How would you describe your style?
"During my 'day-in-the-life' shoots, I spend up to 12 hours with a family, getting to know them better so that I can show their true personalities. Unlike traditional posed family photoshoots, my work has lots of layers. I don't show an unrealistic perfect version of my families, but try to reveal their true personalities. I want to show the tired parents who are still able to hug their children at the end of a busy day. I want to understand the dynamic that each child brings to the group, and to ultimately provide an authentic depiction of life as it is at that moment that will endure long after the moment fades."
How does your approach enable you to get closer to your subjects?
"Before the shoot, I interview the parents to ask what a normal day looks like in their family's life. It's often something like, 'On Saturday, we wake up at 9am, have breakfast, go to the supermarket, visit the grandparents then go for a bike ride, before making dinner together.' Some families are surprised that I want to be there to capture everything, but this is how I develop an understanding that I think shows through in my work. When the shoot begins, everyone is often a little on edge. I don't act like a fly on the wall – I talk to everyone and get to know them. I don't take any photographs for the first 30 minutes, until everyone is comfortable with me being there. Throughout the day, we eat together, travel in the same car together and I become an honorary member of the family. After a few hours, they don't even realise I'm taking photos and this is when the magic starts. Sometimes I'll accompany families on vacations, and rather than capturing pictures of the places they go, I'll focus instead on their emotions and how being together in a foreign place makes them feel."
What are some challenges that are unique to documentary family photography?
"The hardest part of my job is getting my subjects to open up. Families book me because they see my work and like my style, but sometimes find it hard to let me in. In order for me to capture authentic emotion, I need people to let their barriers down and allow themselves to be vulnerable around me. More and more people are choosing candid style family photoshoots over posed shoots because they prefer the authenticity that can be achieved when you're comfortable with your photographer, but sometimes it takes longer for my subjects to open up than I'd like."
What piece of Canon kit can you not live without, and why?
"My ultimate combination is the Canon EOS R6 Mark III with the Canon RF 35mm F1.4L VCM . The 35mm allows me to stay physically close, preserving that feeling of intimacy while still bringing the environment into the story. Children are wonderfully unpredictable and everything happens fast; the EOS R6 Mark III's extraordinary autofocus gives me the confidence to follow their rhythm, and focus on what really matters: connection, emotion and those fleeting moments that cannot be recreated."
What else could we discover in your kitbag that helps you elevate your work?
"Going out without a camera feels a bit like leaving the house naked, and that's why my Canon EOS R8 with the Canon RF 35mm F1.8 MACRO IS STM has become my survival kit: small, light and almost permanently attached to me, even on family holidays. My husband regularly reminds me that holidays are supposed to mean not working. My defence is always the same: this isn't work, it's therapy! Street photography keeps me curious. It makes me observe, react, experiment and push my boundaries without the expectations of a commissioned session. It trains my eye to notice the little things – light, gestures, layers and those fleeting moments that disappear in seconds."