A Smiley Day in Spring Bluebell Woods

May 4, 2018 Angela Birchall

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A Smiley Day in Spring Bluebell woods is one of my favourite seasonal spectacles to capture. This lovely family had been waiting 6 months to have this photo shoot and it was worth the wait. The sea of blue did not disappoint! Sunshine broke through the canopy of leaves overhead, shining on a happy family enjoying this spectactular setting.

Having grown up in South Africa, bluebell woods were merely a magical storybook notion. From mid April to mid May, many British woodlands transform into a fairy tale. A carpet of dainty bluebells pops up as far as the eye can see and dances when a gentle breeze blows over them. It’s so pretty!

Here’s a throwback to the first family photo shoot I did in bluebells – Saturday 22nd of April 2017. The family dressed in navy blues, grey, denim blue and light blue with hints of floral pattern in off-white. (Good choice for this setting!) We chose the Chantries bluebell wood on the outskirts of Guildford, Surrey as the location as we all live locally. This family wanted updated photos for themselves and the grandparents and a landscape family photo in a field of bluebells. The intention being, to print a large canvas to hang above the bed in the master bedroom. (I always love to hear if families have an idea in mind regarding what they want to do with the images afterwards, so I can help “make it happen.”)

We got there early which meant we mostly had this lovely location to ourselves. (Yay!) Mum and Dad, Daddy and daughter, Mummy and daughter, Mum and son, Daddy and son, brother and sister and family photos… the kind of family combinations I like to try and capture for every family. The two children had such fun exploring, climbing, running and playing. I had put together a plan for this shoot but laid it aside following the children’s lead, quietly capturing their play and delight as it happened naturally. Sometimes it’s good to take the lead and other times I just go with the flow.

It was special photographing these 2 children as they’re good friends with my 2 kiddies and their mum and dad are great too! I met the little ones with their Granny in a park one day and we arranged a park playdate after they all got on so well and we’ve all been good friends since then. Funny how that works out sometimes! They’re all beautiful inside and out, kind and caring and I loved photographing them all!