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Milton Keynes Documentary Family Photographer

boy playing with toy camera
girl looking sad
documentary photo shoot at dinner time
boy laughing at home during woburn sands family session
expressive boy eating a banana
girl pointing in candid image
dad brushing son's teeth in the bath
brother and sister playing in the bath
mother cuddling son after bath
dad carrying his son upside down
girl kissing dad before bed time
boy falling asleep in documentary family photography session

As a documentary family photographer, my aim is to capture the beauty of the everyday day in an honest and creative way. There’s no posing or direction from me, just beautiful light, unique compositions and meaningful moments. As a mum of a very active and curious toddler, I know how difficult it is to get children to sit and pose for photos. By allowing kids to be themselves, I’m able to capture their true personalities and tell your family story in an authentic way.

fun creative reportage family photo shoot

DOCUMENTARY FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

WHAT TO EXPECT

The family photo shoot will usually last around 2-3 hours. Although the thought of being photographed for a few hours might seem a bit daunting, it's not as awkward as it sounds, I promise! I'll be playing with the kids and chatting with you throughout to make the whole process feel as natural as possible.

I'll arrange a call or zoom in advance to find out more about your family and what you're hoping to capture. This helps me put together a rough plan for the day so we can the most out of your documentary shoot. The first step is working out what activities you'd like to include. This could be anything from making lunch together or heading out for a family bike ride. It doesn't have to be anything too adventurous but having a structure helps the shoot run smoothly. Documentary photo shoots depict family life just as it is, so pick the ordinary things that you love to do together.

Time of day is an important thing to consider when planning your documentary session. Making breakfast together and a trip to the playground are great activities for kids that are happiest in the morning. Some parents prefer to have part of their daily routine documented like dinner, bath time and reading a book before bed. Whatever you decide, I'll come up with a plan to get the most from your family photo shoot.

GET IN TOUCH

When adopting a photojournalistic approach, having a few activities planned helps the session to run smoothly. Here are a few of my favourites:

At Home

If you have very young children that are happiest at home or if the weather isn't looking great, there are still plenty of activities to choose from:

- Making breakfast/lunch/dinner
- Baking and decorating cakes
- Drawing, painting and other crafts
- Reading books together
- Building a fort
- Pillow fight
- Bubble bath
- Bedtime routine

Staying Local

For those who like spending time as a family but want to keep the shoot local, there are lots of activities on your doorstep:

- Bike ride
- Scooter
- Fly a kite
- Feed the ducks
- Trip to the playground
- Jumping in puddles
- Woodland walk
- Picnic

On Location

If you have older kids, a family day out might be a better way to capture them at their best. Here are a few examples to choose from:

- Beach
- Bowling
- Arcades
- Ice cream parlour
- Farm or Zoo
- Funfair
- Theme park
- Castle or Manor House

mother taking a photo of her son
mother helping her son get dressed
photojournalistic image of father and child
father and son kissing
toddler running away from his dad
documentary photo of son in car smiling at dad
family having fun at the playground
mother and son going down the slide
boy in milton keynes playground
toddler playing in campbell park playground
GET IN TOUCH
baby laughing in the bath

PREPARING FOR YOUR DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION

If the shoot is taking place at your home, I'll ask for some photos of the most used rooms so I can work out what time of day will give the best light. Don't worry if the house isn't spotless - the photos are supposed to be a true depiction of family life - but as a general rule I recommend putting away anything you'd rather not see in the photos.

boy playing with dinosaur

AFTER THE SHOOT

After the session, I'll pick the best images, colour correct them and put them in a gallery for you to review. Depending on the time of year, this process usually takes around one to two weeks. Additional digital images, prints, frames and albums will all be available to purchase online via the gallery which can be shared with friends and family. Digital images can be downloaded in web size for social media use or high resolution if you want to print them.

candid photo of boy in playground
toddler playing on climbing frame in playground
boy playing on swings for documentary photo shoot
creative family photography
mother and son walking through milton keynes park
mother taking off sons socks
toddler getting ready for bath time
milton keynes documentary family photography session
boy laughing in natural portrait
dad blowdrying son's hair
natural documentary style family portrait

GET IN TOUCH

I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

EMAIL

info@sarahelliottphotography.co.uk

©2023 IMAGES BY SARAH ELLIOTT
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©2020 Sarah Elliott Photography