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.

Documentary Photographer in Surrey / Photographing an artist at work

I started a community project during lockdown with an aim to document my community during this unprecidented time we are passing though.

I was interested to find out how individuals and families spent time, and was pleasantly surprised that many people enjoyed the slower pace of life, spending time as a family, doing a bit of gardening, dog walking in the countryside, taking up new hobbies or re-visiting old ones.

Here my neighbour and artist, paints an oil portrait she was commissioned to do by another member of our community during lockdown. Painting is something she did all her life, and found a new passion for it in recent months. She did quite a few portraits for the people on our road, and I am so pleased that she agreed to do one of our daughter too. We will treasure it, not only as a memory of our daughter as a three year old, but also of the time when a virus really brought our community together.

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!

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.