Lyndsey Aberromby Photography
What to Expect at a Family Photoshoot: What Parents Worry About (and What Actually Matters)
I’ve photographed hundreds of families over the years, andso many parents tell me they spend the days beforehand worrying about something. Usually it’s the same handful of concerns: Will my children behave? What if they won’t stand still? What should we wear? Will I look good in the photos? Is my house tidy enough? I understand why these things feel important. You want the session to go well, and you want photos you’ll genuinely love. But experience has shown me that the things you worry about before your family photoshoot are rarely the things that matter most in the final images
Let me walk you through the common worries — and what actually does matter.
“So What Does Matter?” Connection. You BEING Yourselves
“What if my children won’t behave?”
Here’s the thing: they don’t need to. I’ve photographed children with all sorts of personalities — confident ones, cautious ones, noisy ones, shy ones, determined ones, and the slow-to-warm-up ones. What works for one child won’t work for another, and that’s exactly why I adapt every session to the family in front of me. My job is to work out what makes your child tick and find a way to make the session feel relaxed and fun. You don’t need to force anything. You just need to join in with the process.
One of the reasons I love photographing families outdoors is that children naturally relax when they have space to move. At all of my favourite locations — whether that’s Ashridge Estate, somewhere around Berkhamsted and Tring, or further afield across Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire and London — there are places to run, climb, explore and play. I don’t need children standing perfectly still, staring at the camera for long periods of time. A quick glance in my direction is often all it takes.
And grown-ups who are willing to get involved make a huge difference too. You don’t need to perform or force smiles, but your willingness to cuddle, play, walk, chat and laugh alongside your children helps create photos that feel natural and connected. I’ll guide you the whole way through.
What actually helps? Snacks. Lots of snacks. Make sure everyone is well-fed before we start — and I mean really well-fed. Sessions feel so much easier when nobody is running on empty. Yes, family sessions can feel a little chaotic sometimes. I have two energetic boys myself so I’m very used to it. That movement, energy and unpredictability? That’s often what makes the best photos.
“What if they get dirty?”
Please don’t worry about this. If we’re outdoors, clothes will probably get dusty. Knees might get muddy. Hems may end up slightly crumpled. Most of the time you either won’t notice it in the final images — or you simply won’t care, because the feeling in the photograph matters so much more. What does matter about clothes is that they fit well, feel comfortable, and allow you to move easily without constantly adjusting or worrying about them.
But the photos that matter most are never really about perfect outfits. They’re about the people in them and the connection between them. I always take a “safety shot” early on while everyone still looks lovely, calm and relatively clean. That gives us the classic family portrait. After that, everyone can relax and we can let things unfold naturally. And if you have very small children, it’s never a bad idea to throw a spare outfit in the car. We may not need it, but it’s reassuring to have just in case.
“Will I look good in the photos?”
This is an important one. That is my job to worry about — not yours. We all look terrible if we’re caught at exactly the wrong moment. Even Beyoncé has unflattering photos floating around the internet somewhere. I know what I’m watching for. I know when to press the shutter. And I delete the photos you never need to see. You won’t be shown images where you’re mid-blink, mid-sentence, or pulling a strange expression. They simply don’t make it through to your gallery.
But please — and I mean this — get in the photos. Your children won’t care whether your hair behaved perfectly that day, whether you felt tired, or whether you wished you’d lost half a stone first. What they’ll care about, years from now, is that you were there. Holding them. Laughing with them. Looking at them the way you do now. That’s also why I always encourage grandparents to get involved too — not just come along to carry coats and bags. These photographs aren’t just for now. They become more valuable as the years pass.
“Is my house tidy enough?”
(for lifestyle newborn sessions at home)
I’ve been there. Actually, I’m still there. Most of the home sessions I photograph are lifestyle newborn sessions, and I completely understand that life with a newborn rarely looks calm or perfectly tidy. That is entirely normal. I’m not looking for a pristine show home, I’m looking for the spaces where you actually live. The sofa where you feed your baby. The bedroom where everyone piles together. The tiny details that quietly tell the story of this stage of life — exhausting, emotional, beautiful and fleeting all at once. Of course, we can move things around if needed. I do this at almost every session — shifting toys out of the way, tidying a corner, moving washing baskets, clearing space on the sofa. It’s just part of the process. Your home does not need to be perfect for your photos to feel meaningful.
“So what does matter?”
Connection. The way your child leans into you without thinking. The way siblings look at each other. The tiny hand reaching for yours. The way everyone relaxes once they stop trying so hard. You being yourselves. Not performing. Not trying to create perfection. Just being together in the way you naturally are when nobody’s watching.
Real moments matter more than perfect ones. The in-between bits are often the things people end up loving most — the messy hair, muddy knees, distracted expressions, belly laughs, cuddles, chaos. The details that feel ordinary now, but won’t always be. And the story of right now matters too. How old your children are at this exact moment. The way they move. The things they’re interested in. Their personalities as they are today. That’s what you’ll want to remember years from now. Not whether everyone stood perfectly still and looked at the camera. That’s what shows up in the photographs. That’s what lasts.
Family photos don’t need perfect behaviour, spotless houses, or perfectly coordinated outfits. They just need you – as you are right now. That’s more than enough. If you’re thinking about booking a family photoshoot and have questions I haven’t covered here, just get in touch. I’m always happy to chat things through before you book.
Thinking About a Family Photoshoot?
I photograph relaxed family sessions across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire & North London – focussed on connection, personality and real family moments.