What does a typical Grand Little Adventure shoot look like?

A basic shoot is roughly an hour, and is structured like this:

1. A handful of “posed” family portraits

   While I take on a strong documentary-style in my work, I do think there's a time and place for a beautiful family portrait! I normally start with these just to know we have these combinations “in the bag”, and we can relax a bit more for the rest of the shoot.

   I have however learnt that one simply cannot go into a shoot with the expectation that everyone is going to just look at the camera and smile, so this is not something I force. Sometimes these photos end up less than perfect, and I quite like that!

2. Unposed activities that encourage honest connection

   This will be the bulk of your shoot. It is really up to the kids as to what happens! I truly believe that photographs will hold so much more value over time if they expresses a little bit of honest personality. I encourage you to be present with your kids in these moments. Get in there with them- The more physical connection between you, the better. The extra attention from parents will also mean that your kids will be that extra bit happier during the shoot!

   You may even want to think up an activity that you could enjoy doing together.

Here are some ideas:

- Take your dogs for a walk in the forest

- Let the kids run down the dunes at the beach, or splash in the ocean

- Go for milkshakes at a quirky coffee shop

- Bake cupcakes together

- Eat watermelons by the pool

- Let them play dress up

- Read them a book

- Go for a bike ride at sunset on the promenade

Of course all of this is impossible if your child is a baby, but even then it would be nice to capture a glimpse of your everyday lives as part of the shoot- perhaps we can include a bath, a change or a feed, or just lots and lots of squishy baby cuddles!

Where will the shoot take place?

This is entirely up to you! We could either shoot in the comfort of your own home, or choose a location that you love! Perhaps somewhere you regularly go as a family, or a place that holds special memories for you? Or we can go on an adventure to somewhere new! I'm always happy to suggest locations that I think will work well.  Here are a few of my favourite spots to shoot at: www.grandlittleadventure.com/work

Please note that there is a travel charge for locations further than 15km from Tokai, Cape Town.

What Time of the day will the shoot take place?

From Spring to Autumn my outdoor shoots take place in the late afternoon/early evening, within the last hour before sunset. Light is a huge part of my work, so this is not something I like to compromise on. In summer, this may mean shooting at around 7pm in the evening, which is often not ideal for small children. I would recommend letting them have a slightly later nap and feeding them before the shoot. In the wintry months (May to August) we can also do a morning shoot closer to sunrise. If the shoot is taking place at your home, the timing is flexible depending on your schedule.

Do you do Maternity or Newborn shoots?

My passion is kids, so I only photograph preggy bellies in the context of a family shoot. If you are an expecting mom and you have other kids I'd love to capture this stage in your life! However, I'm currently not doing stand-alone maternity shoots. Please feel free to ask for recommendations - there are so many incredible photographers that are so good at this!

Regarding newborn photography, I absolutely love it! I am not of the conviction that the baby has to be a teeny tiny newborn for the shoot though! While they are sweet when they are so little and sleepy, there’s also something so lovely about capturing their first smiles and expressions, which only develop later.

It is also worth noting that babies are not as mobile and the shoot might thus have a slightly more "posed" feeling to it compared to other types of family shoots. I will be giving a little bit more guidance and direction, making the best of the the space and light. I will however not be providing cheesy props or putting the babies into Anne Geddes style positions!

Do you do Extended family/ Adult Family shoots?

Yes I do. I'm however not particularly passionate about photographing big groups made up primarily of adults. Capturing kids is where I thrive, so if your family consists of no-one below the age of 12, then I'm probably not the best person for you! Please feel free to get in touch for recommendation on other photographers who are great at this!

What should we wEAR for the shoot?

I don't want to be too prescriptive with this, as your clothes need to be true to who you are. However, there are just a few small things to keep in mind:

- Consider how the clothes all look together. While I don't recommend that you all wear matching outfits, it might be a good idea to keep things somewhat cohesive.

- I would strongly recommend staying away from clothes with bold prints or lots of different colours. Your son might love his Dinosaur T-shirt, but the camera won't! This will only distract from the faces. If one or two of you wear something subtly patterned it can work really well, but be sure to balance it out with some more plain things.

- Natural fabrics generally photograph better than synthetic ones.

- Photographs always tone makeup down, so you can be a bit bolder with that!

- If your skin naturally has a pink undertone, I would recommend staying away from colours that lean that way (coral, cherise, orange or bright red). Softer pinks are usually not a problem).

- Consider what kind of look you would like for your images. If you like dramatic pictures that showcase the beautiful scenery, then wearing a flowy dress will lend itself well to that. If you would prefer a casual more homey look, then chunky knits might be your preferred wardrobe choice.

What you choose to wear plays a big role in how the pictures turn out, so it’s worth putting a bit of thought into!

I have compiled a Pinterest board of families who I think nailed it. Feel free to have a little look for some inspiration:

https://za.pinterest.com/sunshine80six/wardrobe/

Please feel free to Whatsapp me your clothing choices if you need an opinion and/or some guidance!

How do I book you?

Just send me a message on the contact form, letting me know what kind of shoot you are wanting to book. Once we've arranged a date and time, I’ll send an invoice your way, and payment will secure your booking. I take full payment up front.

How long do i have to wait for the pictures?

This can take up to 4 weeks in the busy season (Sep-Apr) but depending on my workload I will try to get the images to you within 3 weeks of the shoot. I always send a few sneak peeks a few days after the shoot :)

A rush fee of R1250 is applicable if you wish to reduce the turn-around time to 72 hours after the shoot.