Family Dogs / Surrey Family and Pet Photographer

Family Dogs

I love taking family photographs and I also love photographing dogs. That is why I recently started a personal project called Family Dogs, with an aim to document the relationship families have with their pet dogs. To kick start the series, I photographed a gorgeous cocker spaniel Lexi with her human family. We arranged our dog and family photo shoot near Leith Hill as the family lived close by and one of their favourite things to do in spare time was to go on long country walks.

Family portraits with pets

It was a warm summer day in late summer, with sunshine coming through the clouds but with rain looming in the distance. We started our walk at the bottom of the hill, walking up the gentle slopes, sun coming through the trees. This first part of the session provided some great opportunities for group shots, the colours of the dead leaves on the ground matching Lexi’s coat. It was lovely to work with the earhy colour palette. A part of the route up towards Leith Hill has some impressive tree roots which form an amazing pattern on the ground. I knew I wanted to include these in the photographs, so I positioned Lexi for a few dog portraits. I particurlarly like black and white versions of these photographs, the textures and patterns really come through. Once we were on top of the hill, I looked around for nice spots for some more family shots. The heather was in bloom and I wanted to include it in the photos. Often when photographing families with dogs, there is quite a bit of arranging going on. Either the dog doesn’t want to sit still, the kids want to run around or both things happen making it nearly impossible to take a group shot! On this occasion, by some miracle, the family set down and just as they did so (while also looking at the camera), Lexi came from behind and poked her head through a little hole in the middle. This is one of the rare unposed, unplanned photos which just happened and turned out amazing! It is one of my favouirtes from this family and pet photo session, probably because it was so spontaneous!

Dog Portraits

Finally, a dog photo session with an energetic dog like Lexi wouldn’t be complete without a few action shots. I got Lexi to run along the paths amongst the heather and she did so with such speed that my auto focus struggled to keep up. I love taking a variety of different shots which capture memories of our pets in different situations - while frantically running around, chasing a ball, playing with another dog or a family member, or having a quiet moment. Different moments take us back and awaken memories we thought we lost.

Family Photography with Dogs

If you live in Surrey and are interested in participating in my Family Dogs photography project, please get in touch - I would love to hear from you and photograph your family and your dog(s)!

Dog Photography Gift Vouchers

If you are looking for a different kind of gift for someone’s birthday, anniversary or Christmas present, then a photography gift voucher may be the answer. I offer 1h and 2h dog photography gift vouchers. You can add extra credit to the gift certificate, which can go towards digital files or prints, or leave it up to the receipient to choose what they’d like at the end of the photoshoot. Get in touch if you have any questions!

Family Photographer in Surrey

This family photo session took place earlier this summer and was part of my community project. The family photoshoot took place at the family’s Surrey home, which is a village away from where I live. To get to their place, I walked a few miles through fields and woods, and in turn discovered a lovely local walk which I now frequent.

I wanted to photograph the family at their house, to capture some of the memories they’ve made during this unprecedented time. They have been spending a lot of time outdoors, the boys playing in the garden. After an energetic start and a few action shots of the boys around their playhouse, the family settled on a bench and had a nice quiet time with a story and a cup of tea. I like the high energy kinds bring to photoshoots. It keeps me on my toes - I have to think and act quickly, often changing the ideas I may have had at the start.

I am so grateful to all the families who have supported me and my community project during the pandemic. The reality has been so different for people living in urban and non-urban areas. When I started this project I imagined photographing families behind windows and on doorsteps. However, a lot of people in my community, like me, have had the good fortune during the pandemic of space and gardens. And therefore, a lot of my photographs documenting families during this time, all taken outdoors and following government guidelines, are of families enjoying their time outdoors.

My family photo sessions have evolved to become physically distanced, and to exclusively take place outdoors. If you are thinking of commissioning a family photo session, please contact me to discuss your requirements. I would love to hear from you!

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!

Surrey Family Photographer | Location Family Photoshoot

Indoor baby photoshoot

I am so incredibly lucky to have many wonderful returning cusomers who have been with me since the beggining of my photography career. That kind of support means everything to me. This photo session was my third session with this couple, and the first family photoshoot since the birth of their gorgeous baby.

The family photoshoot took place both at the family home and outside. As Surrey baby photographer, I find that baby photoshoots work well in two locations; babies tend to be more active and engaging in the comfort of their own home, and more relaxed and intrigued outdoors. So the combination of the two creates a nice veriety of situations which allow me to capture different set of shots for my clients.

The first part of the session was mainly focused on baby photography, capturing the character, actions and interactions of this little inquisitive girl. Playtime in her bedroom, interactions with her dad, mum and their pet dog, crawling and standing. Here are a few photos from the first part of the photo session.

Outdoor family photography

Following the indoor baby photoshoot, we headed outside for some fresh air, family time and family portraits. It was an amazing day, with lots of sunshine and automnal colours - perfect working conditions for a family photographer. I love shooting this time of year, the sun is lower and softer than in the summer months and colours are warm. I try to find many different backdrops during my family photo sessions, I work using a combination of unobtrusive documentary-style photography, and giving families gentle direction on posing, where to stand or what to look at. The result is a set of candid lifestyle photographs which my clients can cherish in years to come. This was such a fun, feel-good photoshoot, it is one that is very dear to my heart and I love the colours in the atmosphere in the final photos.

If you are considering having professional family photos done or organising a baby photoshoot, please contact me, I would love to hear from you!

Family Photographer London and Surrey / St Day celebration

Today is my family Slava, a serbian orthodox tradition celebrating our family's patron saint, archangel Michael. It is a day spent with family and friends, so to mark the day I look back at some of my recent photoshoots which captured happy families across London and Surrey.