Capturing Moments Through the Lens
Dain Lewis Visuals
Wedding, Family & Event Photographer in Norwich and Norfolk
A Relaxed Family Photoshoot at Caistor St Edmund, Norwich
Some locations just seem made for family photography, and Caistor St Edmund is certainly one of them. Just a few miles outside Norwich, its open countryside, woodland and historic Roman landscape provide a beautiful setting for a relaxed outdoor family photoshoot.
For this recent session, the aim was simple: to create natural photographs of the family together without making the experience feel overly posed or formal.
Keeping family photography natural
For me, a good family photoshoot should feel like spending time together rather than standing in front of a camera.
Of course, there is still a place for those lovely photographs where everyone is together and looking towards the camera. They are often the images that end up framed at home or given to grandparents. However, some of my favourite photographs from a family session tend to happen between those moments.
Children laughing together, walking with Mum or Dad, exploring their surroundings or simply forgetting that I am there can produce wonderfully genuine photographs.
That was very much the approach at Caistor St Edmund.
A beautiful location near Norwich
Caistor St Edmund offers plenty of variety without having to travel between different locations during the session.
The open spaces allow for wider family photographs that incorporate the Norfolk landscape, while trees and quieter areas provide lovely backgrounds for individual portraits and smaller family groups.
There is also something rather special about photographing families outdoors. Children have space to move around and explore, which can make the whole experience much more relaxed.
Instead of repeatedly asking children to smile for the camera, I can photograph the interactions that happen naturally.
It's not all about posing
One of the questions parents sometimes have before a family photoshoot is whether their children will stay still or cooperate for long enough to get good photographs.
My answer is that they really don't need to.
I would much rather photograph children being themselves.
We'll create a few gently directed family portraits, but we'll also walk, talk, play and give the children some freedom. If they want to explore for a few minutes, that's fine. Quite often, those moments result in photographs that have far more personality than something carefully staged.
The objective isn't to create a photograph of a perfect family.
It's to create photographs that feel like your family.
Creating photographs that matter
Digital photographs are everywhere now. We probably take more pictures of our families than any previous generation, but surprisingly few of them include everyone together.
Usually somebody is behind the phone or camera.
A professional family session gives everyone the opportunity to be in the photographs and creates something rather different from the thousands of pictures sitting on our phones.
My aim is to create a collection that includes the photographs you'd proudly put on the wall alongside the smaller, spontaneous moments that bring back memories of what your family was like at this particular point in your lives.
And children don't stay little for very long.
Family photography in Norwich and Norfolk
Caistor St Edmund is just one of many wonderful locations for an outdoor family photoshoot around Norwich and Norfolk.
I am always happy to suggest locations but your family session doesn't have to take place somewhere I've chosen. It could be a favourite park, woodland, part of the Norfolk countryside or simply somewhere that means something to your family.
The location provides the backdrop.
The important part is the people in front of the camera.
Thinking about your own family photoshoot?
If you'd like relaxed, natural photographs of your family, I offer family photography sessions throughout Norwich and Norfolk.
There's no expectation that children behave perfectly and you don't need to know how to pose. That's my job.
You just need to turn up and be yourselves.
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