A day in the life - documentary family photography

THE HAYWARDS - PART 2!

So here we go, part 2 of my brilliant 24 hours with The Haywards!     If you haven't seen my Part 1 you can find it here!   http://www.emmachandlerphotography.co.uk/blog/documenting-real-parenthood

Our day started just after 6.30.    I had already woken, and could hear hushed noises around the house, and then my bedroom door slowly opened as Elsie creeped in to say hello  : )

So I was up, still in PJs, but with camera in hand, and that's when I started snapping!    We had sleepy morning hot drinks, breakfast, a concentrated dressing session (then a change), and then it was off to the park in the sun.   Such great, NORMAL, special family times; all captured.

Here are some of my faves from the morning hope you enjoy them.

And do let me know if you are interested in something similar for your own family.   They won't be little for long....

x

A Family Day Trip to Legoland

I LOVE theme parks, and as of this summer I still hadn't had the chance to go to Legoland even though it is only down the road from me!     I'm not lying when I say I was probably the most excited person in the park the morning I set foot in Legoland with one of my best friends and her amazing family.    Not only did I get to spend the day going on all the rides I'd never normally have a good excuse to go on without a child in tow, but I also got to document it!   WIN WIN!!

The awesome thing about photographing kids when they are somewhere they love is that there is a constant stream of inquisitive, curiousness, play and laughter to photograph, interspersed with spontaneous hugs!   Okay so I did witness quite a few tantrums going on around us, but hey, what's a family day out without a mini tantrum right?   

Here's some of my favourites!

Going on a day out or an adventure with your family?    Let me be part of your family for the day and photograph it for you!

A day in the life - documentary family photography

The Haywards - Part One!

I LOVE family photography.    Not cheesy, posed, set up shots, with uncomfortable smiles and bribed children, but real, raw, truthful family moments, captured as they happen.    How often to parents get to be in the photos themselves... particularly all you mums out there...    How many photos do you actually have of of those little moments with your babies and children?   You know the ones I mean... their laughs, the reassuring hugs, the helping hands... and yes... the tantrums!    

So most of my family shoots are a couple of hours at a time...   sometimes at home, sometimes out walking, maybe at the beach....   but I'd been wanting to do a day-in-the-life shoot for aaaaaaaaages.    So I got thinking.   Who did I know who would entrust me to come into their life for a full 24 hours, to capture family life and parenthood in its true reality?     Mrs Hayward that's who.    If you are a mum (or a wanna-be-mum who fancies reading about the times to come!), you should check her out.    She won Top London Mummy Blogger 2017 you know!

Allowing a photographer into your home is a big thing.  At any time.    To allow a photographer into your home, "access all areas" is an even bigger step.    I know Mrs H was a little apprehensive about me popping my head around the bedroom door, and photographing her makeup free (even though she is gorgeous).  I GET it.   But the thing is, this allowed me to photograph some really special times with the kids.   Times I don't think would ever normally get captured....

So a date was set, and I arrived Friday afternoon with cameras in hand and an overnight bag.... and just got snapping.    There was no more than a couple of minutes of uncertain gazes from Mrs H's beautiful girls, and then we were besties!     The Haywards just cracked on as they usually would...  playtime, dinner, bath, bed, breakfast, getting ready to head out, park time... and I was with them to document it all!

Needless to say, I took a LOT of photos.   I've been told before not to overload a blog post with images, because people just get bored looking through the photos, and it means so much to me this family session, that I reaaaally don't want that to happen!    But I have struggled to pick my favourite images, in a way that still reflects this family's story.     So I have decided to split this blog post in two...   today you get to see Friday, and soon... you get to see what happened Saturday!

I do hope you enjoy the photos...    this family ROCKS.

x

Family Photos at Hengistbury Head

I thought I would take a little break from editing to share this gorgeous family shoot with you...   

I totally love spending time with families just doing what they love doing, and it's just awesome when I get asked back again!    I met Zoe, Piers and Mirabelle a couple of years ago - there's a gallery on my website!     Zoe got back in touch with me and asked if I fancied a trip to Hengistbury Head to capture some shots of them all at the beach.     Anyone who knows me will know how much I love being by, in, or on, the sea, so I was totally excited.   We were keen for some sun so this trip was arranged and then re-arranged a few times due to our unpredictable weather, but one fine day I set off down to Dorset.   I have spent a lot of time down there with family and friends, but Hengistbury Head was new to me...  I don't know if it's because the beach is pebbled, but on an August Saturday, in the scorching sun, in the middle of the school holidays, there was hardly anyone around!      

Mirabelle was in her element running in and out of the sea... as was I!    I only wish I had better water housing on my cameras because I would have been right in there myself!

I took so many photos this day - here are a collection of some of my favourites.

I am happy to travel ANYWHERE you and your family or partner love to be, so if you are interested in a shoot like this please do get in touch for a quote!