Family photography

Birthday portrait of Prince George at 10 years of age, captured on the Windsor Estate

Posted on in Children photography, Family photography, Portrait photography

Birthday Portrait of Prince George

Honoured to share with you my latest commission for the Prince and Princess of Wales: a birthday portrait of Prince George as he turns 10.   As with my previous portraits of Prince Louise, Princess Charlotte & Prince William, I took this portrait of Prince George in the grounds of the Windsor Estate, a few months later.

I love how this image captures the confidence, maturity and charm of Prince George – and gives us a glimpse of what lies in store as a future king.

For more examples of my children portfolio, click here.

 

Prince William, Father's Day Portrait

Posted on in Children photography, Family photography, Portrait photography, Uncategorized

Prince William Father’s Day Portrait

I’m so excited to share with you another portrait I have taken for the Prince and Princess of Wales: A father’s day portrait of Prince William with his children Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince William, taken on the Windsor Estate.   As a portrait photographer with a passion for photographing children, I’m not sure the honour gets much better than this!

I love how this portrait captures the love the children have for their father Prince William.   With Prince Louis hugging his father’s neck in true joy, whilst Princess Charlotte and Prince George, with their hands on Prince William’s knees, and laughing adoringly up at him, you can see the adoration they have for their father, and the fun they have with him.

I chose this location for this portrait, not just because of the lovely backdrop and light it offered, but also because of the inscription on the bench: Presented to HM The Queen on the occasion of her 90th birthday 21st April 2016.   A mere 7 months on from her death on 8th September 2023, I thought it would be a wonderful way of adding another dimension to this portrait – making it all the more meaningful for the Prince of Wales and his family.

For more examples of my family & sibling portraits, click here.

Princess Charlotte Turns 8

Posted on in Children photography, Family photography, Portrait photography

Princess Charlotte Birthday Portrait

Feeling truly blessed to have been asked by the Princess of Wales to take this birthday portrait of Princess Charlotte as she turns 8, and even more so that TRH the Prince and Princess of Wales have shared this with you all. She looks as happy as she does beautiful, as she cuddles their black working cocker spaniel, Orla in a garden at Windsor.

For more examples of my children portfolio, click here.

Prince Louis in a wheelbarrow

Posted on in Children photography, Family photography, Portrait photography

Prince Louis in a wheelbarrow

So honoured to have been asked by HRH the Princess of Wales to take a birthday portrait of Prince Louis as he turns 5.  Of my two portraits released by the Palace, this image of Louis in the wheelbarrow with HRH The Princess of Wales, laughing down towards him, is my favourite. It not only captures Louis’ spirit and cheek but also the relationship he has with his mother, and the fun they have together. You can’t but help feeling joy, love and laughter when you look at this photo.

For more examples of my children portfolio, click here.

sibling portrait in landrover

Posted on in Children photography, Family photography, News, Portrait photography, Sibling photography

Ancestry and National Portrait Gallery competition

Ancestry and the National Portrait Gallery are collaborating to create a Nations Family Album – the first ever holistic visual representation of the British population in photographic form.  So they are inviting the British Public (all ages, backgrounds, cultures) to submit photos of family members (old, recent, together, separate).   The winning entries will not only feature in this online Nations Family Album gallery, but also in an exhibition in the National Portrait Gallery when it reopens early next year.

I am honoured to say that I’ve been elected as one of the four judges on the panel of experts, along with the baritone singer Peter Brathwaite, renowned for his series of photographs on Rediscovering Black Portraiture, the National Portrait Gallery’s Chief Curator, Dr Alison Smith and Simon Pearce from Ancestry.

Themes for the photos are: legacy, belonging, connection and identity – all of which reflect the emotions experienced when looking through old family photos or starting a journey on your family history.   You can submit up to 3 photographs per person.  And the deadline is 11.59pm on 30th June.   For more information, visit the Ancestry website.

I’m really looking forward to seeing all your entries.

Posted on in Animal photography, Family photography

Labrador Puppy Photoshoot

I honestly think that nothing beats a labrador puppy photoshoot.   They are just too delicious for words.   It took all the will in the world not to kidnap the lot and bring them home with me!

The aim here was to capture the ‘mother’ with her puppies before they all left for their new homes.   The puppies’ confined space in the kitchen wasn’t remotely photogenic, and outside wasn’t really an option as they would all run wild.  And then I spied the pram in the hall.

It took quite a bit of previsualisation, planning, setting up, and then training the mother to jump up onto the side of the pram.   And then once they were all in place, I had about 5 seconds before chaos broke loose.  But thankfully that was all we needed!

I love the way it looks as if the mum is really ‘nurturing’ her pups.   The truth is she’s looking for the treat underneath one of her pup’s bottoms!   Crafty!!

 

Spring family photoshoot

Posted on in Children photography, Family photography, Portrait photography

Spring Family Photoshoots

Finally, two households are allowed to mix again.   Hooray!   I have been counting down the days to this moment.   This means that I’m officially now allowed out to capture some spring family photoshoots.  My goodness I have missed photographing children and family photoshoots.   Bookings are flying in again now.  I still have a few spaces this Easter holidays but am almost fully booked in the summer half term (with just one slot left).   In fact, July is also already looking pretty busy.   So please get in touch soon if you’re thinking of booking a shoot.  Be it to commemorate lockdown hairstyles, celebrate a birthday, or capture the whole family together again after months of isolation.

To see more examples of my children photography, please visit the portrait section on my website.   Or if you’d like to discuss in more detail, please email me at [email protected] or call me on 07815 750 141.

Teenage Family Photoshoot in Berkshire

Posted on in Children photography, Family photography, Portrait photography

Teenage Family Photoshoot in Berkshire

I love this image from a teenage family photoshoot in Berkshire last summer.   I started with the more predictable angle, capturing his profile, and his hands on the piano keys.   In fact, one of my favourite photographs I took as a student was of a jazz pianist’s hands moving swiftly along the keys.    With a few lovely shots under my belt from the side, I moved around the piano, I spotted his reflections through the lid.   All the elements came together to make a striking, balanced fine art portrait.

Over the last twenty years, I’d like to think that I’ve grown as a portrait photographer.   Whereas to begin with I settled for classic portraits, usually eyes to camera, in lovely natural light, genuine expression etc.   Now I want so much more.   Rather like painting a picture, I seek creative light and backdrops, interesting ways to compose and frame the subject, story telling props.  A painting says 1000 words.    Well, so can a portrait photograph.   This image will remind the teenage boy of endless hours tinkering on the piano.  The good times, the bad times. The peace and tranquility in his home. The freedom to be himself, to compose his thoughts into notes, to grow.  This is not just a beautiful boy smiling at the camera.  It’s a whole decade of memories presented in an array of reflections, light and shape.   I would like to think that this images says 1000 words to this pianist in the making.

Please do visit my portraiture page on my website to get a feeling for the variety of ways I like to capture portraits.   Please contact me  if you’d like to discuss in more detail.

 

 

young girl on swing

Posted on in Children photography, Family photography, Portrait photography

Outdoor Children Photography

Although many of my photoshoots involve activities indoors and outdoors, there are times when my clients have a specific location in mind.  Somewhere that encapsulates an era in their children’s life.  On this occasion, the family were moving house and school.  So it seemed fitting to have an outdoor children photography shoot in the grounds of Cheam Prep school, Newbury, Berkshire, where the girls had both been at school.

We started the shoot by playing lots of games in the main grounds, using the beautiful avenue and stunning gardens as backdrops.   And then headed to the fabulous outdoor play area, which offers an abundance of entertainment.   We had so much fun.    Playgrounds are perfect locations for outdoor children photography.   I love to capture the children’s adventurous spirit whilst they explore, climb, slide and swing.  Indeed we explored every nook and cranny, climbed every ladder, slid down every slide, and swung high into the skies.   I find static swing shots can look as void of emotion as motion and prefer to capture them moving.  This is obviously more challenging photographically but nothing beats that feeling of wind through your hair as you swing high and low.

This shot was one of my favourites. I absolutely love it.  There is so much joy, energy and movement.   You can feel her excitement at reaching high into the sky.  It’s an image that is full of emotion and spirit.   It can’t help but make you smile when you look at and remind you of those exhilarating feelings of ‘flying high’ when you were little.   This is what I strive to provide in my children photography sessions.

For more examples of my children photography, please do visit my children, teenage and family galleries.   Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss the possibility of me coming to your home and photographing your children and family.

Children photoshoot near Newbury, Berkshire

Posted on in Animal photography, Children photography, Family photography, Portrait photography

Children photoshoot near Newbury, Berkshire

The saying never work with animals or children would put me almost instantly out of a job!   As a children photographer, I find myself working with both all the time, and thankfully I love it!   In fact I find the spontaneity that comes with pets often results in my favourite photographs from the day.   This portrait from a children photoshoot near Newbury, Berkshire, is a classic example.   The way the girl is rolling her head back exudes pure joy, love and happiness.  I also love the dog’s crossed paws and patient expression.   No doubt this is a result of  years of being smothered with love, poked and prodded.

I often start a shoot with a ‘lightly’ staged group shot of you all together.  I find it best to do this first thing when the children are fresh and most co-operative.   It also provides a fall back if we don’t succeed in capturing a spontaneous family portrait.   But I like to spend the majority of the shoot photographing your children at play, inside and outside.   This might include cuddling their pets, climbing a tree, riding a bike, a game of cards, cooking etc.  Whatever takes their fancy.  These provide wonderful opportunities to capture informal and spontaneous images which best reflect your children’s personalities.   They are also wonderful ‘story telling’ images which will remind you of their childhood.

Many of my clients opt for a photo album which includes all the images from the shoot.    These are lifetime heirlooms which you will treasure forever.   They can be any size, but I usually offer 12″ x 12″ as I find square the best format to display photographs.   They can be embossed on the front and spine, and handbound in either pellaq or leather.   My printer has the royal warrant, so it goes without saying that the paper is lovely and thick and the end result is top notch.

Please do get  in touch if you are are thinking of booking a family or children photoshoot.   I’m based in Dorset but happy to travel all over the country – I’m regularly in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, London, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.   Do also look at some more examples of my children and family photography to give you a more extensive feel of my style of children and portrait photography.