bedroom, a kitchen, or even a bathroom if the light and space is right. But don’t worry, I’ll walk you through how to prep for your session, including the tweaks to make in your house for a newborn baby.

I hope this helped you make a location decision! If it didn’t, and you have a question, email me and I’ll help you!