What’s the best time of year for a Cardiff family photo shoot?

This happens a lot. I’ll be walking around Tesco or dropping my son at school and I’ll get stopped by someone – ‘Ah Gemma! I’ve been meaning to get in touch to book a shoot with you! When is the best time for a Cardiff family photo shoot? How long does it take? Where are the best locations?’ etc.

So, I thought I’d write a little blog post to answer all those questions – if you would like to know more, please drop me a line!

Let’s talk about the best time of year for a Cardiff family photo shoot. Honestly, family shoots can take place all year round, but there are certain times when nature will provide some stunning backdrops. Spring is always a fantastic choice because you have so many different options – there’s crops of wild bluebells, fluffy blossom trees, blooming rapeseed meadows and life bursting at the seams. I have a whole host of favourite locations for each season, so I can recommend plenty of places to choose from. Have a look at some gorgeous Spring images below and the scroll down to see how the other seasons look….

Next up is Summer. Now I’m a real beach lover, so I opted for my own family shoot take place at the beach in the Summer. It’s where I feel most at home and so couldn’t imagine my family photos being taken anywhere else. Summer means beaches, sandy toes, playing in the surf, long grassy meadows, picnics, flip flops – you get the idea. Each family photo session is unique and there’s plenty of time for a walk and even a snack break. All of my clients will tell you that I’m pretty chilled out during the shoot and I’m in no hurry to wrap things up – most of the time I have to be gently directed my back to my car or I’d keep on shooting! If Summer is your favourite season, then maybe that’s the right time of year for you?

And on to Autumn. The time of crisp mornings, log fires and chunky knits. The colours that nature provides in the Autumn are just incredible. A whole range of yellows, oranges, reds and greens can literally light up the backdrop of your family shoot. This year, I’ve had some of my favourite Autumn shoots ever. Check out this lot…

Finally we’ve reached the Winter. It is probably my quietest time as an outdoor photographer in Wales but that’s not to say there aren’t opportunities out there for the more hardy amongst you.  I wouldn’t recommend taking VERY young children out for a photo shoot at this time of year, because they need to be bundled up in coats and hats etc and it makes it harder for them to move around and for me to see them properly. Older kids and adults though can still make the most of what Winter has to offer. I love a good snow shoot but the problem then is getting out of the village!

Here’s some Winter fave’s from me…

So there you have it. We’re really lucky in the UK to have such a variety of beautiful natural backdrops throughout the year. There isn’t one particular time of year to choose or avoid (oh alright, maybe January!). It all comes down to how you feel. If you’re a beach bum like me, then you’re going to feel more at home in the warmer months. If Autumn makes you feel all warm and cosy, then start shopping for chunky knits and get booking for September/October. If you love the verve and joy of Spring, then it’s time to drop me a line.

What are you waiting for?  See you soon! Gem x