WATFORD FAMILY PHOTPGRAPHER 

THE MOST PRECIOUS

everyday moments

HERTFORDSHIRE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, LONDON AND ALL OVER THE UK

RELAXED AND FUN FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

JUST AS YOU ARE

The cuddles, the chaos and all the little details that make your family yours.

You don’t need to know how to pose. Your children don’t need to behave. And nobody needs to look perfect.

I’ll help you relax, have fun and forget about the camera with space to play, explore, cuddle, laugh and just be yourselves.

Because the photographs you’ll treasure aren’t necessarily the ones where everyone is looking at the camera.

PEOPLE FIRST

It’s about your family, not perfect photographs

NO PRESSURE

Child-led photography every time.

REAL MOMENTS

The best photos happen when you’re just being yourselves

CONNECTION BEFORE POSES

Cuddle, hug and laugh – no forced smiles

HI, I’M RACHAEL

A Watford family photographer, mum, former teacher and professional child negotiator.

I believe in photographs that feel like your family

just as you are

CHOOSE YOUR SESSION

TWO WAYS TO CAPTURE YOUR FAMILY

mum and daughter having fun in the meadow by a watford family photographer

SEASONAL SESSIONS

Beautiful locations. Set dates.

A small number of photography days throughout the year in beautiful locations when the seasons are at their best. Perfect for updating your family photographs each year.

Best for: families who love seasonal photos and want an easy, ready-made session.

siblings playing together at home on a family photoshoot in watford

BESPOKE SESSIONS

Your family. Your location. Your pace.

A completely personalised session planned around your family. We can shoot at home, outdoors, or a bit of both – doing the things you love and capturing the moments that matter.

Best for: families who want something completely personal and flexible.

PACKAGES AND PRICING

Every image included

always

Preparation advice before every shoot

All your images beautifully edited in my natural style

A private online gallery to download and share

Every image included – no choosing between your favourites!

Bespoke Family Sessions

WEEKENDS

1 hour – £395

2 hours – £645

WEEKDAYS

1 hour – £295

2 hours – £545

Pricing includes travel within 20 minutes of Croxley Green. Further afield? Just ask!

ENQUIRE HERE

Seasonal Family Sessions

Spring Bluebells

45 minutes | £245

Summer Adventure Session

60 minutes | £295

Autumn Woodlands

45 minutes | £245

Christmas Countryside

30 minutes | £195

BOOK YOUR SLOT HERE

HOW WATFORD FAMILY SESSIONS WORK

EASY AND SIMPLE FROM START TO FINISH

BEFORE 

I’ll make sure I know about your children, your routines, and what kind of memories you’d love to capture. You’ll get a helpful preparation guide with tips on what to wear and what to bring.

ON THE DAY

 We play games, explore, and enjoy spontaneous moments so your photos capture your family just as you are. Whenever anyone needs a break, we take one, and there’s no pressure to keep still and pose.

AFTER YOUR SHOOT

Within 4 weeks you’ll receive a gallery link with all your images edited and ready to be downloaded, loved and shared with all your family.

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Emilie&Al

We have been fortunate enough to have Rachael document our family on several occasions and each time she has been amazing! Her photographs are natural, warm and capture the moment perfectly. We get so much joy looking back at them, as do our family and friends. We cannot recommend her enough! Rachael is just so relaxed and has the most lovely soul – this is so present in her work.

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Vicky

We hired Rachael from As You Are Photography for a family photoshoot just before Christmas and we are so pleased we did. She was very flexible and accommodating when arranging a date and organising the session with time and weather not being on our side! Rachael took some wonderful photos of children aged 0 to 12. She had a great rapport with the kids and they were immediately relaxed and happy to pose. The photographs are exactly what we wanted, relaxed and showing off their personalities. Would highly recommend Rachael!

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Jenny&Peter

We did a family photoshoot with Rachael and she was fantastic. The whole experience was so much fun. She was so warm and friendly and it made the whole experience really lovely as it felt so relaxed and natural. My kids will not stay still and my other half does not like posing for photos but I now have a set of beautifully edited pictures that I will treasure forever! I highly recommend her!

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY IN HERTFORDSHIRE

FAMILY STORIES FROM AS YOU ARE

WATFORD LOCATIONS FOR FAMILY SHOOTS

BEAUTIFUL SETTINGS IN AND AROUND WATFORD

Whether it’s in the comfort of your own home, a favourite local park, or a beautiful woodland, I love capturing families in places that feel natural and personal. There are so many beautiful spots nearby Watford – perfect for having fun and creating memories.

PLAYGROUNDS AND PARKS

If your dream family day involves a playground and a picnic then Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Leavesdon Country Park and Cassiobury Park provide fun spaces and gorgeous, natural backdrops.

WOODLAND WANDERS

For families who love the woods and nature, right on Watford’s doorstep are Croxley Hall Woods, Whippendell Woods, and Croxley Common Moor providing stunning, ever-changing seasonal backdrops throughout the year.

GARDENS AND GREEN SPACES

For a more curated, peaceful vibe, gardens such as Cheslyn House and Gardens or Croxley Orchard offer colourful and calm settings—perfect for family portraits that feel relaxed.

ON THE SOFA VIBES

If you want your shoot to feel really personal and relaxed, then I can come to your home and capture your family story just as it is. You don’t need an instagram-ready house, just a few small spaces and some fun family activities planned.

Ready to plan your family photoshoot? Get in touch and let’s plan your perfect day!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we have to dress up or match perfectly?

Nope! Forget matching outfits – come as you are. Jeans, dresses, wellies, or even superhero costumes – whatever makes your family feel like your family. The photos look best when you’re comfortable and having fun.

What if our children don't want to smile?

Please know that this is not the aim of the shoot! These shoots are not about smiling for the camera. I make it my mission to connect with your children, I’ll make it playful and fun, so even the grumpy, shy, or wiggle-prone ones end up laughing, or at least doing their own cute thing. The natural fun will come! 

Can we do the shoot at home or outdoors?

Absolutely! I don’t have a studio space, so all my family shoots are either at your own home, or in an outdoor space you love. I love outdoor locations like Croxley Green Orchard or Croxley Common Moor—and home sessions are perfect for relaxed family vibes.

How many photos will we get?

All my sessions come with all edited images included so you don’t need to choose! The exact number depends on the length of the session, but rest assured you will have enough to frame, share, or fill your fridge with happy faces!

How far in advance should we book?

Seasonal sessions are popular, so I recommend booking as soon as you can. For bespoke weekday essions getting in touch a few weeks to a couple of months in advance is perfect. For bespoke weekend sessions, the earlier, the better for snagging your favourite season and location – please don’t be dissapointed as sometimes the wait list for weekends can be up to 6 months!

What if the weather is bad?

For outdoor shoots, we can reschedule if it’s too stormy, but a little cloud is actually easier to work with than full sunshine.

When will we receive our photos?

It usually takes 4 weeks for me to get your images back to you, but I often try to deliver as soon as I can – and just let me know if you want images in time for a special date!

Do you offer prints, frames and albums?

Yes! Within your gallery you’ll find links to purchase your images as prints, or have them framed or made into a gorgeous album – perfect for gifts!

a child gets swung upside down by dad during watford family photoshoot session

If you’re looking for a relaxed and friendly Watford family photographer, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you’d like an at-home session, an outdoor adventure, or a seasonal shoot, let’s create memories your family will treasure forever.

HI RACHAEL

Something else?

If you’ve got a gorgeous newborn bundle, or one on the way, you might want to check out my baby photography sessions here: