Children are my absolute favourite things to photograph, they are so funny and it's amazing the bond you can make with a child in such little time.
One thing I have learnt over the year is you need patience! That is the thing I do best. Never rushing anything that I do and making the children feel as comfortable as they can be. Whether they want to just quietly watch in the beginning because they are nervous to helping me getting ready to begin and answering all of their inquisitive questions.
Working within schools photographing nursery ages - older children I have learnt how to try and relax them as quickly as possible, you don't tend to get a lot of one to one time and so I worked very hard on learning how to read children in the first few seconds...I am proud to say you can put me in any situation and I do feel I can handle a lot of different circumstances.
Like I always say to some nursery teachers and parents, 'you tell younger children not to talk to strangers and then you put a stranger in front of them and tell them to smile.' Maybe even bribe them with sweets and treats?! Why? I try to get to know them and make them feel comfortable with me and hopefully making them see past the camera and smile at me, a friend.
I like a challenge! And I really love when you win a timid child over and get the most incredible smile. Them moments make my job worth it. Completely.