This was a lovely session just before Christmas as a Christmas present for the grandparents of this gorgeous extended family. Brother and sister Simon and Julia and their respective partners Sofia and Ben plus cousins Max and Tabitha and baby Florence.

Unless you’ve been on a January detox retreat in the Himalayas with no access to news or internet you won’t have missed that Princess Charlotte attended her first day at nursery this week – or that the official photos were taken by her mum, rather than a professional photographer.
The Duchess of Cambridge is known to be a keen photographer and was also the lady behind the lens for the princess’ first official photos as a newborn with her big brother Prince George as well as Prince George’s first day at school.

With all the snow and the freezing cold weather I think it’s safe to say that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And what better time than the festive season to get out your camera and getting some snaps of your little ones. After all, it comes but once a year and if there’s a time when happy faces are pretty much guaranteed then it’s when the prospect of Santa and presents is on the horizon!

As a London family photographer I’ve photographed this family a few times in the past – first not long after youngest Otto was born and again for his first birthday and his christening.
This time we went for a relaxed Day in the Life session while the family chilled out together on a rainy Saturday morning in Clapham – painting dinosaurs, making chocolate brownies (more chocolate was eaten than ended up in the baking I think!) and making homemade pizza for lunch.
It’s a joy to see families grow up together and a privilege to be allowed access to those intimate moments that make up family life together – to capture those little quirks and gestures that make up hundreds of tiny truths about you.

I have had the pleasure of photographing this family since Lexie was about 9 months old. In that time I’ve helped welcome Edith to the fold and I’ve seen the family grow together and they’ve become friends. I think I’ve photographed them about 5 times now over the years and I think I’m safe to say that I’ve earned the accolade of being their ‘go-to family photographer’. They’re even going back through their previous sessions with me to pick out some new images to have printed for a family photo wall.

I took a little time off from client photo sessions over the latter part of the summer and early autumn to concentrate on enjoying and photographing my own family.

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.