Evan & Giada's Cozy At Home Family Photoshoot

We all have our public selves and our at-home selves. The person we are when we’re in public and the person (in my opinion) we really are at home. Where we can relax, where we can let loose, where we feel safe. It’s the at-home personhood that I most love, which is why I adore at home family photoshoots. When I get the chance to step into your special space, I get to watch families relax into their regular routine whether it’s a Sunday morning or a Wednesday night.

All of this and more is what I got to see on a rainy morning with Giada and Evan’s in home family photoshoot. We explored in, out and around the home to get the full feeling of a family day at home.

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Gallery Highlights
Tending to the Garden, Tending to the Family
Splish Splash: Making The Rain Part of the Family
The Bounty Of Our Endeavors
Why Let Laundry Get In The Way?
My Love For In Home Family Photos

Let’s Talk About Your Day-To-Day

Gallery Highlights

While I know that the posed, color-coordinated, park-in-the-fall images are beautiful and usually make mom happy, I will always love the documentary-style family photos at home over everything else. When I look at these photos I see a real family, doing what they normally do – the difference is I get to document it, so you have something to look at instead of sitting on the couch saying ‘remember when?’

I also think that the fact that the rain didn’t slow this family down was the real icing on the cake. Yes, I totally understand wanting to wait for the brightest, big blue sky day, but you experience life day to day rain or shine so why not take photos to reflect that? I’m also a big fan of not waiting for the “perfect” moment to capture what’s special. Life happens in the messy, mundane, rainy moments just as much as it does in the picture-perfect ones.

Mom and child walking down a rainy street in matching yellow rain boots by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Child plays in puddle as mom watches by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom and child in the garden by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom helping her child into a rain jacket by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Child sitting on the kitchen floor playing with wooden animal toys by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom holding child while they point, looking out the window by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad sitting on the kitchen floor with his child as he pours water into a Chemex, they are both leaning in close by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad holding his child above his head by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Child standing in the hallway looking at their dad by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom and Dad on the couch reading a book to their child by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Tending to the Garden, Tending to the Family

You can build a family anywhere, but it’s extra special when you’re a block away from Grandma’s. There’s something about having extended family woven into your daily life – not just for holidays or special occasions, but for Tuesday mornings and rainy day visits. It’s the kind of closeness that turns ordinary moments into traditions.

We started off the shoot getting suited up to play in the rain. Watching this little family prepare for their adventure was a moment in itself – the careful zipping of jackets, the wiggling of tiny feet into boots, the excitement building as they got ready to splash through puddles. The matching rain boots were just a happy accident that totally stole the show. I didn’t plan it, they didn’t coordinate it, but there they were – a visual reminder that sometimes the best parts of family life are the unplanned details. Those little boots jumping in sync through puddles became some of my favorite frames of the day.

Child running across a lawn in a rain coat and yellow rain boots by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

mother and child both in green rain jackets and yellow rain boots by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Close up of mom and kid's matching yellow rain boots by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Child looking at the camera in a green rain jacket, black and white checkered pants and yellow rain boots by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

close up of a child picking flowers by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom and kid working in the garden by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom and child in the garden together on a rainy day by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom smiling crouched behind her kid as he makes a funny face at the camera by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Child in a rain jacket in the garden during a rainy day by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Kid walking away in yellow rain boots in the grass and mud by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Close up of a kids hands in the garden by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Action shot of a child running in yellow rain boots by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad feeding the dog a treat by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Splish Splash: Making The Rain Part of the Family

On the walk back from grandma’s, we got a few special shots of playtime. This kind of play and smile, especially with young children, can’t be planned. Which is exactly why family photos at home can help you capture the real side of your family. I love the wonder and exploration that I got to capture while going through the garden. There’s something about kids discovering strawberries in the rain that just feels magical.

After getting some morning snacks, we headed back to the house in good spirits despite the rain, which led to some effortless porch-at-home family portraits that radiate warmth and togetherness.

child in rain jacket and yellow rain boots playing in a puddle as mom walks behind with flowers and vases in her hands by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Child plays in a puddle as mom watches by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Child stands on a wet street with mom in matching yellow rain boots by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Close up of a child playing in a puddle with yellow rain boots by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad walks the dog down the street with his child by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad standing in the front yard with the dog by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom, Dad, child and dog all sit on the front steps of their house by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

The Bounty Of Our Endeavors

Eating the strawberries we just picked, making the coffee – these are the moments that make up family life. I especially love the shots of Evan and his son making coffee together. The little one loves helping dad make coffee, and it’s such a mundane thing that could just be done solo, but choosing to intentionally include his son? That’s what it’s all about. Something this family is so good at. I love photographing little routines like this because they’re the threads that weave a family together.

Person helps take off a child's rain boots by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Care taker helps take off a child rain jacket by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom helping take of child's yellow rain boots by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom helps her child with strawberries in the kitchen by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad helping his son with some strawberries in the kitchen by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Stuffed bunny on the kitchen counter Mom, Dad, child and dog all sit on the front steps of their house by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Close up of the childs hair by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad pours water into a Chemex, as his child watches by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad and child sitting on the kitchen floor making coffee in a Chemex by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad and child sit on the floor making coffee in a Chemex by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Child sitting on the kitchen floor looking at the camera by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad and child sitting on the kitchen floor grinding some coffee by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad pouring coffee beans into a hand cranked coffee grinder while his child helps, Mom is leaning over holding a wooden toy cow by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad chases child through the house by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Close up of Dad reading a book to his son Mom, Dad, child and dog all sit on the front steps of their house by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom hugging her child in their living room Mom, Dad, child and dog all sit on the front steps of their house by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad reads a book to his child in the living room Mom, Dad, child and dog all sit on the front steps of their house by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Why Let Laundry Get In The Way?

There will always be laundry, so why stop making memories just to get it perfectly folded? I know that may just be me, but I’ll take memories over a perfectly clean house any day. The smiles are worth it. The unfolded basket in the corner of a frame doesn’t diminish the joy – if anything, it makes the photo more honest, more real, more you.

Dad plays with his child by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad tossing his child up in the air, playing by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad tossing his kid up, playfully as the child laughs by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad holding up his child giving them a kiss on the cheek by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad playing with his child by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Dad holds child up, playing with them by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Mom, Dad and child laying on the bed together by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

Child laying on top of clothes being folded on the bed by maternity, family, and wedding photographer Elsie Goodman.

My Love For In Home Family Photos

If Evan and Giada’s at home family photoshoot has you imagining your own version of capturing everyday magic – I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up.

Whether you’re planning a big family gathering to celebrate or want a low-key Monday morning captured with all its coffee-making, rain-boot-wearing glory – let’s talk.

Let’s create memories for decades to come. Reach out today to book your in home family photoshoot and capture the real, beautiful, perfectly imperfect moments that make your family yours.

Let’s Talk About Your Perfect Day

Evan and Giada’s Cozy Morning At Home Family Photoshoot