Children's Portraits | Helenmansfieldphotography.co.uk

Children's photography

Children’s photoshoots are absolutely the most fun days, which is what it should all be about having fun!

They give the biggest, sometimes crooked, smiles and are always their authentic selves. You never know what you’re going to get, and that’s where the fun and magic comes from.

So, let’s create your perfect day together, whether it’s out on a welly walk, running through the long grass of a meadow, swinging on a farm gate, or quietly colouring and playing with toys at your home or in my studio. There is something for everyone, and these are the moments I look for the moments that encapsulate the essence of your child’s unique personality and their childhood.

The playful nature and wonder of youth that you will be able to look back on for years to come.

It is my aim to make sure your child is relaxed and at ease during our session because, when they feel comfortable, that’s when their personality shines through. Each child is different, so that means each session will be different.

I take my lead from your children and what they need on the day. I would always say, try not to plan or have preconceptions of how the day or shoot will go, but instead focus on your time together and, most of all, just be yourselves and have fun. Just play! That’s when the magic happens.

Also, don’t worry if there are tears or points where they are reluctant to be in front of the camera. We can stop at any moment for breaks and snacks, or just cuddles, as needed. I always allow extra time when I’m shooting to accommodate this.

Sometimes I will give direction or prompts to get the best angles or light, or facilitate group shots. But most of the time, I will follow their lead.

I capture natural, relaxed and authentic images of your children that embody their unique and beautiful personalities at every stage of their lives. Capturing the essential essence of who they are at each stage of their life is what it is all about for me, as they are ever-changing and evolving. Documenting their life journey through beautiful images is a true privilege.

My aim is to help you create a record of your child’s journey through photography that you can look back on over the years and that will fill your heart with joy.

The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.”

– Andy Warhol -

Children's photoshoot

Perfect for families to share with relatives, children’s photography is a wonderful way to capture those early years when everything is constantly changing and they are growing so quickly.

Whether it’s an individual child, siblings or best friends, these sessions are all about capturing their youth, their fun and their developing personalities. I take the time to make your child feel comfortable and at ease, getting to know their personality and, hopefully, making them laugh and smile along the way!

Children really are the most wonderful subjects to photograph. They bring so much energy and personality to a session, and it’s always amazing to see how naturally they respond to the camera and how well they can take direction when they’re having fun.

Although I don’t use props in my photography, I would always recommend bringing along a favourite teddy, doll or special toy. Not only can this be a lovely comforter if they’re feeling a little unsure, but it can also become part of the photographs.

We all remember our first teddy or childhood best friend, so why not include them? Years from now, when your child looks back at these photographs, they’ll have that very first best friend right there beside them a little piece of their childhood captured forever.

Schools, Nursery & club headshots

Perfect for schools, forest schools, nurseries and children’s clubs looking for informal, natural photography that captures the children as they really are.

I focus on capturing genuine moments, personalities and interactions, creating a professional collection of images that not only provides your setting with valuable content, but allows parents to see and enjoy the experiences their children have while they are with you.

From exploring and learning to playing, creating and simply having fun, these photographs tell the story of your setting and the wonderful experiences you provide.

Take a look at my Extras page to see how we can also create beautiful montage prints to display around your setting, along with individual prints for parents to purchase and keep with additional copies available to share with family and friends.

Greetings cards

Have beautiful images of your children taken to use on your holiday and Christmas cards, adding a special personal touch to your celebrations and creating a wonderful keepsake for friends and family.

I love capturing these seasonal moments. The magic of Christmas, Easter and other special occasions brings a wonderful sense of excitement and nostalgia, which naturally shines through in the photographs.

Whether it’s a beautifully styled Christmas portrait or a fun, relaxed Easter session, these images are a lovely way to capture your children at that particular moment in their childhood — and create something you’ll treasure for years to come.

Head over to my Extras page to see how we can also create beautiful cards, prints and other personalised products from your images.

Milestones & Growing Up

Mark those special milestones with beautiful photographs — from birthdays and the first lost tooth to all the little moments that make childhood so special.

These sessions are a wonderful opportunity to capture your child as they grow and their personality develops, creating a collection of photographs that you can look back on over the years.

Imagine having a photograph from each of those big birthdays, seeing how they change from year to year and watching their personalities emerge. It becomes a beautiful visual record of their childhood and the journey they take as they grow.

Although, of course, in their eyes, the next birthday is always the big one!

On the day

We will run through everything that we have discussed and I like to take some time to chat with your children and giver them an opportunity to feel comfortable and get to know me allowing them a chance to feel at ease which will ultimately play out in better images with real smiles and laughs.

If you are having a nursery, school or club session we will have outlined an order prior to my arrival and set up on your grounds and begin working through an alphabetical list and take a chance to get some informal images for you to display.