York Family photography - five things mums should know about hiring me to take their family photos

N O W  P L A Y I N G : ‘Ordinary’ by Alex Warren // I’m not sure if I’ve had this song on a blog post before but who cares because it’s great. Mums this one is for you. if you’re thinking about family photos but you’re not really sure how to move on it, then here’s everything I want you to know about my approach to getting your family on camera. I’m a big believer in demystifying the process and also calling out any stigma that can sometimes come with the concept of a ‘family photoshoot.’ There are a ton of different ways you can get family photos, in a million styles with more choices than we can ever list. The important thing though, is that you get them. 

if you’re thinking about working with me, here are five things I want you to know about my approach to the whole thing.

It’s not a performance // Or maybe, no performance is necessary. If you’ve never had family photos before you’re probably going to feel fairly weird in the first couple of minutes, that could not be more normal. But hopefully once you meet me, you’ll realise very quickly that you do not have to be anything that you’re not. I know we can feel like we just want everyone to be ‘on form’ for this one part of this one day, but honestly, you can let it go. How many times do moods rise and fall in a short space of time on any given day? We don’t wipe out our whole afternoon because of a tricky five minutes, if we did, we’d never do anything. Kids feed off our energy, so let them be what they are and our confidence in them to show up as themselves.

I’m here to help you take the load // If you’re going to tell me that parenting isn’t a lot at times then we’re probably not a good match It’s A LOT  (and more) at times and that’s exactly why you should do this. I’m passionate about making it clear that two things can be true at the same time. Family life can be a ride, but we shouldn’t shy away from finding the joys because we’re worried we’re not like this all the time. Find me someone who is, though I’m not sure I would want to know them. The good bits are the good bits because the rough bits remind us that they’re the good bits. Our minds can go to all places, but for this one though, you can hand over to me all the stuff that weighs heavy about the process of getting in pictures with your kids. I’m here because I believe in the value of it, and I’ve got you covered.

I know what it’s like being in the parenting trenches because I’m there too // I’m a parent of two boys, a teenage spaniel and I’m an ex assistant headteacher who spent 16 years working in school, with a pastoral care and aspiration focus. The truth is we never really know what our kids will do or say at any given time. Mine have left me open mouthed plenty of times, often with pride and but plenty of times with total mortification. They’re like walking human roulettes and so my point is, don’t let the chaos and the uncertainty stop you doing this. Chances are it will be more relaxed than you’d ever imagined possible. You’d have to go some to surprise me anyway. (It’s not a dare. Okay maybe it is.)

You do not need permission // I say this all the time, and maybe you’re thinking well what does she mean, but it can be so ingrained us that we don’t really realise we’re waiting for it. We wait for gift vouchers or for someone to pick up the camera and offer to take our photo and even then we probably say oh no don’t worry because we don’t like to put people out. There’s always something that will take priority and we will always put other things before ourselves. But like so many other things in this life, you have to go out and get it. Just because someone else didn’t think about it, it doesn’t mean it’s not an excellent idea. Just because you’ve decided to pursue it yourself, for yourself, it doesn’t mean it has to be explained. In my (loud but humble) opinion, getting in the photo with your kids is one of the most valuable investments you can make.

I will help you pre-empt the nostalgia // If you’re like me, and you’re treading the precarious balance of living in now but also breathing in the smell of their hair once they’re asleep and just wanting a little longer with them as they are, then you might think it’s mad but I actually think you should be doing some planning for the future. What about when we can’t bury our heads in their hair anymore because they don’t even live in our house? (I refuse to think about it or drive it home any further but I’m going to assume you get my point). Then you’ll need to get your scroll on and dig into the archives. Think about what you’ll want to find, for yourself. Then when they want to see what it was like too. What do you want them to remember? Write it into your family album now or you’ll all miss it then.

If I sound like your kind of person, then it’s time to pop me a message and we’ll get you booked in. Family sessions are around an hour (or they can be longer if you need) and you don’t purchase your image package until you’ve seen the gallery. Nothing left to wait for as far as I can see. Let’s get you in the photo.