Why I Love Outdoor Family Photography And Why I Don't Expect Your Children to Pose
Updated: Sep 2
There is something about photographing families outdoors that I never get tired of.
Maybe it is the freedom. Children can run, explore, stop to look at something interesting, change their minds, and generally behave exactly as children do.
And that is precisely why I love it.
When a family books me for a photoshoot, I don't want them to spend the afternoon worrying about whether everyone is sitting nicely, whether the children are smiling, or whether they are “doing it right”.
There isn't really a right way.
I want to give families space to simply be together, and then I photograph what happens.
A recent family session at Chesterton Windmill
One of my recent outdoor family sessions took me to Chesterton Windmill, a beautiful Oxfordshire location with plenty of space, character and those lovely wide-open views that make an outdoor session feel like an adventure rather than an appointment for photographs.
And this is one of the reasons I love choosing outdoor locations for family photography.
There is something to do.
We can walk. We can explore. We can stop. We can run. We can cuddle. We can take a moment to look around.
The photographs happen naturally within all of that.
Of course, I will guide you when I see a beautiful opportunity for a family portrait. I might suggest where to stand or ask you to walk towards me together.
But I am much more interested in what happens between those moments.
A little hand reaching for yours.
A child looking back at a parent.
Siblings laughing about something only they understand.
The way you instinctively put an arm around your child.
Those are often the photographs that end up meaning the most.
“But what if my children won't cooperate?”
This is probably one of the biggest worries parents have before booking a family photoshoot.
And honestly?
They don't have to.
Children don't need to sit still for an hour and smile at the camera.
If your child is energetic, that's okay.
If they are shy, that's okay too.
If they need some time to warm up to me, we have time.
And if they suddenly decide that looking for sticks is far more interesting than having their photograph taken… we'll probably photograph that too.
I have found that the less pressure children feel, the more naturally they interact with their family.
Instead of constantly asking them to smile, I might encourage a game, ask them to run, get them talking to you, or simply give them some space.
I'm watching all the time.
Sometimes the best photograph appears when everyone has stopped thinking about the camera.
Why I don't want every photograph to be perfectly posed
Don't get me wrong, I love a beautiful family portrait.
There is something timeless about having everyone together, looking towards the camera, and creating that photograph that might eventually sit proudly on your wall.
But I don't think your gallery should consist entirely of those images.
Families are not still-life arrangements.
You have your own little ways of interacting with each other, and I want to see those too.
For me, natural family photography doesn't mean simply pointing a camera at whatever happens.
There is still a lot of thought behind it.
I'm looking at the light, the background, where everyone is positioned, the connection between you, and what is happening around you.
I'm anticipating the moment before it happens.
Sometimes I'll gently guide things.
Sometimes I'll step back.
And sometimes I'll simply wait.
What I am really looking for
When I photograph a family, I'm not just looking for smiles.
I'm looking for connection.
The little things that might be easy to overlook on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon.
The way your daughter reaches for your hand.
The way your son looks at his dad when he's laughing.
The slightly chaotic moment when everyone is talking at once.
The quiet moment when a child leans into you.
The expressions that happen before and after someone says, “Look at the camera!”
Those little pieces of your family are what make your photographs personal.
Because ten years from now, I don't think you'll look at a photograph and think, “I'm so glad everyone stood perfectly still.”
You'll remember what that moment felt like.
What should you wear for an outdoor family photoshoot?
My biggest piece of advice is simple:
Wear something you feel comfortable moving in.
You don't need perfectly matching outfits. In fact, I usually prefer families to coordinate rather than match.
Think about colours that work together rather than everyone wearing the same colour.
Soft neutrals, earthy tones, denim, warm browns, creams, muted greens, dusty blues and other natural shades can work beautifully outdoors, but your clothes should still feel like you.
And don't forget to dress for the actual day.
If we're photographing in cooler weather, bring layers. If there is a chance of rain, embrace it or bring wellies and a spare change of clothes for the children.
The aim isn't to create a perfectly styled photograph at the expense of everyone being comfortable.
A comfortable family is much easier to photograph.
What happens if the weather isn't perfect?
This is Oxfordshire, after all. We can't always rely on sunshine!
And actually, I don't think we need to.
Overcast days can give us beautiful, soft light, and a little wind or drizzle can become part of the story.
Of course, if the weather is genuinely unpleasant or unsafe, we'll talk about rescheduling.
But I don't want the idea of a family photoshoot to depend on having a perfect blue sky.
Some of my favourite photographs are made when the conditions are a little less predictable.
The most important thing I want you to know
If you are thinking about booking a family photoshoot but you're worried that your children won't behave, that your family isn't particularly “photogenic”, or that everyone will feel awkward in front of the camera, please don't worry.
You don't need to know how to pose.
You don't need perfectly behaved children.
And you certainly don't need to know how to be a model.
That's my job.
Your job is simply to spend some time together.
I'll guide you when you need it, give you space when you don't, and look for those little moments that tell the story of your family as you are right now.
Because that is ultimately why I love outdoor family photography.
I'm not trying to create a perfect version of your family.
I'm trying to photograph the real one.
And years from now, I hope you look back at your photographs and don't just see what everyone looked like.
I hope you remember exactly what it felt like to be there.
Thinking about your own family photos?
I photograph relaxed, natural family sessions across Oxfordshire, creating beautiful portraits alongside all the little in-between moments that make your family yours.
If that sounds like the kind of family photography you've been looking for, I'd love to hear from you.
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