I had the most wonderful message from a client yesterday. It made me realise how important my job can be. It read like this:
“OMG Louisa – you’ve rendered us speechless! The beauty in your photos has brought tears to our eyes. You’re such a talented lady and your talent has captured the most incredible images of our family, especially our four-legged members who we don’t expect to be around for so much longer.”
Autumn family photography, Cambridge
This was an average Autumn family photo session. It took place at the family home in Cambridgeshire. There were no special outfits or props… just a very relaxed couple of hours hanging out together, with their pets, laughing and joking in the beautiful Autumn sunshine. But its given this family some beautiful photographs to look back on for years to come and remember this happy time with their precious pets.
Planning a photo session
Before any session, I always chat with my clients and find out a bit more about them – what they enjoy, if they have animals they’d like to include, if the photographs are for a special occasion. We chat about whether to hold a session at home or find a suitable location close by. I offer advise on how to choose an outfit. You can see my Pinterest board about choosing clothing for an Autumn photography shoot here.
Relaxed family photography
Having children and animals of my own, I’m very used to working with them. When I arrive at a client’s house for their session, they’ve had to go through dressing children in clothes they perhaps don’t want to wear, forcing reluctant fathers to dress up and put on a smile for the family portrait and worrying about their children not ‘behaving’ well for the camera. I reassure families that not a single child I photograph wants to sit still and pose perfectly…. but letting children and families play, relax and have fun during a session, like they normally would, creates some real emotions and personalities that show through in the final photographs.
Autumn outdoor photo sessions
Autumn is a beautiful time of year for outdoor family photography sessions. The rich warm colours are stunning and with the sun lower in the sky, there is potential to shoot throughout the day. But no matter the time of year I use the colours and textures of the seasons within my work including the darker earthy winter tones and the lush leafy greens of spring and summer.