Outdoor vs In-Home Family Photos in Tasmania: How to Choose
One of the first questions families ask during their planning appointment is:
“Should we do our session outdoors, or at home?”
There isn’t a right answer — only the right fit for your family.
Both options can create beautiful, meaningful images. The difference isn’t about which one photographs “better.” It’s about how you want the experience to feel, and what you want the images to say years from now.
Here’s how I help families across Launceston, the Tamar Valley, and Northern Tasmania think through the decision.
Outdoor Family Photos
Outdoor sessions are often what people picture when they think of family photography.
Open space. Soft afternoon light. Trees, fields, riverbanks, or rolling Tasmanian hills in the background.
The Feel
Outdoor sessions tend to feel:
spacious
relaxed
gently playful
a little more dynamic
There’s room for kids to move. To explore. To walk between setups. That natural movement can be especially helpful for children who don’t love standing still.
Tasmania gives us incredible natural backdrops year-round, and the changing seasons can subtly shift the mood of your images — golden light in summer, softer tones in autumn, crisp air in winter, fresh greens in spring.
They’re Often a Good Fit If:
You love the landscape and want that sense of place included.
Your home doesn’t have large windows or consistent natural light.
You have energetic children who benefit from space to move.
Sometimes what families are really choosing between isn’t “outdoors vs at home” — it’s this:
Do you want a photograph your family is in?
Or a photograph of your family?
A photograph your family is in often gives equal weight to the landscape. The setting becomes part of the story — the hills, the coastline, the open sky. Your family exists within that space.
A photograph of your family places the focus firmly on connection. The background supports the image, but it doesn’t compete. The emotion carries the frame.
Neither is better. They simply feel different when you look at them years from now.
A photograph your family is in
A photograph of your family
Outdoor sessions do rely on weather and light, which means a little flexibility is sometimes needed — but that’s something we plan for. I generally like to photograph somewhere which we will have access to shade during the session, as sessions in full bright sunshine make for very squinty subjects.
In-Home Family Photos
In-home sessions are quieter. More intimate. Often more emotional in a subtle way. They’re perfect if your kids are on the shy/quiet side, as their own space can make them feel more comfortable about having a stranger poke a camera in their face! It also gives them the opportunity to show me things which are important to them. Their favourite stuffed toy or dolls house or hot wheels collection can help us bond on another deeper level.
In-home sessions don’t require a perfectly styled house — they require meaningful space.
The Feel
In-home sessions tend to feel:
personal
connected
calm
grounded in everyday life
We use the light that already exists in your home — near windows, in hallways, on beds, or in living areas where your family naturally gathers.
Years from now, these images often hold an extra layer of nostalgia. The couch that’s long gone. The bedroom they grew out of. The way your home looked during this particular season of life.
They’re Often a Good Fit If:
You feel most relaxed in your own space.
You’ve recently moved or renovated and want to remember it.
You’re welcoming a newborn (most newborn sessions are held at home).
You want images that feel deeply personal and rooted.
In-home sessions are less about “showing your house” and more about documenting your life within it. You don’t even need to clean up before I arrive, I’ll move any mess or clutter out of the background of your photos if I need to (chances are I’ll probably move your furniture to the better light too!)
Another thing to note is that In-home doesn’t have to mean Indoors. we can always go for a run in the back yard or any outdoor space you have available.
Practical Considerations in Tasmania
Living in Northern Tasmania means we get beautiful variety — but also unpredictable weather.
The good news is that I’m not limited to one tiny window of “perfect light.” As long as the sun is up, we can create beautiful images.
In winter, that does mean we’re usually working within earlier hours (around 3:30pm before the light disappears). In summer, we have much more flexibility and can comfortably schedule sessions into the evening — often until 7:30 or even 8pm.
In-home sessions naturally offer even more flexibility, as we’re working with window light rather than direct sun.
And as for weather — rescheduling is simply part of living in Tasmania. We plan with that in mind. If the forecast turns, we adjust calmly and either move to a better day or we can change locations to somewhere sheltered or home. It’s never dramatic, just practical.
So… How Do You Choose?
Instead of asking which one is “better,” I usually ask families:
Where do you feel most like yourselves?
When you imagine these photos on your walls in ten years, what feels more meaningful — the landscape, or your living room?
Does your family settle more easily at home, or with space to move?
There’s no wrong choice. There’s only the version that feels most aligned with this stage of your life.
Sometimes families come in certain they want an outdoor session and leave excited about an in-home one. Sometimes it’s the opposite.
That’s why we talk first.
If You’re Unsure
You don’t need to decide before reaching out.
A planning appointment exists so we can talk through your home, possible outdoor locations around Launceston or the Tamar Valley, your children’s personalities, and what you ultimately want on your walls.
Sessions have a $150 session fee, with artwork chosen separately after you’ve seen your images. We’ll go through all of that during your appointment so everything feels clear.
Choosing between outdoor and in-home isn’t about getting it perfect.
It’s about choosing the setting that will feel like you when you look back on it years from now.
If you’d like to start that conversation, you’re very welcome to book a consult.