Family Photographer in Caterham & Surrey

Good. Moving kids make better photos than stiff ones. I work at kid pace, which means we follow them, not the other way around. If someone has a meltdown we stop, regroup, carry on. The mess is kind of the point.

Wear what feels like you, just a notch up from everyday. Soft, warm tones and natural fabrics photograph beautifully, and I'd gently steer you away from big logos or tiny busy patterns, which pull the eye. If you're coordinating a family, pick two or three colours that sit well together rather than matching head to toe. And dress for the weather, because cold, grumpy kids make for cold, grumpy photos. I'm happy to send a few ideas before the day.

Almost everyone says this, and almost everyone forgets about it ten minutes in. You won't be stood stiffly facing the lens. I give gentle prompts and little things to do, like walk this way or whisper something daft to each other, so you're busy being yourselves rather than posing. The natural moments in between tend to be the keepers. You don't need to be photogenic. That's my job.

For outdoor sessions, the first hour after sunrise or the couple of hours before sunset give you that soft, golden light everyone loves. With little ones I'll always work around naps and mealtimes first, because a happy toddler beats perfect light every time. Either way, we'll settle the timing together on the planning call.

Yes, always. Dogs are family, and some of my favourite shots have a wagging tail in them. Bring a lead and some treats, and ideally a second person who can hold them for the odd photo where they're not invited. We'll make it work.

For outdoor sessions, we reschedule at no charge. A bit of cloud cover makes for better light, and it's only heavy rain that's a problem. We'll keep an eye on the forecast together and make the call with a couple of days' notice.