London, Bristol & Cardiff Birthday Party Photographer
**Please Note: This page is about children’s birthdays, but if you need photography for adult birthdays, do contact me to discuss**
Q. WE’D LIKE TO BOOK YOU FOR OUR FAMILY EVENT, SO HOW DO WE DO THIS?
Please email me, fill in the form at the bottom, or phone 07947 613070 at any time to enquire and book me as your birthday party photographer in London, Bristol, and Cardiff!
**For prices see box further down the page.**
First birthday party photography is popular. It is good for capturing the youngster at a young age before becoming self-conscious in front of the camera. This little chap is sitting quietly with Granddad when the cake arrives.
Q. FOR WHAT TYPES OF PARTY CAN I BOOK YOU?
A. Anything worth throwing a party for! Children’s birthdays are the most popular, but I also photograph anniversaries, business and Christmas parties.
Engagement parties and baby showers are favourites, too, as are baby naming ceremonies. I have also photographed pets birthdays!
So, whatever your occasion, do get in touch to discuss your options.
The choice of entertainment for your child’s birthday is enormous. There’s a DJ/entertainer here, but magicians, balloon artists, bands and even wizards (see below) are also popular.
Q. WHERE WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TRAVEL TO FOR MY CHILD’S PARTY?
A. I primarily photograph kids’ parties in London, Bristol, and Cardiff, as I am often in all three cities.
I frequently cover the London areas of Wanstead, Loughton, Greenwich, Richmond, and Chelsea, but I work all over London.
As well as Cardiff, I cover South-east Wales, including Newport, Caerphilly, Penarth and Barry, but if you have a birthday party elsewhere, please contact me to discuss.
This birthday party was at my home in Caerphilly. The middle boy is my son, George, and he had a great time playing in his bedroom with his closest friends.
This is another group shot, but this time at a party venue. They were playing on this sofa, so I had them quickly line up for some photos. The birthday girl’s mum had no idea I’d taken it and was over the moon when I showed it to her afterwards.
Q. WE’RE HAVING A BIRTHDAY AT OUR HOME. WOULD YOU COME TO OUR HOUSE TO PHOTOGRAPH IT?
A. Absolutely – yes!
Most parties are probably held at home, and this has many benefits. Not only is it far cheaper, but all of your child’s toys and games will be there, too, meaning lots for them to play with and do. Some parents even hire entertainers to come out and keep the little ones occupied.
Wizards provide entertainment at the fantastic Poppelwood Play Centre in Caerphilly. The centre also has a large soft-play facility and can be hired out privately.
Q. HOW WILL YOU APPROACH THE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR MY CHILD’S BIRTHDAY PARTY?
A. I shoot in a primarily natural style and love to document events as they happen without fuss or interference. Most of the photos you get will be candid moments that tell the day’s story.
Sometimes, things need to be slightly tweaked to get the shot, particularly moments such as blowing out the birthday cake candles.
If you need any group shots, I can also set these up. If we liaise closely with each other before and during the day, you’ll end up with a great mixture of documentary and fun posed shots. The emphasis is totally on people having FUN!!!
I also photograph all the unique details, such as the cake, table settings, menus, and wall art.
I try to take shots like this, where the children are unaware I am photographing them. They help to illustrate perfectly the story of the day.
2 Hours of Birthday Photography Coverage (not Saturday)**£380** Special Price for 2 Hours Photography on a Saturday**£450** Photographic coverage + beautifully edited photos in a mixture of colour and black and white. Extra Hours = £160/hour |
The connection between children and their parents is lovely to capture, as in this photo taken after she blew out her birthday candles.
Q. HOW DO YOU WORK WITH CHILDREN?
A. I have a background working with children in both a care setting and on film and TV sets. As a licensed and DBS-checked chaperone, I am used to dealing with them and their different ways. I use subtle methods to ensure they are comfortable with my presence, and I think this shows in the results. I don’t intrude on their space, but I am always friendly, approachable, and happy to chat and play.
Sometimes, I even let them help take some photos—touch wood, there have been no breakages yet! I am insured.
Photographically, shooting low at their height level helps with more dynamic and striking photos.
If I arrive early, I can take a few shots, such as when Mum set up the feature birthday cake table.
As well as the party itself, it’s vital to take some details shots. Much thought goes into the theme and party food, which ravenous little ones will soon demolish. I try to capture this before it happens.
Q. HOW LONG IS THE AVERAGE CHILDREN’S BIRTHDAY PARTY, AND WHAT COVERAGE DO YOU PROVIDE?
A. Children’s parties are usually considerably shorter than those for grown-ups. They generally last about 2-3 hours at a maximum, so I provide photography to cover this period.
However, if you need photography for shorter or longer than this, do get in touch to discuss.
Dressing up boxes is a good and fun idea to keep children (and adults) entertained. They also lend themselves to happy and vibrant portrait shots such as this.
Q. HOW WILL YOU EDIT OUR PHOTOGRAPHS? CAN WE CHOOSE?
A. I’ll process your photographs in a mixture of colour and black and white as I think suits the photo. There are examples of my photographic styles throughout my site, so have a browse through them. If you like a style or one you’re not so keen on, please tell me, and I’ll remember this during your shoot and editing.
I don’t have to edit in black and white, so let me know if you prefer all colour.
I love the vibrancy in this little girl’s dress, so I boosted the saturation in the edit to highlight it. Birthdays generally have lots of colours to work with.
Another ‘hoopla’ shot as the birthday girl had a go at this party game.
Q. WHAT TYPES OF VENUE AND ENTERTAINMENT IS TYPICAL FOR A KID’S PARTY?
A. I don’t think there’s any such thing as a typical venue. The family home is popular, whether it is the parents’ or grandparents’ house. There are also numerous venues to hire in London, Cardiff and Bristol for a few hours. Most family pubs have a children’s birthday party package option.
There are also now many options that go way beyond the traditional blind man’s buff at home. There are now laser quests, paint-balling courses, obstacle courses, and outdoor adventure for older children and teenagers, such as Go Ape and water rafting. Go-karting is popular, as is tenpin bowling.
Soft play, slime parties, and magicians are available to hire for younger children. Toddlers and children in the early years are usually more easily amused. For them, just the chance to run around with friends and eat party food is usually enough.
One of my more staged portraits was taken in a pub in Wanstead, London. These siblings and cousins looked so great in their outfits that I couldn’t resist lining them up at this London bar.
Things aren’t always as chilled as in the above photograph. When things get a little boisterous, I’m there to catch the action, too!
Here is a brilliant resource at Mum’s Make Lists for planning your perfect children’s birthday party!
Finally, I sometimes like to shoot more experimentally. The cake candles often allow me to take striking and atmospheric photographs using only candlelight. And the little boy’s excited face says it all.
