Family photography in Chesham - a little slice of life
It’s such a privilege to be invited into people’s lives for a short while to document their family magic, and one of the best things about the job is when they ask me to come back. I have been photographing Jo and Adam and their two boys for a few years now, and so I was super excited when Jo suggested a shoot in the beautiful countryside around where they live in Ley Hill.
We were spoiled for choice for location - there are fields with horses and llamas, and gorgeous woodland walks all within a short walk from their back garden. We kept things simple - documenting the walks and talks, log jumping, feeding the animals and searching for bluebells in the nearby woods, before heading back for some chill-out time at the house.
We took time to get some gently posed portraits as well as the candid images. It can be difficult to get the boys to behave for the camera - they’re at an age now where they are starting to get a bit more self-conscious, which can translate either as shyness or playing up.
I often find the more you try to direct kids - telling them to smile or say ‘cheese’, the more they are likely to do the opposite, or just produce those fake toothy grins. The trick is not to try too hard. Instead we focused on getting the conversation going, playing games and generally letting the kids lead the way.
I love this kind of photography, where the aim is simply for people to be as they are, and to enjoy being together. I don’t want people to worry about looking their best, or about performing for the camera. My aim on any shoot is to help my families forget about the camera for a while and really connect with each other.
These pictures have it all - laughter, action shots, individual and family portraits, and moments of gentle intimacy. It’s a little slice of life, captured for them to look back on and treasure for years to come. Here are some of my favourite images from the shoot 😊
Summer family photo shoots 🌞
My calendar is now open for family sessions this summer. If you’re thinking of me to capture some of your family’s magic, and would like to know more about my approach to family photography, and my prices and packages, just click below to download my brochure. When you’re ready to book, just reserve a slot in my online calendar, pay the session fee (£75) and I’ll be in touch to confirm details.
Autumn dates (1st September - 1st December) aren’t yet available. If you’d like to be the first to know when autumn dates are released, get first dibs on sessions, as well as a discount and special bonus, just sign up to my Autumn Wait List and I’ll be in touch again in early August.
Want to take better pictures yourself?
As the adage goes, the best camera is the one you have on you. Our phones have made photographers of us all, recording our everyday experiences, holidays and fun times together. As a photographer it’s easy to get snobbish about phone cameras. For sure, they don’t have all the capabilities of a ‘proper’ camera. But they have many unique advantages, and some of my most precious pictures were taken with my phone. I’ve written a guide to taking better photos with your phone camera - just click below to get your free download.
Some other articles you might like…
Christening photography in West Hampstead