St Augustine In-Home Family Photo Session: Chaos & Connection

It Was 96 Degrees and the A/C Was Out

Florida summers are no joke — humid, sticky, and relentless. On the day of this in-home family photo session, the A/C gave out just hours before I arrived.

Inside the house? Stifling.
Outside? No relief.

And to make things even more interesting:

• A 3-month-old baby who was teething and uncomfortable

• A 3-year-old with big energy and no plans to sit still

By all accounts, this session could’ve gone completely off the rails. But it didn’t. And that’s the beauty of hiring an experienced lifestyle photographer who knows how to roll with real life.

Why Real Life Is Part of the Beauty of an In-Home Family Photo Session

When you book a session at home, you’re inviting your photographer into your real, everyday environment. There’s no studio lighting, no perfect backdrop — and no pressure to “perform.”

That means real smiles, real messes, real connection.

It also means that when things don’t go according to plan (which they rarely do with little kids), there’s room to adapt and pivot without losing the heart of the session.

We Got Creative — and Brought Out the Bubbles

To help everyone cool down and reset, we improvised. We filled the kitchen sink with warm water and bubbles, and let the boys play.

The preschooler splashed and laughed. The baby kicked his feet, fascinated by the suds. The energy shifted immediately — no stress, no forced smiles. Just two little boys having fun, and two parents relaxing into the moment.

The kitchen sink bubble bath became the highlight of this in-home family photo session — and it wasn’t even part of the plan.

What to Expect from an In-Home Family Photo Session with Little Kids

No session with preschoolers and babies is ever predictable. And that’s okay — because those unpredictable, unscripted moments are often the most meaningful.

During this session:

• We followed the kids’ rhythm, not the clock

• We paused when the baby needed a break

• We let the preschooler lead the way

• We didn’t chase perfection — we captured connection

And the result? A gallery full of warmth, movement, and personality — exactly what an in-home family photo session is meant to deliver.

Why Experience Matters (Especially on a Day Like This)

When you’re choosing a photographer for your family, it’s tempting to go with the person offering 100 edited photos for $200. But let’s be real — do you need 100 photos of sweaty, stressed-out parents and overstimulated kids?

Or would you rather have fewer images that feel honest, relaxed, and joyfully imperfect?

An experienced photographer doesn’t just bring a camera — they bring:

• A calming presence

• Adaptability

• Deep knowledge of natural light and how to use it

• A track record of working with wiggly kids and fussy babies

• Confidence when the unexpected happens

That kind of experience turns even the toughest day into something beautiful.

Final Thoughts: Trust the Process — And the Photographer

Your house doesn’t have to be spotless. Your baby doesn’t have to be perfectly content. Your toddler doesn’t have to sit still.

All you need is to show up and trust that the right photographer can make something magical out of your everyday chaos.

Because when you hire someone who truly understands how to photograph families, you’re not just getting pictures — you’re getting memories that make you say:

“Remember that crazy hot day when the A/C broke? That was the best.”

Planning an In-Home Family Photo Session?

If you’re looking for a photographer who embraces the real, adapts to the moment, and captures your family just as you are — I’d love to connect with you.

I’d love to help you create something beautiful, even on your messiest day.

-And if you’re still reading…yes, I did use AI to write this post.  Writing blogs used to be so simple.  Pick some photos, narrow down to 1 keyword, write a few authentic paragraphs.  Boom!  Done!  Now, it’s become so complicated to get search engines to “like” posts that blogs just aren’t fun to write anymore.  So, while it’s slightly less authentic than I like to be, may not sound like the real Mary Huszcza of 8.08 Photography, and is pretty generic, you’d better bet I’ll be letting AI do this work for me so I can get back to what I love-photography and engaging with the incredible families I work with!