Me, my husband and our three boys had our annual family photo session last summer. I wanted to capture our family before my eldest is way too cool to have photos done 😉 And I wanted to be in the photos- not only because usually I am the one behind the camera, but also for them to look at when they are older- perhaps with their children! (Scary thought!) Maybe you have decided you want to capture how your family looks and feels right now. Or perhaps, like me, your little ones are just growing and changing before your eyes. But where and when is best to schedule your photo session for?
Get Outdoors
A photo session is as much about the experience itself as the photos. To add to the sense of having a family adventure or walk together, my sessions always run outdoors. Being outdoors allows your family the space to breathe and connect with each other. This is particularly important if you have toddlers or young children who have bags of energy to burn! Its a great opportunity to get outside together, explore somewhere new and take advantage of beautiful trees, flowers and skies to frame and enhance your photos.
Golden Hour
All the photos in this blog were taken within the 2 hours before sunset. Why do I encourage all my families to book at this time? The answer is light, light, light. The evening sun is soft and flattering on our faces and provides a romantic depth that just isn't available at any other time of the day. This time of day is known as Golden Hour for a reason- the trees, the clouds, the grass have a beautiful golden, soft glow that brings your photos to life in an extraordinary way.
But what about the impact on your family routine?
I understand that some families, particularly those with younger children, are hesitant about booking a family photoshoot so close to bedtime! My top tips would be: 1. Make the idea of going out for an evening family walk in the evening an adventure; an exciting treat! 2. Have a relaxing day before the session; don't have a full on busy day so they become too tired. 3. Tell the children you are going to meet a friend for an evening adventure walk and that I will be taking some photos of them to remember it by. 4. Don't stress! On the evening, the children might be a little cranky because they are not in their usual routine. This is perfectly normal. Don't worry about it- relax and connect with your children. I am confident we can still capture special moments and deliver a beautiful gallery for you.
What sort of photographer am I?
I offer laid back, relaxed photo sessions capturing real connections in artistic photos for your family and home. My aim is not to capture posed photos of everyone looking at the camera and smiling (although I usually catch one or two of those to give to relatives!). My aim is to capture how your family looks and feels at this point in time in honest emotive images full of love, laughter and even some chaos!
