THESE ARE NOT 'COOKIE-CUTTER' FAMILY SHOOTS. THEY ARE AS UNIQUE AS THE FAMILIES THAT FEATURE IN THEM.
WHY SHOULD YOU INVEST IN FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY?
Don't get me wrong, I believe any professional photography of your children before they grow too big is hugely valuable. I am also a huge champion of taking the time to photograph your children yourself, even if just with your phone (I will be sharing some tips and videos on how best to do this soon!). We all know the jokes about parents having five thousand photos of their first-born from the first week of their life, and then barely a fraction of that for their second or third-born...but this in fact is a reality, and it often comes down to time and opportunity.
I encourage you to make time for at least one session with me - to freeze those precious expressions, bottle those personalities, and preserve those bonds for a lifetime.
FAMILY SHOOTS
A family can be defined in many ways, they come in all shapes and sizes, and every one is precious. Whether it is a newcomer to the home, a birthday party in the park, a christening, a blessing or a day out together - I can be there to capture it all.
As a parent, you'll know, you can go to a family event, a party, even a birthday day out, and get home to realise you didn't get a single photo with your children. So when people ask me "why would you offer family shoots when everyone has a phone to take pictures on these days?"
I ask them, who is usually holding the phone?
What's included:
- A 1 hour shoot at a location of your choice, in your home or somewhere special to you
- An online secure gallery brimming with beautiful pictures of you and your family
- Three 5x7" prints of your choice
£250
THE 0-5 EDITORIAL COLLECTION
Where my family shoots are all about getting in the thick of the action, capturing lively events or a trip to the park, or even the relative chaos of a home filled with people, these shoots are shorter, quieter and centred around capturing the real likeness of your child. The side that only you know.
The face you see when they are day-dreaming, observing life outside the car window, or relaxing after a fun day. The face that gives you long enough to observe their skin, the colour of their eyes, the curls of their hair. As a mum I know these sights are precious, because it is in these moments you can see how much they have changed and matured. You can see family resemblances and at the same time complete uniqueness in them. You can see their health and their happiness levels. And you have just those few extra precious seconds to commit that image to memory. These quiet moments start from when they are born - when they are sleeping in your arms or feeding or having cuddles after bathtime - and they get fewer as they become more independent.
That is why this new offer is the heart and soul of what is now The O-5 Collection. These editorial portraits are simple, stripped back, with the grainy nostalgia of analogue film and the certainty of digital (though I reserve the right to shoot some film if the moment asks for it!). The resulting photographs are what memories look like to me when I recall them to the front of my mind. They are mine and they are precious, and so I would like to bring this to you.
What's included:
- 20 minute shoot in your own home or location of choice*
- A beautiful online gallery of 15-20 high resolution images
- One 10x8" complementary print of your choice
- 10% off a luxury print portfolio containing five high quality prints (coming soon)
- Further print and album options available
£240
*20 minute shooting time, please allow for an additional 30-40 minutes to settle your child and set-up the location
LARGE SCALE CHARACTER PORTRAITS IN PRINT
...are exactly as they sound - they are about capturing your child's character, their personality, their facial expressions, their quirks & individuality, then printing them larger than life!
I believe a child has as much personality and identity as any adult and there is a precious window of time when they are children to see it for real. These portraits put your little one centre stage and celebrate all that they naturally are!
What's included:
SESSION + PRINT
- 20 minute shoot in your own home or location of choice*
- 5 digital files
- 1 large scale print - A3, A2 or A1
£150-200
SESSION + FRAMED PRINT
- 20 minute shoot in your own home or location of choice*
- 5 digital files
- 1 large scale print - A3, A2 or A1
- 1 black metro art frame in size chosen
£200-275
FULL DIGITAL COLLECTION
- All edited digital files from your shoot - approx. 20-30
- (Must be purchased with one of the above packages)
£100
PART OF A FAMILY SESSION?
Want to include one of the packages above as part of a family session? We can absolutely do that! Get in touch and we can work out a package just for you!
SPECIALIST SHOOTS
...are exactly as they sound - they are about capturing your child's character, their personality, their facial expressions, their quirks & individuality, then printing them larger than life!
I believe a child has as much personality and identity as any adult and there is a precious window of time when they are children to see it for real. These portraits put your little one centre stage and celebrate all that they naturally are!
What's included:
NEWBORN
- A 1 hour shoot at your home, scheduled to suit your newborn's nap time and feeding times5 digital files
- An online secure gallery bursting with tiny details and your baby's first expressions
- Three 5x7" prints included
£150
*Book your session before your child's birth to secure a spot
MATERNITY
- A 1 hour shoot at a location of your choice capturing the precious moment before your child's arrival
- Shoot can be outside or at home and your partner can absolutely get involved if the want to
- Three 5x7" prints included along with your online gallery
£195
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?
Fill in the form or head further down for FAQs.
FAQ
What set up do you bring?
I will bring with me a backdrop stand; either a rigid white backdrop or a sheet, (if you have requested a certain backdrop/scene, then I will bring that with me too); some lighting (though I will only reach for this if there is no window light available or the weather is dull); and my camera!
I like to keep it very simple as too much kit can make little ones uneasy.
In fact, if I can find a wall in your house or garden that can act as a backdrop, I may use that instead. The more at home your child feels, the better the pictures!
My child has a hobby / passion, can you accommodate it?
Definitely! If your child loves their BMX and you want to include it, we can take portrait shots at the skatepark! If your child is a keen rider, we can head to the stables and include their pony! If your child loves their books, we can include those too.
Character portraits were born with the aim of capturing a child's personality even in the youngest years, and that can totally include whatever makes them happiest and brings them to life!
My house is not that big!
Do not worry! I bring with me all I need to set up in even the smallest of spaces. We just need a space, ideally with a window, and with a clear area of floor; again this doesn't have to be a huge area. If props are required (see above), the area needs to be big enough to accommodate those too... Or we can just head to the garden!
Can we take the photos outside?
Absolutely! We can use a wall or fence, or even set a backdrop up in the garden / outdoor location. This is especially lovely if the day is a bright and sunny one!
What should my child wear?
Your child should wear whatever they want! This is about bringing out their character. I want them to feel easy, relaxed and able to be their true self, whoever that might be, on that day, in that moment. If that means bright colours, or stripes, or flowers, or dinosaurs, or football kits, or tutus or swimming bands, or Elsa costumes, or just their pyjamas - then that is what we will capture! :)
Are there any age restrictions?
There are no restrictions no, however I would ideally take these portraits from when they are able to sit up on their own, up to the age where they may start to feel super self-conscious! I would never want to make a child feel uncomfortable, so I would normally say between 6 months and 8 years, but every child is different so this is purely a guide.
What if my child is shy or has special educational needs?
I understand and respect that every child is different. I also shoot weddings and the number of adults that don't feel comfortable in front of the camera, or being centre of attention, is very common, and I work to ensure they are relaxed, understand me, and above all I work fast and keep the portrait section of the day very brief!
This is exactly the same approach I would take with your child. Relaxed, calm, reassuring, and quick! And that is to say, the actual photography element will be quick. If your child needs more time to ease into the session, or I need to spend a little time with you all before getting my camera out, I will do that. Whatever will allow their true character to emerge and bring them greatest comfort.
I consider it a great honour when families trust me to photograph their children, and I am always immensely proud to see the joy in their faces when they see that their child has had a good time and were happy throughout.
Location of my choice?
You may not wish to have your portraits taken at home - you may have another location that is meaningful to you or your child, in which case we can arrange to meet there instead.
Please note, there will be additional travel costs if the location is more than 50 miles from Warwick, and please consider any restrictions if you are hoping to have your portraits taken in a commercial or otherwise private property, for instance a stately home.
Will 20 minutes be long enough?
I have found this to be the maximum amount of time a child is happy to be in the same space at any one time. They don't have to be sitting and smiling for that amount of time of course, nor would we want such a static approach, but that is the longest window I would recommend.
Those 20 minutes do not include set-up and pack-up time, so you can expect me to be with you for up to an hour.
If you have multiple children, and therefore multiple portraits, this amount of time will increase by 20 minutes per child, plus any set-up adjustment time.
i have 3 children, can you photograph all of them?
The packages shown above relate to a single child. I can photograph as many children as you like, just get in touch and let me know how many you have, their ages, home or location, whether you'd like framed prints or not, and I will send you a bespoke package price.
I will also include a group shot of the children as part of that bespoke package.
"Sarah captured my daughter's 2nd & 3rd birthday parties so beautifully! I knew I wouldn't manage to take many photos myself, but really wanted to capture the emotions & atmosphere of the day. Sarah could not have been more wonderful! So natural, very discrete, super smiley, kind & helpful, and very professional. I was blown away by the photos & her talent - she noticed all the little things I didn't; facial expressions, tears of joy, all the giggles & fun. I cannot recommend her enough!"