Autumn Mini Session at Fenham Carr | Capturing Another Season with the Burbidge Family

There is something incredibly special about photographing a family year after year. Watching children grow, seeing personalities develop, and preserving those fleeting seasons of family life is one of the greatest privileges of being a family photographer.

This autumn, I had the joy of welcoming the Burbidge Family back to Fenham Carr for their second autumn mini session with me. Nestled amongst the rich colours of the season, Fenham Carr once again provided the perfect backdrop for a relaxed family adventure filled with laughter, cuddles, and those beautiful in-between moments that tell a family's story.

here is something magical about autumn family photography.

The golden leaves, crisp air, and rich seasonal colours create the perfect backdrop for capturing genuine moments between the people you love most. When I met the Badal family for their autumn mini session at Fenham Carr, we were treated to everything that makes this season so special.

Nestled just outside Lancaster, Fenham Carr offers beautiful woodland paths, open spaces for little legs to explore, and an abundance of autumn colour. It is one of my favourite locations for family photography sessions because children can simply be themselves. There is no pressure to sit still or smile at the camera. Instead, we walk, play, cuddle, collect leaves and enjoy time together.

That's exactly what made this session with the Badal family so lovely.

Their little boy spent the session exploring the woodland, crunching through leaves and sharing giggles with mum and dad. Some of my favourite photographs came from the in-between moments: tiny hands reaching for a parent's hand, a spontaneous cuddle, and the laughter that happens when nobody is thinking about having their photograph taken.

These are the moments that often become the most treasured years later.

There is something truly magical about autumn family photography.

The golden leaves, the crisp air, the softer light and the chance to slow down for an hour and simply enjoy being together. It's one of the reasons autumn is my favourite season to photograph families, and my recent mini session with the lovely Whaite family at Fenham Carr was a perfect reminder of why.

Fenham Carr provides such a beautiful backdrop at this time of year. The woodland paths were beginning to transform with rich autumn colours, creating the perfect setting for little adventures, cuddles and plenty of opportunities for children to simply be themselves.

One of the things I loved most about photographing the Whaite family was watching the children explore. There was no pressure to stand still or smile on command. Instead, we followed their lead, looking for interesting leaves, sharing giggles and enjoying the simple moments that often become the most treasured photographs.

Autumn at Fenham Carr | A Family Session with the Suddell Family

There’s something about autumn that feels like a deep breath before winter arrives.

The rush of summer holidays has passed, school routines are settling into place, and the world seems to slow down just enough for us to notice the little things again. The crunch of leaves beneath tiny boots, rosy cheeks after an afternoon outdoors, warm knits, muddy adventures and those fleeting moments of togetherness that often get lost in the busyness of family life.

That’s exactly what I loved about photographing the Suddell family at Fenham Carr.

The woodland was beginning to transform, with rich copper tones creeping through the trees and a blanket of fallen leaves underfoot. Rather than focusing on perfectly posed smiles, we spent our time exploring, cuddling close and embracing the season.

One of my favourite images from the session is a beautifully tender moment between mum, dad and their daughter. Nestled between them, she is wrapped up in their love and attention, completely unaware of the camera. It's the kind of photograph that tells a story years from now — not just what everyone looked like, but how it felt to be together.

A 10-Minute Story: The Bernardis Family & A “Pinch Me” Moment with Heartful Magazine

Some sessions stay with you long after the shutter clicks.
Not because they were perfectly styled or meticulously planned—but because they were real. Honest. Full of life.

The Bernardis family session was exactly that.

Last year, I offered a series of Childhood Mini Sessions for the children of Gaza—short, 10-minute sessions with a simple intention: to raise funds for organisations like War Child and Save the Children. Instead of a session fee, families donated, and together we created something meaningful beyond photographs.

The Bernardis family were one of those families.

The Magic of Shooting at Half Moon Bay: Why I Love This Location

There are some places that simply feel different.

Places where the light softens, the air feels calmer, and time seems to slow just enough for you to notice the little things.

For me, Half Moon Bay is one of those places.

It’s where I return to again and again to photograph motherhood and family stories—because there is something quietly magical about it.

Spring sessions always feel like the world gently waking up again — longer days, softer light, and the quiet promise of warmer months ahead. This particular session in Abbeystead was made even more meaningful because it was filled with memories both old and new.

When Robyn and Jeff suggested Abbeystead for their family session, it felt like the perfect choice. Not just for its rolling countryside and peaceful landscapes, but because it holds a very special place in their story. It’s where they celebrated their wedding in 2019 — a place woven into their history together.

Returning now with their daughter Orla, who had just celebrated her first birthday, felt like a beautiful full-circle moment.

Spring Light & One-Year Milestones | The Teasdale Family

There is something about spring that feels like a quiet exhale.

The light softens. Blossom drifts on the breeze. The earth wakes up again. And somehow, in the middle of all that gentle change, our children grow — almost overnight.

When I met up with the Teasdale family for their spring mini session, baby Max was on the cusp of turning one. It was the second time I had the honour of photographing him, and I found myself doing that thing I always do… mentally flicking back to our last session and wondering how time could possibly move so quickly.

Just a few months ago he felt so tiny. Now he is curious, steady, determined — sitting independently, exploring textures, gripping his tambourine with complete concentration, reaching for petals and pebbles with those dimpled hands that won’t stay little for long.

And his parents? Watching them soak him in — that quiet pride, that soft laughter, that “can you believe he’s nearly one?” look between them — that is the real magic.

Some sessions stay with you long after you’ve packed your camera away — and this spring mini session with the Porter family at Trowbarrow Quarry was one of those.

I know this family through my son’s school, which always adds an extra layer of meaning. Being trusted to capture a family you know — not just photograph — is such a privilege. There’s a quiet intimacy to it, a sense of being invited into something real.

Trowbarrow Quarry was the perfect backdrop for their session. Soft spring light, textured rock, pockets of calm and adventure all in one place. The boys instantly made it their own, turning the quarry into a prehistoric playground as we hunted for dinosaurs hidden amongst the rocks. Those little in-between moments — the searching, the wondering, the storytelling — are where the magic always lives.

Kaelan, with his blonde curls and the most angelic expressions, has a way of completely stopping you in your tracks. There’s such a gentleness about him — one of those children who seems to glow quietly rather than demand attention. Reuben, in contrast, carries the unmistakable energy of a big brother who knows his role well: wonderfully protective, attentive, and full of warmth.

We slowed things down for portraits with mum and dad — tender, close moments that felt unposed and honest. The kind of photographs that don’t shout, but whisper. Hands resting, glances exchanged, children leaning in exactly where they belong.

We finished the session with a little picnic nest tucked into the quarry — marshmallow treats, giggles, sticky fingers and that end-of-session calm that comes when everyone has relaxed into being themselves. It was simple, playful and completely them.

Sessions like this are exactly why I love what I do. They’re not about perfection or performance — they’re about connection, presence, and preserving the way this season of family life feels.

If you’d love a gallery of images like this — full of tenderness, personality and real moments — I’d love to hear from you. My Spring Mini Sessions for 2026 will be opening soon, and they’re perfect for families who want something relaxed, meaningful and quietly beautiful.

✨ Get in touch to register your interest or ask any questions — I’d be so happy to chat.

My two boys enjoying the end of summer days at the brook. I am keen to share more of my personal photos on this little blog to give you an insight into how I spend my mothering days.

These photos were taken on my Canon EOS-M6 with the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens. I shoot most days out on this camera because it’s just so small and easy to carry for documenting and quick snaps for our family albums. There’s something so precious to me about these moments - capturing life as it is in just a single frame.

These images were all edited with the ‘Find Your Style’ presets from Unraveled Academy.

The sweetest family mini session during mid May, roaming the rocks at Trowbarrow Quarry.

This was a super special session, catching up with my old Fine Art pal, Vicki. We studied painting together at Lancaster University 2002-2005 and it was so lovely to chat about these days and meet her beautiful little boy, Harry. These gorgeous couple have been together since they were students and their love just glows like the wonderful sunshine we had on this spring day last year. Hunting for dinosaurs, fun and frolics with mum and dad, ending with a picnic of mini marshmallows and of course some keepsake polaroids.

A day I’ll never forget!

xx

There aren’t enough words to convey how much love I have for this little family! I’ve known them for a few years - and they’ve become dear friends. I’ve seen both their girls grow-up from little toddlers to beautiful big kids. I’ve photographed them as a family one autumn a few years ago and took some portfolio photos for Jhuliana’s mobile salon business.