There’s something really special about being invited into a family’s space to document their life as it actually is — not the polished version, not the “everyone smile at the camera” version, but the real one. This fall, I photographed a family whose backyard happened to include a flock of curious, clucking chickens… and I can confidently say they were the unexpected stars of my season.

At-home sessions always have their own kind of magic, but this one was a perfect reminder of *why* I love them so much.

Comfort changes everything. When families stay in their own environment, the entire energy of a session shifts. Kids feel relaxed because they’re on familiar ground. Parents feel more at ease because they don’t have to worry about packing bags, arriving on time, or managing logistics. Everyone can just… be.

And that’s when the good stuff happens.

The laughter is real. The snuggles are natural. The personalities come out fast, especially when backyard chickens wander into the frame and instantly become the main event.

Your home tells your story. No two homes are the same, and that’s what makes in-home and backyard sessions so meaningful. Your porch, your kitchen, your living room couch, your garden… these aren’t just backdrops. They’re part of your family’s story.

This family’s backyard wasn’t just pretty autumn light and crunchy leaves. It was a place where their kids run barefoot, where eggs get collected in the morning, where the chickens have names and distinct personalities. Those details matter. Years from now, these photos won’t just show what everyone looked like, they’ll show what life *felt* like.

One of the biggest misconceptions about at-home sessions is that everything has to be “perfect” first. Perfectly clean house. Perfectly styled yard. Perfectly behaved kids.

None of that is required.

Real life is the goal, not perfection. A little mess, a little chaos, a chicken running through the shot, that’s where the personality lives. Those unscripted moments are always the ones families treasure most because they’re honest.

Backyards are wildly underrated photo locations. They’re private, comfortable, and full of meaning. Kids can move freely. Parents can relax. And we can capture genuine interaction instead of posed moments.

Plus, backyard light in the fall? Absolute dream.

Golden tones, crisp air, leaves underfoot, and apparently… chickens ready for their close-up.

Sessions like this remind me why I do what I do. It’s not about perfect poses or picture perfect settings. It’s about connection. Personality. The tiny details that define a season of life.

Sometimes that looks like cuddles on the porch.
Sometimes it looks like tickle fights in the grass.
And sometimes… it looks like a flock of backyard chickens stealing the show.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.