Hi, I’m Erline!
I’m a baby and family lifestyle photographer, lover of the outdoors, climbing, and all things haberdashery! I work around Buckinghamshire, West Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire.
I love telling stories in pictures. I’ve been a film and TV editor for 15 years, working on projects such as His Dark Materials, Dr Who and Jurassic World Dominion. However, after becoming a mum in the middle of the pandemic, my focus in life started to change. Family was now everything.
I was spending my days marvelling at my baby and all the incredible things she kept learning. I wanted to document all of it. Every single moment. Because as small as they might seem to other people, to me they are everything. Just real life, here and now. So I started to shift towards family lifestyle photography, and here we are!
If this is also how you feel about your own children, and you want to celebrate them and create memories to cherish for years to come, read on. Let me tell your story.
How I work
If you’re like me, you might not feel comfortable posing for the camera. Or even have your picture taken full stop! I have a more documentary approach and my goal is to make you feel at ease and forget that we’re taking pictures. I want to photograph your family, not a forced or fake version of it. I aim to capture your kids’ personalities and your bond with them, so that your pictures feel like a true representation of who you are, immortalising this moment in your life. I will help and guide you by suggesting actions and games, but then I’ll let you play and interact with each other. Because that’s when magic happens.
My photography style is bright and warm with a slightly retro, timeless look. Click here to see my portfolio.
Photography for everyone
Is a family member neurodiverse? Are you worried that for whatever reason a photo shoot might not be for you? Don’t worry. Being neurodiverse myself I understand that there isn’t a one size fits all approach, and certain situations can be more difficult for some people. Which is why I strive to be adaptable so that everyone can feel comfortable and get the photos they dream of. Feel free to get in touch to discuss how we can make this work for you.
Wherever you like
In the comfort of your own home
Your home is where you feel most comfortable and safe. It is part of your life, it has character. And like you, and like your kids, it will change over time. Furniture will be replaced, walls painted, or you might even move home. Having a photo session in your home helps to paint a full picture of you and your life at this point in time. And don’t worry, it doesn’t have to look like a furniture catalogue. Let’s face it, life is messy!
Out in nature
If you would rather go outside, a gorgeous nature location is a great place to let your family shine. I approach outdoor shoots the same way, with the focus being on your family being relaxed and having fun together. Obviously outdoor sessions are a bit weather dependent so if the weather is going to be rubbish we can change the date.
The Process
Getting ready
We will chat ahead of time to pick a location. If it is in your home I will ask for some wide angle photos of the various rooms so that I can have a look at the light and make suggestions on which rooms and areas would work best. For outdoor locations you can tell me where you would like to go, or I can make some suggestions based on what you are after.
I can talk you through wardrobe choices as well and give advice on what would look good with your location and most importantly with each other! Generally speaking I would recommend avoiding logos, loud prints as well as bright red or bright pink as they would distract from the faces. Textures or plain colours often work better. If you have any question never hesitate to drop me a message, I’m here to help!
After the session
If you have agreed to your pictures being used online, I will post a sneak peak on my blog, Facebook page and Instagram the next working day after your session. This way you don’t have to wait too long to see something and you can share it with friends and family!
I will then send you a temporary digital gallery for you to pick your photos: 3 images for the Starter package and 10 for the Highlights package. Once you have made your selection these are the photos I will edit. For The Whole Lot package I’ll edit all the good pictures so you won’t receive this initial gallery. You can see the list of available packages here.
I will send you the finished photos in a private digital gallery within 2 weeks of your session or receiving your selection (although it’s usually much sooner).
You can download your photos from there, as well as order prints and other products directly from your gallery (such as albums, large prints and photo gifts).
There is nothing quite like looking at printed photos on your wall or in an album, so I really encourage you to not let the pictures be forgotten on your phone or your computer. They are meant to be seen and loved for years to come!