When it comes to documentary family photography, a concern I sometimes hear is: “We don’t really do anything exciting.” We’ve been taught that photos are for special occasions. Birthdays, holidays, milestones, weddings. We’re used to lining up, smiling at the camera, maybe all in matching clothes, and calling that a photo. But that’s not how I see it, and I truly believe your kids won’t either.
The beauty of the ordinary
I believe the everyday moments are the ones that matter most. It’s those little things. The way your child insists on pressing the washing machine button. How you all pile onto the bed for stories at bedtime. The cardboard rocket taped together all wonky. Breakfast in PJs. Mismatched socks. The splashy, chaotic energy of bath time.
These tiny, everyday things? They’re not boring. They’re your life—and they’re full of love, connection, and personality.
And those are the things I want to help you remember.
You don’t need to plan anything fancy
You don’t need to tidy up, dress up, or plan something special or ‘camera-worthy’. You don’t need to go to a scenic location or coordinate outfits. And you definitely don’t need to pretend that your house is spotless (hello, laundry pile and toys on the floor!) or your children are perfectly behaved.
If your life is mostly spent in your kitchen, garden, or living room, that’s where we’ll make the photos. Because those are the places where your family feels most like yourselves. And those are the places where your real memories are being made.
And if you do have something planned—like a cake bake, a dog walk, or a trip to the allotment—great. But it’s never required.
If you like a little structure…
I understand that not everyone finds comfort in “just go with the flow,” especially when you’re investing in something meaningful. So here’s how I approach it.
So before your session, I’ll send you a simple questionnaire. It asks about your family—what you all love doing, what a typical weekend looks like, any routines or activities you want to remember. Then we’ll have a chat and figure out when the best time is for me to come based on what’s most meaningful in your day-to-day life. Together, we might also come up with a few loose ideas—things your family genuinely enjoys and you’d naturally be doing anyway. This will look different for every family and be suited to you. For previous clients, that’s looked like cosy moments at storytime, helping in the garden, a messy breakfast, going to the playground, drawing or baking. Whatever it is, it will be personal to you—and I’ll fit into your life, not the other way around.
By photographing your family as you really are, you’re giving your children something powerful:
The reminder that every day is worth remembering. That they don’t have to look perfect or behave a certain way to be worthy of being seen.
You’re also giving your future self a gift:
Photos that truly reflect who you all were. The real personalities. The tiny habits. The connection. The little details you’ll forget otherwise—but will miss so much when they’re gone.
So no, you don’t need to “do something special.”
You don’t need to look perfect or live in a show home.
You just need to show up as you are. My job isn’t to turn your life into something else. My job is to show you how beautiful it already is.
If that sounds like your kind of photography, you are looking for, honest and relaxed, I’d love to hear from you.
You can Send me a message or Book a free discovery call. You won’t commit to having a photo session by having a chat. It’s a way to find out if we are a good fit and a place to explore what a photo session could look like for your beautifully ordinary life.
