the Blog
the Blog
We Don't Have Time
“We don’t have time” I get it, my life is filled with a list of places the kids need to be and weekend activities. Booking a photo shoot seems almost impossible. Guess what? I’m here to make it easy to capture those memories.
I get it. I am constantly juggling after school activities with the kids, the weekends seem to be filled with things for weeks on end.
Booking in a photo shoot just goes into the ‘do it soon’ basket.
“We don’t have time”
How long do you think it takes?
A session with me is not going to swallow your whole day. Typically, a family session lasts around 60-90 minutes. We move around, we have fun and it’s all very relaxed. Think of your session more as a fun hour with your family, no phones, no technology, just connection and giggles.
We’ve already missed so much
With two years of lockdowns and uncertainty behind us, we have already missed out on making these precious memories for too long. Our kids are already so much bigger. Time is not slowing down and they seem to grow and change so much . I don’t know about you, but I seem to be adding to the kids wardrobes so frequently as they outgrow things!
Waiting for a special occasion?
Often, my beautiful families book in because it’s a special birthday for someone, or they’re celebrating an anniversary. That’s great! But, I ma here to tell you that the occasion is right there already. Your beautiful family is together. Don’t wait for an excuse, you don’t need one.
A simple booking process
I understand how busy life gets and I am here to make this process as simple as possible. Fill out a contact form (there’s one below!) and I’ll reply with a little welcome along with some available dates. Choose your date & I’ll do the rest. From location ideas, to tips on what to wear, all you’ll need to do is turn up.
Get in touch, i’d love to make some magical memories with you,
Lucy x
I HATE having my photo taken!
“I HATE having my photo taken!” Oh goodness, isn’t that a great opening statement on a photographer’s websiteI Truth is, I hear this a lot.
I can help you overcome that feeling..
“I HATE having my photo taken”
Oh goodness, isn’t that an opener for a photographer’s blog! Ha!
Truth is, I hear it A LOT.
Sometimes it’s in the initial email my clients send to me, they know they need family photos but they don’t like being in front of the camera. Sometimes it’s at the very start of their session, “I’m no good having my photo taken!’. Sometimes it’s afterwards, when a bespoke gallery has been delivered and they reply to tell me how much they enjoyed their session which is surprising because they usually HATE having photos taken.
So, how do we overcome that feeling of dread and replace it with one of enjoyment and a fun photo session?
Comfort
Now, this goes back to my previous little blog (which you can find here) all about what to wear. You see, if you choose an outfit which is comfortable and makes you feel confident then that will definitely help with how you’re feeling.
Food
This (probably) applies more to the younger members of the family, but try to makes sure there’s no hungry tummy’s for your session. Hungry tums = complaints which may lead to you feeling a little stressed out. Consider bringing snacks along for little ones too.
Ignore me
Weird, right. It’s something I sometimes say during your session. Just pretend I’m not there, talk to the kids, we might play a game, I often send my families for a walk, I have my little tricks! Thing is, if you’re chatting to the kids, smoothing a stray hair or splashing in the water, you’re not even thinking about where the camera is.
Take your session as fun time with your family.. no technology, just you and your family!
Trust me
Isn’t that a bold statement! Well, to be honest it’s true. You’ll soon forget you usually hate having your photo taken, you’ll be enjoying yourselves and I’ll be busy capturing all those precious moments. Then you’ll be so glad that you trusted yourself and booked that session.
Are you ready to trust me? I would love to work with you.
Getting in touch is simple via the contact form.
Speak to you soon!
Lucy x
What do we wear to our family photo shoot?
I am asked this question by (almost) every new client.
Read on for my tips…
I can guarantee there is one question every new client (almost) always asks…
What should we wear to our session?
So, you’ve booked your session (or you’re ready to) and you’re thinking through the content of your wardrobes and wondering what the heck you can dress each member of the family in.
Here are my top things to consider. But before you read-on, remember this is YOUR session and we want to see YOUR personalities shine through.
Start with Mum
Much easier than picking a cute dress for Miss 3 and trying to coordinate everyone else around that, start with what you are comfortable in, your favourite dress maybe. Side note: absolutely no need to go shopping (unless you want to!). Try to avoid anything which may gape or show off any dodgy tan lines.
Comfort
As I said, we want your personality, what makes your family ‘you’ to shine through. So if your teen daughter is only happy in shorts then asking her to wear a long floaty dress is likely going to make her resent the session before you’ve even got there. By the same token, it’s worth considering what is comfy to wear. You don’t want to be constantly pulling a strap back onto your shoulder or redoing an annoying belt which keeps twisting.
Colours
Expressing your families personality here is gorgeous. Buuuut my advice is to firstly try to avoid any big branding across t-shirts which may date. Mr 15 might want his favourite band across his t-shirt now but in five years might hate it. Prints and patterns are gorgeous, especially if worn by one or two members of the family & not everyone. Checks typically are best to be avoided because they are very distracting.
Coordination
This doesn’t mean everyone has to be in denim & white unless you want to. Instead, think about the colour groups. Remember, start with Mum and build your colours around that outfit. Look at the tones in your outfit and check what the kids have in their wardrobe to work with that. Consider which colours work well together. It’s a good idea to avoid having half the family in black and the other half in white simply because the contrast is distracting.
If your session is a big one with extended family it’s a good idea to keep a theme going. If everyone turns up with their own scheme happening it can be distracting. Asking everyone to keep to a palette is great, eg. navy, tan, denim, cream.. or earthy tones. You get my drift!
Where will your session be?
If you’d love to have your session in a location with deep greens it’s nice to keep your choices lighter in colour. Having dark colours in a darker background doesn’t work as nicely as lighter against dark.
Overall
Think timeless, avoid high fashion things which will date. These photos are forever, I want you to love them forever!
Got a question? I’d love to help! Get in touch today,
Lucy x
Personal Branding with added SUNSHINE
If you haven’t seen Jen and her incredibly aptly named business ‘Rays of Sunshine’ then you’re missing out.
Jen makes beautiful wearable art with intricate details, beautiful colours and a lot of love and care. From earrings, or ear candy as Jen says, to hair barrettes and so much more - even custom designs.
I first found Jen through her insta reels - a must watch, just trust me, and we got chatting, met for a coffee and had a good old conversation about updating Jen’s personal branding photos.
I know updating your photos can be forever on the ‘to-do’ list, we have so much to do as business owners that taking some time with a photographer can seem like time we just don’t have.
“People do not buy goods and services. They buy relations, stories and magic.”
Having photos of you, and not just your face, but your product/service, your workspace or even your favourite coffee spot, help to make you relatable to your audience.
It means that when someone visits your website or socials they can see you, with beautiful, clear and fresh photos.
In reality you may think booking a branding session means scheduling a whole day out of your diary. But it can take as little as an hour and I looove making the process as simple as possible for you.
So please stop putting it off, lets get you booked in today.
Visit Jen, Rays of Sunshine here:
Winter Shoots & Why I Love Them
You may think your family photo shoot must be reserved for the Summer months, floaty dresses and longer days.
Here’s why I think the cooler months are a perfect alternative.
The days are shorter.
And that’s a good thing?
I think so! An earlier sunset means your session can be planned earlier to catch that beautiful golden light. Usually around 4pm works wonderfully. Not only does this mean you’re not waiting all day for your session, it also means little ones aren’t so overtired.
Warmer clothing.
Yes, a floaty frock is magical but warmer clothes, jeans and layers make for amazing images.
Quieter Locations.
No overcrowded beach, yay! We get your chosen location in a much more serene setting, simply because there’s far less people hanging around in the cooler months.
And finally… the cuddles!
Feeling the chill? That just means closer snuggles!
To find out more about my sessions please visit https://www.lucyhumphriesphotography.com/family-photography or get in touch via the contact form here: contact