If you are going to read any of my blogs, then this is the one… my Golden Hour Beach Photography Lesson at The Milkyway Photography Family Retreat 2023

Hey there, photography lovers! Today, I'm thrilled to reflect one of the most memorable shoots of my career, and one that was part of The Milkyway Photography Family Retreat 2023. I had the privilege of being asked back as an instructor to teach on this online retreat.

This time I focused on capturing the beauty of motherhood during a dreamy golden hour beach session (with a toddler this time- always a nice little challenge).

As a mother myself, I've always been drawn to the raw emotions of parenthood, as dreamy as some of my shoots look, I always try to capture the real family behind it through natural moments, and by prompting my subjects rather than posing them, and by using my unique film-like techniques.

Thurlestone Beach, Devon provided the perfect setting for our session, it is one of my favourites (can you tell?!). Nestled on a picturesque cove the scene with gentle waves and the breeze (slightly more than just a breeze, my lesson had a voice-over due to the wind!) adding movement into my work.

During the lesson, I shared my secrets for creating emotive images that truly speak to the heart. I discuss the importance of building a connection with your subjects to make them feel comfortable and natural in front of the camera. After all, the most authentic and heartwarming moments often unfold when people are at ease.

I was fortunate to have a lovely mother-toddler duo as my models, as golden hour approached, I guided the participants through the shoot by prompting (as mentioned earlier) shots and encouraging playful interactions. I explored different angles and perspectives to add depth and storytelling elements to each image.

One of the highlights of the session was capturing candid interactions between the mother and her toddler, check out the ‘running from the waves’ images!

The lesson didn't end there. After the shoot I then proceeded to include and editing section. I demonstrated my post-processing techniques, emphasising the emotions and amplify the dreamy quality of the images. I explored subtle adjustments in colour tones, contrast, and highlights to evoke a filmy feel, giving the photos a timeless and nostalgic quality.

I’ve had such wonderful feedback from the lesson so far; Lots of eager students with really good questions in the community forum. It was incredibly rewarding to share my knowledge and see the enthusiasm and progression that everyone made.

If you're a photography enthusiast, I highly recommend keeping an eye out for future editions of The Milkyway Photography Retreats. I actually begin my newborn photography career with one of their retreats!