KATE & REY | FAMILY SESSION AT LAKE TE KOO UTU CAMBRIDGE
I’ve been photographing Kate for years, and Kate with Rey a couple of times now. This session at Lake Te Koo Utu in Cambridge was about making it a tradition, something they come back and do together every year.
Rey is eight and started the session a bit shy, which is completely normal. But it didn’t take long before the walls came down and the real smiles showed up. By the end she was coming up with her own ideas and genuinely enjoying herself, which is always the moment I know we’ve got something good.
We shot around midday, which can be tricky for light, so we stuck to the shaded pockets under the trees where everything stays soft and flattering. Cambridge has some beautiful spots for this and the lake is one of my favourites.
After the session, Kate messaged me to say Rey told her the photos looked like they should be in a magazine. That’s the kind of reaction you can’t fake, and it’s exactly what I’m going for. Photos that feel elevated but still look like you.
Kids change fast. What you miss later isn’t just how they looked, it’s the version of your relationship at that time. That’s why I love the idea of coming back every year. Each session gets easier, the kids get more confident, and you end up with something that actually means something.
— Tony
