Stunning Peak District family session along with fine art studio portraits
When it comes to having your family captured there’s many different ways you can do this. Think back to the 80s/90s (you probably have one of these photos with your parents somewhere) where there’s a plan backdrop and studio lighting and you are all made to smile at the camera. This is the opposite to what photographs I produce for families. Think more about cuddling in close, natural laughs, authentic moments all within the backdrop of the beautifully scenic Peak District…and there you have the most perfect family photographs.
My Style of Family Photography in the Peak District
My style of family photography is natural, candid and authentic. It’s the sort of session where your children are allowed to be themselves. There are no rules, no stand here and smile at me moments- just you all being together.
I use the Peak District as my backdrop for almost all of my outdoor sessions. Photographing your family in the Peak District gives a beautiful scenic backdrop, and space…space for your children to run wild, space for those dramatic images where you are far off in the distance, space to be yourselves.
Photographing your Family in the Peak District- with guidance
I know for a lot of us, what holds us back from booking in our sessions is the fear of not knowing what to do or that your children won’t ‘behave’ while we are together.
Don’t let these fears hold you back from capturing moments with your children. I have been photographing families in the Peak District for over a decade and I quickly learnt that the best way to capture a family is to allow the full session to be led by the children. If they are cold – you snuggle them closer, if they want to run around – we let them, if they get hungry – we give them snacks, if they get tired – we pick them up to take the weight from their legs. And everyone is happy.
I always give light guidance when I’m photographing families. It’s as simple as: let’s stand in this space and all snuggle in or asking your children to hold your cheek and smell you so they can tell me what you smell like- I’ve had some great responses from this from the sweet smell of chocolate to…a dinosaur! The genuine laughs that this produces is wonderful.
My Peak District Home Studio
I have designed a space in my home (a small village just outside of Dronfield) to capture families. This can be for more of a traditional family portrait or even for skin-to-skin photographs. When I was due to photograph Naomi and her family we had discussed before her session about doing skin-to-skin at the end of their session.
The first part of photographing their family in my Peak District Home Photography Studio was done with natural light against dark wood for contrast. All natural moments captured, nothing too staged or posed so the authenticity of the family interactions remained.
skin-to-skin photography
Photographing a mother and baby when they are skin-to-skin takes on a whole other level. I had photographs of me and my little girl, when she was 3, captured where we were skin-to-skin. I discovered a photographer based in Australia on Instagram and so much of her work that she produces is skin-to-skin and I was obsessed right from the start.
I searched and searched for photographers in the North of England who produced this sort of photography and I couldn’t find it. That is why I love to offer this as part of my sessions, always ask me to include this if it is something you are wanting yourself.
It’s the pure innocence of our children, the stripped back reality of motherhood, nothing else matters when our children are born except the warmth of your skin, the nurturing touch you give them when you stroke their faces and hold them close, your body literally keeps your baby alive after you have birthed them and these images represent exactly that. Maybe they will never be hung in your home for all to see, but they will remain images that you cherish forever- and one day can pass to your child, and trust me, they will be able to feel the warmth of your skin, the soft touch of your hand and all the love you showered them with because it will all be captured in these photographs.
So many beautiful moments photographed during this session.
