I don’t remember getting my first ever camera, but I think it must have been somewhere around the age of twelve or thirteen. I know that I’ve pretty much had one in my hands ever since, literally collecting memories in every possible scenario I encountered. There was an inexplicable, deep-rooted desire within me to document my story, to capture life as I saw it through my eyes, to freeze-frame a moment in time that depicted an emotion that I knew I wanted to remember forever.
I still have that desire now and it’s only got stronger over time. Travelling, having my daughters, losing beloved family members and many, many more things besides have made me realise just how precious photographs are to me for reasons almost beyond my comprehension. If I’m honest, it’s become a bit of an obsession.
And then it dawned on me that if I feel so deeply about photographs I’ve taken of the people I love, then others must feel the same about photos of their loved ones too. I realised that I wanted to be able to give other people the gift of keeping those memories forever, of experiencing the same feelings I have when I look at captured images and am instantly transported back to that precise moment of joy or love or happiness or hope.
I love photographing families exactly as they are and strive to capture those moments of connection that are unique to you: eskimo kisses; fingers entwined in hair; cheeky grins; loving glances; hand holding; snuggles… There’s not usually much posing involved and natural light is preferred wherever possible. I currently offer two kinds of family photography sessions: ‘Adventure Sessions’ and ‘In Home Sessions’.
Adventure Sessions: I’m based in Staffordshire, so many of my Adventure Sessions take place in the beautiful locations I’m lucky enough to have on my doorstep – woodland, rope swings, streams and canals all feature regularly. However, if you have a favourite location or somewhere that holds a special meaning for you please do let me know as travelling further afield is always possible. We’ll explore, play and adventure together for an hour or two, with me capturing around sixty to eighty photos of you and your family doing what you do best – being together and loving each other. From £200.
In Home Sessions: A new addition to the collection of sessions I offer. Some of my most favourite photos of my own girls have been taken at home, the place where they feel most able to be themselves. In Home Sessions allow you to be in the comfort of your own home and garden doing the things you love to do as a family – playing games, baking, or snuggling on the sofa reading stories together for example. I’ll be with you for an hour or so capturing those little moments in between the chaos and the calm of family life that would mean very little to an outsider, but to you, mean everything, telling your story exactly as it unfolds. From £150.