Channelling My Inner Family Photographer

When I first started doing photography as a serious hobby, I wasn’t very interested in portrait photography. I loved the sea, sunsets and all things seascapes. This is where I loved spending my time, I wasn’t dependent on other people to be my subjects and it was always there. Photography for me then, was about getting out by myself, exploring places, old and new and being in nature; it was about capturing the natural world around me.

My Instagram feed was mostly full other people’s photos who were doing the same thing but I did follow some professional photographers who had done some family portraits in the great outdoors/taken photos of their kids on the beach or on other days out. I absolutely loved their candid style. While I appreciated their eye for capturing these shots, it wasn’t something I thought I’d be any good at or was very interested in. My heart was in photographing seascapes.

However, over the last three years, since becoming a mother really, I have developed a love for taking candid shots of people. Admittedly I’ve not had much opportunity to shoot portraits of anyone other than my kids but who better to practice getting sharp, in focus shots on than energetic, always on the move, under-three year olds!? It’s not always easy and it probably takes about 50 blurred photos before getting that one in focus shot that makes my heart sing.

I’m not one for loving posed, set-up, studio shots, it’s just not my style, but I do love the idea of capturing shots of my boys exploring the natural world or of a family with nature as the backdrop.

Seascapes are still my favourite type of photography, especially since trying my hand at some long exposure stuff but it has been fun expanding my skills and doing some portrait photography.

Here’s a selection of some favourites taken over the last year…