FAMILY SHOOTS: WHAT TO EXPECT

How long will the shoot last?

The shoot should be around 1 hour. It’s worth having a little buffer time planned in just in case we need it (tantrums, toilet breaks, snack breaks, you know the drill), but 95% of the time I find an hour to be plenty of time and about the limit for what babies and children are willing to put up with. If for any reason I feel like I haven’t got the coverage I would like within the hour, I will always stay a little longer to make sure we get you some brilliant photos you’ll love.

Where should the shoot be?

It’s usually either at your home or in an outdoor space, possibly somewhere that you often go or feels special to you. For younger babies it’s usually best to do the shoot at home where they can be safe and comfortable, out of direct sunlight and somewhere familiar to them. For babies who are walking and older children it can be lovely to explore the outdoors, and if you have somewhere close to home it’s sometimes possible to do half the shoot at home and half there. For home shoots, a bit of a tidy up is helpful but please don’t stress about making it perfect - I love to capture the reality of having children, which includes the mess and chaos, and it’s easy enough to clear a small space for a family shot as and when we need to.

What happens on the shoot?

The majority of the shoot will be documentary in style and about getting natural shots of you all interacting as a family, so plenty of cuddles, fun, play, snacks, dancing, tickling, kicking - anything goes really, but largely you call all ignore me and crack on with it. Have a couple of favourite toys ready to be played with, and just see it as a nice opportunity to be playful and present with your children for that one hour period. Let’s be honest: how often do we all put our phones away, stop doing the cleaning/washing up/making lunches etc and just get on the floor with the littles? Not nearly as much as we’d all like to, and even less so with both parents there. They’ll likely just be absolutely delighted to have your full and undivided attention! I’ll give direction as and when I need to, but you know your family best, so keep in mind the things that get them smiling and we’ll be on our way.

Will we get some family portraits?

Absolutely. I like to throw these in as and when it feels appropriate and when the babies/children seem like they’ll be up for it. Sometimes it’s right away, sometimes it’s bit later on when the kids are relaxed, so don’t panic if I don’t do this immediately. I always try and make sure I have at least one good shot of everyone together, and I try and get the different combinations of each parent and child as well.

What do we wear?

The most important thing here is to be comfortable, and in clothes that make you feel good. Nothing too formal (clothes tend to get ruffled during play anyway) and nothing that either matches or clashes too much with each other. Some people like to go down the neutral route, and some like bright colours and patterns - it’s all about being who you are as a family. Please avoid any noticeable logos as they can be distracting, and if we’re going to an outside space it can also be worth avoiding bright greens that might clash with the colour of the grass. Don’t overthink it too much, make sure the kids are happy in what they’re wearing, and once you’re ready you can all stand together in a mirror and make sure you feel it works.

What if the kids play up/baby cries?

I’m a mum of two little girls (currently 3 and 4) so I’m well-versed in the antics of babies and toddlers. I’ve also been shooting families for over 10 years and have come across all manner of children, so firstly don’t worry about what I’m going to think - it’s all very normal. The best way to deal with it is to take a breather, do whatever you need to do to make the child or baby feel comfortable, then start again without any pressure. Try not to let the clock stress you out - we’ll still have plenty of time to get the photos we need, and sometimes the harder we try and make it work, the less the little one wants to play ball. Having plenty of snacks, loved toys, and the occasional emergency screen are all helpful methods of calming a situation, and I’ll do whatever I can to help. I have had sessions before where a toddler has been in the throws of an enormous meltdown for 45 minutes of the shoot, but we still managed to get them laughing and nail some gorgeous photos in the last 15, so anything can happen!

What about newborns?

If we’re doing a newborn shoot or a family shoot with a newborn, everything is much the same as above except the baby might well be sleeping or feeding for some or all of the shoot. I always do these at your own home so that you have everything you might need for them (especially in the case of a poo explosion - we’ve all been there!), and they will be in a familiar, temperature consistent and comfortable space. Sometimes babies will cry for a while, again that’s very normal and nothing to worry about, we’ll simply wait for a bit until they’re calmer and get back to it. Again, it will mainly be documentary style, but I do like to get some of the baby on their own in a nice space if they’re happy with that.