I've been photographing Helen's family for a few years now. Once a year, they come back so we can record Will growing up. Alex isn't someone who would ever suggest a photoshoot, but he shows up, and that's the whole point. He knows it matters, and I make it easy for him.


We started in the dunes above the beach where the light was soft, and the long grass gave us something to work with. A few calm shots of the three of them, a couple of Helen and Alex together while Will did his own thing nearby. These are the photos that end up on the wall.


Then we went down to the sand and let Will take over. He built sandcastles, ran in circles, and eventually ended up sitting in the water fully clothed. That's how it goes with toddlers, and those are the photos that make people laugh every time they see them.


The best family sessions have both, the quiet moments and the chaos. You don't need everyone to be perfectly behaved or enthusiastic about having their photo taken. You just need to show up. I'll handle the rest.


If your family has been meaning to get photos done, I'd love to hear from you, get in touch here.


— Tony

A joyful mother in a blue floral dress lifts her toddler son high in a sunny meadow.
Family of three sitting in a grassy meadow, parents with young toddler smiling outdoors.
Family of three walking on sandy path, parents holding toddler's hands, woman in floral dress, man in dark polo shirt.
Family of three walking on a sandy nature trail, parents holding toddler's hands on a sunny day.
A bearded man holds a toddler while standing on a sandy beach path surrounded by green shrubs on a sunny day.
Family enjoying a sunny beach day, father lifting baby in the air while mother watches, surrounded by coastal dunes.
Happy family portrait of parents holding their smiling toddler outdoors on a cloudy day.
A happy family of three enjoys a beach day, with a toddler sitting on dad's shoulders while mom smiles lovingly.
Bearded father playfully swinging his blonde toddler on a sandy beach, both enjoying a joyful moment outdoors.
Father and toddler playing with blue bucket in sand on overcast beach day.
A mother tenderly holds her toddler on a sandy beach, both dressed casually, with dunes in the soft background.
A bearded man and curly-haired woman smile at their toddler boy on a beach.
A smiling couple embraces on a sandy beach under cloudy skies, with a child visible in the background.
Couple dancing on a beach, woman in blue floral dress being twirled by man in dark shirt and black shorts.
Family of three walking barefoot on a sandy beach, woman in floral dress, bearded man in polo shirt, child holding a stick.
Couple laughing together on a beach, woman in blue floral dress with turquoise necklace, man with beard in gray polo.
Family of three holding hands at the ocean's edge on a sandy beach, viewed from behind.
Close-up of a mother holding her toddler's hand at the beach, wearing a floral blue dress.
Family of three walking on a sandy beach, parents swinging toddler between them on a cloudy day.
A mother and young child walk hand-in-hand barefoot on a sandy beach, with trees and overcast sky in the background.
Toddler drawing in wet sand on a cloudy beach day, wearing a patterned shirt and dark shorts.
Family of three sitting on sandy beach, parents smiling with toddler in matching blue floral outfits on overcast day.
Family of three sharing a tender moment on a beach, father holding toddler son while mother leans in close.
Mother breastfeeding baby on sandy beach while father sits nearby, sharing a joyful family moment outdoors.
Family with toddler playing barefoot on sandy beach, child in floral shirt between parents in summer outfits.
A mother lovingly holds her laughing toddler on a sandy beach, both wearing blue outfits.
A young blonde toddler boy sits on a wooden stump on a sandy beach, wearing a floral shirt and dark shorts.
A toddler boy wading in ocean waves at the beach, wearing a patterned shirt and dark shorts, viewed from behind.
A young toddler boy splashing in shallow ocean waves on a sandy beach wearing a patterned shirt and black shorts.
Young boy playing in ocean waves on a sandy beach, wearing a patterned shirt and shorts on a cloudy day.
A woman in a floral dress and a child wade in shallow ocean water on a misty beach.
A woman in a blue floral dress plays with a toddler boy at the ocean's edge on a sandy beach.
Family of three walking hand-in-hand on a sandy beach path, parents and toddler enjoying a seaside stroll.
Adult and toddler walk hand-in-hand on sandy beach, man carrying blue bucket, both wearing casual summer clothing.