It's Lavender season! I just love getting new photos of the girls at @Cotswold Lavender every year. It's so beautiful, a lovely day out, great to run around in - and it smells divine.
If you would like to have a family session here, do get in touch - I'm planning to head there on the 18th/19th July for family sessions. Here are a few that I took last year…
Within current guidelines, photoshoots in your home aren’t an option. Outdoor family photoshoots are an option, and they are certainly beautiful in themselves, but there is something the I particularly love about photographs through windows. I love the element that photographing through windows looks as if I was never there - it seems so pertinent to our protective bubble that we’ve experienced at home this year. I also love the softness and dreamlike feel that you can get through the windows. And even though it’s a lot harder than it looks, I think that the results are worth it.
I met Nathalie at the school gates years ago. She’s an absolute legend, she lives life to the full and helps others wherever she possibly can. She raises money for so many charities, is a cheerleader for so many individuals and local businesses, she’s a person that lifts everyone up when they’re down. So I was thrilled to pop over and take some portraits for Nathalie and her family recently, documenting a little snippet of how they have spent their time on their front lawn, and some portraits through the window.
I hope that they lift her up as much as she lifts others.
We’ve outgrown our townhouse - we outgrew it years ago. We originally planned to be here for 3 years, but somehow that turned into 12… To say that we have used every inch of this house during lockdown has been an understatement. The girls have played with lego on the landing, balloons in our wardrobe, made dens under the breakfast bar, volcanoes on the kitchen table and grown tomatoes on the kitchen floor. But I have to say, that a paddling pool on the driveway was something that I really hadn’t predicted…
We’re making memories every day and squeezing out every ounce of joy that we can during these times…
And for anyone that needs proof that your home is not photoshoot ready - I’ve kept a few images that give you the context of our driveway.
You see, it’s not about the house - it’s the people and the memories that you’re making that matter. So if you would like to capture this unique childhood summer in your back garden and through your windows, get in touch!
As a family photographer, I have postponed my photoshoots until after lockdown. I had considered offering doorstep photos in Cheltenham in exchange for a voluntary donation to the NHS, but hadn’t felt that the time was right until very recently.
But on our daily exercise today, my heart was utterly warmed by the wonderful sight that I saw in our neighbourhood. -
The sound of people chatting, friends being made and glasses being charged. There were gramophones and guitars being played, cake being offered out within a safe distance - even a change into black ties for dinner. All in our front gardens. -
And then it dawned on me. Capturing joy is the very thing that drives my work. And here it was in abundance. We were all elated at allowing ourselves a tiny slice of normality and respectful socialisation. This was a big moment in our history and I felt compelled to document it.
We don’t tend to sit in our front gardens in this country. But on this day, tea parties are thrown together with pride in our front gardens. We felt joy on the streets as we chattered to our neighbours for the first time in weeks. That freedom which so many fought for 75 years ago, was somehow understood and felt in our hearts more this year than ever before in our generation.
I met many lovely neighbours for the first time, including a surgeon and a doctor and asked for their portraits in exchange for a voluntary contribution to the NHS (well actually I’ll let the doctor and the surgeon off). -
It was like a breath of fresh air and a VE celebration like no other..
I thought I’d share a couple of things that we’ve been doing during lockdown. There are so many ideas out there that sometimes it can seem overwhelming, but I’d say that this one’s pretty simple, and hopefully it might help anyone looking for ideas. Obviously swap glass bottles for other things where necessary!
We have a tiny town garden, but were grateful to have any space during this time.. A mud kitchen isn’t an option, but we’re making do, so I brought out an old table and put a few random things (optional vinegar, bicarbonate of soda for fizzing) from the kitchen on it suggested their Dragons might be hungry.
And then left them to it.
As a family photographer, I’ve had many parents say that their child really doesn’t like having their photo taken. Well one trick of mine is to ignore them and have so much fun that they just HAVE to join in.
Today, I told them that I needed to take a photo of myself for work and that they weren’t allowed to be in it… I stressed that it has to be a photo of me on my own. Well obviously they then wanted to be in it, and I just rolled with it…
I’ll be honest, I’ve loved having the girls at home for the past few weeks - and grateful that I didn’t take my ‘work’ photo on my own…
I have been thinking so much about the pregnant mothers to be who are unable to have a photographer during this time. So I'd like to offer my support.
But I don't to overload you. You have a new baby - and we're in the middle of a pandemic. This is not the time to put pressure on yourself to learn a new skill! So I'm sharing a super simple 3 step process to getting a beautiful portrait of your baby. I've tested this on my other half, who has zero interest in taking a good photo, so it’s pretty failsafe.
So here it is. When your baby is next due for their nap:
1. Turn off all artificial lights, make sure baby is warm and snuggly
2. Settle your baby down on their side near a window
3. Position yourself so that you and your camera/phone are level with your baby. Get closer. Now take a photo of your baby’s head and shoulders, making sure that you are not photographing up their nose.
And that’s it! Such an achievable portrait of your beautiful newborn.
Feel free to share this your pregnant/newborn parent friends so they try this out too!
Beautiful muslin made by @jasper_and_juniper
Of the many photos that I've taken during lockdown, I've posted very few, because I’m drawn to photographing when I’m happy, and I'm acutely aware that during this time, posting these images may lead people to feel down. So I want to let you know that I absolutely not photograph all day every day.
Right now, what may be joy in one person's life, will be sadness in someone else's life. What can be an achievement of a skill learned, can create despair in someone else who’s only goal is to get through the day without tears.
We're all on a rollercoaster ride that none of us are allowed off yet. Life appears to be positively lovely at one point and then the waves of reality come crashing in. All of our feelings are valid - good and bad, but it’s important to me that I share some of my normal at the same time as the highlights.
The truth of the matter is that people on the whole, only share their highlight reel. Not only that, but the beginning of the day can be so wildly different from the end…
So here’s the end of our day yesterday, followed by the beginning of our day…
I’ve been wanting to dye eggs for about 3 years now, but somehow always run out off time when Easter actually arrives, so it would have been a poor show not to have done it this year… Hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend at home xx
Have you made your rainbow yet? With children not being able to play with their friends or visit playgrounds for now, families across the world are decorating their windows with rainbows to stay connected and spread a little joy for passers by. -
We're looking forward to going for a 'spot the rainbow' walk soon. Tag @the_motherhood_society, so that we can make a local map with rainbows on! -
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If you are a parent /photographer looking for ideas on how to engage your children at home, I’ve set up a fb group called ‘A Picture of Home’ to help us gain ideas from each other, finding inspiration and calm as we view life through our lenses during this time. All welcome xx
I’ve been so thankful for the sunshine this week. And for the fact that I have children to distract me from the season that the world is going through right now.
We busied ourselves with different projects this week. The other day, littlest chose to study Dinosaurs. So we grabbed all of the dinosaurs that we own and did this…
And now I’m ready for the weekend. Stay well everyone.
We sent a few things in the post and positive messages to cheer some of our relatives up today... .. sending you all the same during this time, which is proving to be a mental marathon.
And before you wonder how to do lead a wonderful calm and collected life whilst you're crafting with kids. You can’t - it's not even possible! I’ve blurred out the complete chaos that is on the other side of the camera. See my stories on ig (@chuikingli) for the behind the scenes on this.
Hope you’re keeping well during this crazy time xx
The short answer to this question is no.
The next answer is that I totally understand where you’re coming from. My home is unsuitable for a photo shoot most days - I only tidy up for guests and the cleaner (yes, I clean for the cleaner). And never ever turn up to my house unannounced. As the phrase goes ‘Please excuse the mess - we’re busy living’.
But it doesn’t stop me from photographing my children, and I have every trick under the sun to hide the things that you don’t want to see - because I do it every day! I’m willing to take on any challenge - even if you have the tiniest house. All I need is one room and a window.
Your home may feel a little crazier than it was before children, but it’s a home jam-packed with love and laughter as you are knee deep in making wonderful memories. Don’t worry - I will guide you and your children to capture your most beautiful moments, and will use the light to show your best side off. I promise that your concerns will be the last thing that you will see when I capture your family together.
I thought I’d share a few images that I took of the girls playing whilst we were staying in a very simple apartment down in Cornwall. It isn’t our home, but it’s an illustration of how we are possibly the messiest travellers ever! We hadn’t unpacked - there were clothes drying after the beach, toys from before breakfast and shoes strewn everywhere. But the window framed them beautifully, the light was good, and they were having such fun spinning the animals off of the ‘roundabout’ - that I wanted to focus the story of them playing together.
Scroll through the photos to see what was behind us…
Newborn sessions. I just adore them. Capturing their tiny little hands and feet, their little yawns, and those lovely little windy smiles! Everyone is exactly where they need to be, relaxed and at home, with everything that they require, and no need to worry about being on time or forgetting anything. Taking time to feed, change nappies, make tea, play, have snacks, with nothing on the agenda but to be together.
But for me, it isn't just about the baby. It's about the whole family as individuals during this time. Your first born, who seems to suddenly grown twofold overnight. Your husband/partner who is showing his most gentle side. And you, connecting with your baby, soaking up every tiny little snuffle, so that you can remember these moments forever.
During this time, you are connecting as a family in a different way. Remembering how you were and learning how to fit together in a new way. I capture moments at home, where are making memories every day. So that the end of your session, you don't just have portraits. You have your family’s story.
I'm always on the look out for family events & things to do with children in and around Cheltenham, so I thought I'd start share when I come across something fun.
This is an absolute gem - 'Where is the Light' installation at Gloucester Cathedral celebrating 20 years of Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS). Firstly, the Cathedral itself is an inspiring piece of architecture, and the grounds are fun for the children to run about in. And secondly, the light and sound installation is encapsulating for all ages,
On until 23rd February - entrance is a voluntary donation- the girls loved putting theirs though the Gargoyle's mouth on exit :)
SoGlos BBC Gloucestershire Love Gloucestershire Gloucester Cathedral
Chui King Li | Award-Winning Newborn, Child and Family Lifestyle Photographer
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds
