faq's

I love photographing families outdoors, and Dorset gives us so many beautiful options. We can head to the beach, explore woodland, wander through the countryside or choose somewhere that's special to your family. Some of my favourite areas include Studland, Wareham Forest, Swanage, Lulworth and the surrounding Dorset coast and countryside.

If you're not sure where would work best, don't worry, I'll help you choose a location based on your family, the time of year and the kind of photographs you'd love to create.

The most important thing is to wear something you feel comfortable and confident in. You don't need everyone to match, and I generally recommend coordinating colours and textures rather than wearing identical outfits.

Think about where we're photographing too — soft, natural colours often work beautifully in Dorset's beaches, woodland and countryside.

If you're stuck, I'm always happy to offer suggestions before your session. You can also have a look at my guide to how to coordinate family outfits without matching.

Honestly? That's absolutely fine!

Your children don't need to sit still, smile on cue or behave perfectly for your photoshoot. I actually love capturing children being themselves.

We'll keep things moving with games, exploring, cuddles and little prompts, giving them opportunities to relax and have fun. I'll work with their personalities rather than trying to make them fit a particular style of photograph.

Some of the best photographs happen when nobody is looking at the camera.

Dorset weather doesn't always do what we'd like! If the weather is looking particularly wet or unpleasant, we'll chat about whether it's best to reschedule.

A little cloud or even a bit of drizzle doesn't necessarily mean we need to cancel, though. Overcast skies can create beautiful, soft light which is more flattering than full sun, and sometimes the weather adds something really special to your photographs.

I'll always keep an eye on the forecast and make sure we're making the right decision for your family.

Absolutely! If your dog is an important part of your family, I'd love them to be included.

We'll choose a suitable location where dogs are allowed and make sure there's plenty of opportunity for photographs with your four-legged family member as well as some without them.

Most family sessions take around one hour, although I don't work to a strict stopwatch.

I want your session to feel relaxed rather than rushed, so we'll take our time, follow your children's lead and make the most of the location and light.

Of course! Extended family sessions can be wonderful, especially when you're bringing several generations together.

Just let me know how many people will be joining us when you enquire, as I'll make sure we choose a location and plan the session so that we have plenty of opportunities for photographs of everyone together as well as smaller family groups.

Not at all!

You don't need any previous experience in front of the camera, and you certainly don't need to practise poses beforehand.

I'll give you simple prompts and suggestions throughout the session, but most of the time I'll be encouraging you to interact with each other naturally. My aim is for your photographs to look and feel like you, rather than a collection of stiff, posed images, which is why I think candid photography matters more than perfect poses.

This depends on the location, season and the age of your children, but I particularly love photographing outdoors when the light is softer.

For beach and outdoor sessions, early morning or later in the day can give us beautiful light and a more relaxed atmosphere.

We'll choose a time that works for your family as well as the location and light, especially if you have younger children with bedtimes or routines to consider.

After your session, I'll carefully select and edit your photographs before preparing your online gallery.

You'll then be able to view your finished images from the comfort of home and choose your favourites according to the collection you've booked.

I'll make sure you know exactly what happens next before you leave your session, so there are no surprises.