KATE & REY – STARTING A YEARLY TRADITION
Some sessions are about “getting a nice photo.”
This one was about capturing a relationship, and making it fun enough that a normally shy 8-year-old wanted to be there.
Kate and her daughter Rey met me at Lake Te Ko Utu in Cambridge in late spring (November). We were shooting around midday, which usually means harsh light… unless you work with it. So we did what actually makes people look good: we stuck to shaded pockets, used the trees like a giant softbox, and let the background stay calm and natural.
But the best part wasn’t the light.
The moment it clicked
I’ve photographed Kate and Rey before, and that trust matters. Rey started the session a bit shy (totally normal), then the walls came down.
The smiles became real smiles. The kind you don’t have to force.
And then something even better happened: Rey started coming up with her own ideas and got genuinely enthusiastic about being photographed. That’s when you know you’ve got it, not a performance, but personality.
Prompts > posing (especially with kids)
This session wasn’t stiff posing. It was prompts, little games, tiny challenges, and simple directions that gave them space to be themselves.
That “loose” approach is exactly why the images feel natural. When kids are enjoying themselves, you don’t have to beg for expressions. You just have to be ready when the real moment shows up.
The reaction that made my day
After Kate saw the photos, she said:
“THANK YOU X1000000.”
And she told me Rey said:
“These look like they should be a magazine.”
That’s the goal: photos that feel elevated, but still look like you.
Why I think families should do this every year
Kids change fast. But what you really miss later isn’t just how they looked, it’s the version of your relationship at that time.
That’s why I’m a big believer in doing family photos at least once a year. Each session gets easier, the kids get more confident, and you build a set of memories that actually means something.
Kate will be approving the final images before anything goes public, because that’s how it should be, it’s their story.
If you want photos that feel natural, relaxed, and genuinely “you,” send me a message and we’ll plan something that fits your family (even if midday is your only option).
