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 Session with Dog at Fulham Palace
A few years ago, I went to an open air cinema event at Fulham Palace, a gorgeous estate on the banks of the river, right next to Putney Bridge in West London. It was a warm summer’s evening and the palace grounds were the perfect backdrop to “When Harry Met Sally”.
Family Photoshoot with Dog
Fast forward several years, and I was back at Fulham Palace to photograph a lovely family with a dog. The grounds were even more beautiful than I remembered with lots of varied backdrounds for family portraits and dog shots. The dog was so sweet, resembling a real life nanny, looking after the baby and checking in on him.
London Children Photographer
The baby (or toddler!) was around a year old, he was finding his feet and loved crawling and walking. This made it difficult to position him at times but I’ve learned over the years that with children you have to go with the flow, and adjust your working style to suit their needs. Therefore, I was on the go a lot!
Dog Photography in Fulham
During this family and pet photo session, I worked fast to photograph the family in various locations, and get a variety of shots for my client. Here are some of my favourite images from this London family and dog photo shoot, hope you like them too!
Get In Touch
If you would like to arrange a family photoshoot with your pet, please do not hesitate to get in touch. I love working with families and pets and I look forward to working with you!
Forest Hill Family Photoshoot
I have photographed this loving family on their favourite nature walk in the Forest Hill / Dulwich area. We spent the first hour or so outside, enjoying a mild spring day, then went back home for a cup of tea and some more indoor shots.
I don’t often photograph older children so I wasn’t quite so sure how this photo session will go. However as soon as I met everyone I realised that this was going to be a relaxed, fun family photo shoot! Since this was a family photo session with a dog, the kids had lots to tell me about their dog which was a great starting point for a conversation. I subsequently found out all about their interests and hobbies, which enabled me to build a trusting connection with them needed to be able to capture genuine moments on photographs. The boys and the whole family were absolute stars and made my work on the day a dream.
I love this set of family portraits, especially that some of the photos captured the closeness of their relationship and a few really geniune moments.
If you would like to arrange a family photo session in your local area, please get in touch, I would love to hear from you!
Family Photo Session in Bushy Park
This family photo session started in Bushy Park, and continued in the family home close by in Teddington. It was a really nice summer day (I am so behind on my blog posts!) , it was overcast which provided even lighting for my subjects.
We spent the first 15-20 min of the session chatting and getting to know each other. Working as a family photographer, I learnt that this part of the session is the most important. It breaks the initial ice so clients can relax and enjoy the rest of the session. We were looking for some nice areas for a group shot; Busy park can be a bit tricky in terms of locations as it is so open and flat. I saw an old oak tree which I was keen to include into the family portrait - a symbol of strenght, stability and longevity. After that initial family portrait, it was time for cuddles and play. After a short walk, we came to a stream which was the perfect setting to explore the surroundings and look for interesting wildlife living in the stream and on the banks. Getting children to engage with their parents is the best way of obtaining natural looking images.
I really enjoyed this family photoshoot and love some of the photos; they bring joy and put a smile on my face. I hope you like them too.
Following the outdoor session, we went back home for some snacks and quiet time. I wanted to photograph the little girl with the family dog, which proved trickier than planned, but we managed to get them sitting next to each other in the end.
At the end of each photoshoot, I like to do something slightly different and experiment. It is a time when I have fun and try out different things - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. On this occasion, I spotted a lovely painting which the family bought in Australia, while living there. I learned that it was a piece of Aboriginal art, so I was keen to include it in the photograph. It was a rather unglamorous scene - both parents holding the painging while also making sure the baby doesn’t fall flat on its face. In the end, it was a triumph - no injuries and a lovely meaningful background for children’s portraits. I hope you like it as much as I do.
If you are considering having family portraits done, either with or without your dog, please do contact me for more information and to arrange a session. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing your ideas!
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 with Dog in Surrey
This family received a Christmas dog photography gift voucher from their daughter. She thought the whole family would enjoy the experience of having their photos taken in company of their elderly dog, in their beautiful home in Surrey.
Family photo shoots with dogs are always fun! Dogs bring a different energy to the session, and I find that people tend to be more relaxed in front of the camera when dog is around. There is another being to think about, to instruct, pose and cuddle, diverting the attention away from thinking about how we look or feel in front of the camera.
When photographing dogs and families, I work to initially take a few group shots. Then, depending on the energy level of the dog I am photographing, I either take dog portrait shots, or dog action shots. Then I would move over to individual family member portraits with the dog, and finally focus on more spontanious and creative images. That way, I ensure I have a wide variety of photographs my clients can choose from.
I am based in Surrey, but will travel to your home or one of the stunning locations in Surrey and London for family photography or family and dog photo sessions.
To purchase a dog photography gift voucher as a birthday present, or a Christmas gift, please contact me to discuss your requirements. Alternatively, head over to my Gift Vouchers page where you purchase a one hour or two hour pet photography gift certificate directly from my website.
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.
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.
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 Photoshoot With Their Dog in Dorking, Surrey
Family photoshoots with dogs are my favourite! I love the sense of adventure I get to experience when both kids and dogs are involved in the creative process. Kids always have amazing ideas about which games to play, suggestions of what would make a fun shot and they love to show off various activities and hobbies. Dogs bring a little bit of extra chaos into the mixture. I never know what is going to happen next!
Back in the autumn when leaves were still on tress in beautiful shades of green, yellow and orange, I photographed a family in Dorking with their pet dog. This was an energetic session from the start. Within the first 15 minutes, there was a race, a hide and seek game amongst the breacon and who can do a highest jump!
In the first half of the sesson, I also wanted to take a family portrait with their dog. This shot took a while to set up and as I called the dog to look at me, he took the decision to actually run towards me. The resulting image is quite comical as it looks like he photo bombed my shot. I love a bit of spontaneity!
Later on in the session, while the kids were climbing a tree, the sun came out and gave the whole scene a beautiful look. The light was fantastic, the colours were vivid and beautiful and I saw the potential to take individual portraits of older children as well as a group shot of the kids. These are my favourite images from the shoot and I hope you like them too.
Looking at the photos, they remind me so much of my own childhood. I used to love spending time in nature with my family and my dog. It always felt like an adventure. I love the energy and free spirit this family brought to the family photo session, and I hope I captured at least a fraction of that!
Please visit my family photo session page for more information, or visit my blog if you would like to browse through the different family and pet photoshoots. Get in touch if you would like to discuss your photoshoot, or visit my store if you are considering purchasing a photography gift voucher for a friend or a family member.
