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Learn To Take Better Photos of Your Family

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1 As a London family photographer, I’m always being asked by friends, families and clients for tips on how to take better photos.
1.1 Improving Your Photography
1.2 Your Free Guide to Capturing Summer Memories

As a London family photographer, I’m always being asked by friends, families and clients for tips on how to take better photos.

For my clients, the photoshoot itself is a huge learning opportunity. I know parents walk out with a little knowledge not only about photography but also about baby soothing and caring. Especially during a newborn session.

Most of us carry a camera around in the shape of our mobile phones. In fact, you could say people take more photographs now than ever before.  However, unfortunately, the quality of those images has never been lower!  Think about how many photographs you take of your family every day. Probably you have 2-3 identical copies for every image. And they will never be printed or even worst they end up being deleted at some point.  I know it’s not as easy as it looks to get everyone looking in the same direction, smiling and with all of their limbs in the frame!  Quite often, it’s just good luck that you’ll capture a gorgeous image rather than good management! Am I correct?

mum and dad are holding and swinging baby during a family photoshoot in London.

Improving Your Photography

It’s totally possible to improve your photography skills without having a fancy camera or the latest equipment.  Learning how to get the most from your camera phone is probably the biggest favour you can do for your family.  After all, it’s the way you capture the majority of your family’s memories all year around.

Of course, hiring a professional photographer for your major life milestones and regular family portraits is never going to be replaced. But there are so many moments in your daily life that a professional just can’t capture.  That first meeting of siblings, the tea party for granny’s birthday, the first day at school. Plus countless other occasions that form the fabric of your family life.  These are the images that should make up the bulk of your family albums – yes, I’m talking about printing them and actually putting them in albums too! This is how memories will live now and over the years!

The beautiful wall art and large prints definitely belong in the domain of the professional photographer. They offer amazing products of high quality you can enjoy for years. See some examples here.

But, being able to improve your own photography means your images will capture so much more detail and atmosphere for your future generations to enjoy.

Your Free Guide to Capturing Summer Memories

The summer is the perfect time to hone your photography skills.  The kids are off school, the weather is (mainly) bright and you might have a little more time to practice. Plus this summer the weather is certainly on your side, with long sunny days and beautiful sunset opportunities.

free guide on how to take better photos of your family

To help you out I’ve created a simple and free guide to help you improve your skills.  I cover how to consider the lighting, give suggestions on the types of images you might want to capture and I’ve even included some suggestions for printing out the photos you take.

I’m sure you’ll find it super useful and I’d love to see the images you take using my tips.  You can tag me using my Instagram so I can give you some feedback too!

Go ahead and download your Guide to Capturing Summer Memories here.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram where you can ask me anything and you can get inspired.

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    We live in a world where everything is fast, filtered, automated.

    Where perfection is polished and every flaw can be edited away in just a click.

    But what happens when we pause?
    
When we slow down…
    
When we really look?

    Not just at the photos, but at ourselves.

    This is where the true power of photography lives—not in capturing a perfect image, but in creating space for reflection, for presence, for seeing yourself as you really are.

    No filters. No rush. No expectations.
    
Just you.

    In the stillness, the truth becomes louder.
    
In the quiet, we see what was always there.

    Because the answers we’re looking for, the confidence, the worthiness, the values, they’ve been inside us all along.

    This is the beginning of Reflections Beyond the Frame. A space for honest conversations. For slowing down. For seeing yourself again.

    When was the last time you truly paused to listen to yourself?

    #ReflectionsBeyondTheFrame #empoweredthroughphotography #photographyforthesoul #lookwithin #selfdiscovery #celebrateyourself
    #londonportraitphotographer #londonphotographer

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    We live in a world where everything is fast, filtered, automated. Where perfection is polished and every flaw can be edited away in just a click. But what happens when we pause? 
When we slow down… 
When we really look? Not just at the photos, but at ourselves. This is where the true power of photography lives—not in capturing a perfect image, but in creating space for reflection, for presence, for seeing yourself as you really are. No filters. No rush. No expectations. 
Just you. In the stillness, the truth becomes louder. 
In the quiet, we see what was always there. Because the answers we’re looking for, the confidence, the worthiness, the values, they’ve been inside us all along. This is the beginning of Reflections Beyond the Frame. A space for honest conversations. For slowing down. For seeing yourself again. When was the last time you truly paused to listen to yourself? #ReflectionsBeyondTheFrame #empoweredthroughphotography #photographyforthesoul #lookwithin #selfdiscovery #celebrateyourself #londonportraitphotographer #londonphotographer

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    Even though they definitely make their voices heard (we know those cries well!), their tear ducts are still developing, so you might notice a lot of crying, but no real tears.

    It’s completely normal and just another fascinating part of their early days.

    Did you already know this? Or do you have another favourite newborn fact? Share it below, I’d love to hear it!

    #FunFact #NewbornLife #BabyFacts #NewbornPhotography #MumLife

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    Did you know your newborn might cry, but without actual tear, for their first few weeks? Even though they definitely make their voices heard (we know those cries well!), their tear ducts are still developing, so you might notice a lot of crying, but no real tears. It’s completely normal and just another fascinating part of their early days. Did you already know this? Or do you have another favourite newborn fact? Share it below, I’d love to hear it! #FunFact #NewbornLife #BabyFacts #NewbornPhotography #MumLife

    As a small business owner, we’re told to show up, to be visible, to build a personal brand.
    
As small business owners, we’re told to show up, stay visible, and build our personal brand.

    And on social media? It can feel like everyone else is always on: always networking, always glowing, always travelling, always achieving.

    Perfect homes. Perfect outfits. Perfect nails.
Even rest has to look productive and aesthetic.

    But here’s the truth I’m holding onto lately:
Not everything needs to be loud to be meaningful.

    Sometimes, we need to go quiet to make space for what really matters.
    I’ve been a little quieter here - not because I’ve disappeared, but because I’ve been working on something really special (my book is getting so close!!)...
    
And also giving myself the gift of slowing down and reconnecting with what matters most.

    This is your gentle reminder that stepping back is still moving forward.
And you’re allowed to do the same.

    #gentlereminders #mindfulentrepreneur #londonphotographer #slowbusiness
    #femaleentrepreneur #fentrepreneur
    #behindthescenes

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    As a small business owner, we’re told to show up, to be visible, to build a personal brand. 
As small business owners, we’re told to show up, stay visible, and build our personal brand. And on social media? It can feel like everyone else is always on: always networking, always glowing, always travelling, always achieving. Perfect homes. Perfect outfits. Perfect nails.
Even rest has to look productive and aesthetic. But here’s the truth I’m holding onto lately:
Not everything needs to be loud to be meaningful. Sometimes, we need to go quiet to make space for what really matters. I’ve been a little quieter here - not because I’ve disappeared, but because I’ve been working on something really special (my book is getting so close!!)... 
And also giving myself the gift of slowing down and reconnecting with what matters most. This is your gentle reminder that stepping back is still moving forward.
And you’re allowed to do the same. #gentlereminders #mindfulentrepreneur #londonphotographer #slowbusiness #femaleentrepreneur #fentrepreneur #behindthescenes

    Coming soon to toy stores near you... not really. But imagine!

    Introducing the Valentina action figure:

    Wearing the classic jeans + white tee combo

    Armed with a Canon camera (obviously)

    Comes with accessories like a laptop, lit candle (for vibes), white orchid (because aesthetics matter), AND my real-life Labrador sidekick
    
Mood: somewhere between “let’s create magic” and “I need chocolate.”

    Honestly, this was such a fun little thing to try and kinda hilarious to see myself as a 3D mini-me! 🙈

    But behind the toy box, there’s a real woman who’s spent years telling stories through photos. Helping mums feel beautiful. Cheering on women rediscovering their confidence.

    Freezing the messy, emotional, magical in-between moments that make life what it is.

    And while I don’t come in packaging (thank goodness, can you imagine the plastic hair??), I do show up with camera in hand and music in the background, ready to turn your moments into something timeless.

    So tell me… if YOU were an action figure, what would your accessories be?

    Mine better come with a never-ending SD card.

    PS. My daughter said the figurine looks like an Oompa Loompa.
    I might have laughed a little too hard… mostly because she’s not wrong.

    #womenwithcameras #photographerlife #empoweringwomen #londonphotographer #smallbusinessfun #actionfigureenergy

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    Coming soon to toy stores near you... not really. But imagine! Introducing the Valentina action figure:
 Wearing the classic jeans + white tee combo
 Armed with a Canon camera (obviously)
 Comes with accessories like a laptop, lit candle (for vibes), white orchid (because aesthetics matter), AND my real-life Labrador sidekick 
Mood: somewhere between “let’s create magic” and “I need chocolate.” Honestly, this was such a fun little thing to try and kinda hilarious to see myself as a 3D mini-me! 🙈 But behind the toy box, there’s a real woman who’s spent years telling stories through photos. Helping mums feel beautiful. Cheering on women rediscovering their confidence. Freezing the messy, emotional, magical in-between moments that make life what it is. And while I don’t come in packaging (thank goodness, can you imagine the plastic hair??), I do show up with camera in hand and music in the background, ready to turn your moments into something timeless. So tell me… if YOU were an action figure, what would your accessories be? Mine better come with a never-ending SD card. PS. My daughter said the figurine looks like an Oompa Loompa. I might have laughed a little too hard… mostly because she’s not wrong. #womenwithcameras #photographerlife #empoweringwomen #londonphotographer #smallbusinessfun #actionfigureenergy

    VALE@PHOTOGRAPHYBYVALENTINA.COM

    07577 978246

    LONDON NEWBORN & MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHER

    BASED NEAR RICHMOND - TWICKENHAM