Gift vouchers... give the creative gift of photography {Family photographer in Buckinghamshire}

Have you started thinking about your festive shopping yet?

Family photoshoots have been a popular gift in families for a while now and, having delivered those gifted family photoshoots I can see why.

Families come in all different sizes with such a variety of combinations and connections. When you have a family get together with various branches and generations of your family there is always lots to catch up on, kids playing with each other and making sure everyone is well fed and watered. The last thing on your mind is taking photographs, and if it is, it generally involves a camera being set on self timer while one of you runs to their designated space and the kids at the front wriggle and make faces (or in my case the brother-in-laws are making the faces!).

On a family photoshoot, yes we will get those group shots, but we’ll also get pictures of you spending time together as a family in a relaxed and informal way. You get to chat and catch up while I capture your family connections and create photographs for your family album.

Just like this family in the woods…

The two daughters got together to give their parents a family photoshoot for their 70th birthday this summer.

It may be that you would like to give a gift of photographs of you and your family to other family members. Family sessions can make a great gift as you get a variety of prints to choose from and you can have your images professionally printed to give.

These were all taken with grandparents and aunties in mind…

So if you are thinking about giving the gift of photography for Christmas, get in touch to find out more.

Summer days are coming... {Family photographer in Leighton Buzzard}

Don't you just love summer? Early summer holds so much promise as the long days stretch ahead full of time to play and new adventures. Photographing families on these lovely summer days is a treat as they make new memories on old walks or simply playing in the garden. 

Looking forward, I can see ice creams, water fights, barbecues and lazy summer days for my family as we try to spend more time together. Sometimes when the kids are outside they even seem to like each other for extended lengths of time! These are the memories that I love to catch on camera. 

What does your summer ahead look like?

Blink and you’ll miss it... {Family photography}

‘Life moves pretty fast.  If you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.’ - Ferris Bueller

Do you ever wonder how your children grew up so quickly and ask yourself where the years went?! Me too. Which is one of the many reasons I document our family life in photos. 

Recently I returned to see the McHugh’s. Their eldest daughter was the first newborn I ever photographed and they have just welcomed their third child in to the family with another gorgeous one in between. It is so lovely to see how their family has grown and to record it with photographs.

Baby 1,2,3...

And just look how this family has grown (and how they've decorated!)...

And just because...

At home... {Leighton Buzzard Family Photographer}

Being invited in to people's homes to take their photographs is a real privilege. I am lucky enough to see a little bit more of what makes your family story unique to you. Not only are you and the children more relaxed but your home is the context in which you live your lives. I love that I get to help preserve those memories of... 'do you remember when...?' At home, I approach your family photography session as a documentary session, capturing your family life as authentically as possible. These lovely girls were ace to hang out with on a Saturday afternoon at home.

Girl power... more than a slogan on a t-shirt {Family photography in Buckinghamshire}

There I was out shopping with my 6, soon to be 7, year old at the weekend and she pipes up "Girl Power!" with a fist pump. So, obviously I'm delighted that she's on message (!) and I told her that I first heard about "Girl Power!" when it was summer 1996 and through the medium of the Spice Girls she said "I know who they are, Geri is a Spice Girl". (She is a fan of that recent BBC1 early Saturday evening show). Anyway it got me thinking, how do get these positive messages through to our children? Other than as a slogan on a T-shirt, how do we get them to understand what "girl power" means and why they need to understand it as they grow up?

And its not just for girls, I want my son to know that he is an equal too and for him to grow up respecting women as equals. I'm finding it hard to navigate all the messages they get and helping them to understand their place in the world. When it comes down to it the clearest message I want to give them is to be kind, we are all human beings.  But some people come from a position of privilege and others don't; be it gender, ethnicity, ability, class, whatever it is I'm hoping I'm helping my children to understand theirs and that of others. There is a loooonngggg way to go before human beings are equal. Here are just a few of the girls I've photographed lately who will be part of that change... may your voices be heard, loud and clear...