Cassiobury Park in Watford is ready to burst into full bloom… and is a beautiful backdrop for family fun photo sessions. I have been patiently waiting for the spring blooms to appear and yesterday my toddler was able to frolic amongst the Daffodils at last.
I love how these flowers amaze children; they are the perfect height for them and so vibrant like the sun itself. A few years back a little poppet was glued to the site of these flowers outside my house… her poor exhausted mother was cajoling her to move on but not listening, she picked the Daffodil. I didn’t mind in the slightest, her reaction was heart melting and brought a little tear to my eye… prize in hand she toddled off exclaiming “How beautiful Mummy… for you”
Photographing children amongst the Bluebells is a great spring past time for us mums (Late April- May) but it is more challenging than the Daffodils because of abundance of dappled light.
Tips to remember: the best time to take photographs is either in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is not too high so you can avoid harsh shadows on faces. Bluebells grow in the shade and low light environments are notoriously hard places to photograph. Having the light behind your subject can produce some beautiful effects, with warm sunlight embracing your child it will unfortunately put their face into shade. Using a piece of white card or reflector can help throw some light back onto your child’s face. Or alternatively photograph them in a shady spot facing the sun.
Also the Common Bluebell is a protected species in the UK so try tiptoeing rather than trampling through them.
Even if the weather has been dry in the days before your visit the floor of the forest is likely to be damp. Bring along a little rug or picnic blanket for your child to sit on (place in a clearing between the flowers) Be careful to choose a neutral colour to avoid colour casts. Something for them to play with is also a good idea… a balloon or a watering can help take their focus away from you and the camera if your little nipper is super active.
If you don’t fancy trying out these tips for yourself but would like some photos, book onto one of my Spring mini sessions. £35 for a 30 minute session (one or two children) including a 5” x 7” professionally printed photograph, and a Facebook image (timeline or banner size). Additional time is required to photograph groups of three or more. Please email for more details….
I’d love to hear tales of your spring adventures and see your images too, so please feel free to share your spring time snaps in the comments...