Finding a family photographer can feel surprisingly overwhelming. There are so many styles, so many personalities, and so many portfolios to scroll through. How do you know who is actually the right fit for your family, with all your particular dynamics, your energetic kids, your slightly camera-shy partner, and the way your real life actually looks? This post is here to help you think it through, step by step, so you can make a choice that feels genuinely right rather than just convenient. I’ll be honest with you about what to look for, what to ask, and what I’ve learned from years of photographing families in London and beyond.
First, Understand the Different Styles of Family Photography
Not all family photography is the same, and knowing the difference makes everything easier.
There are broadly three approaches you’ll come across:
- Studio and portrait photography – A more controlled environment, often with neutral backdrops and deliberate posing. Great if you love clean, classic images where often everyone is looking at the camera.
- Lifestyle photography – A middle ground: candid-feeling images, but with direction from the photographer. Usually takes place in a home or at a chosen outdoor setting.
- Documentary family photography – This is the style I work in. There is no posing, no “say cheese,” and no performance required. I follow your family through your real day; your routines, your rituals, the in-between moments. The goal is to capture who you actually are.
Each style produces beautiful results, but they feel very different to experience. Knowing what kind of images you want to live with long-term is a great starting point.
If you want to understand more about the documentary approach specifically, I’ve written about it in more depth in What Is Documentary Family Photography?
Look at Their Portfolio – Really Look at It
A photographer’s portfolio tells you almost everything you need to know.
When you’re browsing their website or social media, ask yourself:
- Do these images feel like something I’d actually want on my wall?
- Do the families in these photos look relaxed and genuinely themselves, or stiff and performed?
- Can I see families that look a little like mine – in terms of age, background, energy, dynamics?
- Does the work feel consistent, or does the quality vary a lot?
- Do the images show a range of emotions, or only perfect smiles?
Also read what they write. The words on a photographer’s website reveal their values, their personality, and how they think about their work. If their writing makes you feel seen and comfortable before you’ve even met them, that’s a good sign. If it feels cold or overly corporate, pay attention to that too.
Ask Them the Right Questions
Once you’ve found someone whose work resonates with you, get in touch and have a conversation. This step matters more than people often realise, and it’s something I actively encourage before any booking.
Here are some questions worth asking:
- What does a session actually look like from start to finish? You want to understand their process and how they’ll guide (or not guide) you.
- How do you work with young children, or children who might be nervous? A good photographer will have a clear, reassuring answer.
- What happens if my child isn’t cooperating on the day? Life with kids is unpredictable. You want someone who knows how to work with that, not against it.
- Do I get to review images before you share them publicly? Can I choose not to sign a model release? This matters, especially if you have privacy concerns or simply want control over what goes out into the world. I work with a model release, and you can always ask me to remove this from your contract.
- What does your editing style look like — do you retouch heavily? Worth knowing if authenticity matters to you. I only edit colour and light, I don’t retouch bodies or faces, and I will never share images you’re not comfortable with.
- What’s included in the price, and what happens with the final images? Make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting. Ask them how many digital files are included, and whether you will get prints, albums, or a combination.
I’ve written a full post on how much family photography costs in London if pricing is something you’re trying to get your head around.
Think About the Practical Details Too
Beyond style and personality, there are some practical things worth thinking through before you book:
- Location: Where will the session take place? In your home, outdoors, or a mix? Make sure the photographer is experienced in the kind of environment that suits your family. Most of my sessions happen at home or in a local area your family already knows and loves.
- Timing: How far in advance do you need to book? Photographers in London can get booked up months ahead, especially in spring and autumn. If you have a particular date or season in mind, enquire earlier than you think you need to.
- Weather: If you’re planning an outdoor session, ask how they handle rain or unexpected changes on the day.
- What to actually do during the session: Especially for documentary sessions, this is a question families often have, and it’s a good one.
I’ve written about handling rain during a family session, what to wear for outdoor family photos, and what activities work well during a session — all worth reading before you book with anyone.
Pay Attention to How You Feel Around Them
This part is harder to put into a checklist, but it might be the most important thing of all.
Do you feel at ease talking to them? Do they ask questions about your family and seem genuinely curious? Or does the conversation feel transactional and rushed?
The families who are the best fit for my work tend to reach out and say something specific. Not just ‘I’d like some family photos’, but ‘I want to remember what this time feels like’. They say, ‘My youngest still breastfeeds, and I know that won’t last forever.’ Or ‘My teenager still comes in for a morning cuddle, and I never want to forget that.’ When someone tells me something like that, I know immediately that we’re going to work well together, because they already understand what documentary photography is for.
A good photographer will be curious about your family in that same way. They’ll ask you questions. They’ll want to know what matters to you, not just what your schedule looks like.
One of the biggest compliments I’ve received came from a session where the mum had told me beforehand that bathtime was one of her most treasured moments with her kids. Something quiet and intimate she wanted to hold onto. Her children were primary school age, and at the start, they were a little unsure about having me there. That’s completely normal, and I didn’t push. I spent time with them, chatted, and followed their lead. Kids are naturally curious — they ask about my life, show me their favourite toys, tell me about their hobbies. I’m not a silent observer in the corner. I’m more like a friend who’s come along for the day.
By the time we got to bathtime, those children were completely at ease with me in the room. Their mum got to be fully present in a moment she clearly treasured, and the trust they extended to me, letting me into that private, ordinary, precious part of their day, was the biggest compliment I could have asked for.
That’s what I’m always working towards. And it only happens when everyone feels genuinely comfortable.
If you’re wondering what it actually feels like to have me there, whether I’m getting in the way or blending into the background, I’ve written about that in Do I ignore you during our family photo session?
Know What You’re Looking For — and Trust Your Instincts
The families who get the most from documentary photography tend to share a few things in common. They want their real life captured, not a tidied-up, coordinated version of it. They value the small moments as much as the big ones. And they trust the photographer to find the beauty in what’s already there, rather than constructing something new.
That said, documentary photography isn’t for everyone, and that’s absolutely fine. If you’d prefer classic portraits or coordinated images, there are brilliant photographers who do exactly that. What matters is knowing what you want, finding someone whose work genuinely reflects it, and choosing a person you feel comfortable around.
If you’re not sure what to expect from a documentary session, here’s a full walkthrough of what the experience actually looks like, from first contact to receiving your gallery.
Why Getting This Right Actually Matters
Choosing a photographer isn’t just a logistical decision. These images will live on your walls. They’ll sit in albums. They’ll be the ones your children look at in twenty years and feel something about.
The right photographer will make your whole family feel comfortable, celebrate your real dynamics (not a polished version of them), and give you images that genuinely reflect who you are – mess, laughter, love, and all.
That’s why it’s worth taking a little time with the decision rather than simply going with whoever comes up first in a search.
