Copy & paste all into baby pricing (re wording). Keep pricing the same so no confusion re new born and siblings etc.

Well done you for finally getting around to researching a family photographer! It really is that one item on your to-do list that you don’t want to put off as the cliché is true, children really do grow up fast…

“Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different.”

C.S. Lewis

Family photography is my absolute favourite! (Add my ‘meaningful job’ blurb from ‘about’ page!) There’s nothing more joyous than capturing a cute little rascal give their mum one of their overly enthusiastic cheek squeezes or see them giggle outrageously when dad blows raspberries on their tummy.

As awkward as you might feel having your photo taken, if you just take a breath and enjoy this family time together you’ll reap the rewards with much better, more genuine moments captured. And what child wouldn’t be full of beans with constant attention for over an hour with the sole/soul aim of making them happy!

I feel so honoured to be a little part of your family’s story and capture happy memories that are not only for you, the parent, but you’re also doing this for your children when they’re older and future possible grandchildren. Yes there’ll be thousands of photos of your kids on your phone but by putting that little bit more effort into a well thought out family shoot results in more meaningful and special artistry that will be cherished for years to come.

“It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart, and head.”

Poss Henri cartier Bresson CHECK

I love to capture genuine, candid moments of you with your little ones. Recording all the fun characteristics they have and all the sweet moments and smiles that you’ll share. I love to encourage movement wherever possible… running down sand dunes, swinging your child in the air (don’t worry I wont ask you to swing your teenager!). I will also always strive to capture a lovely, more ‘traditional’ group photo and tend to direct this slightly more. So as well as the ‘family photo for the wall’ you’ll also take away all of the beautifully natural ‘in-between’ moments that are usually the more poignant ones in the end. I find the in-between moments actually capture the characteristics far more than the ‘eyes to camera shot’, although I still like a healthy mix of both.

Location

If you have a garden then I can come to your home or we can meet in a park or we can head down to the stunning dunes of Camber Sands (better suited for children of walking age). The session can last anywhere between 1 to 1.5 hours depending on tiredness levels (of the children, not me!). Basically I’m never clock watching and always want to ensure I get the absolute most I can out of our session.

After our session I begin my, equally important, editing and retouching stage of the process. I’m a complete perfectionist, so I take great care and time during this stage, ensuring that each photo is tweaked to perfection!

When comparing photographers, try not to compare their prices but instead their artistry

Pricing

“Time is free, but it’s priceless”

I genuinely see family photographs as a worthwhile investment rather than an ‘expense’. Photos will only ever increase in worth. However much you dislike having your photo taken, you will never regret having memories recorded of YOU with your child. Your child will thank you for it when they’re older and begin to appreciate the value of recording their life story. I’d place more value on capturing memories of your child’s life than treating yourself to that outfit for a special occasion or upgrading to the latest mobile phone (poor example for me as I live in the stone ages!).

First Payment

• £160 Weekday shoots (exc. school & bank holidays) - payable upon booking to secure the shoot date

• £200 Weekend shoots - payable upon booking to secure the shoot date

Included:

• Pre shoot information & clothing advice

• Freedom to reschedule the shoot date (in the case of rain forecast or illness)

• Travel (within 10 miles of Tunbridge Wells TN2). Beyond 10 miles, travel is charged at £2/mile for travel expenses & time

• 1-1.5hr photo shoot

• My 20yrs worth of experience to ensure you get the best photos possible from your session. Experienced photographers will use ‘manual mode’ on their camera whereby each shot requires instinctive altering of three settings at any given point. From a still, seated toddler to suddenly running, from (most frustratingly) continuous change of cloud to sun light, I could go on. Basically by analysing the best light, composition & camera settings for each shot ensures some cracking photos at the end! ☺

Put martin par quote HERE

Beach location shoots (my favourite!) at Camber Sands, East Sussex - please allow an extra £40 to cover my travel expenses, time & car park fee. It’s a 50 minute drive from T Wells but so worth it, especially if we can schedule it for the early evening golden hour light.

London shoots - please allow an extra £100 for my travel expenses & time

To include extended family members (grandparents etc) please allow an additional £30/person. Extra people = extra photos taken = extra time sat at my computer editing & re-touching them.

Final Payment

• £360 - payable 3 weeks after the shoot date, just before receiving your final downloadable high resolution images

Included:

• My three days of editing the (thousands of!) photos I take, followed by re touching each & every one to ensure no unsightly background objects, no toddler’s dirty nose and that person wearing a luminous orange hoody who decided to walk behind you has vanished! Then the all important ‘beautifying’ of the photo aesthetic/quality(?), which has become a lot more complex since my uni days of simple ‘dodging & burning’ in a dark room! But it really is the icing on the cake to make your photo come alive.

• Between 60-140 high resolution, downloadable photos (usually the higher amount).

• Creating your online gallery where you can download your photos directly from & share with friends & family if you wish.

• Your ability to print & share your photos as much as you like (as you’ll have the high resolution versions).

• A beautiful picture mounted photo of your choice, printed at a professional print lab. Size approx 10x8”. I’m happy to advise & order additional prints or wall art if desired. Please click HERE for more info on prints

I hope all of this information has answered your questions but feel free to ask me anything else or if you’d like to check my availability. Email link HERE. Don't put off until tomorrow, the memories we can capture today! poss change last sentence to the quote I've flagged on other page

Additional points

Can I pay less for less photos?

I used to offer slightly cheaper packages for less photo options but something about this pricing set up never sat easy with me. I never liked the idea that a family ‘had to choose’ photos of their own family… they should have them all! I hated then deleting a photo of someone’s precious child just because they hadn’t purchased it. So I decide on a price that was fair to me, for spending hours and hours at my computer, and to my client for having the knowledge that they had the complete package of every memory captured. Another good reason for coming to this decision was from personal experience… when I looked at my wedding photos years after I was married, I couldn’t believe the rushed choice I’d made for our thank you cards as I rediscovered a different photo that I absolutely loved and had completely overlooked on first viewing. It just goes to show that we can easily change our mind and rediscover different photos that actually mean so much more to us at a later stage. So I just prefer you to have every photo, from the start.

Double check these 3 points when comparing photographers:

1. Do you get the high resolution versions of ALL the photos as part of the price? Ideally at least 60 photos. ‘High resolution’ images are much better quality and allow you to print from them. Sentences like ‘extra photos can be purchased at an additional cost’ usually means their initial price is cheap/tempting but then you end up paying a premium for the additional photos down the line.

2. Have you seen one family session in full? It’s very easy for us photographers to pick our 10 best shiny photos for a homepage or insta page but you need to see a shoot in full in order to really understand what you’ll be receiving/paying for.

3. Is the photo colouring a little bit intense or sickly perhaps? There are lots of fashionable filter trends but these have the potential to date in years to come. Whilst I love to warm up my image tones and add a smidge of contrast etc, I try not to make them too ‘arty’ so that they’ll stand the test of time.