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I’m based in Crouch End, North London.

Yes, I’m happy to travel across the UK for photoshoots. This does incur an extra charge, in addition to the portrait session fee, to cover my travel costs and any overnight stays. There’s also a minimum spend which is applied as credit towards your order.

For shoots outside the UK, I offer a bespoke quote to take into account the time and logistics involved. If a work permit is required, I request that you arrange this.

All my sessions take place on location. I travel to you and we take pictures at your home, out and about at a favourite park, beach or woodland, or a combination of both indoors and outdoors. I’ve photographed in a wide variety of locations, from country estates to nearby garden centres.

It’s great to visit places with a personal resonance for you as a family. This will produce pictures that capture memories of childhood, not the actual day of the photoshoot: a summer spent playing on a bandstand, the challenge of climbing a special tree or hours whiled away on a beloved beach.

The sessions are designed to capture your lives as you live them, so the choice of location is entirely yours.

As long as there are no restrictions on photography, I’m happy to take pictures pretty much anywhere. Some locations do require a permit, which I’m happy to arrange for you. These are charged at cost.

Sessions tend to last a morning. We start early, usually at 8am, to make the most of the best light and also to ensure the children are wide-awake and raring to go. I’ll stay until lunchtime which gives us plenty of time to get to know each other. We have the flexibility to take breaks for naps, snacks and coffee or to enjoy a bit of quiet time if needed.

I love taking pictures and it’s great to share sessions that are slightly longer than the norm. We have the luxury of time to do a variety of activities. This results in more interesting and diverse images for you.

If we’re shooting out and about, then we take the normal kit you’d have with you for a day at the park or beach: the children’s favourite toys, perhaps a ball or cricket bat, snacks and a drink (although it’s best to avoid the organic carrot flavoured crisps that cover children in luminous orange goo!) And please bring plenty of wipes. It’s amazing how many we get through on a photoshoot.

I’ve run a photographic business in the UK for many years, so I’m not put off by drizzle or a downpour. I’m reassuringly confident shooting portrait photographs whatever the weather.

Many of my best pictures were taken either playing indoors or outdoors on damp days in the beautiful, soft light cast by cloud-cover and rain.

It’s a cliché, but the light cast by a dull day is often more flattering than the dazzling brightness of a sunny one.

If it’s pouring with rain on the day of your shoot, then don’t worry – we’ll still capture a fabulous set of pictures. Often the added challenge of thinking outside the box results in some of my very best work.

If your child is ill, then please let me know as soon as possible and we can postpone your session. I wouldn’t dream of forcing a sick child to have a photoshoot, as this would be miserable for everyone involved. It’s always better to wait until they’re feeling better when we can all have an amazing time taking your pictures.

Simple, plain-coloured clothes tend to work best, as do those with a subtle pattern. It’s best to avoid bold stripes and checks. Also, dressing in a mixture of black and white can create a distracting contrast. If it’s wet underfoot, please avoid dressing a toddler in white or light-coloured tights, as the chances of falling over and getting muddy knees is high.

I’m happy to advise on what clothes will work best, so please feel free to lay out a selection before I arrive and we can choose the best outfit together. And if I think any items your family are wearing won’t work well on camera, there’ll be time for a quick change before we start.

I’m happy to remove the superficial spots and scratches that are an everyday part of children’s lives.

I’ve photographed a dazzling array of different activities over the years and am happy to rise to any challenge. All I ask is that you tell me about any specific hobbies in advance, so I can bring any specialist equipment needed along to the shoot.

If your children’s passion is something I’ve not photographed before, then I’ll need time to thoroughly research what’s required to capture the very best images for you.

If your child is a star swimmer, we can’t photograph in public swimming pools but I’m more than happy to shoot in a private pool if you have access to one.

Of course, pets are family too so the more the merrier. Over the years I’ve photographed cats, dogs, horses, llamas, rabbits and a variety of reptiles. It’s lovely to have all the family, furry and non-furry, included.

While most children are completely confident in front of the camera, I’m aware that not all adults share this enthusiasm. My aim is to make the whole process fun and pain-free. Instead of posing for hours on end, you’ll simply be spending time enjoying playing with your children.

I know how to make sure you’re in the good light and how to use the right angles. You’ll look your very best without feeling like you’re being put on the spot.

Yes, all my photographs are taken in black and white to create beautiful, timeless images.

I’ve been a professional children’s photographer since 2003, but I’ve been passionate about photography since childhood. My father gave me my first camera when I was around eight years old, a fully manual Russian Rangefinder. Fascination triggered, I soon started to develop and print my own pictures in our home darkroom.

My mother ran a nursery school from the basement of our house and I photographed the children during my school and university holidays.

I then sold the hand-printed black and white images to the children’s parents. It was an unconventional entrance into the industry, but a wonderful one. I’m very proud that I still have a number of regular clients who I first met when photographing their children at my mother’s nursery.

I don’t have any formal photography qualifications, but I’m a constant and dedicated student of the art. I also have two degrees in Medieval History, from Cardiff University and the University of Cambridge.

My photography tuition came courtesy of my dad as I grew up. Hours spent in the darkroom and days out and about, learning about light and composition, still serve me well. As a student, I discovered landscape photography and travelled extensively pursuing this love – a love reflected in how I incorporate the wider world into my images today.

I’ve been mentored by many of the best photographers in the business, and now help others as they learn their craft. I regularly share my knowledge at some of the biggest industry events.
I’m constantly improving my photography by studying the history of the medium and the work of the masters. I practise whenever possible, improving my work year-on-year to keep my skills fresh for my clients. And also, of course, simply because I love photography.

I’m privileged to be sponsored by Canon, the largest camera manufacturer in the world. I’m the only family photographer in Europe to hold the position of Canon Ambassador.

I get to share my passion and technical know-how with fellow professionals, as well as those enthusiastic amateurs who want to develop their skills. I attend, and teach at, Canon workshops, seminars and industry events throughout the year across EMEA and also advise Canon on product development, pre-testing new cameras and lenses.

My work has been singled out as pioneering in my genre and consistently of the very highest standard.

Please email me at info@helenbartlett.co.uk, use the contact form or call me on 0345 603 1373. I’d love to hear all about your family and plan the perfect photoshoot to tell your story.