How to Create a Cozy Atmosphere for Lifestyle Photography at Home

Discover the art of creating a warm ambiance that photographs flawlessly.

Capturing the essence of a home in a photograph can be a challenge. So much about a home is about a feeling, not so much a physical environment. But when it comes to photographing one, there are many ways you can enhance a home space that feels just as cozy as real life.

Lifestyle photography can be tricky to get right because it only works when there’s an atmosphere of authenticity in the mix. Sterility and coldness are the enemies of home-inspired lifestyle photography—but avoiding them is easy when you have some tricks up your sleeve.

Creating a warm, natural-feeling atmosphere in your lifestyle shoot at home requires some storytelling, a knack for natural compositions, and an emotional touch.

Here are our best tips for creating a cozy atmosphere for lifestyle photography at home.

Embrace A Warm-Toned Color Palette

Cool tones like white, blue, gray, and black may look sophisticated for certain lifestyle shoots, but very rarely do they communicate a sense of coziness or warmth. If you want to capture the warm feelings a person may experience in their home, use warm colors such as:

• Red
• Orange
• Brown
• Gold
• Purple
• Pink
• Deep green

These colors all communicate a sense of natural warmth that transcends the temperature itself—they convey a sense of comfort. Embracing colors within the warmer spectrum can instantly add a feeling of coziness to your photos.

Use Natural-Feeling Props

Props are a great way to add personality, detail, and texture to a photoshoot. But just throwing together a random assortment of home-ish items won’t deliver the sense of home comfort that you seek. Instead, aim to use props that you might actually, realistically, use in the setting you capture. For example, if you are shooting in a kitchen, steer clear of sophisticated vases or artworks. They may look beautiful, but do they fit into the natural context of the image? Not really.

Opt for items that (while still polished and clean) appear used and a part of their environment. Reach for the old family baking bowls, your grandmother’s wooden chopping board, and herbs from the garden outside. Let the props work in harmony with each other.

Let The Light In

Light is crucial in any photo series. When harnessed properly, light can dramatically influence the mood and atmosphere of any room. Warm, natural light is the best tool for achieving a cozy, homey look and feel. Open the windows and shoot at sunset or dawn, as this creates a wonderfully warm and light ambiance. Doing so breathes a sense of natural freshness and warmth into every space you photograph.

Insert Sensory-Awakening Objects

Home is a place that is filled with sensory objects. Food cooking on the stove, soft carpets under your bare feet. Steaming cups of tea and coffee wafting off of the writing desk. These are all excellent visual cues you can use to imbue a tangible atmosphere of comfort. Any objects that have a visual element to their sensory potential, such as steam, fire smoke, and plush-textured fabrics, make great additions to any lifestyle home shoot.

Incorporate Plants, Pets, And People

Motion and life are two other very important components of a successful lifestyle shoot at home. Capturing a home means capturing the life lived within it—however that might look or feel to you. This can be achieved by incorporating people, pets, and plants. All of the above forms of life give us inspiration through their proclivity for growth, inspiration, and change. A home without any of these things can hardly be a home, so make sure you include them in any lifestyle home shoot that you produce.

Utilize Natural Textures And Materials

Texture is a great way to convey emotion. Natural textures and materials like wood, linen, bamboo, shell, wool, leather, and stone are all materials we associate with nature, bringing to mind a sense of earthly connection and safety.

Tell A Story Through Your Photography

Considering the context of a certain scene or subject as you capture it is key to producing truly heartwarming and cozy images. When you create your portfolio, you’ll tell a story through your work, and you need to do the same with every shot and shoot. By establishing a narrative, you can take the viewer on a more emotional journey and help them see the world through a more compelling lens. Use the people, props, and environment you are capturing to tell a story greater than the objects themselves. What kind of people live here? What story are you telling through their furniture, food, and artwork on the wall? Get to the heart of what you’re photographing.

Aim For Authenticity

Without authenticity, even the highest-budget lifestyle photography shoots fall flat. The photos you capture need to convey a tangible sense of honesty and rawness so that the lifestyle being depicted is believable. Allow your intuition to guide your shots, and get to know your environment as much as possible before shooting. If you have a connection to the world you are capturing, you’ll be able to produce much more innovative and emotionally compelling photographs.

Shoot Instinctively

Sometimes, you only know what you want to capture as the moment unfolds in front of your eyes. When it comes to home lifestyle photography, don’t overthink your shots. Keep the camera nearby and ready to go so that you can snap away as you move through the space. This kind of approach opens the door for more unique photo opportunities and allows you to capture the scene from a more emotive perspective. Serendipitous shots are almost always the ones that turn out best, so let them happen organically!

Capture The Coziness On Camera

When it comes to creating a cozy atmosphere at home for lifestyle photography, it’s best to lead with your authentic emotions. The more instinctive and natural the visuals are, the easier it will be to capture the true essence of your home.

Forget about editorials and Pinterest boards—focus on using light, texture, and motion to celebrate the home that you love.