Go outside? In winter? And have your photo taken?
Are you serious?
I mean – it’s cold! And not sunny! Who has photos taken outdoors in winter? In the UK?
When it’s gloomy outside it can be hard to muster the enthusiasm to get the kids outdoors. And with no colour in the air or leaves on the trees it can be difficult to find inspiration for photographing children. Even as a professional documentary and lifestyle family photographer in south London, I find once the glorious colour of autumn has subsided and before we get the gorgeous crisp whites of frost and snow, London can sometimes feel a bit dreary for outdoor photoshoots. But in truth there are lots of hidden gems photographically speaking that can turn what at first seems uninspiring into some great shots. Here are my top tips for getting some great shots of your kids when the weather is miserable.
Ever thought your house is too cluttered for an in-home photo session? Too small? How about too dark? Not finished the decorating yet?
As a south London lifestyle and documentary family photographer I often hear this and it’s the number one reason why people choose a location photo session over an in-home one. Not that location photography sessions need be frowned upon – there’s nothing like a gorgeous park or woodland as a backdrop to some great family fun. BUT you may be missing a trick if the only reason you choose an outdoor session is because you don’t think your home is up to scratch to be captured on camera.And as the days turn colder, darker, rainier as the winter months approach, there’s nothing like snuggling up indoors as a family for a fantastic documentary photo session.
For me there’s nothing like an in-home photo session to really see a family as they truly are. On home ground – their own turf – kids, and a lot of adults for that matter, can really relax and just be themselves. There’s nothing like children letting you into their world, showing you their toys and books or jumping about on their bed or running around their garden to get some fabulously candid portraits of them.
So when did you last take a photograph? And when did you last print one?
I’m willing to bet you probably took at least one photo today on your phone. But I’ll bet you haven’t printed any photos in a very long time unless you’ve just had school portraits done or got married!
As a south London documentary and lifestyle family photographer it will be no surprise that I have a love of photographs and documenting family life. One way or another I’ve been documenting the lives of my children since the moment they breathed their first.
So the summer holidays are over! Yey/boo depending on your perspective!
As is traditional the first back to school project is an essay on what I did on my summer holidays, so I thought I’d post just a small video of documentary portraits I took of my two children rock pooling at Bamburgh in Northumberland.
We recently spent a week in Northumberland – where I was brought up – at my parents’ house. I miss the beach in my life. But it was such a joy to see my children finding such simple pleasure and delight in nature. Oh to be a kid again and dance in the waves! My daughter spent about an hour simply dancing with her reflection and jumping in and out of the surf. She was so soaked and cold by the time she’d finished she may as well have gone for a swim!
My kids take bath time very seriously – donning safety goggles and all! The littlest sometimes takes the brunt of the splashing from the biggest and it’s all a bit too much. It’s easy to get frustrated in the moment at her carelessness and lack of consideration for her brother. But viewed through a lens, I’m reminded of the raw emotions bundled up in these small people and just how fleeting these moments are. Minutes later and harmony and happiness was restored!
As a London documentary family photographer I often get asked how I get such lovely images of the children that I photograph. Kids are notoriously unwilling to play ball when you get the camera out as parents will know too well. As soon as the camera comes out they either hide or pull a silly face!
So the real answer is how I get such good images is that ‘they’re not my kids!’ Other people’s kids always behave better than your own. But I do manage to get an occasional good photo even of my own two children. Obviously I also have 20 years of experience and training behind me and a wealth of technical knowledge which does help. But here are my top tips that anyone can follow:
This was not only a delightful south London family photo session, but also one of the loveliest and thoughtful birthday presents. Rory and his daughter Freya booked me to do a family photography session for wife and mother Siobhan. The Brixton family wanted some natural photographs that were true to them as a family in a place that meant something to them – their local stomping ground Brockwell Park.
