Case study: The Sinclair Family Photoshoot | Three generations, with two under 1's

verdistudios
May 16
3 min read

Read a real family photoshoot story, and learn what to expect from your photography session.

Family photos on a white wall above a beige sofa with cushions. A lamp stands to the left, and a coffee table with books and a vase is in front.

When families book a photoshoot with babies or toddlers, they often arrive feeling a little unsure about what’s going to happen. We hear it all the time...

“What if they don’t sit still?”

“What if the baby cries?”

“We’re not very photogenic.”

There’s usually a mixture of excitement and nerves when families walk through our studio door.

Initial telephone chat

Recently, we photographed the lovely Sinclair family; Mum- Delores, her two adult children, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren (both under the age of 1!)

During the initial telephone chat, it's high on Kirsty's list to understand the client's vision for their session. As this was the first time the Sinclair family were having photographs all together, we agreed to maximise the session time by photographing different group combinations.

Everyone together was top of the list. Followed by Delores with her two grandchildren, Delores with her children, the babies together, and the babies individually.

Photoshoot day

Our studio sessions are designed to be relaxed and unhurried, especially when photographing families with young children. We put some gentle music on in the background, everyone sits down for a few minutes, we chat, the children explore a little, and slowly everyone starts to relax. There’s no rush and no pressure for children to behave perfectly - they’re allowed to be themselves.

As the session went on, both babies started to relax, bond with Kirsty, and starting showing off some beautiful smiles! We all got so comfortable that little Idris even began to use Kirsty as a climbing frame! (Something that actually happens quite often!) See black and white photo below:

Everyone stopped worrying about whether everything was “perfect” and just spent time together, cuddling, laughing, and playing with the children.

That’s when the real moments happen, and those are always the photographs families love the most.

One of the things we always tell clients is that with us, family photography with toddlers and babies is not about perfect behaviour - it’s about real family moments. The cuddles when your toddler gets shy, the way your baby holds your finger, the laughter when someone pulls a silly face - these are the memories worth capturing.

A group of six people sit on a white background. A smiling baby in front waves joyfully. All wear earth-toned clothing, creating a warm mood. Taken in a professional photography studio

By the end of the session, the adults said what we hear often: “That was so much better than we expected!”

Our goal

When photographing families in our studio, our goal is to create a calm, friendly atmosphere where you can just be yourselves.

With Kirsty's relaxed approach, a bit of music, plenty of patience, and sometimes a few silly noises from behind the camera, we create natural family photographs that feel real and full of life.

Because years from now, you won’t remember whether your toddler sat still for five minutes - but you will remember how small their hands were, how they cuddled into you, and what this stage of family life really felt like.

And that’s exactly what we want to capture for you.