The decorations were hung, the party hat was waiting and Imogen’s scrumptious smiling face was the added cherry on a delicious birthday cake! Sorry for all the birthday party analogy but this shoot was too sweet not too. If you recognise these gorgeous faces it is because I have photographed Imogen’s parents on many a session with their family members.

A Gorgeous way to celebrate a First Birthday with a Photography Shoot at Home

Having been in their lives for a few years now, it was lovely to see how wonderful being parents suited them. Both so playful and engaged with Imogen that it was nice to see how the family have grown and developed through the years. I photographed Millie’s sisters with their children in multiple family photography shoots over the years, so it was so lovely to see her so happy with her baby too. We started Imogens first birthday photography at home and then we moved outside to enjoy the weather (it was a very stuffy and hot day!) Chatting and catching up, whilst capturing some gorgeous portraits is such a lovely feeling. It is so special when past clients ask you back to document their lives. It really is such a privilege and it was such a relaxed family session. I hope that I am invited back to capture Millie and her family for many more years to come!

Thank you for looking through these lovely first birthday photography images

If you too would like a Surrey family photography shoot at home or in a location that is special to you, then please do get in contact. If you would like to see some inspiration for some family sessions out and about take a look at Rathi and her sunset Richmond Park family shoot or Maddie and her mums outdoor woodland family shoot.

This Richmond Park family shoot at sunset is particularly special for me. The last time that I photographed Rathi and her family they were a family of four. It was such an honour then when she got back in contact to have another family session with me. This time with their gorgeous daughter as well! They wanted to have a sunset family session and I could not have been happier. It is no secret that I love a golden hour and a Richmond Park is a particularly special place for one. We even managed to re-create a photograph from our first family shoot of them all running towards me as a family (which the kids love and it burns off some excess energy in the process!)

What a special privilege to watch and capture families as they eveolve and grow.

Thank you for looking through these glorious images…

If like Rathi and her family you would like to book in a session please do contact me. I would love to hear from you and potentially capture some wonderful memories for you to treasure forever.

An outdoor Surrey family shoot with Maddie and her mums, before they become a family of four

It was so lovely to have this outdoor woodland family shoot with Maddie and her mums, because the last time that we met she was not even earth side yet. Jess, Ella and I had met previously for an outdoor maternity shoot on Brighton beach together. So now to meet Maddie and have my lovely couple expecting another baby, it was extremely special. Returning to photograph clients again is such an honour. It is also a privilege to witness families grow and being able to capture the love is so wonderful.

We met on the common for our outdoor Surrey family shoot, which was a familiar place for Jess, Ella and Maddie. It is great to have family shoots which are in new places, other than Surrey locations that I can suggest. But I like to ask families for locations that are special or have meaning to them. This can create a lasting memory to have photographs in a place that is somewhere that is unique to families together.

Fun and Relaxed Outdoor Woodland Family Shoot

thank you to Maddie and her mums for letting me share their wonderful photographs of them together.

Thank you for looking through this outdoor family session. If like Maddie and her mums, you would also like an outdoor Surrey family shoot please do get in contact. I would love to capture your gorgeous family and cannot get enough of family sessions. Priding myself in being an LGBTQ friendly wedding and family photographer, there are so many wonderful families out there. If your would like some more inspiration here is Joseph and his two mums on a family session together, or perhaps this outdoor maternity shoot with Jaleh and Hannibal.

This christening ceremony photography session is some what special. If you are familiar to my website you will recognise some gorgeous faces. I have had the pleasure of photographing many life events of Ross and Anna. Their gorgeous hygge inspired Ashridge House wedding was so wonderful. I was then able to document when their newborn beautiful baby Jessica was born and then her own christening. All of these life events that I have been a part of have been such an honour. Being able to be present in peoples lives time and time again is such a privilege. Seeing families grow is such a wonderful thing. To see my couples again and their children, each with their little personalities is so lovely.

Relaxed and Intimate Christening Ceremony Photography

Anna and Ross had Sophie christened in the same church that they got married in. It is also the same church that Jessica was christened in, which creates such a wonderful legacy. Creating lasting visual memories on an occasion such as this – well occasions! I met Anna and her family at the church before the ceremony for a couple of relaxed portraits. With christening ceremony photography you never know with children how they are going to react with lots of attention during the service. So it is important to catch a few portraits when everyone is still smiling! Friends and family arrived and then it was time to start! Sophie handled the whole ceremony like an angel. All smiles – even when the Holy water was poured on her head, which is usually where kids well up! The rest of the day was spent with lovely snacks, playing outdoors, some speeches and lots of fun!

When Lorenzo got in contact about a relaxed outdoor family photography shoot I was so excited. They were travelling home from overseas (they are based in the USA). This Surrey family photography shoot was to incorporate Lorenzo’s parents which is always such a joy. Multi generational family sessions are some of my favourites. Watching the younger generation interact with their grandparents is something so special. Especially after the pandemic, treasuring your family members is so important. Along with creating lasting memories.

Natural and Relaxed Outdoor Family Photography

The beauty of organising a family shoot at home, is that the session becomes so much more relaxed. Having a shoot like Liz and Lorenzo’s allows for much more wriggle room. Especially when dealing with young children and time differences! Jet lag is something that adds another level of stress. So having a family shoot at home allows for more freedom with schedules.

Relaxed outdoor family photography shoots are a great time to reconnect and achieve beautiful portraits together. When we had got to know each other a little better, it was time for the session to begin! We mixed up the family set ups and after some portraits in the garden we took a walk to a local park. As well as the getting images with the main event (cute little cuddles) it is also important to get portraits with parents and their ‘big kids’!

Enjoy These Relaxed Family Portraits!

Thank You For Looking Through These Relaxed Family Photographs of Liz and Lorenzo’s

As I mentioned before I love multi generational family photography sessions. Here are some examples of previous shoots that included more than the immediate family! For example this Sussex beach family shoot or this relaxed outdoor family photography at Holmbury Hill.

Now, where do I begin with this Sussex beach family shoot? It is no secret that I love the sea so having a family session on the beach is like a dream come true. But it felt like returning home after time away. This beach family photography session holds a special place in my career. For I have photographed each wedding of these three wonderful sisters. With the last celebration being Freya and Rob’s Grittenham Barn wedding, so not to be dramatic but…

this feels like the END of an ERA…!

This lovely family have take me all over the UK and even abroad for their wonderful weddings. With Ellen and Tom’s outdoor marquee wedding in Surrey to Grace and Craig’s destination wedding in France! All three of these weddings have bought me so much joy. Each one an individual showcasing of the couples personalities. With all three of them filled with so much LOVE and LAUGHTER! This is why when the ladies asked me back for this Sussex beach family shoot – I was so EXCITED. They had organised the beach family photography as a birthday surprise for their Mum (which was hard to keep a secret!)

The family had hired a little staycation house for the birthday celebrations, and this is where we had the beach family shoot. Not only was we all able to hang out again, but the whole family got to swoon over the newest littlest addition to the crew too! With plenty of opportunities for relaxed group portraits and little baby snuggles, this beach shoot had it all. Great weather, amazing scenery and amazing company.

THANK YOU for looking through these wonderful family moments

Looking for a Sussex beach family shoot of your own? Or perhaps you would also like a Surrey family photography session please do get in contact. I would love to photograph you and your amazing family. However, if you are still in need of some inspiration take a look at Jess and Ella’s maternity beach shoot or perhaps this Brighton family photography shoot.

Relaxed Outdoor Family Photography at Holmbury Hill

What is possibly the most wonderful thing about this outdoor family shoot is the fact that it felt like catching up with old friends. This is due to the fact that Jen and her family had already had a Holmbury Hill family photography shoot with me before. However, Jen had bought her extended family members along, and one new little addition! Something that is so relaxing about having an outdoor family photography session is the freedom that you and your children will experience. There are no walls to confine you and if children want to explore they can.

Relaxed Outdoor Family Shoot with Grandparents

Choosing to have extended family at your family session is a wonderful addition to at shoot. You can get portraits together as adults (which lets face it rarely happens for parents with grown up kids). Children interact with grandparents on a different level which is special to capture. There is the possibility to switch up the group portraits and for a photographer to capture interactions whilst other members are having a moment. Sometimes the candid moments between kids and adults are my favourite as they are the most genuine.

I met Jen and her family in the car park and we all made the pilgrimage up to the top of Holmbury Hill together. This is a great time to get to know new members of the family that I had not yet met. It gives a moment to become more acquainted with each other. It was such a lovely touch to revisit where they had had their first outdoor family shoot. Revisiting spaces is something I love to do with families. It is wonderful to see how much families change and evolve since the last family photography shoot.

Thank You For Looking Through This Lovely Holmbury Hill Family Photography Shoot

If you are interested in having a Surrey family photography session please do get in contact. I would love to hear from you and what ideas you have in mind. If you would like any inspiration please check out my favourite Surrey family photography locations. Or perhaps check out Joseph and his mum’s outdoor family shoot at St Martha’s.

This shoot was actually not only an outdoor maternity shoot, but it was originally organised as an engagement shoot. However, COVID had other plans and Jaleh and Hannibal got married in a small intimate ceremony. I was so excited when they contact me to turn their engagement session into a maternity shoot! How the twists and turns of these last few years can create such wonderful surprises along the way.

Romantic Outdoor Surrey Family Photography Session

Instead of having their family photography at home, Jaleh and Hannibal suggested a weekend where they were having a trip away before the baby arrived. This created a perfect opportunity to have some gorgeous photographs captured, outside in the grounds of Ashdown Park Hotel where they were staying. I love capturing outdoor Surrey family photography, because there are so many beautiful locations.  These hotel grounds were just what we were looking for. We ventured out together in the early morning to have some quiet portraits together. I always suggest this with an outdoor maternity shoot because having less people around means that you can capture intimate moments without crowds of people.

Intimate and Special Outdoor Maternity Shoot

Although it was devastating not to be able to capture the wedding that Jaleh and Hannibal had planned. This intimate outdoor maternity shoot was almost more special. We were able to spend quality time together, capturing some really beautiful and deeply personal portraits. As a couple they were so connected and in love. Which shines through in these portraits. I am so privileged to have made friends and been able to photograph Jaleh and Hannibal’s love. It really is one of a kind.

If you too are looking for an outdoor maternity shoot session then please do get in contact.  If you are looking for outdoor family photography or an LGBTQ family photographer just like Jess and Ella’s outdoor maternity beach shoot then please do not hesitate to get in touch and we can talk all about your session.

However if you are interested in Surrey proposal photography then check out Fraser’s surprise proposal at Painshill Park. Or perhaps it instead of surprise proposal photography – you may just be looking for some Surrey engagement photography? Check out Lizzie and Andy’s Ranmore Common engagement shoot or Kristy and Gabbie’s Suffolk engagement shoot. 

Announcing that I am an LGBTQ+ family photographer may look strange on this website. It is almost the same statement that I made as I started my blog about being an LGBTQ+ friendly wedding photographer. Surely you don’t need to announce it? All families are the same you say? Coming from a same sex parent household, it is of the upmost importance to me that I reiterate that I am a supporter and ally of the LGBTQ community. Because, you see, although society has moved on, it is still important to people who identify within the LGBTQ community to know that there is a safe space for them.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SAY I AM A LGBTQ FAMILY  PHOTOGRAPHER

With the way the world is LGBTQ families and couples will still most likely Google things like: LGBTQ+ friendly holiday destinations. I know this from personal friends, clients and couples I have spoken to. So why should it be any different with their photography? Families want to feel relaxed when having their photograph taken, and it is the photographers job to make sure this atmosphere is achieved. The last thing you want is someone making inappropriate or chauvinistic comments about who is the ‘Dad’ in the family (for example). As a child of lesbian parents, I understand how these comments can make you feel from people outside your family unit.

My approach to family photography is very relaxed. I like to refer to it as guided portraiture. I treat everyone as an individual. My objective as an LGBTQ family photographer is to capture your families essence and the originality of your unit in a fun and loving way.   Within this ethic, I do not impose any preconception or opinions about any family set ups or the make up of anyones loved ones.

I learned from an early age that love is the same for everyone

Whether you are expecting, or want a shoot of your gorgeous family I will be there to capture it with the biggest smile on my face. Because I understand how important it is for families like mine. It is important to never underestimate the value of expressing your support.  A couple I have worked with (who recently had their engagement shoot featured on Dancing With Her) had this to say about working with me as an LGBTQ+ friendly wedding photographer:

 It was important to  us to feel comfortable around our photographer and that they were LGBTQ+ friendly. We chose her because we instantly felt at ease with her. Even down to the tone of her emails, she made us feel 100% comfortable. We also love her style of photography, and she is an LGBTQ+ friendly photographer who grew up with two mums. From how our engagement shoot turned out, we know we have made the right choice; the photos are absolutely gorgeous.

Love is a pure form and it does not manifest in only one specific way. This is the same for love, and it is the same for families. No matter how you create yours or who you love, there is no one way to make a family.  As I have said before, I hold space for everyone – no matter what your family set up looks like. If you still need some convincing take a look at my Five Reasons Why We Should Work Together .

The beauty of family photography at home is that you can have and outdoor garden family shoot in the comfort of your own home. In these uncertain times, and for the safety of my clients, 98% of family shoots are outdoors.  Previously I have written about the importance of practising safe socially distanced family photography since the pandemic restrictions. It is so wonderful that as a Surrey family photographer I am still able to capture families together. Having your photograph taken is even more important since the pandemic. I feel very privileged to be able to photograph families like this one.

OUTDOOR SURREY FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

Rathi contacted me as I had been referred to her through a friend. Years previously I had captured Ali and her extended family on a relaxed Richmond Park shoot. It was wonderful to be able to make a connection through previous families. Spending the time with Rathi and her family was so relaxed. Both her little boys are such characters!  We got the bubbles out, played in the garden and had running races. It was a quintessential sunny afternoon in the garden.

Fun and Relaxed Outdoor Garden Family Shoot

The beauty about having an outdoor surrey family photography shoot is that you are in the comfort of your own home. This is useful for families with young children as they feel most comfortable in a safe space. They are able to roam around a familiar place and feel relaxed in a garden space that is theirs.

THAT’S ALL FOLKS!

THIS WAS SUCH A LOVELY OUTDOOR GARDEN FAMILY SHOOT 

Thank you for looking through these photographs of Rathi and her beautiful family. If you are interested in socially distanced family photography then please do contact me as I would love the opportunity to capture your family life together.  Here are some examples of my outdoor surrey family photography sessions post lockdown:

ST MARTHA’S FAMILY SHOOT

BOX HILL FAMILY SHOOT

DANISH FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY AT HOME