Family Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions about my family sessions

My promise to you is a dedicated and exceptional service from the moment you get in touch to delivery. I will send you a link detailing everything you need to know about how my sessions work and how you can prepare to make the very best of it

Where will our Family Session take place ?

Please see Options 1 and Options 2 on the Pricing and Info page for the two types of session I offer.
For Option 1: I travel to families for all sessions and the session takes place both inside and around your family home, or any specific location that is special to you be it near your home, in Central London or at the beach! We usually shoot some pictures inside the home and some outside and everything is child and family led.
I am based in Twickenham in the London Borough of Richmond but will happily travel further afield to families outside London or wherever you are in the UK.

For Option 2: Sessions take place at any location in London

What kind of pictures will you take at our session?

Please see Options 1 and Options 2 on the Pricing and Info page for the two types of session I offer.

For Option 1: you can expect a whole mix of natural documentary, story-telling images with me connecting and integrating into your day, engaging and playing with your children and also standing back and quietly observing as you do. There will be quiet pictures of contemplation and images of high activity and energy - everything is child-led and real. I will also create beautiful individual portraits of your children, pictures of relationships - between siblings, between you both with your child/ren together and individually, pictures with grandparents if they are present, group family portraits of you all and sometimes even a couple of shots of mum and dad together if they will allow it! These are the only pictures that are a little more directed.

For Option 2: you can expect a range of group family portraits, and individual portraits of your children. These sessions are an hour in duration in a London location.

How long will our session be?

For Option 1: I usually come for a morning arriving early and we are finished by lunchtime but it does depend on the age of your children and we can organise an afternoon which is often better for teenage family members, or even a late afternoon into the evening session in the Summer months. With families further afield I sometimes stay the night before the session. You should allow at least 4 hours for your session and often they are longer than that because I like to take time to get great results and to allow for breaks. The idea is that I am integrating into your family day, not directing you, and to do this well, we need unrushed time for me to both integrate into and observe family life. Essentially the day is yours!

For Option 2: Around an hour or so

Can we include other family members outside of our own immediate family and do you photograph pets?

Yes if you would like to, please include grandparents and nannies or anyone very integral to your day to day family life in the session and yes to pets! I am very happy to photograph all pets from stick insects to horses! I’m not too keen on pet spiders but I will be brave:) If pets are part of your family, they should be there!

What do we need to do to prepare for our Family Session?

At our pre-session online chat or call, we will have a good chat about your children and family, talk through any specific pictures you are hoping for, and sort all the practicals and logistics. I will also send you some useful tips to prepare for the session to help you and your family to get the very best out of it. This includes advice on clothes, hair, makeup etc and tips to ensure you as parents relax and don’t put pressure on yourselves at the session and specific advice and preparation for different ages of children - e.g. parents with newborns and babies in the first year of life, toddlers, teenagers etc.

What happens if one of us falls ill?

When children get ill, it often happens very suddenly and I understand this. If this happens, we simply re-schedule the session for as soon as possible. Obviously, if you think you or your child/ren are coming down with something I would appreciate as much notice as possible so I can try to book that day with another client.
Obviously, if I come down with something and am not able to attend your session on our arranged day, you can choose to re-schedule the session or have a full refund for your session fee.

What happens if it is raining on the morning of our session?

Unless you are really not happy for me to come and want to postpone, we don’t let the weather stop our family session because we will have plenty of opportunities to get great pictures and some of the best can come during a shower. Nine times out of ten the rain stops anyway and we can get out but with most family sessions we will start at home and then head out. Photographing toddlers and younger children in the rain can make for fabulous pictures so don’t let the rain deter you from the opportunity for pictures that can be both beautiful, characterful, and story-telling. However, if you have had your heart set on getting out for most of the session and we wake up to black skies and torrential rain, of course, we can re-schedule your session.

Will our pictures be in colour or black and white?

Yes all your pictures will be delivered to you both in colour and black and white.

What happens after the session?

After your session, I will personally process, edit and retouch the images and deliver the results within 2 weeks to your personal online gallery.

Do you retain the copyright to the images?

I retain the copyright to the images but if you purchase or qualify for the high-resolution digital files from your session, you will be able to print, copy, share and own the complete set in perpetuity.

Are you insured?

Yes. I have both public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
I ask that a responsible adult is with me and any child under the age of 18 at all times during our session.

If there’s a question you have that I haven’t answered here, please call me or drop me a line or send me a message via the enquiry link below.