Kirsty Fairweather Photography

Jephson Gardens is one of the area’s most reliable settings for a family photography session, and it earns that reputation across every season. The park offers an unusual range of backdrops within a short walk of one another, which makes it well suited to larger groups — particularly extended families who want everyone in one place at the same time.

Bringing generations together

Outdoor sessions work especially well when grandparents are part of the picture. A shoot becomes an occasion in itself: a few hours of proper time together, with the added bonus of photographs that the older generation will treasure. On one such session, the children began with group shots at the park’s well-known tree before racing each other to the next one, making full use of the open space. Trees do a lot of quiet work in these photographs, framing the group and giving children somewhere to move.

The grandparents were woven into the shoot as well, and the resulting images capture the easy back-and-forth between them and their grandchildren — the sort of unguarded expressions that are difficult to arrange and easy to miss.

A mix of groupings

A family session normally covers a range of combinations rather than one large group shot. Siblings are always included, since those pairings often produce the most natural images of the day.

Jephson Gardens adds further variety through its built structures. The summer light and greenery make a soft backdrop, but the buildings and steps bring in different textures and colours. The steps in particular lend themselves to individual portraits, and they are a regular stop on any session here.

An open invitation

The final photographs of the day often come together spontaneously, with everyone pulled in for one last group shot. With so much uncertainty in the world at the time of writing, gathering families in one place has taken on greater weight, and there is real pleasure in being part of that.

Sessions are being planned for later in the spring, or whenever official guidance permits. Anyone interested in arranging one is welcome to get in touch.