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 releasing 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 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 one session with me, to freeze those precious expressions, bottle those personalities, and preserve those bonds for a lifetime.
WHY IS A BLUE HARE FAMILY SHOOT DIFFERENT?
Though the term 'family photography' will be familiar to you through high street studios and other local professionals, my focus is slightly different. Every photographer should aim to capture real expressions and fun times between family members, bringing you lovely memories of the session itself. In addition to this though, my focus will be on preserving the full spectrum of your child's personality. Their expressions, their moods, the way they move and interact with you, their siblings, the family pet. As a mother myself, I am aware that the things I miss when I am not with my daughter, or when she has grown even a few months older, is the physical nature of her. Her movements, the shape of her face, the exact shade of her hair or eyes. For this reason I don't heavily retouch or adjust textures or tones. I may lightly guide you and your children as we go through the session, but I don't restrict or pose. I don't force smiles, I don't take a long time, and I don't rush.
Whether you are looking for a fun family session in the woods, or a more formal portrait session in the home, I aim to deliver you a gallery brimming with photographs of your children as you see and experience them. Not a polished insta-version (though you will want to post literally ALL of them!), but an authentic, emotional and pride-inducing version.
WHERE DOES THIS FOCUS COME FROM?
With a personal passion for art history, I have long believed in the value of painted and photographed family portraits from ages past - it is not for no reason that families throughout the centuries have used invested in the best medium of their age to capture the likenesses of their children. I also treasure the old photographs of mine, my parent's and even my grandparent's childhood, and though I believe any photo is better than no photo, I don't want to see this tradition dissolve into a filtered, caricature of reality, lost somewhere in the cloud. If this doesn't feel too much of an overstatement for you, then I may be the photographer for you!
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ALREADY?
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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.