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!
Photographing Action in Family Photography
We are on lockdown at the momenet but life still goes on. Like many other families, me and my family are spending more time together, pottering around the house, enjoying our garden and exploring local walks. We are so blessed to be living in the countryside with so many walking paths and wooded areas on our doorstep. I realise this is a privilage and that many people in cities including my own family are finding lockdown much harder and more challenging than we are.
Like many freelancers, my work has been drastically reduced but I am using this time to practice different aspects of photography and take my camera with me during my daily exercise. Sometimes I photograph landscapes, sometimes nature details but probably most often my 3 and half year old, who is still (most of the time) a complient model!
We have been doing lots of running around and jumping on our local field so I thought I’d share some tips on photographing children in action, in case you are feeling inspired to practice photography while spending (more) time with your children.
Whether it is my child or I am photographing my client’s children, I try to get the children to play a game they like, to jump their biggest jump, go on a trampoline or spin around. This really engages the child and sets a scene for some genuine, fun action photos.
Make sure you focus the camera on your subject, and if you own a dSLR consider setting your focus to AI Servo (Canon) or AF-C (Nikon). This focusing option is useful when tracking moving objects, and keeping the focus on the little ones when they are running around.
Another point I try to consider before I take an action shot is whether I would like to freeze or blur motion. Freezing action, like in the two photographs above is great for focusing on detail. Photographing on slow shutter speed can introduce a sense of motion and fun into an image. It is also a great option when you are photographing children in a busy environment; it puts the focus only on your subject and removes distracting objects in the background. I took the photo below at the very end of the photoshoot when I was experimenting and trying out new things. I nearly threw up from being so incredibly dizzy but I love the resulting image. It shows movement, excitement, fun and absolute joy that this girl was experiencing on this merry go round.
The photo below was also taken on slow shutter speed to show movement but this time I turned my objective as the kids were running towards me. It makes me feel like they are both running straight at me!
Finally, don’t be afraid to move around and experiment with different angles. Try photographing straight on, from the side, low down, from above. We are used to seeing things one way, so moving around and finding new angles to show a familiar view will make your photograph stand out.
In the image below, I photographed action from a low angle to emphasize the jump. During this particular practice session with my daughter, I tried photographing her jump from the front and from a side angle, both of which didn’t really work. It was only when I went down low inside the ditch which you can see in the bottom third of the photograph, that it all came together. I love her motion in this photo - it looks like she’s flying!
In the following photograph, I photographed from a high angle to capture the setting of where the action was taking place. This was a family photoshoot in Sussex and after spending a couple of hours outside in the garden, we went inside for a few infoor shots. I noticed the staircase and thought it would be nice to include it somehow in the picture. The girl I was photographing loved ballet and was really interested in showing me her dance moves. It really love like how the staircase acts as a leading line to lead the viewer to the girl dancing at the bottom of the staircase, and is one of my favourite action shots.
If you would like to find out more about my family photo sessions, please visit my Family Photography page. To see more photos of children in action, visit my Children Portraits page. If you would like to book a family photo session, or would like to enquire about my sessions, feel free to get in touch - I would love to hear from you!
Commercial Pet Photography | London Dog Photographer
Commercial Dog Photography
I love worrking with small businesses and helping them out with their photography requirements. Below is a selection of photographs I did for a Dog Grooming and Doggy Day Care business in Hampstead Heath, called Sniffles Dog Grooming Spa. This is a lovely family-run place, providing first class care for dogs and their owners. The brief was to produce a set of photographs showcasing the space, services and dog accessories/products offered. It was a great morning spent at Hamstead Heath and I made lots of friends (furry and human!) along the way!
Dog Photographer London
If you are a small business, and are looking for a commercial pet photographer in the UK to take photos for your brand, pet products, web content or marketing material, please get in touch to discuss your requirements. I would love to hear from you and discuss your project!
London Dog Photographer | Family and Pet Photoshoot
Family and Pet Photoshoot
I recently did a family and pet photoshoot with an eight month old baby and the most gorgeous chocolate lab Lola. Lola is the perfect family dog - calm, trustworthy, loving and so incredibly tolerant. She has become somewhat of a nanny to the family’s youngest addition, and it was lovely to follow the two of them around the house, photographing them playing, interacting and relaxing together. Lola’s expressions made me lough at times, there were definitely a few “Oh, no, not again!” looks.
Professional Family and Pet Photographer
I love photographing children, and I love photographing dogs. Often clients comment on what a combination that is! Although challenging and frustrating at times, I find that if I don’t try to control the situation but let the interaction happen spontaniously, photo opportunities present themselves organically and I just need to be there at the time to capture the magic unfolding. I love the little sequence of the baby and Lola interacting - it is the little looks, touches and smiles that melt my heart.
If you would like to arrange a family photo session, or a pet photo session, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.
London and Surrey Dog Photographer
I work all across London, Surrey, and the South East photographing dogs and their owners. I have photographed dogs in Hampstead Heath, Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Marble Hill Park and beautiful Surrey Hills. The outdoor location provides the perfect setting for dogs to run, jump, splash in water, roll in mud and chill out in the sun. I can also take photos of your pet in your own home, relaxing in his favourite chair or exploring her favourite part of the garden.
Although I mainly work in and around London, Surrey and the South East, I am more than happy to travel to other destinations. However due to extra time and occasionally an overnight stay, this type of work may involve additional fees. Please contact me if you would like to enquire.
Pet Photography Gift Vouchers
If you are looking to give a gift of photography to your loved one, you’ve come to the right place! My pet photography gift vouchers are the perfect birthday, anniversary, mother’s day or Christmas gift. For more information, please visit my Gift Voucher page.
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!
Dog Photoshoot in Surrey / Surrey Pet Photographer
This sweet female dalmatian called Polka was the winner of a local dog show, where she won the prize for a one hour dog photoshoot with me. I visited her and her owner at their home, a beautiful farm house in Surrey.
As Surrey dog photographer, I look to capture a dog’s character, their favourite surrounding and their relationship with their owner. The owner of this lady only wanted portraits of Polka and her enjoying her surrounds.
Here are a few photos of her - looking not best pleased with me in some of the photos!
Dog Photography as a Gift
I offer 1h and 2h pet photography and dog photography gift vouchers. You can purchase the vouchers in my on line store here, or you can contact me to arrange purchasing a voucher with photo credit. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your idea.
I work in London, Surrey, Sussex and the South East as a pet photographer, and travel further afield at an additional cost.
For more information od dog photography, go to my dog photography page.
Horse Photoshoot in Surrey / London and Surrey Pet Photographer
The owner of these two lovely horses won a photography voucher and wanted a few prints of his beloved horses. I travelled to his yard in Surrey on a chilly November morning, on an overcast day when the sun was slowly starting to come out. Some trees still had leaves and proviced a magical automnal backdrop.
The horses were quite curious and kept coming close to check me out - this was great for close ups but a bit difficult for portrait shots of the two of them together. I had to keep moving backwards trying to take a wide angle shot! I went into a far corner of the field to get some distance and stood under an oak tree to get some autumnal colour into my frame. Then, like magic, both horses came right in front of the tree, perfectly framed by the low branches.
I really enjoyed this equestrian photoshoot, and I hope you enjoy viewing some of my favourite photos from the session.
Surrey equestrian photography
I offer horse photography across London, Surrey and the South East. I will travel to your yard and take photos of the horses in their yard when they are just chilling out, we can go out on one of your favourite rides and take some photos in nature or I can take photos of you riding - totally up to you! If you would like to discuss your equine photoshoot, please get in touch!
Photography gift vouchers
Know someone who loves horses or owns a horse? My photography gift certificates make a great birthday, anniversary or Christmas gift. You can purchase a gift voucher by visiting my on line store here, or you can contact me to arrange purchasing a horse photography gift voucher with added credit for digital files and/or prints.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Couples Photoshoot | Surrey Wedding Photographer
Professional couple photoshoot
I really enjoy photographing couples. A professional couple photoshoot is a great way of exploring a part of town, a park or woods, and getting to know the clients. I strive to provide my couples with a set of beautiful photographs which they can use as part of wedding planning, or simply as a memory of a special time in their life.
Pre-Wedding Photoshoot London and Surrey
Whether you are celebrating your anniversary, you recently got engaged or married, or you are moving to a different country, a couples photoshoot will capture this special time in your relationship.
Natural Couples Photo Sessions
My couples photography sessions take place outdoors and last roughtly 2h during which time we can take photos at a variety of locations. I try to arrange photographing couples in their faviourite locations, as well as using nature and natural elements as backdrops. I try to keep the sessions relatively informal to create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere during the photoshoot. I will work with you to suggest poses and suitable backgrounds, but will also seek to capture more 'spontanious' moments which have a candid feel.
Surrey and London Engagement Photographer
I work across Surrey and London and can suggest different locations, depending on your personal preference and style. I have photographed couples on the streets of Dulwich and Peckham, as well as in more natural settings like Richmond park.
If you are planning a wedding, and would like to arrange an engagement photoshoot, please get in touch. My wedding photography packages start from two hours and go up to full day photography coverage. Have a look here for more information.
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!
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.
