Nana Sue’s 70th Birthday Family Photoshoot

What do you get for the person who already has everything she needs? Here’s one idea. It takes a little more effort and organisation, but it’s something the recipient will keep forever: the memories and the pictures from a family photoshoot.

Adam and Claire were deciding what to get for Adam’s mum’s 70th birthday. They’d seen the family photos I captured for Nanny Jean’s 70th Family Photoshoot, and an idea started to form: could they get the family together for a shoot and gift the resulting photos to Adam’s mum, Nana Sue?

This was a little bit of a logistical challenge, as Nana Sue lives abroad with Gramps for six months of the year. Nevertheless, after a couple of phone calls, emails and text messages, two dates were put in the diary, including a Plan B date in case of poor weather on our Plan A date.

Happily, the forecast was dry so we went ahead on the first date. We agreed a morning shoot time so the family could head straight over to the nearby Trigger Pond pub for lunch afterwards.

We used one of my favourite locations, a little-known beauty spot just outside of Bicester which we had to ourselves for most of the hour we spent there. This setting gives the family photos an all-important sense of place, a pleasing visual backdrop and – as a bonus – it’s somewhere with personal relevance to some of the family members.

As well as Adam, Claire, Nana Sue and Gramps, Adam and Claire’s two sons also took part – Evan (7) and Albie (4) – and Adam’s brother Liam with his partner, Kate.

My brief was to capture something lovely of everyone together (the family loved the one at the top of this blog post for its relaxed feel and beautiful setting) and then concentrate on all the different combinations.

I love this shot of Adam and Claire together (below). I’m not sure what Adam is whispering in Claire’s ear but I think it might be all the things he loves about her, and what an amazing mum she is to their kids: beautiful, intelligent, kind, caring and so loving 🙂

We captured the last few combinations as our hour drew to a close. Then it was off to the pub, with empty stomachs but full smiles!

“Sarah works some serious magic with her photography. She puts everyone at complete ease and effortlessly gets the kids to listen and do things that every parent dreams of! All whilst capturing some wonderful moments. Thank you!”

Claire, family photography client from Adderbury, Oxfordshire

If you’re interested in family portrait photography, please get in contact by emailing [email protected] or submitting the form below:

Sarah Plater LMPA is a qualified professional family photographer based in Bicester, Oxfordshire.