It was a beautiful autumn afternoon for this family photography session at Hexham Park. The light was soft, the colours were at their best, and the park made an ideal setting for a relaxed outdoor shoot in Northumberland.
As a family photographer in County Durham, I often hear from parents who are unsure what to expect from a session. Lelia and Andy mentioned during our call that they’d never had a family photoshoot before. In fact, the last time they’d been in front of a professional camera was at their wedding 10 years ago!
They chose Hexham Park for their family photography session, which was a new location for me—and one I’d happily return to. The autumn colour looked great in the soft light, and the bandstand worked particularly well as a backdrop for a mix of family portraits and individual images of the children.
As with most family photo sessions, there were a few nerves at the start, but things settled quickly once we got going. Keeping things relaxed with a bit of movement and a few simple games helps take the focus away from the camera. Letting the children move around and get involved also keeps their interest and makes everything feel more natural. Having the playground at the end of the session worked well too, giving them space to burn off some energy and adding a few more informal moments.
By the end of the session, we’d made the most of a great location and some really good light.
Looking back through the images later, there was a strong mix of relaxed family moments alongside a few more traditional portraits. This is always the aim with natural family photography—a balance of real moments and a few timeless images. Some of the images worked particularly well in black and white, which suits the setting and keeps the focus on expression and connection. I knew they’d be really pleased with the gallery.
Lelia loved the images during the reveal, particularly those that captured the children’s personalities so well. Choosing wasn’t easy, but she and Andy eventually selected three double-mounted window prints along with a digital collection. The finished prints are beautifully produced and provide a timeless way to enjoy the images from their session.
What a lovely family experience. Gayle was very friendly and made everyone feel at ease during the photoshoot .
The pictures are all so good and the quality of the prints are superb. We would 100% recommend Gayle.
From the Rennie Family
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