An alternative Christmas holiday photo session | Family Photography in Cambridge

While Christmas have just come and gone and we all get back to our daily rituals and routines, there’s one thing that would help the holiday memories to linger even longer and it’s the photos capturing the family moments you had during this special time together.

Day-in-the-life Family Photoshoot in Cambridge

My last session before the end of 2022 was photographing for an American family in a day-in-the-life photo session in Cambridge. Most of the family, a group of 13 adults and kids, had travelled from over the U.S. to celebrate Christmas with their son and brother who was already living in Cambridge. The once-in-a-lifetime occasion meant the family wanted to have their family moments captured as an anniversary gift for their parents, as well as have photos to look back on for years to come.

During the day-in-the-life session, I spent several hours with the family so everyone had time to relax into the session which is especially important when young children are involved. As a documentary family photographer, I will document the real moments and connections as they naturally unfold and artfully capture photos that are significant to your memories, making photos that are unique and meaningful to your family. The family chose to play games or cook in the kitchen while the rest of the family chatted in company on the sofa. One of the siblings is a talented baker, so the family got to decorate Christmas cookies and tuck into cakes she had made earlier. It was a lovely, slow paced session where the family could relax and spend quality time together after having been such long distance apart.

I’m honoured that the family chose me for their family photography in Cambridge and it was a wonderful way to round off a busy photography year!

Documentary Family Photography in Cambridge

I’m thankful for families who welcome me into their family lives, show me their vulnerable truth and embrace the full range of emotions. It means, as a documentary photographer, I can capture the simple, honest moments to preserve the intricate story of your family and you get to feel the authenticity in the photos that reflect who truly you are.

Here are some favourites from this holiday family photo session in Cambridge.

Girl in a blue checked dress with a white hair bow plays peakaboo with a baby and her grandma in a documentary family photo session in Cambridge.
Candid family photography of two children play table football during a Christmas family photoshoot in Cambridge.
Two woman in purple and beige tops prepare a meal in the kitchen during a documentary family photoshoot in Cambridge.
Cocker spaniel dog stands amongst its family in a documentary family portrait session in Royston, Hertfordshire.
Cambridge documentary photography of two sisters smiling together with drink mugs in their hands in a candid family photograph.
Documentary photography in a day-in-the-life family photoshoot in Cambridge.
Documentary photography of a boy with a dark hair leans his head on a chair with two female adults watching during a day-in-the-life family photoshoot in Cambridge.
Woman with dark hair and a green top sits at the end of a table decorating Christmas biscuits in a day-in-the-life family photoshoot in Cambridge.
Boy in a green plaid shirt sits next to a man in a green shirt while they decorate Christmas cookies in a candid, documentary family photoshoot in Cambridge.
Unposed portrait of a child in a blue checked dress licking icing off the back of a spoon in a candid family photo.
Adults in conversation in the family kitchen during a day-in-the-life photoshoot in Cambridge.
A young girl plays with her softie during a documentary family photoshoot in Cambridge.
Candid family photo playing a Christmas party game in an unposed family photography session in Royston, Hertfordshire.
Candid family photo of adults playing a party game at Christmas in an unposed Cambridge family photography session.
Cakes and Christmas cookies sit on a worktop in a documentary photography from a Christmas family photo session in Royston, Hertfordshire.

Looking for ideas to get photos during Christmas? You can read my guide here and better still book me to document your favourite family traditions over the festive period, so you can enjoy the festivities with your family while I make sure you get to be in the photos too.


Diana Hagues Photography is an international award-winning documentary photographer specialising in documentary family photography in Cambridge. Her day-in-the-life photo sessions capture natural, candid and emotive storytelling family photos. Learn more about the different types of sessions here and get in touch to book your session.