How to Find the Best Family Photographer (For You)

Let’s be honest, finding a family photographer isn’t just about Googling “family photographer near me” and hoping for the best. It’s not about finding the cheapest deal or someone who’ll churn out 50 stiff images for £20 and a pat on the back. This is about capturing your people, your life, your chaos, your softness, your story, in a way that feels real and true.

So how do you actually find the right family photographer? The one that gets you, listens to you, and creates something that still makes you cry happy tears ten years from now?

Extended Family Photoshoot by Marley & The Wildlings Photography

Let’s get into it.

1. It’s All About Connection (Not Just Convenience)

I say this with my whole heart, the best family photography isn’t about perfect outfits or pristine fields. It’s about connection. Your connection with each other, and your connection with the photographer holding the camera.

Before you book anyone, ask yourself:

• Does their work make you feel something?

• Does their vibe feel like someone you could be yourself around?

• Do they seem like they’ll see you, really see you, not just pose you?

You’re not hiring someone to just take photos. You’re inviting someone into your world, messy floors, silly faces, squishy baby rolls, muddy dog paws and all. You deserve someone who embraces that with you.

2. Look at the Style, and Feel the Feeling

Photography styles are more than just “light and airy” or “dark and moody.” It’s about the feeling behind the frames.

Do you want:

• Real, unposed, documentary moments where your kids are just being them?

• Soft, emotional stills that feel like a warm hug?

• Something more structured, styled and studio based?

There’s no wrong answer, but the key is choosing a photographer whose style already feels like your people. If you love chaos, cuddles and the wildness of family life, then you’re probably not going to click with someone who only shoots matching white t-shirts in pristine studios.

(And that’s okay — just don’t hire someone whose work feels nothing like your real life.)

3. Read Between the Lines | Their Website & Words Matter

A good photographer’s website and Instagram shouldn’t just show pretty pictures. It should feel like them. And more importantly, it should feel like someone you want to be around.

Look for:

• Stories, not just sales pitches

• Testimonials that talk about how they made families feel

• A tone of voice that feels relaxed, grounded, human

If they’re talking about your connection, your story, your comfort, you’re onto something good.

If it’s just “30 minutes, 10 images, £20, next!”, then it’s probably going to feel rushed, impersonal, and transactional. And you (and your memories) deserve better than that, and so do the photographers putting in the work.

4. Let’s Talk About Price (Because It Actually Matters)

Okay. The sticky subject.

Yes, you can absolutely find a family photo session online for £20. It might include all your images. It might be from someone just starting out. And hey, we all start somewhere. But let’s call this what it is: that price isn’t sustainable. It doesn’t reflect the actual work, time, skill, emotional presence and care that goes into photographing a family well.

A good family photographer does a whole lot more than click a button.

They:

• Create a safe, relaxed space for you and your children to be yourselves

• Read the room constantly, who needs a break, a giggle, a snack?

• Capture the in between moments, the unscripted magic

• Spend hours editing to keep the colours true, the mood warm, and the emotions intact

All of that? It takes time. Presence. Experience. Heart. And it’s worth paying a little more to work with someone who’ll give you all of that, because those are the photos you’ll actually print. Actually keep. Actually feel when you look back in years to come.

So when you’re looking for the best family photographer for you, don’t just ask “How much?”

Ask “How will this feel for my family?” and “What will these photos mean to me later?”

Family Photography by Marley & The Wildlings Photography

5. The Best Photos Happen When You’re Seen and Heard

Here’s the thing that’s often overlooked: you need to feel comfortable to show up as you are. Especially in family photos. Especially if there are little ones, shy partners, neurodivergence, tired parents, or pets in the mix.

Your photographer should:

• Listen to what you want (and don’t want)

• Be patient and playful, not pushy

• Genuinely see your family dynamic and work with it, not against it

You should feel like you can ask questions. Like you can trust them. Like you’re not just another booking on a conveyor belt.

The best family photographers are not just taking pictures. They’re holding space for your family to be themselves, gently and beautifully. That’s where the magic lives.

So, How Do You Actually Choose?

Here’s a quick checklist to help:

✔️ Do you love their work and the feeling behind it?

✔️ Do they talk about people, not just poses?

✔️ Do they feel like someone you’d enjoy spending time with?

✔️ Do they prioritise comfort, connection, and realness?

✔️ Are they clear about what’s included, and why it costs what it does?

✔️ Do you trust them to hold space for your real family, not a perfect version of it?

If yes, then book them. Don’t wait until you’ve got matching outfits, a clean kitchen, or your hair “sorted.” Book now. Because this moment in your life is already worthy of remembering.

Final Thoughts? From One Chaos Loving Human to Another

As a photographer, a mum of 5, and someone who knows what it’s like to live in the whirlwind of everyday life, I want to say this:

You don’t need to be “ready” for family photos, you just need the right person to see you properly.

Find someone who listens to you. Who values your story. Who isn’t afraid of noise or mess or silly faces. Find someone who honours the weight of what they’re capturing, and pours love into it from start to finish.

That’s the best family photographer for you. And trust me, they’re worth every penny.

Lauren x

Need a relaxed, real, chaos embracing family photographer in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire or beyond?

Let’s talk. I’d love to hear your story.