A Beautiful New Forest Family Photography Session at The Deer Sanctuary
There are some family photography sessions that feel extra special from the very beginning, and this one absolutely did. on Sunday I met up with one of my lovely past wedding couples, Ian and Charmaine, for a relaxed New Forest family photography session at The Deer Sanctuary, almost 10 years after I photographed their wedding day.
Honestly, where has that decade gone?!
It was so lovely catching up with them again, hearing about life since their wedding and finally meeting their two gorgeous little girls. Watching couples grow into families is one of the loveliest parts of this job, and sessions like this remind me exactly why I love photographing people through every stage of life.
We also completely lucked out with the weather. The rain absolutely hammered it down right before the session and again as soon as we finished, but somehow we managed to squeeze the whole shoot into the perfect dry window. Typical British weather, keeping us on our toes!
To make the session even more special, my best friend Julia from Voir Photography joined me for the shoot too. Julia is newer to professional photography and I invited her along to gain more experience, build her portfolio and capture some beautiful content of her own. She’s incredibly talented and such a natural with families, so definitely go and check out her work.
If you’re looking for relaxed, natural and storytelling style New Forest family photography, this session was the perfect example of exactly what family photos should feel like, fun, calm, genuine and full of connection.
Why The Deer Sanctuary is Perfect for New Forest Family Photography
The Deer Sanctuary in the New Forest is such a beautiful location for family photography sessions. It has that perfect mix of open space, woodland paths, natural textures and peaceful surroundings that work so beautifully for relaxed family portraits.
One of the things I always look for when choosing locations for family photography is variety. Having different backdrops within walking distance means we can create a gallery that feels natural and storytelling focused, without children getting bored or overwhelmed.
For younger children especially, the best family sessions rarely involve standing still and smiling at the camera for long periods. Instead, I encourage families to explore, chat, cuddle, run around and simply spend time together naturally.
That’s exactly what Ian and Charmaine’s girls did yesterday. They were full of personality, laughter and confidence, and honestly made my job incredibly easy. We wandered through the woodland paths, stopped for cuddles tickles and giggles, and captured so many lovely in-between moments that felt completely genuine.
As a Hampshire family photographer, I always want sessions to feel relaxed and enjoyable rather than overly posed or stressful. Those authentic little interactions are what create the images families treasure the most years later.
If you’d like to see more examples of relaxed family sessions, you can browse my Galleries for more natural storytelling photography inspiration.
Photographing Past Wedding Couples as Families
One of the most rewarding things about being a photographer is getting to continue documenting people’s lives long after the wedding day is over.
When Ian and Charmaine first booked me nearly 10 years ago as their wedding photographer, none of us could have imagined I’d later be photographing them with two beautiful little girls running around the New Forest.
These are the moments that make photography so meaningful.
Family photography sessions like this are never really about perfect poses or getting children to sit still. They’re about preserving connection, personalities and memories exactly as they are right now.
That’s why my approach to New Forest family photography is always very relaxed and child-led. I want children to feel comfortable enough to simply be themselves. Some of the best images happen when kids are chatting away, having fun together, exploring nature or cuddling into their parents unexpectedly.
Yesterday’s session had all of that.
There was laughter, muddy shoes, running around, cuddles, cheeky grins and lots of little moments in between. Those are always the photographs families end up loving most because they feel real.
Sessions like this also show why outdoor family photography works so well for children. Being outside gives them freedom to move naturally rather than feeling restricted in a studio environment.
If you’re currently planning your own family session, my blog post on how to prepare for your family shoot answers lots of common questions from choosing the location to what to wear.
We Somehow Beat the Rain!
British weather really does like to test photographers sometimes.
Just before yesterday’s session, the rain was absolutely torrential. We were all checking weather apps, watching the sky and hoping for a miracle dry spell. Then somehow, right as the session started, the rain stopped and we were gifted the most beautiful soft light.
Honestly, cloudy weather is actually amazing for photography.
The softer light creates beautiful skin tones, avoids harsh shadows and gives galleries that dreamy, timeless feel that works perfectly for family photography.
Then, almost the second we finished the session and headed back to the cars, the rain started hammering down again. The timing could not have worked out more perfectly if we’d planned it ourselves.
I think sessions like this are a lovely reminder not to panic too much about weather forecasts. Some of the most beautiful shoots happen on days that initially look terrible on paper.
As long as families are willing to embrace a little unpredictability and focus on enjoying time together, we can almost always create beautiful photographs regardless of the weather.
Why Relaxed Family Photography Matters
So many parents put off booking family photos because they worry their children won’t behave perfectly, won’t sit still or might be shy in front of the camera.
But honestly, children don’t need to behave perfectly for beautiful photographs to happen.
The best family photography captures personality and connection, not perfection.
That’s why my approach to family photography focuses much more on interaction than posing. I’ll gently guide you where needed, but mostly I want your family to spend time together naturally while I document those moments as they unfold.
Some simple things that help create natural family photos include:
- Playing games together
- Walking and chatting naturally
- Cuddling up close
- Letting children explore
- Laughing together
- Focusing on connection rather than the camera
Yesterday’s session with Ian and Charmaine was the perfect example of this approach working beautifully. Their girls were relaxed, confident and having fun, which meant the whole session felt easy and enjoyable for everyone.
Thinking About Booking Your Own New Forest Family Photography Session?
If you’re considering booking your own New Forest family photography session, outdoor shoots in the New Forest are such a lovely option for relaxed, natural photographs filled with personality and genuine moments.
Whether you’re celebrating a new chapter, updating family photos or simply wanting to capture everyday memories before little ones grow up too quickly, family photography is such a meaningful investment.
I always aim to create sessions that feel calm, enjoyable and completely pressure free, especially for children.
You can explore more family photography examples on my Galleries, read kind words from past clients on my Google Reviews or get in touch here if you’d like to chat about booking your own session.
It was such a joy seeing Ian and Charmaine again after all these years, and such a lovely reminder of how special it is to document families as they grow over time. Also massive shoutout to Julia from Voir Photography for being amazing and capturing beautiful moments alongside me too, as well as some behind the scenes footage of me.
Contact Details
If you would like to find out more, view galleries, or check availability, please get in touch with Lucylou Photography to chat about your plans.
Contact Page:
Lucylou Photography Contact Page
Exploring the New Forest
For anyone wanting to explore The New Forest, find locations for family photography or get more info, visit The New Forest National Park website.
