Can anyone recommend a good portrait photographer in London?

[franch]

Someone who does brilliant shots of children? Thanks.

[TheDevilWearsPrimark]

There's a brilliant place in Blackheath, SE3 but I can't remember the name. They can do it in studio or come to you.

[franch]

Can you give me any clues, TDWP?

[pollyperkins]

My SIL is a brilliant portrait photographer based in Ealing - check out amandapepper.co.uk. She's taken some truly fab ones of my DD and she's friendly (I guess I would say that though but it is true). Her prices are v reasonable too.

[franch]

Thanks polly - lovely photos on that site

[TheDevilWearsPrimark]

Ah just remembered

aislinglogan.com/

They are brilliant, they took loads in different clothes etc. Made it really fun for the DC too.

[franch]

Thanks TDWP

[AitchTwoOhOneOh]

www.kensharp.com

he works in london a lot, and what's really lovely is that he takes the photos in your home, or local park, basically somewhere special and evocative, so that when the child is an adult they'll remember their parent's bed, the piano etc, and not just an impersonal studio.

he's a very nice guy, works with his wife (she's in charge of jollying along and putting everyone at their ease) and they took shots of dd1 that were just totally, utterly 'her'.

let's just say we'll be going back.

oh, and the prices... cheaper than my friend spent in venture, of course. there's a sitting fee but that's to cover transport etc, so ken and leslie have no trouble doing a couple of different families at the same time, if they're at a local park or forest or whatever. i know a few mners who've used him and they've been absolutely thrilled.

(plus, lolol at getting a former rock photographer to do your kid. he's met them all, keith, van, neil young etc, you can see in the gallery.)

[AitchTwoOhOneOh]

just spelled lesley wrong, i note.

[franch]

Oh H2O those photos are stunning - I've had friends emailing me recommendations all morning and none of them come close to your guy. They've got soul!

[franch]

Sorry H2010, overexcited

And I meant the photos have soul ...

[AitchTwoOhOneOh]

cheers, i agree. they're beautiful images in their own right, i think. i love the wintry park ones, i think i'll do that next time.
anyhow, as you can see Lesley organises his diary so that they go to the states for a while, london, scotland etc and travel around. it's a great life they've got, actually.

[AitchTwoOhOneOh]

aaaaaw, have just found dd in the gallery. she's so grown up now, in comparison.

[franch]

I agree about the images - something I rarely say about photos of other people's children! - I was surprised to feel quite moved by some of them

[AitchTwoOhOneOh]

oh, and natural light all the way. no freaky lamps.

[sugartits]

I've used Ken Sharp before and tbh I didn't order any prints at all - he said it was difficult working with three children which I thought was a bit . A couple of years before we'd had some done (one less dc) in a studio and they were much much better it was this guy (also rock n roll).

www.familyportraits.uk.com/

[AitchTwoOhOneOh]

i think it's not unreasonable to find it more difficult to get three kids looking in the same direction etc than two, though, don't you? especially if the kind of shot you're after isn't a 'look at teh birdie and smile' kind of thing. he's certainly done some amazing stuff with two sibs, i've seen them.

depends how many kids you've got, franch, and whether you want group shots.

[franch]

Hmm, ok sugartits, that's interesting!

[franch]

It's for a friend, actually, H2010, who has 2 DDs. She emailed me this morning and I said I'd see what I could find - but am now getting interested for my own kids!

[AitchTwoOhOneOh]

two is fine, deffo. but i think for that quality of shots you might be pushing it for three, unless (this is what i would do, i think) you did it in a park with them all on a roundabout or something, and were prepared to pay for a few shots so that each child was to the fore for one shot. do you know what i mean?

[sugartits]

Yes, you are probably right H2010. I guess dh and I were disappointed with the results at the time.

[AitchTwoOhOneOh]

i'm sure, i've never bought any of dd's nursery individual shots for the same reason, it is disappointing. didn't they say in advance that three could be tricky? they definitely told someone i know that in advance.

[beanie75]

Hiya
Check out www.preciouspixies.co.uk.
They do really beautiful pictures and are London based.
Cheers!!

[Kaloki]

Bit late but my DP does portraiture. Don't think he's got much of his kids stuff online, but have a look

mallowphotography.co.uk

[TSK]

What sort of price range would they be plesse?

[MerryMarigold]

great lady photography with 3 kids of her own (I am not her, but she is my friend and has taken lots of pics of my kids)

She's absolutely brilliant. She also does shoots in people's houses/ local park. She's fantastic with the kids, very creative and has lovely ideas. Like when we attempted a hige family photo with the GP's, sis and toddler, my family of 5 and it was proving difficult, she suggested we all try and tickle my parents and got this beautiful photo of us all laughing. It's so natural. She's particularly great at portraits that really capture the kids personality.