Golden hour (sunset) family photoshoot in London: top tips
Hi, I’m Zofia, a London (Croydon) based photographer who loves natural family photography. My sessions are always relaxed, full of genuine giggles and quiet cuddly moments to capture your family beautifully and naturally.
Golden hour session is a wonderful type of an outdoor photoshoot (especially in the summer) - we meet an hour before the sunset to capture that magical soft, flattering light. The soft glow of the sinking sun will turn any moment into a dreamy image you will want to hang on the wall, show your family and friends and cherish for decades to come.
Here I answer top 5 questions I often receive from mums interested in booking their next family photoshoot in London and surrounding areas:
Help, it’s bedtime! What if my children are too tired for a photoshoot?
I totally understand, 7-8pm is bedtime for 90% of children I photograph but guess what, I never had a cranky toddler or baby at a golden hour family photoshoot! I believe it’s because they get so much attention from their parents and because I always plan a lot of fun, appropriate for their age activities, they simply forget they’re tired. You and your children will enjoy the photoshoot even if they would normally be asleep already on any other day!
Some things that I’ve seen working well for families I’ve photographed:
Having a nice big meal before the shoot (both parents and children)
Pushing the nap time or allowing the ‘danger’ nap in late afternoon
Offering quiet time before the shoot (watch their favourite movie or share a book or two) so they can rest before the photoshoot
Leave a little earlier and let them have a power nap in the car
Telling your children that you’re planning an outdoor family adventure this evening instead of ‘a photo session where they have to listen to the photographer, sit and smile’ - because there will be no awkward posing or smiling to the camera, I promise!
Where to shoot?
I know plenty of locations suitable for a golden hour photoshoot around Croydon and London. Parks, gardens, and meadows are always great. But we can be adventurous and go somewhere further! White cliffs anyone?
What to wear?
Ah I love this part. I know how stressful choosing the right outfits can be so let me help you make this a stress-free experience with a few easy tips! Once your photoshoot is booked you will receive a Welcome Guide with all the tips and examples but specifically for a golden hour session I suggest:
Maxi dresses
Earthy colours such as burnt orange, browns, beige, rust, muted yellows, blush pinks and olive greens suit the landscape and lighting so beautifully
Appropriate footwear - e.g. sandals, espadrilles, no heels please!
What will we do?
You’ll simply have lots of fun and won’t even notice when I’m taking pictures! Imagine if you were going for an outdoor family walk with a friend who happens to have a camera on her (that’s me :-)). We’ll start with a simple walk and once your children warm up, I’ll be suggesting you things to do (tailored for your family) to capture those natural smiles, giggles and cuddles that you will one day bring back so many memories!
What about the weather?
Ideal scenario is sunny or partly cloudy weather. If the day before the photoshoot, the weather forecast shows rain or heavy clouds, we’ll reschedule!
