Documentary Family Photography and Real Life Family Films

It's not about what your family life looks like, it's about what it feels like.

Real life isn’t perfect but it’s beautiful. Let me tell you what I mean by that.

The time you spend with your favorite people is priceless. A smile, a glance, a giggle, a tender hug. Love shown through the smallest gestures might look like nothing from the outside but it’s everything for you. That’s the real, unfiltered family story I want to capture for you.

Document life as it is. Take photos of everything your family does, don’t wait for life to be perfect. You’ll never know how precious these moments will be in years to come.

Client Love Letters

"It’s so magical looking at these photos and seeing our life! I’m going treasure every single one of them."

— Alice Conroy

mum and daughter laughing and singing

Why Documentary Family Photography?

Life is busy, messy, there’s never enough time and no matter how much you try to keep things clean, something will always be dirty. Your kitchen, your kids or your hair. You gotta choose which you can live with most.

The thing is though, we need to stop trying to be perfect and instead be present. Otherwise we’ll miss the magic of childhood.

Growing up is about understanding who we are, finding our place in the world and our identity. Photos can help with that – not just now but in the future too.

Studies show that having photos of your children displayed in your home helps their self-confidence and gives them a feeling of belonging. Especially if those images show their family unit with them – and that is where you come in.

Stop hiding from the camera because you haven’t lost that baby weight or aren’t feeling pretty enough. Your kids don’t care. For them, you’re the most beautiful, strong and wise person in the world. That person belongs in their visual memories.

I hear you, family photo sessions can be cringy and uncomfortable. But what if I told you that your photo session doesn’t have to be like that?

Browse my Documentary Family Photography Portfolio

Ever heard of Family Films?

Family films are amazing. They’re basically a family photograph on steroids. It’s a family portrait but with movement and sound.

Imagine you could bottle up the way your child mispronounces a certain word. The way it feels to prepare breakfast together. The mess too. Anything that seems to be a routine and ordinary in your life now will feel special a few years down the line. These moments are a keepsake you will be able to relive it in a month or 20 years through my films.

If you don’t like being posed and feeling forced to smile for the camera, you will love my documentary approach during my sessions. Your kids will never be asked to smile for me or moved into better light for the sake of a photo. My films, just like my photos, are all about the connections within your family. The main goal is for you to forget that I’m even there and just spend your day the way you usually would.

During your session, I’ll be something between a fly on the wall observing your family’s dynamic but also right in there with you to capture everything I see.

The power of video

The impact video has on people, is universal. Imagine you could bottle up the way your child mispronounces a certain word. A capture of how you make breakfast together. Getting ready for bedtime. Anything that seems to be a routine in your life will feel special a few years down the line. You’ll remember your first home together. Or the afternoon coffee at your nan’s. All of that and more is a keepsake I can document for you – to relive it in a month or 20 years.

Browse my Real Life Family Film Portfolio
Client Love Letters

"This film is so much more than I ever expected. You’ve given us such lovely gifts to pass down to our children which I know they will love showing their own children one day."

– Nicci Hudson

What's my style?

My photo and filming sessions are very relaxed – no matter the chaos around me. I won’t pose you, I won’t tell you where to stand or sit, I’ll just follow you around while you and your family do your thing. At home or on a day out. You won’t need to make sure your children are smiling and behaving for the camera.

family-looking-at-photo-album
christmas with the family

I capture real life for you because that’s what your children will remember. Most importantly, you can be yourself and just enjoy your time with them, not minding me or my camera. This is completely unscripted, emotive photography.

Where do documentary family photography and film sessions take place?

I’m passionate about capturing my clients in their homes. It’s where you and your kids will probably feel the most comfortable. It also gives me the opportunity to document you in your personal space. In 20 years, you’ll look back at these images and remember all the small details that will have changed in your life.

But documentary family photography doesn’t just work at home. It can include walking the dog, going to the market to buy eggs, picking up the laundry or visiting the playground. Whatever your day would usually look like, will be part of the photos that tell the story of you.

The goal of my documentary photo sessions is to capture who you are as a family and create memories for you and your kids to look back to in years to come.

What if it rains?

The best thing about documentary family photography and films is that we don’t rely on the weather. Most sessions happen at home anyway and if the weather is a bit shit, it’ll make hanging out at your house just a bit cozier.

If we planned your session to be somewhere outside, in most cases a bit of rain still won’t stop us. Just make sure you’re all dressed for the weather. In the event of a downpour that won’t end and without a sheltered backup location, we might have to postpone your session afterall. We’ll be able to make a plan for that when we plan your session.

Pricing

My pricing for family photography and family films is separated in 2 stages: a session fee PLUS a photo collection.

Session fee

My sessions take around 2 hours on average but but can be slightly shorter or longer, depending on what’s going on or how everyone is feeling.

The session fee for a photography and film package also includes a 2-3min film that you will be able to download and share with others.

 

The session fee does NOT include any digital or printed images.
When booking a photography session, please be aware that I will not record any video unless you booked and paid for a “session plus film”.

Session fee

£150

  • client questionnaire and session preparation as needed
  • client prep-guide
  • 2-hour(ish) documentary family photo session

Session fee plus Film

£450

  • client questionnaire and session preparation as needed
  • client prep-guide
  • 2-hour(ish) documentary family photo and film session
  • 1-2min family film to download

Collections

My collection prices start at £350.

All my collections come with a set number of digital files and a print credit. I’ll walk you through the collections and what they include in a phone or video chat and will give you all the information to read through before committing to anything.

If you’ve got questions on any of the above or anything else, just get in touch and let’s have a chat! I can walk you through my complete process and full pricing on the phone and answer all questions you might have.

Message me

Not quite ready yet for a chat? Why not download my freebie?

unconventional family photos in chaotic home