why you should book a family photographer for your visit to york this summer

Without doubt, the end of term is exhausting. The end of the summer term especially, when you've got kids who are moving on and going through big transitions, is a lot. There's so much happening, and there are some tired parents around just trying to keep their heads above water and keep juggling as fast as possible.

Looking ahead to seven weeks of summer holidays can feel like a lot, but summer is one of those times where two things can be true at the same time. Yes, we’re trying to keep everything ticking over while the kids are off. But there's also the freedom, the adventure and the time that summer brings. Being out of routine. Seeing new places. Having new experiences together.

Then September rolls around and often we’re hit with this massive bout of nostalgia. Everyone is swept up with the new academic year, new things, a new routine. For us parents, that's a bit of a gut punch because we're like, you were all here and now you're all off doing things. Often, we soothe that by looking back through family photos and just remembering the joys, even though they’re so close, they already seem so far away.

We also find that when we look back, we have hundreds of pictures of the kids but not very many of us all together. The truth is that it’s difficult to get those pictures. We put in all of this work, time and energy to create these family experiences and then wind up not being a part of the memory bank ourselves.

If you've been here for a while, you'll know I'm always on my soapbox about mums being behind the camera. Yes, we're in the odd selfie, and yes, we're taking pictures of everyone else having a lovely time, but we're so rarely actually part of the story ourselves.

I love a classic family photo where everyone's looking at the camera. There's absolutely a place for those. But the pictures that really tell your family story are the ones where you're just together. The ones where you're connecting with your children, laughing, chatting, holding hands, wandering around somewhere lovely. My research shows that what mums really want to see when they look back are the small connections, the bits of the everyday that they just can't catch themselves on camera. If they have to ask someone else to catch that time, then it has already passed.

It might never have crossed your mind to think, we're going away, let's book a family photographer. But honestly, it's really not such a wild idea.

Sometimes the greatest gift is handing the mental load to somebody else for an hour, and I see that as part of my service.  I'll sort out where we're going, the timing, the light and all the little details. No having to ask strangers to take a picture. No negotiating with your team to smile. It’s off your list, it’s on mine and I’ve got you.

You just get to hang out together.

I'm a local mum and I spent sixteen years as a teacher. I've got two boys and a slightly bonkers working Spaniel. I never like to say I've seen it all, but I've seen quite a lot. I'm passionate about family life because I’m living it. It's chaotic. It's carnage sometimes. It's brilliant. Most of the time it's all those things at once. As a mum and a photographer, I’m not interested in pretending family life is perfect. I just think it's worth recording while we're in it, because these really are the good old days, even when they don't feel like it.

Being local matters too. York is an incredible place to visit, but it’s important to know how to navigate the city at peak touristy times. I know the quieter corners, the better times of day and the places where you’ll have time and space to breathe.

My family photography sessions are simple. We meet up, have a chat, wander around, put the world to rights a little bit, have a laugh, and I take photographs as we go. Before long, you've stopped noticing that I’m taking photos altogether.

I'm not into posing. Of course, I'll make sure you've got some great family photographs of everyone piled in together, but mostly I want you to leave with a gallery that feels like your team.

It feels like a bit of a treat, but honestly, I don't think it should be. Getting everyone in the picture should just be normal life.

Pop me a message here to chat about working together.