For shoots ‘at home’

Autumn & Winter

As the weather deteriorates over the Autumn and Winter, shoots at home are your best bet as they give maximum flexibility.

I work on the assumption that Autumn and Winter photo shoots will be inside your home but if we get lucky with one of those bluebird days and some Autumn colours we will definitely get outside too.

Photographing indoors is no problem at all. All I need are windows as that’s where the natural light comes from. And before you say it, no, you don’t need a show home. I have never got to anyone’s house and not been able to make an indoor shoot work. That’s part of my experience and skill and it especially useful in a country where the weather is often photographically unhelpful to say the least.

In short, it really doesn’t matter what the weather for a shoot at home does because we have an indoor and an outdoor option.

The photos below are all indoors and form several different shoots…

The photos below are form a single shoot at home in mid-November…

The bottom line is that I can get great photos of your kids at any time of year and in any weather. Don’t wait until the Summer; there is no guarantee that the weather will be good even then.

Book a shoot at home in the Autumn or Winter and we’ll get loads of photos.

Spring & Summer

If the weather is great we’ll get photos both inside and outside, ideally. If the weather is bad we’ll mostly be inside. I really love photographing indoors as the light can be amazing. I don’t need fancy lights etc. I just need windows and doors and happy kids and parents. The images below are form a family shoot at home in the Summer…

Learn more about a Family Shoot at Home

For shoots ‘on location’

Autumn & Winter

As I mentioned earlier, your best bet is a 30 or 60 minute shoot at home as this gives as an indoor option. If you go for an ‘on location’ option like one of my Family Photo Days then the weather can play a larger part.

If the forecast looks terrible then I will look to rearrange the shoot. If the forecast is ok then we go for it. If it then rains during the shoot we crack on regardless.

The latter usually involves two very important things:

Umbrellas, boots and appropriate clothing and
the right attitude to go for it, get stuck in and make the most of the situation.

I will bring several rainbow umbrellas just in case, which look great in the photos and also do the job of keeping you dry.

Did I mention having the right attitude? Thought so! The photos in the slideshow below were all shot in a light drizzle. You can even see the rain in the photos if you look closely. We didn’t stay out in the rain for long but everyone was game for 5 mins so I made the most of it!

Believe me, I don’t want to be out in the rain for long (and neither does my camera) but it can be done; it’s all about having the right attitude.

Spring and Summer

I tend to book most family shoots in the morning (9 or 10ish) or in the evening (6 or 7ish) as the light is always better for photos when it isn’t directly above your heads.

Contrary to popular belief, I want bright sunshine. The key thing is that you will never face the sun on one of my photo shoots. I want the sun to be behind you because it gives a gorgeous halo around you, an even light on your faces and no squinting. You’ll see hundreds of photos shot like this on my web site.

Yes, I know, this goes against everything we’ve all been ‘taught’ about taking photos but you’re gonna have to trust me on this. Outdoors, backlighting is king! it’s fair to say that I am mildly obsessed with it to be honest

Check out the images below and you’ll see what I mean. You can also check out my little video on exactly this subject HERE.