Why I No Longer Work From a Studio
When I first started photographing families in Derbyshire, I thought a studio was the obvious choice.
Plain backdrop, good light, everyone lined up nicely. Job done, right? Except… not really.
Sure, it worked for sleepy newborns who were mostly interested in milk and cuddles. But once you throw toddlers into the mix, things got interesting. They don’t want to sit still on a chair in an unfamiliar room. They want to know what’s behind the curtain, if they can climb the lights, and why a stranger is asking them to smile. Basically, the studio became a playground with rules they didn’t care about. And honestly, fair enough.
Why Home Wins Every Time
The photos people know me for — the natural, relaxed, real ones — happen when families are comfortable. When kids forget the camera’s there and just get on with being themselves. That never really happened in the studio, but it happens all the time at home.
At home, children show me their favourite toys, proudly drag me into their rooms, or collapse in a giggle on the sofa. Parents relax because they’re not worrying about snacks they forgot to pack or whether the pram will fit through the door. And even with newborns, I can still get all the close-ups — tiny toes, curled fists, milk-drunk smiles — only now you’ve got everything you need within arm’s reach. Babies sense familiar, safe places, and it shows.
But What If…
“But my house is messy.” Honestly? I couldn’t care less. I’m not there to document the washing pile. I’m there to capture you. And if you do want something clean and simple, we can use a plain wall, the garden, or head into the countryside where the light does all the heavy lifting.
“But what if the kids don’t behave?” They’re more likely to at home. If they’re overwhelmed, they can disappear to their own room for five minutes, reset, and then come back when they’re ready. In the studio, there was no escape, which usually meant meltdowns escalated.
And the best bit? You don’t have to pack half your house into a bag. Snacks, changes of clothes, wipes, toys — it’s all already there.
Why I’ll Never Go Back
Ditching the studio was the best decision I made. Lifestyle sessions at home or outdoors capture your family as they really are, in the places that matter most to you. They’re personal, they’re relaxed, and they’re the kind of photos that will mean more in the years to come.
It’s not about perfect backdrops or forcing smiles. It’s about the chaos, the cuddles, the little in-between moments. Basically, it’s about real life — and that’s always better photographed where you actually live it.