Lewes Family Photographer | Explore The Great Outdoors!
7 outdoor family photos ideas
March is finally here, and although it’s still quite cold outside and the sea is still freezing, Spring is definitely in the air! The birds are singing, the days are getting longer and I’ve spotted the first daffodils in Hove Park.
With warmer weather coming, I thought it would be good to list some ideas for outdoor locations that are perfect for those natural and unposed family photos. As a documentary family photographer I won’t tell you what to do during your family photo shoot, but I can definitely advise you on outdoor family activities that are worth photographing. So here we go:
Taking the kids to the playground
If you’re a parent, you know that, from the moment your little one is old enough to go on the baby swing, you’ll spend a considerable amount of time at the playground! Your Saturday mornings are often spent here, hopefully with a good coffee, and if you’re lucky you’ve got more than one playground in your area to choose from. :-) My documentary family photo shoots are all about capturing those typical Saturday mornings.
2. Going for ice cream
Who doesn’t love going out for ice cream?! If you’re not sure about what to do during your family shoot then you can’t go wrong with this one, which is especially great if you’ve got children who are a bit camera shy. Once the ice cream comes out, they’ll forget all about the lens in front of them!
3. Walk along the seafront
As I’m a family photographer based in Hove, I love taking families out for a walk along the seafront. The colourful beach huts are a perfect backdrop for some fun and natural family portraits, and there’s plenty to explore for the children along the promenade.
4. Your own garden
If you’re booking a Slice Of Life photo session with me and you don’t feel like leaving your house, then that’s totally fine as well. I love photographing families in their home environment, and if you have a garden that can be a perfect spot to capture some unposed family photos. The trampoline is always popular with the children, but blowing bubbles is an absolute favourite!
5. Going to your favourite park
I photograph a lot of families that have pets - and walking the dog is part of family life and totally worth documenting! Going out to your favourite park can be a great family outdoor activity, the kids are free to run around and there’s always lots to see and do. It is also a perfect location to squeeze in a few of the more traditional family portraits, if this is something that you would like to get done as well.
6. Exploring your favourite neighbourhood
Exploring your favourite neighbourhood can be one big adventure for the kids. When I’m shooting families in South London we often go to the Bussey Building, in Peckham, which is an amazing place for documentary family photography. When photographing in Sussex, there are plenty of great neighbourhoods to explore as well. It’s lovely to photograph in Lewes as it has so many independent, antique and quirky shops. It’s also the perfect place to stop for lunch or a quick drink in one of the historic pubs. Another favourite area to shoot: The Lanes, in Brighton!
7. A trip to the beach
I’d like to end this list with the reason we moved from London to Brighton & Hove: the beach! It’s just such a luxury to have the sea on your doorstep and, as a Sussex documentary family photographer, taking the kids to the beach is by far the most popular choice when it comes to exploring the great outdoors!
If you live in East Sussex or West Sussex and you’re considering booking a documentary family photographer to capture your family story then I’d love to hear from you. Sussex is such a wonderful area to go outdoors and explore. If you live in or near Lewes I would love to go and visit Lewes Castle with you and your family. We can go for a hike in the South Downs or, if you live closer to the sea, there’s rock pooling in Rottingdean, looking for treasures at Brighton Beach and so much more to explore!