Family Photo Shoot at Home in Oxted

Kent family photographer

My 25th shoot with this wonderful family was one of my high points of the year. It’s always such a joy to see them and it’s been one of the privileges of my career watching them grow up these last 13 years. As relationships develop and clients become friends many of the children I’ve photographed become very dear to me. It’s like having extra nieces and nephews who make me laugh and make me proud as I see their accomplishments and the amazing young people they become.

And, of course, like my actual nieces and nephews it’s one of the real joys of my life to photograph them and to record their childhoods in pictures they can look back on and enjoy as the years go by.

A photo shoot at home

When I photograph families regularly we often mix up the kinds of things we do, and I’ve been on so many fantastic adventures with this wonderful family. Over the years we’ve explored some of the most beautiful gardens and parks as well as getting in some history with a castle.

For this session we decided to stay at home. Building work had recently been completed and a poor weather forecast made us think that a home-based session would be fun. And it was.

I love photographing in people’s homes, there’s always so much to do as it is, of course, where the children spend so much of their time.  They will have games and toys to play with and nooks and favourite chairs to sit in, they really inhabit a space and I love to record this in my images.

Architecture

In a home as beautiful as this one, then architecture and interior design was going to play a part in the pictures and I love seeing how I can use space in different ways to show the décor of a house within a portrait.

I loved using the staircase as a framing device and utilising my wonderful Canon 16mm lens to really emphasis the leading lines for the image that opens this blog post.

I also used a wide-angle lens to really show off the architecture of the atrium with the fantastic high windows. I love seeing the skilled interior design that so many of my clients have, I’m in awe of how amazing their houses look.

Activities on a family photo shoot

Of course, when photographing children, keeping things moving and multiple activities are big parts of a fun photo shoot and we had such fun, table tennis and air hockey kept us laughing and I loved seeing everyone’s skills with a puck and a pusher (who knew those are the names of the thing you use in air hockey, I learn so much writing this blog!)

When the rain began to die down a bit we even did some tennis practice outside, a recent favourite activity for my youngest subject.

Family pictures

I always make sure to take some family pictures on all my sessions. While I like an unposed approach as much as possible, it’s really important to get some pictures with everyone in. Images with the family looking at the camera work so well – and at this time of year make a perfect Christmas card too.

Swimming and underwater photography

As often, when the opportunity presents itself, I was thrilled that we decided to finish the session with some swimming. I love underwater photography and armed with my trusty Ewa-Marine bag I took my camera into the pool.

The creativity of working in such a different environment is something I really enjoy. I love how the kids always really enjoy adding underwater pictures into the day, it’s so much fun and we always get such fun results as everyone plays together.

Book your autumn family photo shoot now

This was a brilliant family photo shoot from start to finish and I’m already looking forward to our next adventure.

If you would like to arrange a family photo shoot this year do get in touch soon, the autumn is already getting very busy. Drop me a line via the contact form, and we can put a date in the diary to create some magical memories for your family.