Autumn Family Photoshoot at Lightwater Country Park | Surrey Family Photographer
Autumn is a great time for family photo shoots - crisp air, golden leaves, and soft afternoon light. My recent session at Lightwater Country Park with a lovely family of five - Mum, Dad, and their three beautiful daughters - was a perfect example of why this season works so well for photos.
Lightwater Country Park
Lightwater Country Park is a lovely heathland & woodland area at the edge of Lightwater Village. It comprises of some 59 hecters of varied habitat that not only provides a great photography backdrop, but also a valuble wildlife habitat. The area of heathland within the Country Park has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). We took the first few shots in the wooded area of the park, but then quickly moved as the girls were full of energy from the start, eager to explore. The second set of photographs was taken exactly in this heathland area of the park, the smells of heather lingering in the air. I love to let kids lead the way in sessions, making it relaxing and fun for them, which in turn enables me to capture their personalities and energy.
Children portraits
We then moved into the woodland part of the park, but this time the backdrop was quite different - it was filled with oak and pine trees. This was a great place for a little rest and a sack. I took the opportunity to photograph the girls one by one, having their portraits taken with autumnal sunshine backlighting them. I was being silly making up different stories with the girls in hope they would engage and that their personalities would come out. I love their little expressions - each telling a little story of who they are as a person.
After stillness comes action (and cuddles & giggles)! We thought it would be fun to walk in a line (which didn’t work!) and give Mum and Dud lots of cuddles. This turned into a bit of a workout for the parents, holding each girl for a photo - and then all of them together at once!
Fun Family Portraits
The games continuted until the end of our session. We threw leaves into the air, played peek-a-boo with autumnal leaves, and had a mini race along one of the woodland paths. The gilrs had a blast running, making for some great natural action shots. Mum and Dad were relaxed and happy, laughing as they watched their girls enjoy themselves. Some of my favourite photos from this family photo session were the simple moments - Dad carrying all the girls, parents laughing because the girls photo bombed their photo, and the three girls running together with the autumn colours, joy filling their faces.
As we were going back to the car park, a little path presented itself as a nice location for some more ‘formal’ shots. After a few frames, and an afternoon of fun, we headed back to the cafe for some refreshments before going our separate ways.
Lightwater Country Park is such a great location with its mix of heathland, woodlands, ponds, areas of scrub and views over Surrey, making for a beautiful location for family photography. Working as a Surrey family photographer, I am sure I will be back there again soon!
Family Photo Session Gift Vouchers
With Mother’s Day fast approaching, now is a great time to gift a family photo shoot voucher. Whether it’s for parents who want to capture memories of their children or grandparents who love family photos, a family photo session gift voucher is a meaningful and lasting present. My vouchers are beautifully presented and valid for a year, so you can choose the best time for your shoot.
Booking a family photoshoot
If you’d like to book a session or find out more about my vouchers, please get in touch. Let’s capture some great memories together!
Working with Mina
A little about me... I’m Mina, a family photographer based in Surrey. I focus on capturing real moments—natural, relaxed, and full of personality. My sessions are easy going and fun, making sure you feel comfortable and enjoy the experience. If that sounds like what you're looking for, I’d love to hear from you!
Family and Pet Photo Session with Teenagers in Wandsworth Common | London Family and Pet Photographer
Family Photoshoot with teenagers and puppy
I recently photographed a really sweet family with two teenagers & puppy in Wandsworth. My brief was to photograph the two teenagers and their teenage puppy, a 9 month old golden retriever called Juno, to be used as Christmas cards during the upcoming holidays.
Outdoor Family Photography
We decided to do a home-park split, starting with some relaxed outdoor photographs on Wandsworth Common and going back home for more cozy images. It was an overcast day, the light was lovely and the common was bursting with autumnal colours, giving a gorgeous warm tone to the photographs.
Dog Action Photogrpahy
We started this family and pet photoshoot with some together photos, but soon the 9 month old puppy became restless and needed to move a little. She loved chasing leaves so I thought an action shot of her jumping to catch leaves would be fun. My two helpers gathered a bunch of leaves and on coundown they threw the leaves up in the air and Juno excitedly went after them. I love the resulting image - it is full of energy and movemet, and to me symbolises the joy of autumn.
Wandsworth Common Family and Pet Photography
Since golden retrievers love water, and Wandsworth common happens to have a large pond with a beautiful little feature bridge, I decided to use it as a backdrop and take the next set of photographs there. The love between the two teens and Juno was evident, and so I wanted to capture all the cuddles and kisses which were given out in bountiful quantities.
Family Portrait Photography in London
The rustic bridge on Wandsworth common was the perfect place for a group family photo. The trees in the background provided a colourful, but plane background, and the gentle uphill raise provided a pleasing perspective. We paused here for a few moments, for me to take a few frames of the family together, and the children on their own with the puppy.
Portraits of Teenagers with Puppy
Before heading back home, I wanted to capture each teen with their beloved puppy, and also take some photos of them having fun together, running around in the field.
London Dog Photographer
Finally just a few portraits of June before it was time to leave the park. By this point she was tired from all the running around, and kept relatively still for me to take a few portraits of her in the dry leaves.
Family and Pet Photo Session at home in Wandsworth
It was then time to head back home, snuggle on the sofa and capture a few quiet moments. I very much enjoyed working with teenagers and their puppy, learning what their interests are and hearing about their ideas for potential photos. I thoroughly enjoyed this family and pet photo session, and I hope I meet this family again to see what they are up to in a few years time.
Book a Family and Pet Photo Session in London and Surrey
If you’d like to book a family and pet photoshoot, please contact me though my website, or email at mina@minamilanovic-photography.com. I would love to capture memories of you and your family and pet enjoying each other’s company.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Gift a Photography Gift Voucher This Christmas
If you know someone who’s just got a puppy, or would like to surprise a dog lover in your life with a unique gift, then why not consider my family and pet photography gift vouchers? You can purchase a one hour, or a two hour photo session, and gift a fun experience together with captured memories which will be cherished in years to come. Please visit my gift voucher page, or contact me directly to discuss your requirements. Thank you!
Children photography in the Surrey Hills
I am really behind on my blog posts. There seems to be a million other things to do at the moment!
This children photography session happened a few months ago, at the beginning of winter. Nothing beats winter light on a beautiful sunny day! The sun is low and can produce some spectacular effects in the middle of the day. We set out on a family walk, and I actually left my camera at home as it was overcast at the time. My husband presuaded me to go back and get it and I cannot thank him enough! As we reached the Hills, the clouds parted and we were treated to magic! It was one amazing scene after another, perfect for family photography and children’s portraits.
As Surrey family photographer, I was gutted that I didn’t have a family photoshoot on that day, but I more than made up for it with photos of my own family and the beautiful landscape in front of me.
I hope you enjoy viewing these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. On this first day of spring and on one year anniversary since the first lockdown, let’s look back and be greatful for all the nice experiences we had and hope for some more in the near future.
I will be returning to photographing children and families next week. If you would like to book a photoshoot with me, please get in touch.
Family and Dog Photography in Surrey
January is normally a month of catching up with admin and a backlog of blogs. This January is no different, even though we are in lockdown number 3. I am finding this lockdown more challenging than the last two so looking back on some of the positive things that came out of 2020 offers a respite and hope for this year.
Last year, I started a personal photography project entitled “Family Dogs”. I photographed a lot of families and a lot of dogs but the two seemed to keep quite seperate. I therefore decided to combine my two passions and create an opportunity for photography I really wanted to do. I love capturing an action shot of a dog running or playing, or a lovely quiet portrait. But what I really want to be photographing is the interactions families have with their dogs, kids playing with their four legged friend, giving them a hug or riding bikes while the dog runs along.
The family and dog photo session shown in the photographs below is from a recent Family Dogs Photoshoot, back when there were still a few leaves left on branches. This sweet family was a joy to photograph, the boys so keen to show me their pet chickens, paddle and dig clay in the stream, and ride bikes with their dog following them. One of my all time favourite photoshoots!
As a Surrey family and dog photographer, I work all over Surrey, London and the South East. This project is for local Surrey residents only, and I welcome anyone who would like to participate. If you are interested, please contact me to find out more.
