“Why is it so cold????” is something I seem to have been asking myself on a daily basis recently - usually while wearing a crazy amount of clothes while wrapped in a blanket. Last year was definitely warmer. The memories popping up in my photos app prove it! I wonder how people casually exist without thermal layers, let alone walk about in a vest and short shorts! I’ve said before that “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just a poor wardrobe,” but honestly? I am permanently cold.
My child takes great joy in pointing this out. “What’s wrong with you? Maybe you should get that checked.” Maybe I should… maybe I should buddy. Or maybe he should mind his own business! It is his business. Most days we’re outside playing, him rosy cheeked with a huge grin, and me turning blue and shivering! In case it isn’t clear, I could be over exaggerating!
The reality of being a family photographer in Scotland - and especially as a photographer working with Glasgow families - is that the weather plays a starring role in every session. It can shape the location and the timing, and occasionally dictate if need to quickly pivot to Plan B. Weddings and events don’t always allow for such flexibility, but family photography sessions absolutely can, and that adaptability is often where the magic happens.
When planning a family photo session in Glasgow, I put a huge amount of thought into choosing locations that work both beautifully and practically. I have a carefully curated mental map parks and city streets: toilets within sprinting distance, sheltered spots for sudden rain or dramatic winds, nearby cafés for emergency hot chocolates, and tempting play parks and ice cream vans in the vicinity. The trick, of course, is to strategically avoiding these fun distractions until the end of the session. Children love a surprise reward, and it helps keep little spirits high when the Scottish weather is doing its thing.
My favourite spots for outdoor family photography in Glasgow usually offer a mix of open space, greenery, wind cover, and somewhere cosy nearby to warm up afterwards. But some of my most-loved sessions happen much closer to home - literally. I absolutely love photographing families in their own homes and neighbourhoods. There’s something incredibly special about capturing the everyday moments you don’t realise are meaningful until years later.
For an in-home family photography session, I always visit ahead of time to properly plan your shoot. I look at how the light moves through your home, which rooms will photograph best, and gently advise on anything that might need tucked away beforehand so we can spend less time tidying and more time actually enjoying the session. I also research the surrounding area - a nearby park, favourite café, or little walking route, which adds so much personality and movement to your gallery.
More than anything, I want your photographs to feel like you. The laughter in the kitchen, tiny hands reaching for snacks, windswept hair during a walk to the park, and the way your child leans into you without thinking. These are the photographs that quietly become priceless over time. The beautifully ordinary moments that tell your family’s story exactly as it is, right now.