Surrey Family Photographer | Autumnal Family Photo Session in the Surrey Hills
Family Photography in Surrey
The second half of last year was really busy with family photoshoots. As a working parent of two children (one of them under three), I was just about managing to do the photo sessions and edits during the week. My blogging took a hit, so I am trying to catch up now that the Christmas fever has passed and we have entered a slightly quieter part of the year. Although my calendar is slowly filling up, January is the perfect time to catch up with admin, and in my case - my website!
Autumnal Family Photoshoot
This autumnal family photo session in the Surrey Hills was one of the highlights from last year. The day was sunny and mild, the family so sweet and our location absolutely gorgeous. During the session I tried to incorporate a mix of slightly directed shots where I would set the scene and let the family interact, but also capture genuine moments when the family was interacting, playing or laughing.
Outdoor Family Photography
Sunny days can be a bit of a challenge in terms of light. Since this family photoshoot was done in the middle of autumn, the sun was low so lighting wasn’t a major challenge, but there were a few instances where we had to search for shaded areas to avoid direct sun or glare. However, sunshine also brings an abundance of opportunities, like great contrast for black and white family portraits, playful shots involving shadows and beautiful back-lit soft light portraits.
Children Portraits
I always enjoy finding quiet genuine moments during the family photo sessions. We found a bench and stopped for a little rest and a few cuddles. The boy was really content and soon started looking out into the garden, and looking for birds that were chirping around us. The light was coming from behind and made a beautiful scene for a few portraits of the boy.
Family Portraits in a Beautiful Autumn Garden
Before heading to the playground, we took a moment to observe art and spend a little bit of time in the formal gardens which still had late autumn flowering plants like gorgeous salvia, and beautiful climbers around archways. These made a very photogenic setting for some more relaxed family portraits.
Fun Children Photography
Once we were finished with group family portraits, and individual shots of mum & baby and dad&baby, we headed towards the playground for some fun! I really enjoy taking photos at playgrounds, the equipment provides a lot of opportunities for creative shots, and children engage in activities therefore forgetting I am there.
I couldnt resist a few final shots of the family playing and lauging together…
And last but not least - those important shots of mum & dad, so easily forgotten with a little person in tow, but an important reminder of the love couples share for one another, even after becoming parents.
Hope you enjoyed viewing this blog post as much as I enjoyed taking the photos and reminding myself of the good time we had while writing this post. If you would like to book a family photo session, find out more about me, or purchase a photography gift voucher for someone, please scroll down.
Book a Family Photography 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!
Surrey family photographer
Hello! My name is Mina, I am a professional family, pet and wedding photographer, offering location based, natural photography across Surrey, London and the South East.
Whether it is an important event in your life or you are just looking to update your family album, I aim to document your life events and memories in a set of beautiful photographs which will evoke happy memories, with a hint of nostalgia in years to come.
In addition to family and dog photography, I offer wedding, baptism and branding photography services across London, Surrey and the South East. My working style is professional, relaxed and unintrusive, focusing on trying to capture genuine moments using soft natural light. My photoshoots are easy going and fun, done at a location of your choice, either in the comfort of your home, in your favourite park or both!
A Photography Gift Voucher For Any Occasion
If you know a family who would like to document their family life with a set of beautiful photos, why not consider my family photography gift vouchers? You can purchase 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!
Surrey Family Photographer | Family Photo Session in Sussex
A Family Photo Session in Sussex
I love looking back at this family photoshoot from only a month and a half ago. It feels like forever ago, when days were sunny and warm. There haven’t been many days like these this year; it feels too soon for winter to come.
A garden family photoshoot
The family photo session took place in Sussex, at the family home. We started the shoot in the garden, and followed the little girl’s lead, who was happy to have a little play and cuddle on the picnic blanket. This setup worked really nicely for family portraits. The family was able to interact, play, read books and cuddle which made for candid shots, the ones I strive to capture for my clients.
Custom Family Photography
Every family photo shoot is different, and this one required a short nap break. The little girl got really tired half way into the shoot and really wasn’t happy with being photographed. During her nap, I was able to capture a few frames with her parents together, as well as her mum together with her frandma.
Outdoor Family Photo Session
After a good rest, things were looking much brighter! We continued with a few more shots outside in the garden before moving in indoors for a few children portraits. I wanted to capture a few more natural moments of the family interacting together and playing. I love incorporating games children love playing and this photo session was no different. We included a garden story time, a play with the favouirte ball and some mummy lift ups! After all that activity, it was time to cool off inside the house.
At home family photoshoot
To see the rest of the images from this family photo session, please scroll below. I captured some genuine moments of eating, cuddling and making those special first steps. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Book A Family Photoshoot
If you would like to book a family photo session, please get in touch - I would love to hear from you! I am now fully booked until the end of the year, but I would love to help you capture family memories in the new year. Winter family photo sessions are wonderful - the sun is low, shadows long and we can even be treated to a little bit of magic with mist, fog or frost!
Family Photography Gift Vouchers
Gift a unique gift to a family member this Christmas, or for any other occasion. Not only will you be gifting a unique and meaningful present, you will also be gifting an experience which will capture lasting memories for the whole family. The family photoshoot can take place at home, in a park, on a beach or wherever it is convenient! My family photo session gift vouchers are valid for a year. Family photo shoot gift vouchers start from £195, which includes
Up to two hours shooting time
My time on the day
Travel within 30 miles of RH5
An on-line gallery with 50+ images available to purhcase (digital products sold separately; please contact me for more information)
A complementary 9x6’’ print
Family Photography in the Surrey Hills | Friday Street Family & Dog Summer Photo Session
Surrey offers a plethora of idyllic backdrops for photography. The diverse landscapes and historical sites inspire photographers - local or visiting from afar - to try their hand at capturing some of its beauty. From the rolling hills to the lush woodlands, serene meadows and elegant gardens of stately homes, the county provides a wealth of settings that are perfect for capturing cherished family moments.
Family Photography in the Surrey Hills
This family and dog photo session took place at the bottom of Leith Hill, in a lush bit of woodland which comes out to a small holding. I met the family there in the middle of summer, when vegetarion was lush and green, and days were long. I wanted to incorporate the surroundings into the photographs so for the first set of photos I took of the whole family together, I asked the family to go right in amonst the bracon. This was such a nice clean backdrop, which made the family really pop in the photos, the light blue of the shirts contrasting with the green tonally, and the light pink of the girls’ dresses complementing the green tones.
Natural Family Moments
After a bit of walking, the youngest memeber of the family was a little tired so naturally it was time for cuddles. I love capturing these genuine, tender moments, they are a record of not only the time in a family’s life but of all the little moments which are fleeting and gone before we know it.
Surrey Children Photographer
I often hear comments like “never photograph children and dogs”. I love photographing both! In fact, I am happiest when there are children and dogs together. I really enjoy engaging with children, letting them show me their favourite games, tricks or telling me their favourite stories. On this occation, we had some bubbles at hand, which provided endless enterntainment. The girls were so engaged in making the bubbles, chasing and bursting them, that this activity set a scene for some lovely spontanious, natural moments which I was ready to capture with my camera.
Family Photography with Dog
A family photoshoot wouldn’t be complete without a dog. I love photographing families with dogs and capturing special bonds family members have with their four legged friends. In this instance, there was a special connection between this sweet little rescue cocker spaniel and the dad. I love the photo below, when I look at it, it conveys pure love and joy!
If you would like to enquire about a family and dog photo session, please get in touch. I love photographing families with their dogs, and would love to capture moments for you which will evoke joyful memories in many years to come.
Family Photography in the Surrey Hills
If you would like to find out more about my family photo sessions, please visit the family photography page.
Booking a Family Photo Session
To make a booking, please email at mina@minamilanovic-photography.com or fill in the contact form on my website. I am looking forward to hearing from you and capturing your memories for you and your family.
Mini Family Photo Session in Abinger Roughs and Netely Park | Surrey Hills Family Photoshoot
Mini Family Photo Sessions in the Surrey Hills
I recently organised mini family photo sessions in Abinger Roughs and Netely Park, in the beautiful Surrey Hills. These sessions are great for families who would like to have a taster of what a family photo shoot might feel / look like, for those who would like to update their family photos, have a busy schedule, or those who would like to gift a mini session - I offer a variety of gift vouchers in my gift voucher store.
Abinger Roughs Family Photo Shoot
The Spring mini sessions took place at Abinger Roughs and Netely Park, a beautiful National Trust walk with ancient woodland and wildflower-rich grasslands. There is a natural play area, great for settling kids into the session and burning off some access energy. Beyond is a birch rich wooded area, a pine tree plantation, ancient beech trees, open fields and hilly vistas - perfect backdrops for a family photoshoot.
Surrey Hills Family Photographer
I organise family mini photo sessions a few times a year, at selected locations in the beautiful Surrey countryside. Each mini session lasts half an hour, it is centred around your family and we enjoy activities you like to do as a family. I will make sure you have a nice time; I will play games with the kids, ask them to run, jump or play hide and seek so I can get a nice selection of images for you to choose from. You will receive a link to a private gallery with 10-15 images to choose from. Three digital files are included in the price of the mini session; these will be sent to you via on line transfer to your email address.
Thinking About Booking?
Please contact me to enquire about the next mini sessions. I require a 30% deposit to book me in for the session, with the remainder of the fee payable before the photoshoot. I look forward to hearing from you!
Family Photographer in the Surrey Hills
Autumnal Family Photo Session in beautiful Surrey HIlls.
Family Photography: Capturing Family Connection and Timeless Moments
Family photography is more than just taking pictures; it's about freezing a moment in time, creating a visual legacy, and telling the unique story of a family's journey. Whether it's a candid shot of a child's laughter, a serene family portrait, or a dynamic action shot, family photography has the power to evoke emotions, preserve memories, and celebrate the bonds that tie us together.
Surrey Family Photographer
I photographed this family on an a crisp and sunny autumnal day, in their garden in the beautiful Surrey Hills. We started the session with some playful action shots of the boys going on their swing and playing football. Having worked as a family photographer for nearly a decade, I learnt that my sessions get off to a nice relaxing start if we start a session with some kind of a game. This creates a playful atmosphere, children tend to relax and trust me as they see me as one of their buddies. This in turn enables me to capture genuine moments which show real bonds, emotions and laughters shared between family members.
Autumnal Outdoor Family Session
What I also like to encourage in my sessions is families playing a game together. These natural interactions are a perfect setting for capuring the laughter, playfulness and spontanious expressions which make each family unique. In this particular session, the family started gathering leaves from the lawn so I incorporated that activity, and created an action shot with everyone throwing leaves up in the air. We then found great big yellow leaves, which I thought would be perfect to incorporate into creative portraits of the children.
Give a Gift of Family Photography
The beauty of family photography lies in its ability to freeze moments in time, creating a visual legacy that can be passed down through generations. Perhaps you would like me to capture the magic of your family this holiday season? Or you know a family who you think a photography gift voucher might be the perfect gift for? Either way, get in touch - I would love to hear from you!
Family Photo Shoot in Guildford
The setting for this family photo session was Riverside Park Nature Reserve in Guildford, a wetland area supporting diverse insect, bird and amphibian life. I recently discovered this beautiful nature reserve while servicing my car in the nearby Slyfield industrial estate and was surprised to find such a gem of a place squshed between the noisy A3, the community recycling centre and the industrial estate. Amazing how nature can thrive in the most unlikely places!
We started our photoshoot with a walk along the River Wey. The powerline which runs along the path provided a dramatic backdrop for a few of the initial shots before we reached the canal. All along the canal were lovely mature oak trees which served as the perfect frame for family portraits. The parents were amazing at enterntaining and engaging this charming and smiley one and a half year old. I love the playfulness that comes through in the photographs.
Half way through the photoshoot, everyone was getting a little tired so it was time to have a play in the sand and bring out favourite toys. Out came the coala and Mr Fox, and it was back to playing games and having fun. I find games really helpful while working with children. They instantly become interested and engaged which creates genuinely candid moments for great photographs. Whether it it]s hide and seek with younger children, building a den with preschoolers and playing ball with older kids, involving them (and parents) in an activity takes the attention away from the camera and puts children and adults in the present moment which is where the joy comes through. This little girl loved spotting insects, playing with hair clips which I’ve given her, waving at boats and touching different plants.
It is nice looking back at these photos when the grasses were lush and everything was so alive. My current family photo sessions are against beautiful autumnal backdrops, a stark contrast to the warm summer days. Nature provides us photographers with the best studio and I am so grateful to do my job outdoors, and experience the beauty of each season with my clients.
I am nearly fully booked for this year, but if you would like to arrange a family portrait session for you and your family for next year, please get in touch to discuss your requirements. You can contact me through the contact page on my website, or sending me an email at info@minamilanovic-photography.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Family Photo Shoot in Kingston upon Thames
Indoor Family Photography in Kingston-upon-Thames
I went back to my old neighbourhood in West London for a very special family photo session with returning clients. It was a joy to photograph this sweet family who I’ve known since 2014 when I did a dog photoshoot in Richmond park for them. Since then their family has grown considerably and this time I was invited to capture a few family moments as a family of four in their beautiful home in Kingston-upon-Thames.
Indoor Family Photography
Most of my family photo shoots take place outdoors, however on this occasion we decided to stay indoors. I always feel more challenged when photographing inside, and feel like I need to work harder at finding the right angles and light. However indoor spaces provide such fantastic opportunity for creative family photography, where I use anything from house plants to furniture to create more interesting frames for my clients.
Pets in Family Photos
I often get told that I’ve chosen really hard photography subjects - children and pets! I love photographing both! They are fun, engaging and spontanious. My experience has thought me that if I or the parents try to impose too much control over what is going on, the kids (and pets!) will be fairly uninterested in engaging with me. Initiate a game, or leave them to their own devices and suddenly they forget who is there and an opportunity for genuine family photography is created.
Book a Family Photography Session
If you would like to book a family photo shoot, please get in touch. I also offer separate one hour and two hour dog photography sessions, as well as pet photography gift vouchers. If you would like to book/purchase a voucher, please contact me or visit my store.
Surrey Family and Dog Photography
Family Dogs was a personal project which I ran last year, and which I hope to continue once the lockdown restrictions are eased on the 29th March. The aim of this project was to explore the relationship pets have with their families, and to do the project locally in Surrey.
As a Surrey dog photographer, I really enjoy meeting different dogs and getting to know them in the time I am there to photograph them. This little dachshund was a bit unsure when he first met me. It took him a little while to relax and be comfortable. During this time, I photographed the little girl who was all smiles and enjoyed hearing the click of my shutter button. When the dog relaxed, I was ready to photograph both the girl and the dog, and all the family together. This was the opportunity to capture some genuine and homey moments.
The outside session allowed me to experiment with family photography. I wanted to capture the family in a natural surrounding but also to use natural elements creatively in my photography. A fallen branch, a reflective surface and soft light provided some wonderful opportunities.
I really missed doing family photoshoots in Surrey the last few months and I can’t wait to get going again. You can see similar blog posts if you visit my blog. Please get in touch if you would like to participate in this project. If you would like to find out more about my family photoshoots, please visit my family photography page. If you have a dog and would like to find out more about my dog photo sessions, please visit my dog portraits page.
For information on photography gift vouchers, see my store.
Any questions - drop me a line!
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.
Abinger Roughs Family Photoshoot | Surrey Family Photographer
Surrey Family Photoshoot on the Roughs
This outdoor family photoshoot was a real treat from beginning to end. After days of endless rain in November, the clouds finally parted and the sun shone - perfect for autumnal family photography.
We arranged to meet at Abinger Roughs, a National Trust land, formerly part of the Abinger Hall Estate. I really enjoy this walk and visit it often myself - it is a great mix of ancient woodland, fields, rhododendrons and doesn’t get too muddy in the colder months. It is said that naturalist Charles Darwin used to visit Abinger Hall and walk the Roughs with his friend Thomas Farrer.
Children and Family Photographer
We started the photoshoot at the Natural play area. This area of the Roughs is filled with logs of different shapes and sizes - a great outdoor playground and perfect place for kids to get lost in play and forget about being dragged out in the cold. This was a great place for a few candid photographs of the family enjoying their time and playing hide and seek with the kids! We then followed the path into the woods where I really enjoyed capturing the soft automnal light and the bold shapes of birch trees. The kids were amazing - they were so well behaved, cooperative, playful and up for taking my direction and going with it.
In addition to candid family photos, I also take a few more ‘posed’ photographs for the families so there is a variety of poses for my clients to choose from when the time comes for digital file or print selection. Here is a selection of photographs from recent photoshoot - I hope you enjoy viewing them!
Professional Family Photography
Family portrait photography is a great investment into the future. The photographs become more valuble as the children get older and they capture memories and time which goes in a blink of an eye. I have many family photos framed and put into albums myself, and often look back on them and reminisce.
If you have questions about my family photoshoots, please visit my family photography page, or contact me to discuss a shoot.
Want to give a gift of memories to your loved one or your friend?
My photography gift vouchers make a great birthday, anniversary, baby welcoming, Valantine’s or Christmas present. I offer gift certificates for family, pet, couples, newborn and maternity photoshoots. Please visit my on line store to purchase a voucher, or contact me to arrange purchase of a voucher together with credit which can go towards digital files and/or prints.
I look forward to hearing from you!