Why I won't style your family for your shoot or tell you where we should do the photos

There’s as many ways to style a family session as there are families to be in them, and photographers.to shoot them.

And I choose the way that means the most to me, and I hope the most to you too.

I don’t offer styling tips (apart from this blog I wrote years ago), and I honestly believe that the best photos are the one that truly represent you. And I am of the belief that if I had a wardrobe to dress you in and a location I shot at every week, that I would be doing a disservice to you and your family, and me and my work.

Apart from the fact that I am useless at fashion and styling, who am I to tell you what to wear?

When I look back at our own family photos - each time we’ve done different locations and different outfits, the ones that I really cherish the most are the ones where we are dressed in our ‘usual’ clothes and we’re hanging at home! Not swaying in linen on a hilltop at sunset.

And I’m not dissing those who want that, and those who shoot that - because they really do make for divine photos, which are definitely worthy of being in a frame on your wall. But my heart really lies in the images I create with those people who show up as themselves, dressed as themselves, and even better, in their own home in their own space, living their own life.

If you’d normally wear bright colours, don’t feel the need to dull yourself down because that’s what you think you should be wearing for your photos. Wear those bright colours and celebrate you.

If your kid really wants to wear gumboots and a tutu and is has a meltdown every time you try to get them in jeans, lets do the gumboots and tutu! ! Let’s celebrate who they are now, because before too long peer pressure will have them dressing like every one else.

And yes, I will give suggestions for locations, if you’d really like me to - if you want that hilltop sunset we can do that of course. But have you thought about doing the session at home? Your home does NOT need to be worthy Pinterest or a blog on the Design Files. But it does need to be loved and the place you call your home. Or maybe in your backyard, with the trampoline and crazy dog, and veggie garden that might need a little more love and attention (speaking from experience).

And although my booking calendar only has times for sunset shoots, don’t let that fool you - I’m super flexible with that. I have barely taken a photo at sunset this year.

In summer sunset is so bloody late and in winter its so bloody cold. I’ve done most of my sessions mid morning or mid afternoon, rather than pushing kids bedtimes late, or shooting through what would normally be dinner time, or freezing our butts off, I’m more than happy to work around what works best for you and your family.

And yes, sunset is a lovely time of day for photos, but its not the ONLY time of day for photos….