Family Photography in West Sussex

I tend to keep family sessions simple and timeless, so props aren’t usually needed. That said, you’re very welcome to bring along a small personal item if it feels meaningful to you.

This might be something like a favourite book, a musical instrument, or an item that reflects a shared interest. If you’re unsure whether something will work well, just ask – I’m always happy to advise so the focus stays on your family rather than the props.

Yes. Family photo sessions aren’t just for young children – I regularly photograph families with older children and teenagers too.

Sessions are relaxed and age-appropriate, without forced posing or anything that feels awkward. I’ll guide things gently so everyone feels comfortable, and we’ll keep the focus on natural connection rather than overly staged setups. Older children often enjoy having a say in how the session feels, and that usually shows in the final images.

Absolutely. Once your images are ready, you’ll be able to purchase additional prints, albums, wall art, and other professional products directly from your private online gallery.

I offer a carefully chosen range of high-quality options, including fine art prints, frames, canvases, and albums designed to last. You can take your time deciding what you’d like — there’s no pressure to buy and no sales appointments.

If you’d like advice on which images work best for albums or wall displays, I’m always happy to help guide you.

If you need to reschedule or cancel your session, please let me know as soon as possible so I can manage studio time fairly.

I completely understand that illness and unexpected situations happen — especially with children. If your child is unwell on the day of the session, it’s usually best to reschedule rather than push ahead when they’re not feeling their best.

If an appointment is missed without notice, you’re very welcome to rebook, but a £30 rebooking fee applies before a new session can be scheduled.

After your session, you’ll receive a private online gallery where you can view your finished images at home in your own time.

From there, you can choose your favourites directly from the gallery. If you’d like help deciding, I’m always happy to guide you through the selection process and offer advice on what works best for prints, frames or albums.

I don’t show photos immediately after the shoot, as I want to make sure every image is carefully selected and edited to a high standard.

Within 1–2 weeks of your session, you’ll receive a private online gallery where you can view your finished images and choose your favourites. This gives me the time needed to prepare the photos properly so they look their absolute best.

It’s completely normal for children to feel shy, unsure, or a little uncooperative during a photo session – and that’s absolutely okay.

I take a calm, patient approach and allow children to settle at their own pace. Sessions are relaxed, child-led, and gently guided using simple prompts and encouragement rather than pressure. If needed, I work in short bursts to keep things light and avoid overwhelm.

My focus is always on creating a stress-free experience so your child feels comfortable – that’s when the most natural, genuine expressions happen.

Because my studio is a cosy space, I usually recommend sessions for up to two adults and three children, or four adults.

Extended family members — such as grandparents — are very welcome within those limits. If you’re hoping to include a larger group, it’s best to get in touch before booking so we can talk it through. In some cases, that might mean splitting the session or planning a different approach to make sure everyone is comfortable and the session runs smoothly.

Absolutely – and I’m always happy to talk things through in advance so we can make the session as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.

My studio is a short walk from parking and does involve several small steps, so unfortunately it isn’t wheelchair accessible. I want to be upfront about that so you can decide whether it’s the right space for you.

If someone in your group needs a little extra support – whether that’s more time, a quieter approach, sensory considerations, or flexibility around how the session runs – please get in touch before booking. Every family is different, and a quick chat helps me tailor the session so everyone feels comfortable and included.

You’re not alone. This is one of the most common things people say to me – often alongside “I’m not very photogenic.”

If you’ve made it to the studio, you’ve already done the hardest part. From there, my job is to guide you through everything. I’ll tell you where to stand, how to sit, how to hold yourself, and I’ll keep things moving so you never feel awkward or stuck wondering what to do.

The first couple of minutes can feel a bit strange – that’s completely normal – but it passes very quickly. Most people relax faster than they expect to, and many end up enjoying the process far more than they thought they would.

And if it helps to know: the worst-case scenario is simply that you decide the photos aren’t for you. There’s no pressure, no obligation – just a calm, supportive session designed to make things as easy as possible.

Absolutely – this is incredibly common.

Most children, if you ask them to smile or say “cheese”, will pull a face that looks nothing like their real, natural smile. For that reason, I don’t usually ask children to “perform” in the studio.

Instead, I focus on helping them relax and have fun. That might mean chatting, playing, moving around, being a bit silly, or saying something unexpected at just the right moment. Natural expressions tend to appear in the gaps — and those are the moments I’m looking for.

There’s no pressure for your child to behave or smile in a particular way. I’ll work at their pace and capture them as they are.

Yes, there’s time for up to three outfit changes during a family portrait session.  I’ll guide you on what works best together so we can make the most of the time and create a good variety of looks without the session feeling rushed or bitty. Often one outfit feels enough, but if you’d like a mix of styles (for example something relaxed and something a little more polished), we can absolutely do that.

If you’re unsure what to bring, I’m always happy to help you decide in advance.

Yes – natural, relaxed photographs are very much my style.

I’ll always guide you into flattering positions and make sure the lighting works beautifully, but that doesn’t mean your photos will feel stiff or overly posed. I usually start by getting everyone settled together and then let things unfold naturally, capturing the moments in between.

With children, I work in a gentle, playful way. Rather than asking them to sit still and smile, I’ll give them something to do and encourage interaction, which leads to expressions that feel genuine and full of personality.

You don’t need to worry about being “good in front of the camera” – I’ll take care of that part (and I’m not above a bit of silliness if that’s what it takes).

Family portrait sessions are booked for up to one hour. That gives us plenty of time to work at a relaxed pace, allow children time to settle, and create a lovely variety of images without anyone feeling rushed.

In reality, I often don’t need the full hour – but having that time built in means sessions stay calm and enjoyable, which always leads to better photographs.

Absolutely. I often describe this as a mix and match session.

For example, if you’re visiting the studio as two parents and two children, we can capture a lovely variety of images — everyone together, children together, individual children, parents together, and different combinations in between. This approach makes the most of your session time and gives you a really well-rounded gallery from one relaxed, easy session.

If anyone in your family is unwell, please don’t worry – you’re very welcome to reschedule your session.

If you’re able to give me as much notice as possible, that’s always appreciated, but I completely understand that illness (especially with children) can come on suddenly. I don’t offer refunds on sessions, but I’m happy to hold your session fee as a credit so you can rebook for a more convenient time once everyone is feeling better.

I’d always rather photograph children when they’re comfortable and well, and it helps keep everyone in the studio healthy too.

This is one of the most common worries parents have – and honestly, it’s never a problem.  Children don’t need to “behave” in a studio to get lovely photographs. Lots of children feel shy, cautious, excitable or overwhelmed in a new environment, and that’s completely normal. I always allow time for children to settle in at their own pace, and sessions are relaxed, playful and led by them rather than forced poses or expectations.

Some children warm up quickly, others need a little longer – both are absolutely fine. Gentle encouragement from parents helps, but there’s no pressure to perform. Often the best images come from real moments in between the silliness, movement and curiosity.

If your child has additional needs, sensory sensitivities or anything you’re worried about, you’re very welcome to let me know in advance so I can make the session as comfortable as possible for them.

Coordinating outfits can make a real difference to how your finished images feel, but it doesn’t mean everyone needs to match exactly.  I recommend choosing colours and tones that work well together rather than identical outfits. Soft, neutral or muted colours tend to photograph beautifully, while bold patterns and large logos can be distracting and date more quickly. Plain fabrics usually create a more timeless look and help keep the focus on faces and connection.

If you’d like more detailed guidance, I’ve written a full blog post with outfit ideas, colour palettes and practical tips to help you choose what works best for your family.

And if you’re ever unsure, you’re always welcome to get in touch – I’m very happy to help you decide.

All of my portrait sessions take place in my studio, where I can control the light, temperature and environment to create calm, consistent images.

Working in the studio also means sessions are weather-proof, relaxed, and designed around children and families without the unpredictability of outdoor locations

My studio is quite small (but perfectly formed), so family portrait sessions work best for up to two adults and three children, or up to five children.

If you’re hoping to include more people than this, just get in touch before booking and we can chat through what might work best.

A family portrait session in my studio costs £95 and includes three digital images of your choice.

There’s no sales appointment or viewing session – you’ll simply view your images in your private online gallery and choose your favourites in your own time. If you’d like additional images or prints, these can be ordered directly from the gallery.