When I first met Natasha, she was shooting tiny ravers at Big Fish Little Fish. We swapped details and a while later, she suggested a family photoshoot at our home in Islington.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from our family photo shoot by Natasha Alipour-Faridani: should I select a range of outfits? How long could my boys say ‘cheeeeese’ before getting bored?
When Natasha turned up, we were anything but camera ready. Abiye was dashing out to work and the boys were still in their PJs. While they got dressed, Natasha hung with me in the kitchen, swapping tales of mamahood (she has an adorable toddler named Ralph) and telling me about her passion.
Natasha has a background in commercial and editorial lifestyle photography and has worked with some big names, like model Daisy Lowe and a recent Amazon Family campaign. She brings her commercial eye and training to her family portrait photography, resulting in highly expressive images that captivate.
Natasha favours shooting people in their own spaces as opposed to in a studio. Throughout our shoot, she included colours, textures and backdrops that helped tell the story of who we are as a family.
When you have a stranger with a camera in your house, you can’t help but feel self-conscious. I fretted about laundry baskets overspilling, paint peeling and fingermarks on walls. But within 15 minutes of Natasha’s arrival, we were all relaxed. Too relaxed, perhaps… The boys climbed on her, spilled ‘titbits’ about family and friends, showed off their sofa diving and body slamming skills, photobombed each other and generally were at their rowdy best.
Amidst the madness, Natasha managed to capture some great shots. She usually gets between 60-80 images for families (we have over 150) and it’s all included in the package price, no hidden costs. She sends you both web and high res copies so you can share digitally or print at best quality.
I love how these photos are bursting with the boys’ personalities.
I also love the brief series she snapped of the boys with me on the sofa. Looking at the few baby photos I have with my mother, I’m more aware of how important it is for mums to put ourselves in the picture.
These photos were taken a week before my mum passed away. Some days I think I’ll never feel that happy again, but it’s impossible to look at these images without smiling. We had such a giggle that day — Natasha says she laughed so much her face ached afterwards.
I can’t recommend Natasha highly enough. Not only does she have mad skills with her pointy shooty, but she’s huge fun to have around and has such a natural rapport with kids, all you have to do is stand back and watch the magic happen.
The photos are so gorgeous, I’d like to create some large canvas prints of them to hang on our walls. I’ve been exploring the options at Photowall and my only challenge is choosing which of Natasha’s images to blow up. I love each one so much.
To see more of Natasha Alipour-Faridani’s commercial and editorial lifestyle photography and to book a session with Natasha, visit http://natashaalipourfaridani.com
You can also view her family portraits and wedding photography at http://luxeweddingsphotographic.com
**Win a Family Photo Shoot by Natasha Alipour-Faridani (worth £325)!**
Natasha is kindly offering one lucky Babes about Town reader the chance to have their very own photo shoot at home (anywhere within 15-20 mile radius of central London). This is a gorgeous prize that will give you and your family many happy memories for years to come. Entry is simple via the Rafflecopter form below. Best of luck!
Those photos are fabulous. As you say that have totally captured the personality and the unique expressions of the boys. I love how relaxed and natural you all look. I also realise how easy it is to just keep clicking away at your kids and never be in the pictures – I am constantly guilty of that. So glad you got in the pics and thanks for reminding me that I need to do the same. Have entered because if I win I will have no excuse to stay behind the camera :)
Beautiful shots of a beautiful family. They look a lot more natural and relaxed than the ones shot in a studio. I love the idea of doing a shoot at home.
I know we talked about the shoot last Saturday, but i had no idea how amazing the photos are! Natasha is really a very talented photographer and agree with Nomita she captured your personalities so well. Love all the photos and what a fab giveaway, have to enter so need some amazing photos with my two beauties! Just fantastic!!!
Thanks so much Nomita for your lovely comments, she took amazing photos of the boys and I feel thrilled to have so many now – I really couldn’t figure out which ones to pick! I remember a shoot you did with Anya and it was another reminder of how important it is to get in the shot. Best of luck in the comp x
Hi there Mama, My Kid Doesn’t Poop Rainbows (I can’t get enough of this name), thanks for the lovely compliments and of course all credit to Natasha and her amazing eye. I highly recommend a shoot at home, it makes for such unique and warm photographs!
Hey Mirka, oh you and your girls would have a fantastic time with Natasha – as you can see we laughed and giggled so much, and the boys were all over her haha. I’m delighted with her photographs and looking forward to blowing some up for our walls and for gifts too. Good luck in the contest! x
Love the “everydayness” of this one http://natashaalipourfaridani.com/portfolio/family/#PHOTO_2
This post made me emotional girl because Natasha captured your relationships, your love and most of all the fun you guys have together, love this post so much xx
Thank you Vicki, she’s really talented and it was all down to her personality and how at ease she made us all feel that she got to the ‘heart’ of us. Glad you love ’em, me too :-) x
Yes I like that one too Felicity, such a familiar sight haha!
I like the Amazon one’s the shoes look really good
I love how natural these all are! Particularly like the family portrait :) x
I like the GLL SPORTS FOUNDATION images because these are looks more natural and real then any other photos.