Family Photo Session with Dog in Kingston

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it is easy to overlook the simple joys that bring us together as a family. One delightful way to create lasting memories is through a family photo session, and what better way to make it extra special than by including our four-legged family member? This blog post is about one such family; it was a gorgeous autumnal family photo session with their beloved dog.

Family Photoshoot With a Dog

The day began with a mix of excitement and anticipation. I arrived at the family home to be greeted by a very excited cocker spaniel, and a very excited one year old. As we prepared to go outside to a park the family frequents, I took out my camera and started photographing the family getting ready. This enabled me to capture a few genuine expressions, as no one was focusing on me being there. I love the above photo of the girl looking at her dad while her mum was dressing her up - such intensity in one look!

Outdoor Family Photo Shoot

Selecting the right location for this family photo session was crucial. We opted for a scenic park with lush greenery, providing a natural backdrop that beautifully complemented the family's dynamics. The wide-open spaces allowed the dog to run around freely, while a few more formal areas provided some colour and a nice backdrop.

The Unpredictable Joy of Pets

One of the most heartwarming aspects of the photo session was the unpredictable joy that the dog brought to the experience. She brought an infectious energy into the session, creating candid moments that I hope the family will cherish forever. The genuine smiles and laughter captured in these images are a testament to the joy this little furry bundle brings to the family dynamic.

Indoor Family Photography Session

After we spent about an hour outside, it was snack time so we headed back home. After a bit of a rest and recuperation, it was time to take a few family portraits at home, as well as some children’s portraits of the little girl, in her home.

This was one of my favourite family photography sessions with a dog. It was filled with laughter, love, and the unpredictable charm that pets bring to family life. It was a day of creating cherished memories, both in front of and behind the camera. As I look back at the images, I am reminded that the essence of family lies not in perfection but in the genuine moments we share, and including our furry friend made those moments all the more special. So, the next time you plan a family photo session, consider inviting your dog along for the ride—you may just capture the magic of your unique family dynamic. Please have a browse through the gallery below and contact me if you would like to arrange a family photo session with your pet.

Dog Photo Shoot with Family

Family Dogs

Family Dogs is a personal project which documents the relationship families have with their dogs and vice versa. The project came about from my two photography passions - photographing dogs and photographing families. It is currently in its third month and I am greatly enjoying meeting all the fabilous dogs and their owners.

Working on location

Working as a dog photographer, I photograph dogs all over London and the Soth East. This project, however is focused on Surrey dogs and photoshoots take place mainly in outside locations. This particular photoshoot, with the sweetest little cavapoo you’ll ever meet, took place in the family home.

Family Photography with Dogs

This family has a really special bond with their dog. She is adored by the whole family and loves being cuddled. I wanted to capture the bond children have with her, but also how the whole family interacts with her. Photography sessions with children and dogs can be tricky but this particular dog was like a model - as soon as she heard the camera clicking, she would look straight at me, raise her ears and pose. In my career working as a dog photographer, I haven’t seen anything like it!

Getting Involved

If you have a pet and would like to get involved in this project please fet in touch at info@minamilanovic-photography.com. I would love to hear from you!

Photography Gift Vouchers

I offer gift vouchers for pet photoshoots, family photo sessions, newborn photoshoots and couple photo sessions. If you are looking for a different kind of present for a birhday, an anniversity or christmas, do get in touch or visit my store where you can directly buy photography gift certificates.

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!

Surrey Hills Family Photoshoot

This multi-cultural family received a family photography gift certificate from me as a christmas present last year, but due to Covid-19 we only managed to arrange the photoshoot late in the summer. We arranged the family photoshoot in the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, more specifically a lovely little walk around Friday Street. An outdoor location needs to tick a few boxes for me - to be an appropriate distance for the age of a child, to have a nice variety of locations and to provide some shelter from the weather. On this particular day, the forcast was overcast but dry; however the weather decided to do its own thing so it rained for the first half of the session. Luckly, the old oak trees in the wooded part of the walk provided a much needed shelter. Once the rain had stopped, we continued our walk through the pine forest, around the pond, along a lovely little stream and into the beech forest. This great variety of habitats provided wonderful backdrops for a family action shots, children’s portraits and family portraits.

I offer gift vouchers for newborn photoshoots, pet photoshoots and family portraits. If you would like to purchase a gift voucher for a friend or member of your family, please visit my store, or get in touch to arrange a tailored-made photography gift voucher. I look forawrd to hearing from you!

Family and Children's Photographer in Surrey / Documenting Isolation

Working as a Surrey family photographer, I was interested to document the lives of families during corona virus-imposed lockdown. I set out to incorporate documenting family life in Surrey, as part of my daily exercise, always following the government’s advice on social distancing, and working exclusively outdoors, photographing from a safe distance.

I find children photography both challenging and really fun. Some situations present challenges, and these are mainly if parents or grandparents would like to do one thing, and the kids would like to do something totally oposite. Showing a bit of interest in a child’s life and letting them guide you to photograph their world can result in really natural, and ful photographs.

I photographed these two sisters playing in their back garden during lockdown. We started talking about their experience of isolation, and they both told me that they really enjoyed spending more time at home and not having such a busy schedule. When I asked them what they liked to do in the garden, they both exploaded with fun creative energy and were so keen to show me all fun stuff they got up to. Note that the T shirs are also their own creations!

This family photoshoot in Surrey (minus the parents) gave me such a burst of positive energy and whenever I look at these photos I get a warm feeling inside. Kids are amazing, so reselient and they inspire me every single day.

I have started booking in family photo sessions, pet photo sessions, and headshot or passport photography. If you would like to arrange a session, please get in touch. You can also purchase a voucher with a one year validity from my on line store.

Documenting Family Life in Surrey / Surrey Family Photographer

I started a community project to document life of families and individuals during this uncertain and unprecedented time we are passing through. All photography has been done complying with social distancing guidelines, and as part of my daily exercise.

Working as Surrey family photographer, my family photo sessions and all other sessions have ceised during lockdown. Finding inspiration in the work of other fellow photographers, I initiated this project to provide members of my community with a photiographic document of the time which we will all look back on with both fond, and not such fond memories years from now.

This family wanted to document the time they spend together on one of their local walks. They also wanted to document the time were they were still a family of four, before the arrival of the new baby.

I have now resumed with my family photo sessions, which are limited to 5 people, in accordance with the new government guidlines, and I am also doing maternity photoshoots and pet photo sessions. All my sessions are currently done outdoors. If you would like to discuss your family photoshoot, or a maternity session in Surrey or London, please get in touch - I would love to hear from you!

Documenting Family Life During Lockdown / Surrey Family Photography

My previous blog post introduced a project which I started during Covid-19 imposed lockdown, where I set out to do something positive in response to lockdown and to create a photographic document of this unprecedented time in our lives. I started photographing my community during isolation, from a safe distance, socially distancing at all times, incorporating photography into my daily exercise and working exclusively outside.

I am incredibly lucky to be living in the countryside during this time, where there are very few people and lots of space. My own family and many others in are village are appreciating nature around us not only for our daily exercise but also as a classroom where children can learn about different wild flowers and trees, spot different wildlife and enjoy being out in nature!

Photos below are from a family photo session during their daily walk, in a local wooded area which at the time was covered in bluebells. The kids loved showing me their favourite places in the woods, and some of the games they like to play. I love the energy in some of the action shots, but I also love the few quiet frames between the kids and their mum, where I think they are discussing how an ash sapling managed to start growning on the roots of an old oak tree.

As Surrey documentary family photographer, I will be continuing with this project, documenting families while they isolate. If you are interested in participating in this project, give me a shout!

Surrey Family Photographer / Photographs of life in Surrey during Covid-19 outbreak

Like many other self-employed people, my work has been greatly impacted by the current situation.

I found myself compelled to do something positive and to document life in my community during these unprecedented times. I came across an article about a New York photographer Stephen Lovekin who started photographing self isolation and messages people wanted to convey in his neighbourhood in New York. This inspired me to do something similar in my community.

Working as a Surrey family photographer, I set out to document how families spend their time during lockdown, photographing outside, from a safe distance, socially distancing and incorporating photography into my daily exercise, as per government guidelines.

Lockdown has been hard, especially for people living in cities where space is tight. I used to live in London but moved to the countryside a few years ago. The transition has been challenging at times, but I got to appreciate countryside living a lot more during the past couple of months. Although hard at times, there have been many aspects of lockdown that have been really nice for me and my family. This has been the case with a lot of neighbours who I chatted to while doing this project. Being together as a family, the slow down of busy schedules, having the time to potter around the house and garden, bake, taking up a new hobby or re-exploring an old interest. This project has been one of the most positive things I’ve done recently. It helped me connect with my community and meet a lot of lovely people up and down my road.

Below is a set of photos from my first project - my next door neighbours spending time as a family in their garden, reading books and playing in the sand pit with their one year old daughter.

I hope you enjoy the photos!

Surrey Family Photographer | Professional Family Photoshoot

December is wizzing past and Christmas is just round the corner. I have had a busy year with lots of wonderful photoshoots. Some of these have been with my existing, loyal clients who have supported me from the very beginning. Others have been with new clients who I hope to see again and again in years to come.

Relaxed Family Photo Sessions

My year has been marked by a variety of different commissions - a post-wedding photoshoot, newborn photo sessions, pet photography, christening event photography, wax figure photography. However, the majority of photoshoots have been family photo sessions. I absolutely love photographing families - I enjoy meeting and getting to know a family. The kids always bring fun and games to a photoshoot - there is never a dull moment! I like to keep things as natural as possible when I work, this keeps the whole family relaxed which in turn makes photos and people in them look natural. I occasionally give a suggestion for a game or activity but I often find that kids are the ones who beat me to it, and spontaneously come up with a new creative game.

Indoor and Outdoor Family Photography

The two photographs below were taken at a photoshoot a couple of months ago (I am a bit behind with my blog posts!), where I was commissioned to take photos at a big family get together. After a couple of hours taking photos of everyone outside in the garden, I came inside to pack up and take a few last shots of the kids. They started dancing and playing, and I managed to capture a few of these candid moments. These ended up to be some of my favourite photos from this session. Completely unposed, just kids playing, showing me their moves and toys, having the best time!

If you are having a family get together, or you would like some photos of your immediate family, please get in touch to discuss your requirements. If you would like to find out more information about my family photoshoots, head over to my family photography page.

Surrey Family Photographer / Family Photo Session in Coulsdon

I remember really enjoying taking photos when I was a kid, using my dad’s SLR camera to take photos (mainly) of my dogs. Much has changed since then, most significantly the transition from film to digital, and easy access to high quality photographic equipment, and information on how to use it.

I got my first DSLR camera as a birthday present from my parents, I would say roughly 12, or 13 years ago. It was a Canon 400D with a 24-85 mm f3.5-4.5 USM lens. It was a great little camera to learn on, as it wasn’t overly complicated for the beginner but had enough features to keep me occupied for a while. Several courses, a couple of cameras and many blurry photos later, I was ready for an upgrade. My dear friend Michael and I spent many hours talking about cameras and lenses when both him and I were deciding on buying a new camera. I went for a Canon 5D mk III, a camera which I love and still use today. I chose this particular camera because at the time I was toying with the idea of furthering photography and exploring the possibility of working as a photographer. A few months later, the same friend Michael and his then fiance Susan, asked me to photograph their wedding. If not the beggining of my photography career, this was definitely a defining moment. Soon after that I left the world of science and embarked on a journey to becomming a professional photographer, specialising in family portraiture, children, newborn and pet photography.

Family Photoshoot in Surrey

Six years, and two children later, we arranged a family photoshoot in Coulsdon, Surrey. We went on an adventure walk around Farthing Downs, exploring spring blossoms, secret paths and looking for ladybirds. It was a joyous afternoon spent with friends who have supported me from the very start. And for that I am forever greatful. Here are a few photos I took, some of them my new favourites!

Family Photo Sessions in Surrey and London

I love exploring the countryside and visiting London parks with clients, but I also work in the comfort of my clients homes. My family photo sessions are playful, relaxed and centred around kids and what they like to do. If you would like to discuss a family photo session, or to make a booking, please get in touch using the contact page on my website.