Give me a golden autumn morning, a golden dog with big brown eyes, loose hair ready to fly on any breeze, a mum who's ready to play, a dad who loves to snuggle and I'll show how to create autumn family photoshoot magic.
THE FIRST CHILD (AND THE SHOW STEALER)
Including the dog in your family photoshoot can be a little bit like having an extra toddler around!
You can't force things. You simply have to invite the dog in to be part of the action and let the interactions happen naturally.
As much as dogs love being with their family, they just as much love all the new smells and things to explore at a new location! It's a matter of being ready and super-fast to capture the moments.
ALL THE FUN WITH MUM
Often (but not always) mum is the one behind the camera capturing all the family pictures, so I love to spend a little time capturing mum in the pictures.
From quieter, snugglier shots to having a little fun and letting the hair and smiles fly there's so much magic to be found in mum pictures.
KISSES & SNUGGLES WITH DAD
Softer, snugglier moments with dad are where all the heart-melting moments are!
There's just something about that combination of dad hands, stubble and soft kisses that is going to turn your insides out :-)
LET KIDS EXPRESS THEMSELVES NATURALLY
Oh I could photograph kids all day long and never get bored!
They're so expressive in their face and their body and able to be uninhibited and themselves in front of the camera.
This little one wasn't sure at first and took a while to suss me out, but at the end of the photoshoot she spontaneously ran up and gave me a hug (best moment this year so far)!
LITTLE DETAILS TELL A LOT OF STORY
Does anything say childhood better than bare feet, long dresses and toes in the water!
I love to capture shots like this for families as we often don't think about taking pictures like this ourselves (we get so stuck in the smile at the camera shot).
SEE, ENJOY & SMILE AT YOUR FAMILY STORY EVERY DAY
The best way to get the most enjoyment out of your family pictures is to get them on display.
When you have them up on the wall you're going to look at them every day, whereas if they only live on your computer they're going to end up forgotten in a dusty, digital corner (and that is just a heart-breaking shame).
Group your pictures together in one frame or as a collection to create an impactful story-telling effect.