Simon Kemp | Baby, Children and Family Photographer | Reading, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and London

I love shooting family portraits at home. Sometimes it’s a really nice thing to do – often young children are more relaxed and secure in their own surroundings and this makes the portrait photography a little easier. There is also more room for the children to move around and this makes for some interesting photographs.

The lighting can be a challenge outside the confines of the studio but I enjoy the challenge. The backgrounds to the images are obviously a lot more personal to the subjects. Given that family portraits are treasured for decades after the event I think it’s really nice for the children to have this insight into how their house looked when they were young and also how their parents looked at the time.

I had photographed Andy and Viv’s wedding a few years previously and it was a delight to be asked back to photograph them and baby Charlotte.

Here are a few favourite images from their home portrait session.

Usually we spend around an hour and a half shooting a family session at home and this can be extended if necessary. I find with younger children that it’s best to let them dictate the pace of the session. Sometimes it’s fun to extend the session with a trip to the local park or other outdoor location. In a few years it’s lovely to look back on what seems like a normal everyday occurrence for the children.

**Click here** if you would like to know more about our family portraits at home.

Here are some favourite portrait photographs from the session I shot for Angela, Paul and family at their home in Woodcote. The family was lovely – very relaxed and laid back and it was nice to reflect this in the portraits.