Family and children
Relaxed sessions at home or outdoors, ideal for updated family portraits, birthdays, siblings, grandparents and everyday childhood moments.
Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire
Family and Events Photographer in the Bristol and Bath Area
Natural, relaxed photography for families, weddings, parties and the small moments that become the photographs you come back to again and again.
Family
Weddings
Events
About me
Photos of children, family life and the moments you want to remember.
I'm Heike, a Bristol-based photographer specialising in photos of children at play, as well as more formal portraits and family groups. I also cover sports, weddings, parties and other events across Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire.
I have been taking photos for as long as I can remember. At secondary school, I was the photographer for the school newspaper. After university, I got a "proper" job as a software developer, but continued pursuing my passion for photography.
When my first child was born, I started a 365 project, taking at least one photo of him every day. Ten years later, I have three children and the project is still running.
I now use all of those years of practice to help other families feel relaxed in front of the camera and to create photographs you are going to treasure for years to come.
Photography services
For families, celebrations and the moments that matter.
Weddings
Friendly, natural coverage for intimate weddings and joyful celebrations, with a calm approach that helps everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera.
Events and parties
Photography for birthday parties, sports events, community gatherings, anniversaries and other special occasions.
Portfolio
Real moments, relaxed portraits and joyful celebrations.
Kind words
Testimonials
We really enjoyed our family photoshoot with Heike. Heike's experience, ideas for shots, props and locations were fantastic. What could have been a stressful experience was made easy through Heike's expertise and warm countenance. Our little one enjoyed interacting with Heike and the outcome was a set of photographs which we absolutely love.
Thanks so much for the photos! They are fantastic and captured the day so well, nice to have such lovely memories of the day and everyone who was there!
We had a wonderful photoshoot with Heike! My two daughters had a lot of fun, Heike really made them feel at ease and took some lovely, natural photos of the girls. Heike is a very talented photographer who is amazing with children! The photos are really beautiful and I would 100% recommend Heike. Thank you!
I’ve had professional photos taken quite a few times, both in Britain and abroad, outdoors as well as in studio settings. It’s fair to say that none of those outfits can hold a candle to Heike. She is incredibly good at getting children (and adults) to pose for her, turning it into a game and making it fun. The pictures show the sparkle in the kid’s eyes, which is beautiful. She is also good at capturing kids on the move, clambering in tree tops, exploring play grounds, roaming the woods, making the photos look natural, while at the same time managing to create an emotive atmosphere. She has an excellent eye for setting and angle; Heike can turn a single tree with a bit of grass into an image that looks like the middle of the wild wood. In the real wild wood, she can make it look like the land before time. It’s a rare talent! The photoshoot with her has been one of the best photo experiences I’ve ever had. The pictures are in pride of place and keep amazing us! Heike is simply the best.
Heike took the most beautiful pictures of my daughter in the spring sunshine. We met in a park and Heike just let her play and be herself whilst taking the pictures. Her patience and gentle approach made my daughter feel totally at ease. The result is a collection of natural photographs that I will treasure for a very long time.
These photos are absolutely stunning - we are completely blown away by them. And what a quick turnaround as well, thank you so much for all your hard work!
Oh my goodness!!!! I love them so much! Thank you - they really are amazing ❤️❤️❤️
We had such a great time with Heike. On arrival at the playground my little one was quite moody. With her kind, caring and intuitive nature Heike immediately put her at ease and have her enjoy the session which resulted in the most beautiful pictures. I can't wait for summer to come to book Heike again for a shoot with both my girls. If you never had professional pictures done before (especially with little unpredictable people) and are unsure (like I was) I can only say give Heike a call. It is well worth it!
Oh my goodness they are amazing Heike!!! Thank you so very much, you are awesome!
Wow they are amazing!! Cosidering the strop [child] was having you wouldn't know ! Thank you so much ❤️
I absolutely love them!! Thank you so much! I’m so pleased with them! Cannot wait to share them with my friends and family x
I am writing to thank you for capturing our wedding day so beautifully. We are very happy with both the formal ceremony photography, as well as the more spontaneous group and party shots. We have a wonderful souvenir with everyone who attend on the day. The set of photos includes large group shots, the sunshine that graced us on the day, the confetti moment, and also lovely portraits of us, our friends and their kids. We couldn't wish for more! Many thanks.
FAQ
A few helpful answers before you book.
Which area do you cover?
I am based between Bristol and Bath and cover the entire region. If you would like me to cover an event outside the area, I can add a reasonable travel fee. Please get in contact for a quote.
Are you inclusive?
All families are welcome to book with me and I will take your photos to the best of my ability, regardless of where you are from, your gender identities, sexual orientation, race, ages, disabilities or religion. I aim to create a safe environment for everyone to be themselves and get photos that really represent them.
Where do sessions take place?
Sessions can take place in your home, outdoors, or at a location that means something to you. I am happy to suggest local spots around Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire if you tell me what you would like from the session.
Home sessions can work beautifully for children doing their normal activities, jumping on beds or playing with their toys. I can bring lights, so it does not matter if your house is fairly dark, and please do not worry if it is not tidy.
What if my children do not want to pose?
That is completely fine. The best photographs often happen through play, movement and gentle prompts rather than formal posing.
What should I wear?
The most important thing is that you are wearing something you love and feel comfortable in.
Single block colours without an obvious pattern tend to look best in photos. Slogans, graphics, sequins, neon colours and reflective materials can distract from faces or date the photos. Mid blues, greens, purples and wine reds often work well, while cream or beige can sometimes blend in with skin.
For family photos, it can look really good to coordinate without everyone wearing exactly the same thing. You could pick one colour that appears somewhere in each person's outfit. If you would like help, please email me before the shoot and I am happy to advise you.
What if it rains?
Light rain can actually make for some really good photos, with lovely light, puddles and umbrellas. If the rain is really heavy, I will do my best to rearrange the session.
Do you photograph weddings and parties?
Yes. I cover weddings, birthday parties, sports events, family celebrations and other events where you would like natural, thoughtful photography.
Do I get colour or black and white photos?
I will provide a mixture of both, depending on what suits the photo. If both look good, you will get a choice of the two.
Do you retouch photos?
I clean up the photos to remove marks or little bits of dirt. I will not remove anything that is part of you, like moles or scars, or smooth skin unless you specifically ask me to.
Contact
Ready to plan your photoshoot?
Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to book a photoshoot for your children, family, wedding or event.