Family photographer St Albans

A family photography session with me is all about creating fun memories for you to go back to when looking at your photographs. As a mum of two, I know how hard it can be to get the whole family to “smile nicely for a photo”, so my job as a professional family photographer is to create the kind of relaxed environment that will bring out the genuine smiles and connection.

I will guide you through every step of the way so that, regardless of the size of your family and the ages of the children, it can be an enjoyable experience for everyone.

I love capturing faces and connection between family members, from babies to teens, parents and grandparents. Whether you’d like me to capture an important family milestone like the arrival of a new sibling into the family, your twins’ second birthday or the last summer before your eldest is off to Uni, we will have a chat about your requirements and I can advise on the best location for the shoot and time of day to get best results.

As with my baby photography, I do most of my family shoots in the home to capture your family life in your own environment but we can also meet at your local park in or near St Albans or another location significant to you.

Family photographer St Albans boy with sign Commit No Nuisance

Large family photoshoot

Some of my favourite family shoots are family reunions, to celebrate grandparents’ golden wedding anniversary or a 70th birthday for example. With all the children and grandchildren gathered together for the occasion, I can capture a series of images from big groups shots to smaller family units and individual portraits of the grandchildren, as well candid shots of them playing together. Such images do look wonderful in an album or collage and never fail to bring grandparents much joy. Interested in a large family photo shoot? Click here for more information!

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frequently asked questions

Where does the session take place ?

I photograph most of my clients in their own home, with the option to venture out into the garden or your local park if the weather allows.
Window light is beautiful for portraiture and very much part of my style. Before I start shooting, I will first look through your home for the very best lighting, typically near a window or glass door.
With babies and toddlers, I almost always take some of the shots in the master bedroom, for a cosy feel and family cuddles.

How long are the sessions ?

My sessions usually last between one and two hours depending on the age of the children and their mood on the day. For newborn babies we
often need a bit longer to allow for feeds. With toddlers it’s worth taking a bit of extra time too to capture some natural moments, a bit like photographing wildlife ;-)

What if it rains ?

Because a lot of my sessions are indoors, the weather isn’t really an issue. However if you really had your heart set on shooting at a particular outdoor location and the weather is dreadful on the day we may be able to reschedule subject to availability.

what area do you cover / do you travel ?

I am a family portrait photographer based in Hertfordshire (St Albans) and can travel within a 10 mile radius. If you live further afield why not organise a day out in St Albans and come and feed the ducks in Verulamium Park? This can be a lovely backdrop for a photo shoot. I am available during the week and at weekends so we will agree a day and time that is suitable for you.

How much do you charge?

I charge a session fee of £99 for weekdays and £149 for weekend sessions. Please note that this is to cover my time and does not include any print or digital images.

Once you’ve had your session, you can decide on which photo package you would like to purchase. Prices start at £249 for 3 images and my most popular package is the full set of images in digital format priced at £599. Click here to see my full price list.

How do I book?

Simply fill in the contact form below and I will get back to you with my suggested dates and all the information necessary to confirm your booking.

How far in advance do i need to book?

My availability very much depends on the time of year, the high season being April-November. During my busiest time, weekend sessions are often booked 2-3 months ahead and weekday sessions 2-3 weeks ahead. Please contact me for availability in case I have a last minute cancellation, I might be able to squeeze you in!

What's the best age to photograph babies ?

Good question! I sometimes get panicked phone calls from mums worried they have missed the 2 week window for their newborn photo session. My posing style for baby shots is very relaxed, and as much as I find sleeping babies adorable, I do love taking photos of them when they
are awake and alert. Take a look at my approach to newborn and baby photography for pros and cons of different ages, from birth to crawling and walking.

Do you provide props ?

I sometimes get asked this question for maternity or newborn sessions. The short answer is no, because my style is very much about capturing
your family as you are but if there is anything you’d like to include in the shoot (a special birth present or toy that your child loves) then by all means let me know and we can incorporate this in the session.

we are very camera-shy , will it be painful?

So many of my clients warn me that they are camera shy, and I must admit, it’s quite rare for me to come across an excited dad when I first arrive on my shoots. The good news is that the focus will never be on you directly, it’s all about the children and their interaction with you. I have photographed hundreds of families over the years and I promise to make the session as relaxed and enjoyable as possible for everyone.

What should we wear?

This really varies based on the type of session (indoors, outdoors), the seasons, the age of the children… but the general idea is that you should wear something that makes you feel good, ideally avoiding big logos and patterns as they can detract from the faces.

I will send you some personalised guidance once you’ve booked your session.

Will you tell us how to pose ?

I will gently direct you into the right light and sometimes advise on how to sit/stand to get the most flattering angle. Once that’s done, I
will let you interact and capture action as it unfolds! With younger children, there is always an element of surprise and often my best shots are taken when the children aren’t necessarily following instructions so please don’t give them direction and let me work my magic!

Do you do larger family gatherings?

Yes! I love photographing big families, often the photo session is a present for the grandparents to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary. I don’t charge extra for large family photo shoots and sharing the cost of a Digital Collection can be a very effective way of getting lovely memories for everyone involved. Click here for more information about large family photo sessions.

“We are so happy with the photos Stephanie took of our family, not only is the end result exactly what we wanted but the process was really enjoyable too! Stephanie was really accommodating around timings, amazing with our children and made us all feel really comfortable. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her!”

Lisa, St Albans

pricing

1. Before the session

The session booking fee is due at the time of booking and your digital files and prints are purchased separately once you have seen the gallery (see below).

MIDWEEK BOOKING FEE

Child portrait young boy at home in St Albans

Monday to Friday
(excluding Bank Holidays)

Perfect for pre-schoolers
and school holidays

Prints, digital images and frames are purchased separately (see below)

£99

WEEKEND BOOKING FEE

Saturday, Sunday
and Bank Holidays

Prints, digital images and frames are purchased separately (see below)

£149

2. AFTER the session

After the session, you will be able to review the photographs via an online gallery and pick the package of your choice. Here are the most popular options for family photo sessions: