Sunday was one of those days that will stay with me forever.
The Radford family arrived at the studio.
Twenty-two children.
Mum and Dad.
Grandchildren.
And a full film crew.
To say I was nervous would be lying if I said I wasn’t.
But underneath the nerves was a huge buzz of excitement.
Because moments like this?
They’re why we do what we do.
Preparation Was Everything
From the very start, we knew this shoot needed serious planning.
So we didn’t wing it.
We prepared.
Thoroughly.
We completely changed around our biggest studio space.
Furniture was moved.
Layouts were rethought.
And we installed two extra-wide backdrops to comfortably fit a family of this size.
Nothing was left to chance.
Every detail mattered.
Designing the Portraits in Advance
Before the family even arrived, I had designed two large portraits.
The first was the big one.
Everyone together.
All at the same time.
The second portrait was created in three sets.
This meant we could photograph smaller groups and bring them together afterwards.
Much calmer.
Much smoother.
And far less overwhelming for everyone involved.
At the very last minute, I had a real lightbulb moment.
I labelled my drawing.
Every single person.
Every single name.
And honestly?
That one decision made everything fall into place.
People knew exactly where to go.
Who stood where.
And when.
It kept the energy calm and the shoot flowing beautifully.
Lights, Cameras… Organised Chaos
Of course, this wasn’t just a photo shoot.
We were being filmed the entire time.
The family were interviewed between shots.
The cameras followed the process.
And yes… I even found myself being interviewed too.
It was busy, loud, joyful…
And at times, it was pure organised chaos.
But thanks to all that preparation, everything ran smoothly.
No panic.
No rushing.
Just a lovely rhythm to the day.
The Studio Came Alive
One of my favourite parts of the session was watching the children explore.
They found our studio map and had the best time popping themselves on it.
Pointing.
Laughing.
Comparing notes.
They discovered the swing.
Explored the themed space.
And truly made the studio their own.
The studio felt alive.
Full of movement.
Curiosity.
And excitement.
And that energy?
It shows in the photographs.
Creating Something Truly Special
We created a gorgeous collection of family portraits.
Images full of connection.
Warmth.
And togetherness.
But the real heart-melters were the portraits of Sue and Noel with their grandchildren.
Quiet moments.
Gentle cuddles.
Generations wrapped up in a single frame.
Those are the photographs that grow in value with every passing year.
The ones that stop you scrolling.
And make you feel something.
Thinking About a Family Photo Shoot?
This shoot was a beautiful reminder that every family deserves to be photographed.
So no matter the size,
the chaos,
or the stage you’re in.
To celebrate, we’re offering a special Radford family photo shoot offer.
Perfect for big families.
Small families.
And everyone in between.
If you’ve been thinking, “We really should do this”, this is your sign.
Get in touch with the studio.
Ask about our Radford offer.
And let us create something truly special for your family.
