EXTENDED FAMILY SHOOT
When was the last time you were in a great family photo? Not a quick selfie on your phone, but a photo worthy of printing and framing? And did that photo include any other members of your family? Perhaps, like this Oxfordshire-based family, consider booking a family photo shoot with your extended family?
Adderbury Lakes was the perfect venue for this family photo shoot! A beautiful and extremely secluded nature reserve near Banbury that was originally landscaped by Capability Brown. We’re so privileged to have this amazing location on our doorstep and it’s become home to many of my extended shoots!
GAINING CHILDREN’S’ TRUST
Having introduced myself to the children, it became clear the youngest child was extremely nervous. Hiding safely behind his Dad’s legs, he viewed me cautiously as I tried to reassure him. Having exhausted all my little tricks, including letting him take a few photos on my camera, I simply stepped back. Because, I know the more you try to get a child to do something, the more they’ll object. However, if you start having fun with their siblings they’ll suddenly be eager to join in! Before long he was shoving his sisters aside to be in front of the camera himself! Mission accomplished!
SHOWCASE YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY PHOTOS
It’s important for me to understand what a client wants from their shoot and how they intend to display their images. In this instance, the grandparents wanted a collection of traditional portrait images of their grandchildren to display in their lounge. So as the family explored the lakes, I looked for opportunities to photograph them without too much posing! The sisters sat down on a fallen tree for a natter, snap! I turned round to find the father and son sheltered in a brick folly, snap! An extra-large tree stump was the perfect opportunity to capture the children’s colourful footwear!
Inevitably, when getting children to pose for a photo they mess around and get the giggles, and I have to say I love capturing these moments as much as the formal shots! I always include the candid shots the client’s gallery and nine times out of 10 the family say those shots are their favourites! In fact the grandparents loved their gallery so much they asked me to compile a photo book of all their favourite images, a few of which are included in this blog!
Let’s talk about your family shoot!
Venue: Adderbury Lakes
