family photography
capturing your family for posterity
It’s so true. A chubby hand squeezing yours, long fluffy eyelashes, the smell of a baby’s skin. A favourite game or teddy, a love of jumping in puddles or shy eyes peeking out from behind your legs. Or their soft cheek buried in your neck when they need a cuddle.
The moments that make the sleepless nights all worth it is what I will capture for you. Mostly you’re so busy parenting or taking snaps yourselves that you forget to be in the photographs but these portraits I create for you in our family photoshoot will become more and more valuable as life’s chapters fly past. They're the images that your children will show their children and grandchildren.
We're capturing a part of your family's history. In a word, priceless.
Mostly we don’t remember the days, we remember the moments.
“Photography is a way of feeling, touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever…
It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything”
AARON SISKIND
Where would you love to be photographed...
at home or on location?
On location family photoshoots
I love to capture the ‘Britishness’ of our beautiful countryside for your outdoor family photo session – imagine lush green woodland and golden autumnal colours, wispy ethereal long grass in late summer or windswept sand dunes next to a gently lapping shoreline.
We’ll find somewhere that speaks to you for our family photoshoot, perhaps a place where you love to spend time together, where the kids can run free-range with the wind in their hair. We'll spend a couple of hours seeking out pockets of gorgeous light to capture your family’s bond and connection with each other on camera. I shoot early or late in the day when the light is at its most atmospheric and there are some beautiful beaches, parks and woodlands in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset where I often photograph. Together we'll find the perfect spot for your outdoor family portrait session.
Family photoshoots in your own home add that element of authenticity, offering a unique backdrop that will become more meaningful to you all as life's chapters fly past – memories of where your children spent their early years. Their ever-increasing heights marked on a doorframe, ‘creative’ baking in the kitchen (aka flour in every crevice), carefree cartwheels, a cosy nook with a favourite story or even bubble mohicans in the bath.
It’s very important to me that we have relaxed, unhurried time together so I can take time to get to know your children, engaging with them to capture authentic, characterful photographs of you all in your natural habitat. A truly bespoke family portrait shoot in your home that is as unique as you are. I happily come and visit you in your home in Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire, but do contact me if you'd like me to come further afield.
At home lifestyle family photography
Maternity & newborn photo shoots
The first year of a baby's life goes so very fast and they literally transform in front of your eyes...those tiny fingers, baggy knees and gorgeous gummy first smiles. It is so important to capture this time as once it's gone, it's gone forever…and you simply won't remember how adorable and tiny they once were. Even less will you remember what it felt like to be pregnant and feel your baby kicking.
Let me record the anticipation and excitement of your new arrival with a maternity photoshoot and then a newborn photoshoot, capturing the tender moments of those early days as a new family and focussing on the bond and emotion between you, your baby and any older siblings.
Investment
BESPOKE FAMILY PORTRAIT SESSION
1-2 hour shoot + 3 fine art matted prints
£200
includes:
Planning
Pre-shoot planning session & styling advice via Zoom
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Photographing
1-2 hour portrait session at your home or on location
(travel charges may apply if you're not near Salisbury)
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Editing
Gorgeous post-production and retouching of your images
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Choosing
Online gallery and store to share with family & friends
You are also welcome to my studio (either in person or via Zoom)
to choose bespoke wall art and albums
Not sure how you'll want to display your photographs ?
Ask for a copy of my product guide for creative inspiration
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Where do shoots take place?I like to have two locations up our sleeves for maximum versatility. Usually one outdoors for environmental portraits - this can be either an urban or a rural setting, and another indoors (this is England, after all!). It can either be your workplace if that makes a pleasing backdrop, or we can look at venues that would be a 'believable' setting for your audience. For example, if you were to meet your clients in a cool cafe, we could seek permission to photograph there, or a co-working space, country house, hotel or airbnb. We just need to make sure that both locations are close to each other so that valuable shoot time isn't wasted travelling from one to another. I can also offer my home as a setting which has some versatile environments - do ask me for examples of images shot at mine in Salisbury.
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Help! I've no idea how to pose and HATE being photographed!You are not alone, don't panic! Putting yourself in front of the camera is often a deeply uncomfortable position for many people. I am an expert in posing women and it's my job to make you feel relaxed, reassured and show you how to hold yourself into flattering poses that suit you. We'll chat and laugh along the way so you don't get a chance to tense up. I have a ton of tricks up my sleeve to help in the posing department and after a shoot with me you'll never feel unsure about being in front of the camera again. Promise.
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What on earth do I wear?In short, outfits that make you feel fabulous. I have a whole guide dedicated to helping you style your shoot and at our planning session we'll talk through options. You'll want to tie in colours that work well with your branding and the environment we're shooting in, don't feel too seasonal (unless appropriate) and flattering. Nothing too tight that wrinkles when you're sitting, shows too much flesh or equally makes you look like a tent (it's also the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to a shopping trip). Do get in touch to ask for my planning guide.
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Is personal branding photography just for women?Contrary to popular belief, absolutely not! It's just, ahem, (dare I say this out loud ) that often it feels like women are just more in tune to the importance of their image as a shop window for their brand and hence more readily prepared to get in front of the camera. I've photographed plenty of male brand owners, and it's definitely a growing trend, but getting them out of the mindset that a stale, uninspiring headshot will suffice is an issue I am slowly address - one man at a time!
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What kind of images will we capture?Whatever you need! I listen carefully to what you're visually trying to get across but usually it's a variety of business portraits in your work environment - if you work with people I usually suggest we can a couple of willing people along to act as models, sometimes it's lifestyle product photography, sometimes it's flat-lays and sometimes behind-the-scenes shots of you off-duty with family/pets or engaging in hobbies. There's no set formula and we work closely together to tie down what will be most useful. We'll also discuss, perhaps with your web designer or social media manager, the practical side of the images you need - such as if you need wide, thin banner images to go at the top of your website, or mostly square crops for Instagram, images to overlay text on etc etc.
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Got a question that needs answering?Drop me a line and ask! I'm more than happy to chat in more detail about what's involved and brainstorm ideas.
Displaying your Photographs
BEAUTIFUL WALL ART AND HANDMADE ALBUMS
In all likelihood you will choose your most favourite family portraits to display on the walls of your home. I will carefully work with you to design wall art that will make you smile every time you see it, using the best in the industry to craft bespoke pieces that perfectly complement your home.
Albums are a perfect addition to wall art, allowing you to enjoy many more printed images from our photo shoot together. I will design a beautiful handmade album using the best makers in the industry who share the same meticulous attention to detail, creating a heirloom album to pass down to future generations. Share memories together as you explore the pages of your family's history.
Full details and creative inspiration can be found in my product guide.
Prices start from £75 and most families will spend between £1000 to £5000 on their portrait experience with me.
I understand how important digital images are, so with every printed image you order from me, I will give you a digital copy of it to show off on your socials and devices.
Wall art collections
Tell the unique story of your family's personalities with a gallery of stunning artwork from our portrait session, reminding you of the love between you every time you pass by.
Collections start from £500
Single frames
Sometimes there's just one stand-out image that can create the focal point of your room.
Single frames start from £375
Folio boxes
Perfect for displaying smaller matted prints images on the included easel. You can change the image on display and enjoy a different image every day! Matted prints can be safely stored in the beautiful linen-bound presentation box.
Folio boxes start from £525 for 10 matted prints
KIND WORDS
AMY & LUKE
We were thrilled with every aspect of our family photo shoot in the woods in Wiltshire, you really made all of us feel at ease and you achieved the natural photos we were hoping for, all in a perfect setting in Wiltshire. Thank you for being so flexible and making us feel so welcome!
CATHERINE & JOHN
Gemma has a remarkable ability to tease out the personality of even the most shy of children and record it on camera. There is an ethereal quality to her imagery that evokes a strong emotional reaction to each and every photograph.
JONATHAN & KATE
We will treasure these images forever. When I'm old and wrinkly, I'll be able to show my grandchildren what their parents were like as kids. You captured their spirit and our love as a family perfectly. WE also loved the location you found for our outdoor photoshoot. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.