From Doorstep Portraits to Splashing in the Sea

A Family Beach Session at Camber Sands, Rye

Some families stay with you long after the session ends. This one began back in 2020, during a time none of us will ever forget.

I first met this family while photographing doorstep portraits during lockdown. When we were allowed a little more time outdoors, I used my one daily walk to visit multiple homes, standing at the ends of driveways and capturing smiles from a safe distance. It was a small but meaningful way of documenting a moment in history that felt both heavy and hopeful.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I’ve now had the pleasure of photographing them a further two times!

Once wandering through Verulamium Park in St Albans.
And then again, this time somewhere completely different (for them!). Barefoot, windswept, and surrounded by sand and sea.

A Family Session with Meaning

For this session, they planned a little family break to Rye and decided to book a photo session at Camber Sands while they were there. I absolutely love when families build photography into real life plans. It instantly removes pressure and turns the session into part of the experience, rather than something separate from it.

Camber Sands is such a generous place to photograph families (there’s a reason I go there so often!). Wide open space, soft dunes, and plenty of room for children to run, play and move freely. With zero expectations for stillness!

This session, as all my sessions are, wasn’t about perfect poses or polished moments. It was about togetherness. About letting their little ones explore in the sand and splash in the sea. About slowing down, holding hands, sharing laughs, and simply being present.

Those are always the moments that matter most.

Why Returning Families Mean So Much

There is something incredibly special about being invited back into a family’s life time and time again.

When trust has already been built, everything softens. Children recognise me. Parents relax quicker. There’s space to create images that feel honest and unforced, because the relationship is already there.

Photographing the same family across different seasons of life is one of the greatest privileges of this job. You begin to see the bigger picture. Not just one moment frozen in time, but a story unfolding.

From doorstep portraits during lockdown to sandy toes on a summer break, this session felt like a quiet celebration of just how far we’ve all come.

Camber Sands as a Backdrop

While this blog isn’t about Camber Sands, it certainly deserves a mention.

The dunes, the light, the endless horizon. It’s a location that encourages movement and connection, especially for families with young children. There’s no need to ask little ones to behave a certain way. They can run, dig, cuddle, climb, and simply exist as they are.

And that’s always where the magic lives.

Photographing Your Family Story

This session is a reminder that family photography doesn’t need to be a one-off milestone. It can be woven through your life. Different locations. Different chapters. Same people. Same love.

Whether it’s a walk in the park, a family holiday, or a place that holds meaning for you, those are the moments worth documenting.

If you’re dreaming of a relaxed family photo session that feels natural, personal, and rooted in real life, I’d love to help tell your story too!