Family photos shouldn't be boring...

and I always encourage outdoor shoots, where possible, for busy children who enjoy nature and open space. I think it's important to 'let kids be kids' and it's not fair to sit and pose them, if that's not their thing.

Your photoshoot will either feel very stressful and you won't have pleasant memories of the day, or the images won't be what you expected because the smiles are forced and infrequent.


I always refer to my children as 'Free Range' kids because they love to be outside, exploring and making a mess. They're mud magnets, but they are their happiest when finding sticks, splashing in puddles and rolling in the leaves.

Woman and child sitting among spring snowdrops and fallen leaves wearing warm coats and boots in woodland garden setting.
A young child wearing a bright red winter coat smiles while holding small flowers outdoors.
A young child wearing a navy duffle coat stands among blooming daffodils and fallen leaves in a garden.

This lovely family have been having seasonal family photoshoots with me for years, and I love watching their children grow each time I photograph them. They have so many lovely ways to make each other laugh and smile, I find myself grinning from ear to ear behind the camera the whole time!


This time around we went to Highnam Church on the search for snowdrops. Last year on their daughter's birthday they visited the snowdrops and took photos amongst the beautiful white flowers. The best thing about capturing the seasons is that you can start a new annual tradition and see how much your children change each year.


We sang songs, hid behind trees, danced and ran around and it was so much fun.


I'm not that photographer who will make your kids sit and smile - I'd much rather encourage them to have fun and make your images, and memories of the day, full of joy.

Two children playing and laughing together in autumn woods by a tree trunk covered in fallen leaves.