A Day in the Life – Family Documentary Photography in London
There’s something special about photographing a family over time. You start to see the rhythm of their lives. The way they change, but also the way they stay the same.
As always, I photographed this day in a candid, honest way. You can read more about my thoughts on Documentary Photography if you wish.
This family, based in London, have been part of my photographic journey for years. I’ve documented countless moments with them, from everyday routines to major milestones. In fact, I was there when both of their children, Lenny and Maja, were born. I photographed those births quietly, respectfully, and with the same sense of honesty that underpins all my family work.
This latest session wasn’t a quick hour in the park or a tidy batch of posed portraits. It was a Day in the Life. A full-day documentary shoot from breakfast right through to story time. And what that means is, I was simply there, moving with them through their day, camera in hand, watching and responding.
Not directing. Not asking anyone to smile. Just letting the day unfold.
A Day in Motion – Watch the Photofilm
If you prefer to experience this kind of session in motion, I’ve put together a short photofilm from the day.
It’s not a highlights reel, and it’s not styled. It’s simply what happened - from the early morning blur of cereal bowls to the final page of the bedtime story.
The stills below capture fragments of the day. The photofilm below brings a bit more flow. You can feel the rhythm of family life; the build-up, the pause, the beautifully ordinary details.
Watch it as a glimpse into what a full-day documentary session might feel like for your own family. Honest, calm, and quietly meaningful.
A Day in The Life - Selected Photos
What Is a Day in the Life Family Shoot?
For anyone wondering what this kind of session actually involves, here’s the simplest explanation I can give: I turn up, and then I watch. I’m there for the ordinary – the brushing of teeth, the fight over the blue plate, the moment the toast lands jam-side down.
Because these are the things that make up childhood. This is the stuff that actually matters when you look back years from now.
A Day in the Life shoot usually starts early. For this family, I arrived just as breakfast was being laid out. The kettle was boiling, cereal bowls were being passed around, and Lenny was halfway through an impromptu drum solo on the kitchen table.
From there, the day moved naturally – school prep, playtime, errands, rest, all the way through to bath and bedtime. I didn’t prompt anything. I didn’t interfere. I simply stayed present.
Why Choose a Full-Day Session?
It might feel like a lot, the idea of being photographed for an entire day. And I get that. But after the first 15 minutes or so, most families forget I’m even there.
Honestly. The camera becomes background. The rhythm of the day takes over.
Here’s what a full-day session gives you that a short one simply can’t:
Real context – not just what your family looks like, but what your life feels like
Natural progression – how moments shift from chaos to calm (and back again)
Unstaged emotion – joy, tiredness, laughter, the lot
A meaningful story – not a highlight reel, but a narrative of an ordinary day
But… What If My Home Isn’t “Photogenic”?
That’s something I hear a lot. And the answer is always the same – it doesn’t matter.
This kind of photography isn’t about clean kitchens or perfect light. It’s about truth. And truth happens in messy living rooms and cluttered hallways just as much as anywhere else.
Some of the most beautiful frames come from moments you wouldn’t expect: a hand reaching out for a comfort toy, a quiet glance between parent and child, a nappy change in the middle of the floor.
What Do You Actually Get at the End?
After the session, I’ll edit down the images into a strong, thoughtful set that tells the story of your day. You’ll receive:
A curated collection of high-resolution images
A short photofilm
Optional fine-art prints or albums
And, perhaps most importantly, a visual time capsule – something that only becomes more valuable as the years go by
From Breakfast to Bedtime – This London Session
On this particular day, I watched Lenny and Maja bounce from moment to moment – full of life, full of energy. One minute they were chasing each other in the hallway, the next they were helping with dinner.
There were quieter moments too. Playing in the afternoon light. That sudden hush just after bath time, when the pace softens and bedtime draws closer.
And of course, the teeth. Never forget the teeth.
By the time the final story had been read, the lights were low and both children were tucked up – I’d barely spoken more than a few words. But I had the entire story. And that’s the beauty of it.
FAQs – Family Documentary Photography
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Typically from morning to bedtime. I arrive when you’re getting up and leave once the day has wound down.
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Nope. Just be yourselves. The real moments live in the details of everyday life.
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No posing at all. I work quietly, like a guest with a camera – always present, never disruptive.
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That’s part of the story. Tantrums, boredom, joy – they’re all real and all part of life.
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Yes. I travel across the UK (and sometimes beyond) for full-day sessions. This one was in London, but I’m based in the Cotswolds and happy to work further afield.
Thinking of Booking a Family Documentary Session?
If this sounds like something that might suit your family – no pressure, no posing, just honest storytelling – I’d love to hear from you.
Whether it’s a morning session, a few hours around the house, or a full-day experience like this one, we can build the session around you – your pace, your routine, your story.
