Because getting everyone in the photo is harder than it looks

When was the last time you got a really good photograph with the whole family in it?

At best, there’s an arm reaching out to take the selfie; at worst, we’re not even looking at the phone. And, let’s be honest, phone lenses aren’t always the most flattering or the best quality.

That’s where I come in.

Whether we're outdoors in the woods and parks around Brentwood, Ingatestone and Billericay, exploring the parks of East London, in the studio or at home, my aim is to create photographs that capture your family as you are — not a generic version of what a family photoshoot is supposed to look like.

That starts with getting to know you and all those little personality quirks that make your family yours. I’ll give you plenty of direction too, because natural photographs don’t just happen by accident. I’ll help you with what to wear, where to stand, how to position yourselves and what to do, while keeping things relaxed enough that the photographs still feel like you.

While you're busy being yourselves, I’m thinking about the light, the location, the composition, the background and how everyone is positioned within the frame. There’s a lot of technical knowledge behind a photograph that looks effortless.

More than a decade of photographing families

I’ve been photographing families for over a decade, and in that time I’ve had the privilege of photographing hundreds of families as they grow and change — from maternity and newborn photographs through to first birthdays, childhood and even extended family portraits.

Many families come back to me as they reach the next stage, and that’s one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. There’s something rather lovely about photographing a newborn, then seeing that same child a few years later — and sometimes the whole family has changed in between.

A service you can rely on

I also believe that good photography is only part of the experience. From your first enquiry, I’ll help you plan your session, talk through what to expect and make sure you have all the information you need to feel prepared.

I keep things clear and organised, with helpful, timely guidance at each stage, so you’re never left wondering what happens next.

And for me, the job isn’t finished when the photographs are edited. I’ll help you choose your favourites and decide how you’d like to display them — from individual prints to finished wall art — and if you’d like a little help getting everything up on the wall, I’m happy to help with that too.

What families say about working with me

The things I care most about — making people feel comfortable, giving helpful direction, being patient when children have other ideas and making the whole experience feel easy — are also the things families most often mention in their reviews.

How I became a photographer

I studied photography at school and always loved being behind the lens. As I went through my formal education, I ended up focusing on maths and the sciences, but eventually realised that wasn’t where my passion lay.

I spent the first 15 years of my professional career in advertising and marketing — definitely more creative than maths, but still not quite enough. My love of photography kept calling, particularly when I found myself on advertising photoshoots wishing I was the one behind the camera, rather than the one briefing the photographer.

Eventually, I decided to take the plunge and set up my own photography business. I knew I wanted to do it properly, rather than simply give it a go, so I spent a year honing my skills before taking on my first clients — attending courses, learning from experienced portrait photographers and building the technical skills I’d need to create the kind of photographs I wanted to produce.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

More than a decade later, I’m still completely obsessed with making better photographs. I’ve trained with internationally recognised portrait photographers, achieved my Licentiate Qualification with the Master Photographers Association and had my work recognised through photography competitions too.

But the part I’m proudest of is the hundreds of families who have trusted me to photograph them — and the fact that so many come back again and again as their families grow.

There’s something rather special about being invited back to photograph the next chapter.