As you may know, I’m a real advocate of having your family photos taken in a place that is familiar to you. Home is always a good idea, inside, outside or both as it means that your photographs are unique to you in your family space. So if you’re thinking about a family photo session at home I thought it would be helpful to show you how it works.
Usually we start of having a bit of chat and find a spot for you to sit together and share some of your family ‘best bits’ with me - favourite flavour ice creams, who tells the best jokes, what your pet goldfish is called- that kind of thing.
Following this the kids are usually happy to show me their favourite spots around the house and garden. This garden was a total joy for kids and Mum said they spend their lives outside come rain or shine. The treehouse was definitely a highlight!
Then we will find a spot for you to have a moment with each child at a time. That way, they can keep playing and then have some hugs and chat with you too. And really I think the most important part of the shoot is to get you in the frame with your children, that’s really why I’m there…
I always like to try and get a parents in the frame together too. When was the last time you had a photographer take your photo? Your wedding? That’s quite often what people say! While the parents are having a photo taken the children can keep playing or join in for a couple of more posed pictures…
After this we might have a little break with a little bit of nourishment for the kids (and adults). Then it’s back to more fun. Sometimes it might be bubbles, other times it is football or garden games like Grandma’s footsteps. I tailor it to your family as you will have shared a little information about your family with me in the pre-shoot questionnaire. For older children it might time for a bit of chat, I used to be a secondary school teacher so I am comfortable chatting with those tweens and teenagers. For this family it was bubbles…
So as you can see we can get a variety of pictures in your garden. Photographs at homework work well because you and the children can just be yourselves. There is no time pressure, there are no other people to worry about and pets can be there too! If you’re lucky enough to have a trampoline then no doubt there will be the jumping shots too. Even better if you get on there too. These kids loved it when Mum came on the trampoline with them, as she often does, and so they’ll love this memory as much as she does.
If you’re looking for some relaxed photos of you and your family at home, hopefully this gives you a bit more of an idea of how it works. My goal is to give you a set of photographs that will help you to remember how life is now. These were taken last Autumn and were a reminder of lockdown days in the garden together.