“It’s not boring like mushrooms!”
— an 8-year-old verdict on family photos in the woods near Exeter
I recently met a wonderful family of five for an outdoor family photo shoot at Woodbury Castle near Exeter, one of my favourite woodland spots in Devon for relaxed family photography.
The dynamics of three exuberant pre-teen boys can be a tricky thing to manage, but we had an absolute blast. We climbed mounds, swung on rope swings (well, not me personally — that’s quite tricky with a camera), built dens and played hide-and-seek behind the trees.
The boys were a joy and the only fighting was over who got to be in the next photo.
Before the shoot, Mum told me her middle son wasn’t entirely convinced about the idea of family photos. Apparently, the day before, he’d asked if it was going to be “boring like mushrooms.”
Honestly, it’s a fair question.
But after an hour of climbing, scrambling, exploring and generally getting muddy in the woods, he turned to me near the end and said:
“It’s not boring like mushrooms!”
I’m pretty sure that’s the highest review you can get from an 8-year-old.
Thankfully, his mum agreed too. After the shoot, she wrote the loveliest review that the session felt “not only relaxing but actively fun” — which honestly sums up exactly what I hope family photography in Devon can be.
Because for me, the best family photos don’t come from asking children to stand still and smile at the camera. They happen when kids are free to explore, climb, run, laugh and just be themselves.
No awkward posing. No pressure to perform. Just a genuinely enjoyable afternoon together outdoors near Exeter, with beautiful photographs almost happening by accident along the way.
She also said she was delighted with the “happy family photos that feel personal, look professional and will conjure happy memories for years to come.”
And really, that’s the goal every single time.
If you’d like an experience that’s far more fun than mushrooms….or any other dish for that matter, drop me a line and we can have a chat.
