Family photographer Windsor BerkshireKids photographer Windsor, Berkshire Kids grow up so fast - I took this photo of my boys nearly two years ago and I can't believe how the time has flown by!

Photography is a great way to document and remember your kids' early years. Most of us are good at taking photos, but then what happens to them? Take a few minutes to sort your photos - delete those that you don't like or don't need, record the date and location they was taken, and choose the ones you want to print.

Try to save your photos in one place and make sure you keep back-ups! (As someone who's hard drive crashed at the end of last year, I'm so glad I practice what I preach, as most of my photos were stored on my back-up drive!). If all your photos are on your phone, then download the best ones to your PC to save in an album.

Finally, print your best photos! In the digital world, it's easy to take photos and forget about them. Find you favourites, print them, frame them, make an album - you'll be glad you did in years to come when you have memories to look back on!

Sometimes the background in a photo is important. It can add context – maybe memories of a holiday or special day out, and it can add interest – maybe some beautiful flowers or an interesting texture. However, sometimes including the background is unnecessary and just a matter of habit.

Don’t be afraid to get close to your kids or use the zoom function on your camera or phone for a close-up. By getting in close, you can eliminate any background distractions, as well as getting the lovely detail of their features.

What a great summer shoot! A gorgeous family on the Windsor Long Walk. We were blessed by sunshine and had fun playing in the shade of the trees. These two brothers enjoyed some cuddles with mum and dad, before being let loose to run around. They seemed happiest sat together having a giggle, before collecting acorns and finishing off the session with some bubbles!

Point a camera at your kids and say cheese – simple, right?! Maybe, if you’re one of the lucky ones whose children produce lovely smile as soon as fromage is mentioned. However, it’s more likely you’ll get a Wallace & Gromit style grimace, they’ll strike a model pose, or just offer a very fake smile.

Instead try chatting to your kids, make them laugh, or just let them run around and have fun.

My clients will know that I prefer not to say cheese at all, rather I’ll let the kids be themselves, get mum and dad playing the fool and generally letting the madness unfold. If you avoid saying cheese and go for more natural smiles and laughs you’re more likely to get photographs that remind you of your kids as they are, rather than just getting their photo face.

When photographing children, try to get down to their level.

As adults, it’s sometimes easy to forget how much taller we are than our kids; if you take all your photographs from standing height, they will all be looking down on your children, preventing you from getting good close-ups. By getting down to their level you will be able to frame their face nicely, can get lovely eye contact and will be able to engage with them better.

Try sitting with them, kneeling or even laying on the ground. Chances are they’ll enjoy having you down at their level and you’ll get some laughs or some fun interaction.

Having delivered the photos from my first official wedding to a very happy couple this week, I thought I’d share them here. The wedding was at the Guildhall in Windsor, which is such an amazing venue. The light was beautiful coming in the windows while they said their vows, and I captured some beautiful moments between them. We then headed down to Northcote House in Sunningdale for the reception, which has both beautiful gardens and interior.

I have spent the last month back at college, completing a wedding photography training course, as I begin offering a wedding photography service this year. It was a fantastic course, covering a wide range of topics from what happens when on the day (and more importantly where I need to be when and how!), posing the bride and groom, photographing groups, low-light photography (including a great opportunity to photograph some stained glass, which I couldn’t resist including below), plus far more – too much to mention here!

The bride and groom were played by models, with simple props (hence the cheap Tesco tulip bouquet!), shot over two different sessions (which accounts for the inconsistency in costumes, hair and props, etc), but I thoroughly enjoyed myself and thought I’d share them here as a couple of people have asked to see them. We faced torrential rain on both shoots, which made things a little challenging, but were finally blessed with sunshine and even a heart-shaped gap in the clouds!

I now feel ready to photograph my first wedding, which is good, considering it is in 9 days time!

I’ll be revising my website before the end of this year to incorporate weddings, but until that time, I’ll share the occasional wedding post here…

I was delighted to join the Belly Baby mother & baby group for their Mothers’ Day session last week. Where there were some very sleepy babies…

…who were very good and let their mummies enjoy hand massages…

…and some delicious cupcakes from Miss B’s Bakery…

…and a photoshoot with me! Happy Mothers’ Day to all you wonderful mummies!!