Longer family sessions are truly magical. I love doing day in the life sessions, because the longer you get to spend with a family the more you find out about them and their unique story.  And the more beautiful moments you can capture. There is an intimacy to day in the life photoshoots, because you are invariably sharing meal times and witnessing bath and bed time routines. These photo sessions become more than a snapshot of your family life, they become a window into your real life. As the photographer, I come away feeling like I was a part of their family for a day. 

When Rose asked me to photograph her family I was a bit nervous because Rose is also a fellow documentary family photographer in the Bath area. I am a fan of her work and was very flattered she had asked me to document her own family. 

When I arrived I was greeted by THE most affectionate littlest people of the family, her youngest two, in the form of huge bear hugs that almost knocked me off my feet! I had enthusiastic little faces showing me their favourite toys and giving me a tour of the house. I immediately felt like I’d known them forever. 

We did all the joyous families activities you would expect; we played in the garden, we played with toys, we baked cookies, we painted nails, we had a trip to the park, we played some more, we played the piano, we watched tv, we had dinner, we danced in the kitchen (this being the highlight of the shoot for me!). And before too long we meandered upstairs for baths, teeth brushing, story time and bed time. 

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What was so overwhelmingly heartwarming about this session is that by spending a long time together, and being witness to this families very normal every day routines, allows me to see the similarities of my own domestic life at home. That on the one hand, we are all different, and our family units are made up in a myriad of beautiful different ways. But it also made me realise that ‘family’ (and every day life at home with young children) has this universal meaning of shared experiences, no matter what background or culture you are from. Those shared moments we can all relate to, children having tantrums, refusing a bath or brushing teeth, siblings squabbling, meals untouched or thrown on the floor, scattered toys, laundry, moments of relief when your children finally fall asleep, stolen moments between you and your partner. We are all different, but so much of our parenting experiences are the similar or the same. And that unifies the parenting experience between all of us, and helps us feel less alone in our parenting journey’s. 

Thank you Rose for welcoming me into your home and allowing me to capture the truest versions of you all, it was a huge privilege.