Way back in 2008 Michael & Natalie got married and I went along to photograph the big day. Fast forward five years and two have become four, which inevitably means they move a lot faster, jump around more and are generally messier eaters (the kids not the grown ups!). Natalie asked if I’d pop along to their home in Gloucestershire to take some relaxed family portraits. In her words “the same as you did at our wedding, like how I didn’t even notice you were there”.
Being unobtrusive at a wedding is one thing, but in a household of four, I’ll surely get noticed right? It appears not so much, I can in fact blend into family life and photograph whatever goes on. Maybe it’s the fact I have kids of my own, or again as Natalie put it “you Matt are the only Photographer Michael would have take photos of us”, which I read into as “you’ll fit in right at home here with us”. I’m sure there’s a compliment in there somewhere, especially since Michael is a keen photographer himself, so clearly knows a thing or two about a good photo. The main problem is, he’s always behind the came (de ja vu) and Natalie wanted at least some of their kids childhood photos to include their dad :-)
So, with a loose brief of, “take photos of the family”, I spent an afternoon with them and did just that.
Crocks. Every adult vows never to let their kids have them, then somehow a pair sneak onto their feet and you soon realise they’re the most versatile shoe for a kid ever. On and off, wet or dry, warm or cold, mud…. peh, no problem, we’ll just wash ’em off afterwards. You name it, this shoes does it all.
During a tea break, someone found a water pistol. Nice shoot through too…..very sneaky.
Tell me, does everyone do this with babies? I know I certainly do too, it’s something about their super soft heads.
“Dad, you got a bogey, let me get that for you” :-)
“yeah, we’re laughing at ya!”
OMG, something AMAZING must be happening outside – that’s a mouth that could catch flies.
“Matt, Matt, look……it’s a……Tractor”
Yes, obscured behind the sofa is indeed a bouncy hopper, or could there be some serious overhead static going on.
A child’s dream day.
I get to do all the things I like best AND with 3 adults full attention watching me.
Jumping done, let’s throw some stuff around. For safety, Aden does at least have a helmet on.
“Ahh, mummy’s playing with my brother, quick do something”
“Yep, this box is perfect, that’ll get her attention back”
Love this pic. If you’ve got kids you’ll know this feeling.
After all that indoor excitement, fresh air was necessary.
Superman training, followed by a quick through the legs and leave dad exhausted on the floor.
Ohh yeah, 1-2-3, you can’t beat it.
If you’re looking for family portrait photography in Gloucestershire with a relaxed style then please contact me for a chat.