Children Archives - Emma Collins

Easter photography activity for kids | Springtime scavenger hunt

Emma Collins — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 17:22:17 +0000

Free downloadable photography activity for kids

Hands up parents – do you ever have days during school holidays when you haven’t planned an activity for the kids and they are driving you bonkers?!

Sometimes it feels like they are hardly at school, right?! … so with the Easter school holidays around the corner, I have made a present for you!

Over the years, my kids and I have loved doing photo scavenger hunts, from when they were little reception kids needing me to help, right through to teen years when they had more independence. It has been a lovely way for me to share my passion for photography with them and to teach them some skills along the way … and let’s face it, who doesn’t love a bit of healthy competition, especially at Easter when the rewards are chocolate eggs! So I decided to create a springtime/Easter scavenger hunt that is available as a free download, the perfect activity filler for those unplanned days.

Scavenger hunts are super fun and a great activity to do with your kids when you’re out and about enjoying the warmer weather and the first signs of spring. They’re the perfect activity to keep everyone entertained on a family walk, but they’re also a great activity to have up your sleeves for days when your kids are at a loose end and moaning about being bored (that word should be banned!). I hope you and your kids enjoy it!

Download your copy by filling in the form above, and this will also make sure that you’re notified of any new family activity resources that I create.

Have you read my post about how to take better photos with your phone camera? You might find it a useful read to get some tips before you venture out on your scavenger hunt!

The post Easter photography activity for kids | Springtime scavenger hunt appeared first on Emma Collins.

Life with boys | Why everyday stories are anything but boring | St Albans Family Photography

Emma Collins — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 17:59:28 +0000

What do you think is the number one fear that people have when they enquire about booking a documentary family photography session?

… “We’re not very interesting! There won’t be anything to photograph!”…

I hear this ALL. THE. TIME.

Let me assure you, you are not boring and there is ALWAYS plenty to capture! It is all the subtle moments and details that happen during an ordinary day that make documentary family photos so meaningful. In fact the more ordinary your day, the more authentic it will feel and the whole family will be relaxed and natural.

Trust the process

One of the most important roles of documentary family photography is to capture the essence of a family and the character of each individual. It’s about, personality, interactions, how each person fits in and how they contribute. There isn’t a cookie cutter look to documentary family photo sessions, because every family is unique and every home is different … it’s my job to celebrate this individuality.

“I was really worried that we were just not going to be interesting enough, but the photos are amazing. I didn’t realise before our session, but I get it now … when we saw our printed photos, with the little everyday things elevated to something beautiful and majestic, it made me realise how special our day-to-day life is and how important it is to have a record of that.” – Lisa

Sometimes there is a temptation for clients to over plan. It is nice to incorporate favourite family activities, but it’s also important to give everyone space to just be themselves, sometimes the most beautiful, deep environmental portraits come from the quietest moments.

The best way to capture life is to simply let things be. You don’t need to worry about sibling rivalry or toddler meltdowns, dirty faces or dressing up clothes, hyperactive whirlwind frenzies or quiet chilling in front of the TV … it’s all part of real life and that story will play out in your photos to make them feel both artful and authentic.

Just remember, real life is far better than any of us could plan for.

Documentary Family photography in St Albans

Something tells me that worrying about being boring was not on the mind of Becca when she booked her shoot. With four young boys, there is always something happening and her house is rarely quiet.

One of the wonderful things about long form sessions is that I get to really experience the different relationships in a family, and I can bring this through into the images, so it was a really treat to observe and capture a large family. The oldest brother took his role seriously, he was the protector and peace maker, there was true sibling rivalry between the middle two boys which brought all the spectrum of emotions, and the littlest thrived on being adored and looked after by every one and was desperate to be able to keep up with his big brothers.

We were lucky, their adventure session took place just before the weather turned rainy, so we were able to sandwich a favourite dog walk in between everyday happenings at home. By the time the gallery was ready, dark nights and cold weather had well and truly set in, which made it extra lovely to look back at the beautiful day we spent together at the end of summer.

It’s so difficult to narrow down my favourite images into a blog post, if you want to see more you can watch the slideshow here.

Emma Collins in an international award-winning documentary photographer. She specialises in documentary family photography in St Albans, Hertfordshire, creating art from the everyday. By using a contemporary day-in-the-life approach to sessions she captures natural, candid, storytelling family photos. Has this whet your appetite for documentary family photography? Learn more about different types of sessions here or get in touch to book your session.

The post Life with boys | Why everyday stories are anything but boring | St Albans Family Photography appeared first on Emma Collins.

Pressing pause | Why book a day-in-the-life family photoshoot? | Family photography in Cambridge

Emma Collins — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 15:42:59 +0000

Life in the 21st Century is fast paced. Developments in technology mean that we can fit more in to our day than ever before, which feeds our hunger for new and exciting experiences. The down side is that we rarely slow down and reflect on the simple things in life, everyday stuff that actually makes up the fabric of our lives. Before we know it time moves on, things we thought would never change become hazy memories that you ache to remember clearly. As a documentary photographer I give you the opportunity to hit the pause button and freeze time for a day.

What is a day-in-the-life family photoshoot?

Day-in-the-life photo sessions are where photojournalism meets family photography. They preserve the intricate story of your family life right now, from dawn til dusk and everything in between. Nothing posed, just simple, honest moments artfully captured to celebrate your uniquely beautiful family life. Through skilful use of composition and camera technique I elevate your everyday into contemporary art, you will be surprised by the magic that I find!

During your day-in-the-life session I spend several hours with you, so everyone has time to relax in to it. You may choose to mooch around your home and play in the garden, or you might have some activities planned. Whatever happens I go at your pace, following your typical day, documenting real moments, routines and connections as they unfold naturally. You’ll forget that I’m there with a camera as it’s more like hanging out with an old friend! When you look back at your photos you want them to feel authentically ‘you’, so don’t have to prepare anything, you don’t need to get dressed up, you don’t even need to tidy.

Sound easy? It really is the most stress-free photoshoot you will ever have and I promise the photos will be the most meaningful.

Documentary family photography in Cambridge

As a photographer I love to work on these long form sessions, it’s where my true passion lies. I put my heart and soul into a shoot, spending a full day immersing myself in your family to capture the wonder of your ordinary. It allows me to take my time and really slow down. This enables me to watch and wait until something catches my interest, something that is unique to your family. So you can imagine how excited I was to be invited to spend 24 hours photographing the Hagues family in Cambridge.

It was an honour to be asked to photograph the Hagues as Diana is also a family photographer. I know from experience that as a photographer you are always behind the lens. So ironically you are never in your own family photos. Consequently I made sure I put Diana front and centre to show her how much she means to her boys.

… but you might also notice another protagonist – the yellow ball! Any family with footie mad kids will recognise this character. I love how the colour pop weaves through the series to tie everything together.

We had the most fantastic time together so it was impossible to narrow down my favourites. Here is a tiny selection! However, if you want to get a real feel for how a full day-in-the-life session works, watch this slideshow.

Emma Collins in an international award-winning documentary photographer. She specialises in documentary family photography in Cambridge, creating art from the everyday. By using a contemporary day-in-the-life approach to sessions she captures natural, candid, storytelling family photos. Has this whet your appetite for documentary family photography? Learn more about different types of sessions here or get in touch to book your session.

The post Pressing pause | Why book a day-in-the-life family photoshoot? | Family photography in Cambridge appeared first on Emma Collins.

1/2 Day-in-the-life | Days with little boys & horses | Family photography in Harpenden

Emma Collins — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 14:08:05 +0000

When Sarah initially contacted me about having a documentary family session she told me that her father was a photojournalist. Immediately I felt excited, she had been brought up surrounded by meaningful photography. I knew that she intrinsically understood the value of documentary family photography, and the important place that photographs hold as family heirlooms … and she has horses, I couldn’t wait!

Documentary family photography in Harpenden, Hertfordshire

I adored spending time with Sarah and her family! Because I spent half a day with the family, I had time to observe them intimately. Finding out what their home life was really like, allowed me to authentically document their everyday routines and rituals, and how they interacted as a family unit.

When I arrived early on Saturday morning, Sarah’s oldest son was already dressed in his wellies. He was having his sleeves rolled up, ready for some ‘hard work’ digging in the sandpit. Their typical weekend centred around getting dirty on a woodland walk, mucking out the horses and working up an appetite for the customary family lunch. Together they cooked up scrambled egg and grated tomatoes, a tradition dating back to their Spanish wedding breakfast. Exhausted from the morning’s activities the boys settled down for afternoon naps, my cue to say goodbye.

Why documenting the everyday is important

It was so lovely to watch and photograph the family spend time together. Looking back, the walk we took through the woods opposite their home feels especially poignant. It’s a walk that Sarah was keen to capture as it was part of their everyday routine. When I went back to deliver all their frames, the landscape looked different. Tragically, and without warning, the land owner had decided to chop down the woods. The photos we made that day had taken on an even greater significance, because that special part of their daily life had been erased forever. The first thing Sarah said to me was how upset she felt. She was so grateful that we had captured this part of their story for them to look back on and remember fondly.

This is exactly why everyone needs documentary family photoshoots! When you’re in the thick of it, parenting young kids with all hands on deck, it feels never ending. But the thing is, life has a habit of changing without warning. Memories fade and when life moves on you ache to remember how things used to feel. Authentically documented family life brings back all the lost memories.

If you would like to find out more about documentary family sessions, click here.

Emma Collins in an international award-winning documentary family photographer in Harpenden and St Albans specialising in creating art from the everyday. She captures natural, candid, storytelling family photos with her contemporary day-in-the-life approach. If this has whet your appetite for documentary family photography, learn more about different types of sessions here or get in touch to book your very own session.

The post 1/2 Day-in-the-life | Days with little boys & horses | Family photography in Harpenden appeared first on Emma Collins.

1/2 Day-in-the-life | A lazy Sunday afternoon | Gerrards Cross family photographer

Emma Collins — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:51:39 +0000

This family completely embraced the idea of a half day-in-the-life, documenting a normal Sunday afternoon, just hanging out together in the warm late summer sunshine. Activities unfurled organically from hide and seek to sword fighting, tennis, ninja moves and general rough and tumble in the garden, a little pause to refuel before heading out for an evening stroll through the nearby woods … where we found an unexpected bonus, a stash of early blackberries. There were lots of laughs and fun moments, but I think my favourite images show the detail of the faded dinosaur tattoos on his arm, the sort of thing that gets forgotten along the way, but speaks volumes about his character right here, right now.

I am a documentary photographer based in St Albans, available for family, maternity, baby and newborn photoshoots in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London … and further afield if you wish! If you would like to book your own Emma Collins photoshoot, please get in touch to discuss your requirements. You can email me at hello@emmacollinsphotography.co.uk, or visit my contact page.

The post 1/2 Day-in-the-life | A lazy Sunday afternoon | Gerrards Cross family photographer appeared first on Emma Collins.

Adventure session | Long summer days | London family photographer

Emma Collins — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 17:38:16 +0000

With 2 active boys this family wanted to have their session outside in the park, that’s where they spend most of their weekends and they wanted this time documented before the stage passes. They blew bubbles, played football, tickled, sang songs, raced and jumped … and I got a pic of the little bro getting air for the first time (you can see the exact moment he took off from land a little further down!). It’s wonderful to observe the inner workings of a family, the teamwork and slient signals between parents, the commitment they share to give 100% to their children, the physical exhaustion of entertaining young children … its a very special time of life, but its over in a flash … don’t forget to get it documented.

The post Adventure session | Long summer days | London family photographer appeared first on Emma Collins.

1/2 Day-in-the-life | Celebrating the everyday | Surrey family documentary photographer

Emma Collins — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:44:08 +0000

When fellow photographer, Katie Lister, came across my work she thought I was a documentary photographer and wanted to book me for a new baby session at home, but I was still working in studio for newborn work. She was convinced that my style would naturally convert to documentary, I took some persuasion as I was used to the controlled environment of a studio … but the more I thought about it the more I realised that without challenges we can’t grow.

So I drove down to Walton-on-Thames to meet Katie and her newly expanded family in their new home, an important milestone of growth and change in their family story that they wanted to document. The occasion wasn’t being marked with any grand plans or outings, I just spent time quietly observing a normal day … in fact so ordinary was the day, that when I arrived the youngest addition to the family had decided to have a long nap! If you look down a little further, you will see the glee on his sister’s face when she was allowed to burst into his nursery after the baby monitor started gurgling …

… and I loved it, the challenge of an unknown environment, assessing the available light, anticipating the action and finding beauty in the everyday. In years to come, when they look back at their photos I hope they will remember how happy they were just being together … these moments maybe unmemorable at the time, but they become our sweetest memories that we end up treasuring the most.

Thank you Katie … I can attribute my love of documenting families to this session with your gorgeous tribe, and without your encouragement it may have remained undiscovered!

The post 1/2 Day-in-the-life | Celebrating the everyday | Surrey family documentary photographer appeared first on Emma Collins.

Adventure session | A splash of colour | Hertfordshire family photographer

Emma Collins — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 19:03:42 +0000

These girls would brighten up anyone’s day! I loved observing their relationship, the plotting whispers, funny faces, cat walking, singing and acrobatics … and to see the little sister trying so hard to be just like her big sisters made my heart melt … I almost forgot, the middle sister had just fashioned herself a new very short fringe a few days earlier, it’s just poking out from under her hairband, but what an awesome thing to record, to look back and laugh and remember them exactly as they were at this place and time.

I am a family photographer based in St Albans, available for family, maternity and newborn photoshoots in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London … and further afield if you wish! If you would like to book your own Emma Collins photoshoot, please get in touch to discuss your requirements. You can email me at hello@emmacollinsphotography.co.uk, or visit my contact page.

The post Adventure session | A splash of colour | Hertfordshire family photographer appeared first on Emma Collins.

Adventure session | Snowball fight | St Albans documentary family photographer

Emma Collins — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 18:31:11 +0000

I can’t tell you how excited I was leading up to this photoshoot, the weather forecast was snow … we hardly ever have snow, so when we do, the likelihood that it coincides with a client booking is almost non-existent. The mum was slightly concerned that her teenage children might stand around looking awkward … you know how teens operate, lying on the sofa, playing on phones, monosyllabic conversations, a photoshoot would not be at the top of their chosen activities, especially not early on a Saturday … so she had decided that we should go out and about for our 1/2 day session, and I challenge you to find anyone who doesn’t turn into a big kid when snow is around. I literally did a little happy dance when I woke up to a blanket of snow covering the ground, it wasn’t deep but there was just enough … and it absolutely lived up to my expectations, in fact it couldn’t have been more perfect. Everyone had a (snow)ball (excuse the pun!) and completely forgot I was hanging around in the shadows … well almost forgot, they did gang up on me at one point and simultaneously all started throwing snowballs at me … the cheek of it!

I am a family photographer based in St Albans, available for family and newborn photoshoots in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London … and further afield if you wish! If you would like to book your own Emma Collins photoshoot, please get in touch to discuss your requirements. You can email me at hello@emmacollinsphotography.co.uk, or visit my contact page.

The post Adventure session | Snowball fight | St Albans documentary family photographer appeared first on Emma Collins.

Adventure session | Berry picking & berry battles | St Albans family photographer

Emma Collins — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 09:55:10 +0000

Exploring for autumnal treasures must be a top favourite activity for many families, there is nothing like collecting brightly coloured leaves, toadstools, nuts and berries … but you know that point in a day when a switch suddenly turns and things get raucous – you know this point right?! A battle broke out, berries became pellets and I found myself ducking for cover. It’s often like this, starting with a little trepidation, conscious of the camera, but the more time I spend with you with the more everyone relaxes eventually forgetting that I’m even there. It’s impossible to anticipate what will happen, every family is so different and has their own sense of fun and ritual, and it’s that unpredictability that is so wonderful … by quietly observing and recording the action, the heart of each family shines through and their story finds its way into pictures and memories.

… On a side note, you may have noticed that those berries were rather lovely sloe berry specimens … I did return later the same day, this time armed with punnets and my tribe of helpers to forage for juicy sloes, and subsequently made a successful batch of sloe gin which was well received by my family at Christmas!

The post Adventure session | Berry picking & berry battles | St Albans family photographer appeared first on Emma Collins.