This isn’t about newborns, although the story begins there.
This is about our deep adoration of our children’s expressions at any age.
I remember when my babies were born and instead of resting while they slept, I’d gaze at them, watching their faces pull expressions in their dreams. Then came toddlerhood, with mood swings from happy to curious to fiery within seconds. Sometimes I’d have to hide my laugh, it was so adorable. And even now, with them in their teen years, we don’t need words to know the vibe.
And that’s exactly what I do for you.
Studio-based portrait mini sessions in Leigh-on-Sea, for children of all ages — siblings welcome.
What is the personality portrait series about?
Family photoshoot in Priory park, Southend
You know the one — the picture-ready smile when your phone comes out, every time. Nothing wrong with it, but it’s not what these sessions are about.
Personality reveals itself when we stop asking for it. There’s no coaxing, no “look here” or “do this for me.” It’s a combination of giving space first, then age-appropriate play and conversation — just being in the studio, with no expectation to perform.
If their face lights up and we get a session full of smiles, brilliant. But what I’m really hoping for is the curiosity, the silliness, the mischief, the quirks — the in-between moments. The essence of your child, to their core. Not posed, but led.
Whatever shows up is what we keep.
Pricing works in two stages: a £95 deposit to secure your session and your grid chosen afterwards once you’ve seen your images. Your deposit will be deducted from your final invoice.
My online booking system lets you choose an available date and time. You’ll automatically receive an email with a contract to sign, a short questionnaire to help me get to know your child, and an invoice for a refundable £95 deposit to secure your date.
One booking per child but siblings are very welcome — just let me know how many children you’d like photographed and I’ll make sure I block time in my diary.
Half an hour, in the studio, no expectations, no performance. You don’t need to prepare them for anything except having a good time.
If they suck their thumb or always twirl their hair when they’re concentrating, that’s not something to stop. That’s exactly what I’m here for. No bribing, no dancing to get smiles.
This isn’t a perfect portrait in the usual sense. It’s the little ways they are right now, the things you might not even notice because you see them every day. The things that, in a few years, will give you goosebumps looking back — because that’s exactly who they were at this age.
Usually within a week of your shoot, you’ll receive a link to your private online gallery to browse through in the comfort of your own home. Your gallery is available for one week, which keeps the process flowing smoothly and means no delays on my part. If life gets in the way and you need a little extra time, just let me know and we can arrange an extension.
Choose your grid once you’ve seen your gallery. That way you only ever buy what you love. Your grid is printed on 10×8″ fine art lustre paper in colour or black and white, ready to be framed, and you’ll also receive all the digital images used in it. Edited images are delivered as a download within 1-2 weeks of ordering. Your print will be available for collection once ready.
Limited monthly availability
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Have a question?
My studio is on Dundonald Drive in Leigh-on-Sea.
We can chat about outfit choices over email if you’re unsure. Because these sessions are quite minimalistic, I’d suggest avoiding bold logos, branded characters and stripes (I love them, but they go a bit wobbly in photos).
I see these grids as timeless black and white, though colour is also an option, warm neutrals or soft pastels tend to work best.
Or go down the personality route entirely. My daughter went through a phase of wearing nothing but princess dresses over leggings which I didn’t find that endearing at the time, but it was so her and that’s exactly what I’d have photographed her in.
And if you’re thinking ahead to September, school uniforms make a wonderful (and completely on-theme) choice for these grids — a lovely way to mark the start of a new year and the perfect gift for grandparents.
For siblings, complementary colours avoid clashes if you’d like to display the grids together but they can also be as individual as your children are.
Choice is yours.
If your child is unwell, we will reschedule your session to the next suitable appointment. I’d much rather photograph them when they’re feeling themselves.
All children are welcome. We can chat beforehand about anything that helps your child feel safe in new situations and they’re always welcome to bring a favourite toy or comforter.
Absolutely, you will be in the room with us.
Yes and you’re welcome to hop in too if you like. These photos aren’t the focus of the session and are taken at the end. A sibling/family group image is £25, which includes a 7×5″ print as well as the digital file.
Any other extra individual digital images (not used in your grid) can be purchased for £10 each.
We will add half an hour extra to your original booking (depending on availability in my diary).
Each child will have their own time. Please bring some entertainment for your other children so the session can run smoothly. Just in case you think that your other child might not want to get off their tablet or a phone to have their turn when it comes, I’d recommend to bring something else like colouring etc.
We can include full-body images or moments that reflect your child’s milestones – such as sitting or standing. Please see the example above for how this can look within the grid.
It’s important to note that when more than one or two full-body images are included, your child’s face will be smaller within the grid unless they are spread across few windows.
If this is something you’d prefer, please communicate it before your photoshoot.
Note: you will receive your individual digital images exactly as they were photographed (these can include some full body shots). I generally recommend keeping the grid images with your child appearing as large as possible for visual impact, possibly including only one or two full-body photos across different windows within the grid.
You’ll receive a private online gallery within one week of your session. I will include all the best images. From there, you can choose your images for your specific grid (16 for 4×4 or 20 for 4×5 grid)
The grid is designed intuitively by me (according to chosen photos either in colour or B/W), focusing on balance, flow and how the images work together as a whole.
You’ll receive a proof of the grid design before it’s sent to print, so you can review it and feel confident before final production.
Note: number of photos included as well as the final size can be completely bespoke. If you have something specific in mind, please ask, I’m always happy to advise.
Extra individual digital images can be purchased at £10/each.
My editing is natural with real skin tones, real colours. I won’t leave them with a scratch or a bruise, but I will keep all permanent features like freckles, moles and birth marks unless you’d prefer otherwise.
Every image gets individual attention. I don’t use presets that alter colour tones.
Your digital images will be available to download within 1–2 weeks of your order.
Printed grids will be ordered after your approval only and can be either collected or posted when I receive them.
No, however, I have other seasonal offers available that you can find through this link (coming soon)
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I’m based in Leigh on Sea, Essex SS9 1NA
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