The ‘Every Day’ of our family life may seem a little too ordinary to document with photos and video.

Maybe you feel it’ll be too boring to photograph? So feel pressure to pack lots in to ensure there was something to capture…?

As a documentary family photographer, being invited to photograph a FULL family day from breakfast to bedtime is genuinely one of my favourite things to shoot.

Honestly, having a typical family day captured is the perfect way to get those genuine natural moments a it gives you chance to relax into being yourselves.

Real moments, capturing real personalities and giving you the perfect way to relive how family life feels right now.

I know you’ll see some of your family life in these moments from a recent Day in The Life over near Manchester.

The perfect example of how to embrace the ordinary every day and relive something extraordinary…

A Family Day – Manchester Family Photography

Day In The Life Family Videography

When I capture your family life I use both my photography skills as well as capturing movement and sound in video too.

Hearing the way they say cute words, or how they ask ‘Mummy’ (a million time a day). Those little conversations doing your favourite things, the things we take for granted in our every day.

Above is their photography slideshow and below is their family video showing off a Day In The Life of Zoe, Tom, Arti and Ripley in their first family home in Walkden, Greater Manchester…

A Relaxed Family Breakfast

When I say from ‘Breakfast to Bedtime’ I really mean the full day!

I arrived with Zoe, Tom, Arti and their sausage dog Ripley bright and early in time for breakfast pancakes.

As a Parent myself, looking back I know they’ll be fond memories of this part of the day.

And, it’ll be a great reminder of Arti’s raspberry obsession and the chaos of trying to wipe their face!

It was then time to change out of the PJs and ready for a morning walk along part of the Walkden Looplines (and attempting a nap for Arti!).

Family Photography and Video – It’s For You As Well As Your Baby!

What’s really special about a documentary family shoot capturing your real life is that you’re part of that too!

Family photography can sometimes focus on the baby or child with no sign of the Parents. And I get that sometimes that’s a choice based on your own worries. But in years to come, these photos won’t be for you. They’ll be for your Children to see you all in the photos.

No standing behind the camera making silly faces to make your baby laugh.

No posing. No feeling awkward or ‘just one more’.

It may not feel important now, the idea of being photographed or filmed may even feel weird BUT this is a chance to capture what life looks like for you right now.

Before babies you were a couple and for Zoe and Tom there were also fur parents so I got to capture a little bit of Ripley getting a fuss (and some cake) whilst Arti had a sleep…

Naptimes, Strolls and Quiet Family Time

The every day things like walks to get the baby to sleep, a sneaky nap-time coffee break and the queiter parts of the day are still worthy of being captured.

As these natural, candid family photos show!

Zoe and Tom enjoyed a sneaky coffee and cake break at Cup and Crumb in Worsley whilst Arti napped.

It was then time for a quick feed on a picturesque park bench together in Roe Green.

Natural Breastfeeding Photographs…

As a breastfeeding Mother myself, I realise how important it is to capture your feeding journey too.

It may not feel like the ‘thing’ to capture you breastfeeding, and maybe you want to keep that for yourself, but I always encourage capturing those feeds whilst we’re together.

These natural moments are just about the way baby gazes at you (or yanks, bites and scratches in some cases ha).

But it’s also those little connections that you’ll see in some of these natural breastfeeding photos.

These were captured on a quick breastfeeding stop on a park bench before walking home!

Weaning and Messy Faces – Candid Family Photos!

It was back to their first family home in Walkden for a quick family meal before some family chill time in the lounge.

The baby carrier (sling) was then out for a little walk to the park in the sunshine before the next nap was due!

Again, all these little every day things we do may not seem the ‘thing’ to capture but I hope seeing these moments help you see how special they can be.

Having me there as part of the day becomes weirdly normal and allows everyone to relax in front of the camera. The perfect way to get genuine moments in photo and video.

I know you can see how natural these moments feel compared to the posed photoshoots you may be used to seeing!

Relaxed Day In The Life Family Photography and Video

After such a wonderfully relaxed day (sort of…is it ever relaxing with young children?) it was back home for tea, bath and bed.

Arti’s room was so stylish, with lots of personalised art work and a beautiful wooden cot. It was the perfect cosy setting for a family cuddle.

But before we got to bedtime it was a messy family tea in the kitchen. Arti LOVES their food so they got very messy before it was time to strip off for a bath.

For a bit of fun Tom even dug the bubble machine out!

The pace then slowed right down as they enjoyed reading a book together before Arti was ready for bed…

Natural and Relaxed Day In The Life Photography

Zoe and Tom are professional photographers themselves (you can see their amazing wedding photography here) so, you’d think they wouldn’t need a photoshoot of their own?

Just because you can take a great photo of other people doesn’t mean you can capture those natural moments yourself!

I can vouch for that as a professional photographer myself and rarely feature in any of my own family moments because I’m either…

A) Taking the photo

B) Trying to parent and have to ‘pretend’ to act natural

And my only work around so far is trying to take a self-portrait, which again loses that ‘natural’ feel to a family photo!

Capturing Real Moments of Family Life

I offer shorter sessions that aim to capture a little glimpse of family life, you can see more of that here.

A Day In The Life is about capturing a real, honest look at how family life feels for you all.

How the everyday things can be really special when you’re able to look back and reflect on them

Fancy Capturing A Day In YOUR Family Life?

If you’ve enjoyed learning more about Day In The Life photography and you’d like to chat about what I could capture for you, I’d love to hear from you.

I can help you work out if this really natural and honest approach to family photography is perfect for you right now….