With the countdown to Christmas Day, I am re-visiting this extended family session that I photographed last year. It was a session that had a special meaning as it took place on Christmas Day itself. An important time for this family of 13 members to gather together, especially since one of the families lived in the U.S.

Cambridge Family Photography

A documentary family session is unposed and unstaged. I try my best to photograph the real, candid moments. The moments capture your honest emotions and make you feel when you look back at your photos because you are not being directed and everyone is having fun with each other.

We spent a few minutes making a couple of family portraits outside the family home when I first arrived at the house, where the whole family spends Christmas together every year. And the rest of the time I was there was dedicated to capturing the family as they went about their morning and preparing Christmas lunch for the children. (The adults ate their meal later so the kids could play). They were so relaxed having their pictures taken that it felt like I was part of their family and was invited to their Christmas lunch with them. This meant that the photographs I made for them truly reflected their family and told an honest story of the moments of their time together.

Here are some of my favourites from this two-hours documentary session:

Diana Hagues Photography is a documentary family photographer based in Cambridge offering day-in-the-life and family storytelling sessions. Get in touch to book or purchase a gift voucher for Christmas.