CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

FIND OUT MORE:

My style of photography is mostly fly-on-the-wall,relaxed reportage, using natural light and with the minimum of posing. I also include in almost every family session some classic portraits and some family group photographs. Sessions usually take place in your home environment where children and parents are at their most relaxed, and/or nearby such as a garden,park, wood or beach.

If you prefer more formal, classically lit studio portraits, I can bring my portable studio lighting kit to you, or you can come to my studio for this. Occasionally families will ask to provide a combination of both and this is easily achievable.

Before The Session

Finding out more about your child/children: Once you have booked me (for fees see Family Session Fees),and if I haven’t met you oryour children before, I will chat to you about you and your family and we can discuss any specific ideas each of us may have for the approach to your session. I will ask you to tell me a little about your children, their temperaments etc and sometimes parents will email me a few words about their family or children - just simple things such as their hobbies, any idiosyncrasies etc, and a few recent family snaps. This is really helpful to me so that by the day of your session I will already have a good picture in my head of your children and their personalities which is crucial to capturing beautiful but real images of them.

Planning what to wear: Please avoid logos and graphic patterns on tops as these can be distracting and dating. In general clothes are best kept simple.Bright colours are fine although I do suggest that more muted or pastel colours such as browns, greens, blues and creams found within nature are preferable or colours that go with a child’s eyes or hair. Having said that I have a child ofmy own and understand how children can have their own views on clothes, so please don’t stress about this too much. The most important thing is that they feel happy and can be themselves in what they are wearing and move about freely. Please make sure that your child’s hair is tied or clipped back (or that they get a hair cut before the session day) if their hair is likely tohide parts of their face during the session.

In terms of what you and/or your partner wear, again keep it simple with the minimum of distracting details. You want to be able to interact with your children and be natural with them so do chose clothing you can freely move and play with them in. It is a good idea to remove bulky watches and any jewellery that might be distracting or date an image.

If I'm photographing your baby I ask that the feet stay bare and that nappies, tissues, wipes, milk and cuddles are all close at hand. Having a change of clothes on hand for babies and younger children is always essential and it is fine if you want to vary outfits within a session.

A Note about the British Weather: As we all know, this is changeable within minutes and pretty impossible to forecast. I used to postpone all sessions when there was a hint of drizzle or dark clouds, but experience has now taught me that I was missing great opportunities and shots, something that my wedding photography has further driven home to me as there is no question of postponement. So,unless the conditions are really extreme, we go ahead with the session and divide the time between inside and out. Remember, young children especially love being out in the rain, splashing about in the puddles.

A Note about Illness: When children get ill, it often happens very suddenly. Having a child of my own I understand this completely and we can of course postpone at the last minute. I would appreciate as much notice as possible if you or your partner is ill, or if you think you might be coming down with something a few days before the session. Of course no one wants to be photographed ill and I don't want to catch anything either so again a postponement is sensible.

Cancellations or Postponements: Illness aside, I ask for a minimum of 2 weeks notice for a weekday session and 4 weeks notice for a weekend session. With cancellations or postponements that are later than this, I will need to charge you 50% of the session fee. I too will give you plenty of notice if extenuating circumstances make postponing necessary.

Payment: For session fees please see the top of this document. All prices include VAT. A 50% deposit is requested in advance of the session with the remainder of the session fee payable a week before the session by cheque or bank transfer, or on the day of the session itself by cash only.

For those who prefer to, there is the option to pay the full session fee at the booking stage, again either by bank transfer or by sending me a cheque. A revised receipt will be sent to you for this confirming the amount paid.

The Session

Time: I never take on two family sessions in a day and a whole morning or afternoon is set aside for your session. Most sessions take from about 3 hours (depending on the numbers involved) but there are no time limits so we can have as many breaks as needed for snacks, quiet time, and with babies and toddlers, nappy changes and naps. I am always happy to come early inthe morning, arriving around breakfast time, as this is when children are often at their best and I can take advantage of the morning light for any indoor shots. I never get the camera out straight away and nothing is rushed so that the children (and you) have plenty of time to get used to me being around and I can make friends with them through play.

The idea is that I integrate into your family’s day and we have fun rather than the session being any kind of event or performance.The only exception to this is the family group photograph and any pairings of siblings/children with parents etc that can require a bit of gentle direction. 

My aim is to take really beautiful but natural images and to create a lasting reminder of that moment in their childhood. Many of my clients ask me back for further sessions as their children grow and change and it is such a privilege to make a document of a child as he or she grows up. 

The Images: With all family sessions, my aim is to get a variety of images for you to choose from - from individual images of your children, a group family shot, siblings together and individually with parents, sometimes even a couple of shots of mum and dad together - if they will let me! Occasionally toddlers, or even teenagers, are reluctant to take part in afamily group but more often than not images that involve more than one individual come about naturally. As the session has no time constraints, the chances of capturing lots of different activities - be it high antics in the garden, going for a family stroll or quietly reading a book - are much greater than with in the artificial environment of a timed studio session. Spontaneity is key.

Samples of My Products: I will bring samples of my products for you to look at: mounted prints, single and multi-aperture framed prints, mdf bonded prints and wraps, albums, canvasses and other products from my range. (You can see details by referring to the Products Prices attached.) Images of all the products in my range are on my website and all product and price information is both on the website and available to download. I am very happy to spend time with you at our session discussing ideas of where you might place or hang your final images. Sometimes I can even take pictures at your session with wall space in mind.

After The Session

The Editing Process: After our session, I edit the images and work on my selection in postproduction ready to show to you (the number of images depends on the size of your family). All the images are shot in colour but Iwill look carefully at all those that make the edit and decide which is best suited to colour or black and white. Most images will have more impact in one or the other and, although most images convert well into black and white, there are times when the colour in an image gives it that special quality and encapsulates the specific atmosphere, the season in which it was taken or the beauty of a child's eyes, hair or skin tone. The postproduction work I do will make the images sing and is very much of my bespoke service to you.

Retouching: Simple retouching of images, for example to remove a scratch, spot or scar, or a distracting object in the background of a shot is included in my prices. Please note that all retouching work is made to the images that you finally select, not at the initial editing/viewing stage.

Viewing your Images/Your web gallery: Within 2 weeks of the session you will have access to your own password protected online gallery of the images on my website for you to view. All the images are effectively 'proofs' and are for viewing and selecting purposes only.  You can then order your finished products by arranging a viewing session, or by email or telephone - whichever is convenient to you. For viewings I recommend that all the key decision-makers attend.  A deposit is required on all orders made at your viewing session either by cheque or by cash. A receipt will be given. Whatever way you choose, I am on hand to help you work out what will work best in your home (this is made easy by the fact that I will have visited you already for the photo session) and we can discuss groupings of images, black and white and colour options, sizes etc.

Your gallery will stay on my site for 3 months from the date of the session and I will contact you before I remove it.

Discount: I offer a 10% discount for those who order from me within 3 weeks of receipt of their online gallery.

Delivery: Once I have received your order, I will aim to have it ready for you within 3 weeks. Collection is usually either from my London or Suffolk base, or I can send your products to you at cost. Sometimes Iam able to deliver finished products myself and occasionally I can get products delivered direct from my suppliers.

Thank you.

Anna McCarthy, March 2012

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