Reasons to book a documentary style portrait photographer for your Family Portrait Session in Leeds

1 . You want your family to be able to relax in front of the camera and don’t like posing.

I very rarely “pose” families. I prompt. What do I mean by this?

For example… the photograph above, taken at a recent Family Portrait session in Leeds, I asked the children to sit on the sofa and give ‘J’ a good tickle, make him belly laugh!

Making sure you ALL feel comfortable at a photography session with me is of the utmost importance. I want you to go away and think, “I really enjoyed that, I can’t wait to see the photographs." When you do receive your photographs, I want you think “Look how much fun we’re having, do you remember when we did this/ went there?”

2. You want to capture authentic moments and emotions.

Family portrait sessions last for up to 1 hour and can be at your home or at an outdoor location of your choice. During the booking process I will ask questions about your family, what you like doing together and if there are children at the upcoming photography session, what they like to do, what makes them laugh or if they have any favourite activities.

The little chap photographed above sitting on his Mum’s knee is getting ready to go and play in the garden, his absolute favourite thing, apart from raisins. So, when I was asked to photograph this family at their home in Leeds, I knew we had to go and play outside if the weather permitted. You can see the excitement in his face putting his coat and boots on, and the Mother’s joy at seeing him excited.

3. You don’t like having your photograph taken.

Documentary style photography is candid. It allows the subject (YOU) to relax in front of the camera and for me as the photographer to capture the real essence of you and your family. I do my very best to put the whole family at ease, give prompts or create little activities, (such as throwing your nearly two year old up in the air) and I’m chatting to you throughout the session, (hopefully) putting you at ease.

There is no pressure to look in to the camera, you don’t have to hold poses. I work around you, what you feel comfortable with and what I get from you as a family on the day. Making every portrait session unique and personal to you.

4. You have children, who may or may not sit still.

Let me chase them around! As a mother to a toddler…. I know all too well that trying to get them to do anything, usually results in the opposite.

Let there personalities come out, children are often a little bit shy around my camera to start with, so I firmly believe that you should let them play outside, let them run around, let them be kids. It’s much more fun that way, you’re guaranteed more smiles, and you never know, it might just look like they stood/sat still for more than 3 seconds.

5. You love your family, just the way it is.

Family photographs don’t need to be formal. You don’t need to stand on ceremony. You don’t need to be wearing your Sunday best and all standing to attention. Wear what you feel comfortable in, be in a location that you feel comfortable in, relax ( try your best to forget I’m there waving a camera in your face) and allow me to photograph your family as it is.

Spending my time with lovely families, documenting their relationships and affection for one another is a real privilege, and something I thoroughly enjoy doing. Seeing my photographs hanging on their walls, or collected into an album is something I will never take for granted.