Opens in a new tab

Family Photographer in Forest Hill

Relaxed, honest family photos that feel like you.

Dad carrying his daughter on his shoulders along a hedge-lined park path — documentary family photographer Forest Hill

Moments You Can Come Back To Again and Again

Right now your toddler wants “uppy” all day. Your eldest tells you everything on the walk home from school. The baby has that one laugh that makes the whole room join in. These are the moments that make your family yours, and they’re happening every single day.

Mum and her two young sons in sun hats eating bananas on the train to the seaside — candid family photography
Family laughing together over a game of Cluedo in their living room — relaxed at-home family photos South-East London

A documentary session captures them just as they are. I photograph your real day, without directing anyone, so the photos feel like your family’s life, not a performance. And you finally get to be in them too.

Think of my camera as a time machine. Years from now, you’ll open your album and be right back on that sofa, hearing the giggles and feeling those sticky little hands in yours. Your children will love it too, seeing exactly who they were and what the family felt like.

Forest Hill: Photos in Your Favourite Places

Choose the places your family loves, and the photos will mean so much more. Around Forest Hill, that could be:

The Horniman Gardens: the bandstand, the animal walk and the view over London

Sydenham Hill Wood: tree climbing, muddy paths and fallen logs to balance on

One Tree Hill and Blythe Hill Fields: rolling down the grass and big skies at sunset

Mayow Park and Dartmouth Road: the playground, the café and your local high street

Your home: breakfast, Lego on the floor and bedtime stories

We’ll talk about the options together, and I’ll help you pick what suits your family and the season.

Mum pushing a pram past a colourful street mural in Brixton — everyday family life photographed in South London
Smiling boy lying on fluffy towels after bath time as his parent touches his face — honest family photography Forest Hill

Who These Sessions Are For

Families in Forest Hill, Honor Oak, Sydenham, Brockley and Catford.
Parents who want honest photos with real expressions, not forced smiles.
Children (and grown-ups) who feel awkward in front of a camera. Here they don't need to do any posing at all.
Anyone who wants to be in the photos with their children, not just take them.
You want photographs you'll actually put on your wall and in a family album, not ones that end up forgotten on a hard drive.

Not the Right Match If…

You'd prefer a posed portrait where everything is planned and directed. I'd rather photograph your family as it really is.

Ready to document your family exactly as they are? I’d love to hear from you:

Let’s Tell Your Story!

Saskia’s documentary-style photo session captured some of our family’s everyday moments and connections in our chosen setting. We now have some fun and creative images to display and celebrate our family.

- Nicola, Catford, London

From First Message to Prints on Your Wall

Mum on the sofa with her baby and older child sprawled across her lap — real-life family photography Forest Hill

1. A Friendly Chat

Send me a message and we’ll have a relaxed call to get to know each other. If you’d like to book, I’ll send a short questionnaire, and then we’ll talk about your family’s days and what you’d love to remember.

Mum breastfeeding her baby on the grass while hugging her daughter — documentary family photographer South-East London

2. Time Together

I’ll spend about three hours with you, photographing whatever happens. After a little while, children forget the camera, and that’s when the magic happens: the cuddles, the jokes, the sibling chaos.

Child making a dinosaur shadow on the wall with a toy — playful at-home family photography Forest Hill

3. You See Your Story

Roughly four weeks after your session, your gallery arrives as a slideshow with music. Watch it together, then choose the collection you love.

Mum and daughter bouncing on the trampoline hand in hand, laughing — fun family photos South-East London

4. Photos You Can Hold

Your print credit turns your favourite moments into prints, frames or an album for your home.

Shall we capture your family as you are right now?

You can find all the details on my pricing page, or send me a quick message. I can’t wait to hear about your family.

Family PricingLet's Tell Your Story

I'm Saskia Albers, Your Forest Hill Family Photographer

I’m a documentary family photographer and filmmaker based in Bromley. I photograph families across South-East London, including nearby Crystal Palace and Dulwich.

I’m a mum of two too, so I know days rarely go to plan. Honestly, that’s when the best photos happen.

Saskia Albers, documentary family photographer for Forest Hill families, with her camera near the London Eye
Saskia Albers cuddled up in bed with her son — family photographer and mum of two in South-East London

I’m not a silent stranger hiding behind a lens. I chat, I laugh at the jokes, and I’m happy to admire a Lego tower or two, so children quickly feel at ease with me. Once they do, they simply get on with their day, and that’s when the real magic shows up in the photos. I love finding the small details too: muddy wellies by the door, a favourite teddy, the drawings on the fridge. Put together, they become your family’s very own time machine, ready to take you straight back whenever you want to go.

More About Me

FAQs

Booking a photographer or filmmaker can bring up questions. Here are a few I’m often asked.

  • What if I need to cancel, or someone is unwell, or the weather is bad?

    You can always reschedule your session up to two times at no extra cost, giving you flexibility if life gets in the way. Please let me know as soon as possible so I can free up your date for another family. However, once I’m already at the agreed location or on my way there, cancellation is no longer possible.

    That said, with documentary photography, you don’t have to let illness or bad weather stop you. There’s still so much beauty to capture: the care you show for your child, the ways you support each other, and the little gestures or family rituals that reveal your bond. Jumping in puddles, running for cover, cosying up indoors. These honest, everyday moments can create heartfelt and timeless images. You can see an example of a session where we were caught in the rain here.

    However, if you’d prefer everyone to be healthy and the weather to be good for the session, then it’s absolutely fine to postpone. Your family’s comfort comes first.

  • What if my partner isn’t keen on photos?

    I completely understand, being photographed can feel daunting for many people. It’s not unusual for partners to feel shy, awkward, or unsure about being in front of the camera.

    With my documentary approach, there’s no posing or performing, so your partner can be themselves with the people they love. That approach truly makes all the difference! So many families I’ve worked with had one reluctant partner,  and they are the ones who often end up loving the experience and the results the most.

  • How long is a family photo session?

    Around three hours, and long enough for everyone to genuinely relax and be themselves. I will ask you to block out 4 hours in your diary to allow flexibility for unforeseen events and to give you a sense of not having somewhere else to be right after our photo session. This timeframe will truly give you a slice of your own life.

  • Do you offer mini family photo sessions in South-East London?

    Yes, once or twice a year, I run mini family photography sessions across South-East London, which are a great option if you’d like a shorter, more affordable session. I also offer Christmas mini sessions each December, which are perfect for capturing your family’s festive traditions honestly and naturally — no matching outfits required.

    Find out about mini family photoshoots
    Find out about Christmas mini photoshoots

    Spaces for both are limited and tend to go quickly. Signing up for my newsletter is the best way to hear about new dates first.

  • Can we have our session at the Horniman Gardens?

    Yes, the gardens are a lovely spot for families. Sydenham Hill Wood and One Tree Hill are wonderful options too. It’s always a great idea to pick the places you’d normally go to, whether that’s your favourite playground, the woods where the kids build dens or your usual Sunday walk. Places you know and love help everyone relax, and they make photos you’ll treasure even more.For more ideas, read my guide on how to choose the right location for your family photos.

Still got a Question? Get in touch!

Not ready to send me that message? Here’s some helpful and fun stuff!

Grab a cup of tea (or a hot chocolate!) and have a look at the awesome resources I’ve created for you. I’m sure you’ll love them!

To keep your kids entertained, I have a photography activity book, or get tips for yourself on how to take great photos of your children.

…and there is a whole lot more to dive into, go have a look!



Let's Tell Your StoryFamily Freebies

You May Also Like