Cardiff, Caerphilly, Newport, Bristol & South Wales Birthday Party Photographer
**Please Note: This page is on children’s birthdays, but if you need photography for any other event, do contact me to discuss**
Q. WE’D LIKE TO BOOK YOU FOR OUR FAMILY EVENT SO HOW DO WE DO THIS?
Please email me, fill in the form at the bottom or phone 07947 613070 any time to make an enquiry and book me as your birthday party photographer in Cardiff, Bristol and South Wales!
**For prices see box further down the page.**
First birthday parties are popular. They are good for capturing the youngster at a very young age before becoming self-conscious in front of the camera. This little chap is sitting quietly with Granddad when the cake arrives.
Q. FOR WHAT TYPES OF PARTY CAN I BOOK YOU?
A. Anything that’s worth throwing a party for! Children’s birthdays are the most popular, but I also photograph anniversaries, business and Christmas parties.
Engagement parties and baby showers are favourites too, as well as baby naming ceremonies. I have also photographed the birthdays of pets!
So whatever your occasion, do get in touch to discuss your options.
The choice of entertainment for your child’s birthday is enormous. Here, there’s a DJ/entertainer, but magicians, balloon artists, bands and even wizards (see below) are popular too.
Q. WHERE WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TRAVEL TO FOR MY CHILD’S PARTY?
A. I primarily photograph kids parties in Caerphilly and Cardiff as I’m local to there.
I do frequent events Newport and even Bristol too. Pontypridd, Bridgend, Blackwood and anywhere in the Welsh Valleys.
I cover pretty much all of South Wales including Swansea, Penarth and Barry but if you have a birthday party coming up elsewhere, please contact me to discuss.
This birthday party was at my home in Caerphilly. The middle boy is my George, and he had a great time playing in his bedroom with his closest friends.
Another group shot but this time at a party venue. They were playing on this sofa, so I had them quickly line up for some photos. The mum of the birthday girl had no idea I’d taken it and was over the moon when I showed it to her afterwards.
Q. WE’RE HAVING A BIRTHDAY AT OUR HOME. WOULD YOU COME TO OUR HOUSE TO PHOTOGRAPH IT?
A. Absolutely – yes!
Probably most parties happen at home, and this has many benefits. Not only is it far cheaper, but all of your child’s toys and games will be there too, meaning lots for them to play with and do. Some parents even hire entertainers to come out and keep the kids occupied.
Wizards provide the entertainment at the fantastic Poppelwood Play Centre in Caerphilly. The centre also has a large soft-play facility and is available to be hired out privately.
Q. HOW WILL YOU APPROACH THE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR MY CHILD’S BIRTHDAY PARTY?
A. I shoot in a mostly natural style and love to document events as they happen without fuss or interference. Most of the photos you get will be candid moments that tell the story of the day.
Sometimes though, things need to be slightly tweaked to get the shot. Particularly moments such as blowing out the birthday cake candles.
If you need any group shots, I can set these up as well. If we liaise closely with each other both before and during the day, then you’ll be sure to end up with a great mixture of documentary and fun posed shots. The emphasis is totally on people having FUN!!!
I also photograph all the unique details such as the cake, table settings, menus, wall art etc.
I try to take shots like this, where the children are unaware that I am photographing them. They help to illustrate perfectly the story of the day.
2 Hours Birthday Photography Coverage (not Saturday)**£250** Special Price for 2 Hours Photography on a Saturday**£300** Photographic coverage + beautifully edited photos provided in a mixture of colour and black and white. Extra Hours = £80/hour |
The connection between children and their parents is lovely to capture as in this photo taken after she blew out her birthday candles.
Q. HOW DO YOU WORK WITH CHILDREN?
A. I have a background working with children in both a care setting and on film and TV sets. Being a licensed and DBS checked chaperone, I am used to dealing with them and their different ways. Use of subtle methods ensures they are comfortable with my presence, and I think this shows in the results. I don’t intrude on their space, but am always friendly, approachable and happy to chat and play.
Sometimes, I even let them help take some photos – touch wood there has been no breakages yet! I am insured…
Photographically, shooting low at their height level helps with more dynamic and striking photos.
If I arrive early, I can take a few shots, such as when mum was setting up the feature birthday cake table.
As well as the party itself, it’s vital to take some details shots. A lot of thought goes into the theme and party food which will soon be demolished by ravenous little ones. I try to capture this before it happens.
Q. HOW LONG IS THE AVERAGE CHILDREN’S BIRTHDAY PARTY AND WHAT COVERAGE DO YOU PROVIDE?
A. Children’s parties are usually considerably shorter than those for a grown-up. They generally last about 2-3 hours at a maximum, so I provide photography to cater for this period.
However, if you need photography for shorter or longer than this, do get in touch to discuss.
Dressing up boxes are a good and fun idea to keep children (and adults) entertained. They also lend themselves to happy and vibrant portrait shots such as this.
Q. HOW WILL YOU EDIT OUR PHOTOGRAPHS? CAN WE CHOOSE?
A. I’ll process your photographs in a mixture of colour and black and white as I think suits. There are examples of my photographic styles throughout my site so have a browse through. If there’s a style you like or one you’re not so keen on, please feel free to tell me and I’ll remember this during your shoot and editing.
I don’t have to edit in black and white, so let me know if you prefer all colour.
I love the vibrancy in this little girl’s dress, so I boosted the saturation in the edit to highlight it. Birthdays generally have lots of colour to work with.
Another ‘hoopla’ shot as the birthday girl had a go at this party game.
Q. WHAT TYPES OF VENUE AND ENTERTAINMENT IS TYPICAL FOR A KID’S PARTY?
A. I don’t think there’s any such thing as a typical venue. The family home is popular whether the parent’s or grandparent’s house. There are also numerous venues to hire in Caerphilly and South Wales and Bristol for a few hours. Most family pubs have a children’s birthday party package option.
There are also now many options that go way beyond the traditional blind man’s buff at home. There are now laser quests and paint-balling courses, obstacle courses, and outdoor adventure for older children and teenagers such as Go Ape and water rafting. Go-karting is popular as is tenpin bowling.
For younger children, there is soft play, slime parties and magicians available to hire. Toddlers and early years children are usually more easily amused. For them, just the chance to run around with friends and eat party food is usually enough.
One of my more staged portraits: These siblings and cousins looked so great in their outfits that I couldn’t resist lining them up at this Bristol bar.
Things aren’t always as chilled as in the above photograph. When things get a little boisterous, I’m there to catch the action too!
Here is a brilliant resource at Mum’s Make Lists for planning your perfect children’s birthday party!
Finally, I sometimes like to shoot more experimentally. The cake candles often give me a chance to take some striking and atmospheric photographs using only candlelight. And the little boy’s excited face says it all.
