When I’m planning a photo session with a client at my Seattle area photography studio, one of the first questions we’ll talk about is whether they want an indoor or outdoor photo shoot. There’s really no right or wrong answer - they each have different styles and aesthetics, and there are pros and cons to each. Outdoor portraits give us the stunning backdrops of beautiful Washington while indoor portraits give us the comfort and convenience of controlling the environment. So, naturally, some clients who can’t decide will ask me, can we do both? Here are my thoughts.

The short answer is yes, I absolutely offer photo sessions that are split between indoor and outdoor locations. This may not be the case with all photographers but I love aspects of each type of session and I completely sympathize with wanting a bit of both in your photo shoot. When you’re booking a photo session with me, this would be classified as one of my custom sessions.

What exactly can you expect from an indoor-outdoor photo session? We’ll plan the details based on the portraits you want, but usually, we’ll begin at my Mercer Island studio. My sessions include professional hair and makeup services to make sure you look your best (and feel the confidence that comes from professional hair and makeup) so in most cases, you’ll come to my studio to get ready for your photos.

Once you’re looking spectacular, we’ll start with your indoor portraits and then head to your outdoor location for the rest. This way, we can get your indoor photos first before the outdoor air has a chance to get its hands on your hair and makeup.

Almost any of the portrait sessions I offer can be done as a split indoor and outdoor photo shoot. This works so well for maternity photos and family portraits. The same goes for senior photos and headshots. The exception is newborn photography, which is always an indoor session. That lets us create the perfect environment to keep your baby safe and comfy the entire time.

An indoor-outdoor photo shoot gives you the best of both worlds. Outdoor portraits have a natural look to them while indoor portraits lend to more artistic creativity and can open the door for trendier styles or have a more formal look. Consider headshots for example. In the same photo session you can have some studio portraits that are more corporate and traditional which can be great for a formal situation like a conference bio, and have some outdoor portraits that are more natural for your LinkedIn or your website.

Booking Your Indoor-Outdoor Photo Session

I’m all about customization and making your photo shoot exactly what you want it to be, so let’s start planning! Contact Jaimié Birtel Photography to book your photo session.