Leeds Family Photography - a maternity session with the whole team

If you're adding a new baby to your team, bump photos will be a slightly different experience to the quiet that can come with a first pregnancy session. There's more to keep in the balance. Whether you've got toddlers or older kids, and if you're bringing the dog, it's a full team outing. More people in the photos might mean more chaos, but it will definitely mean catching more love and connection, and I'm here for all of it.

Recently I worked with Holly and her gorgeous family to capture some family photos before their new arrival, and it was an absolute gem of a session. I know they're supposed to review me, but from my perspective, I absolutely loved it.

The location was one of their faves (St Aidan's Nature Reserve in Leeds) and we just walked around together. We had a right good old chat about all sorts, and of course lamented the weather, which was particularly unhinged for the time we were out.

I'm delighted to share some of the pictures from the session, along with a few thoughts on how to get your lot ready for family photos of your own.

Here are my top tips for a family photography session…

Manage expectations all round. Mostly, let go of any feelings about what should happen. We don't really know what's actually going to happen, so we might as well enjoy finding out.

Don't obsess over sunny weather. It really helps to be dry, but you'd be surprised how much overcast skies are your friend. Richer colours, softer tones. Go with it. It will give you good things.

Let yourself feel it all. You're off the hook for being responsible. I'll make as many decisions as I can to take the mental load, so you can just be present and part of it.

Don't stress about outfits. If you've got a vibe you love, whether it's colourful, neutral, or somewhere in between, think coordinating rather than matching. If you don't clash, you're good to go. Or clash if you want to. It's your call.

Always bring the dog. If it feels like a lot, bring them for a bit and then hand them off to someone when they've had their moment in front of the camera. They're part of the family and always welcome.

Play first, photos second. If you've got little ones, let them wander, explore, and settle in. There's no rush to start in the first five minutes. We're good.

Don't worry about looking at the camera and smiling. If it happens, great, but it's really not the focus of our sessions.

Read the room. If you've been going 40 minutes and you've got the shots, don't push it just for time's sake. Equally, if it took 20 minutes to warm up and you need a little longer, let's take it. We don't all run to plan all of the time.

If you'd like to chat about family photography, I always start by sending over my brochure and some example albums so you can see what my work looks like for real families. Head over to Instagram to find out more and drop me a message to chat.