Preparing for your Family Photography Session

We hope you will enjoy your family photography session at the Memory Gate Studio. As your family grows so does your children’s character. We easily forget how quickly this happens and how fast time passes when we’re busy getting on with our lives. Photography is all about capturing a moment in time that will never be repeated. It’s more than just a snapshot on our phone. Photographs of our family should be a momento we keep long after they’ve grown up and had children of their own.

Our job as photographers is not only to give you a great experience but to give you something you can actually treasure forever.

Preparing for your Family Photography Session

Our job as photographers is not only to give you a great experience but to give you something you can actually treasure forever.

1. YOUR ARRIVAL

Please try and arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time so that we do not overrun and have enough time to get the best pictures we can. It’ll also give us plenty of time to fill out paperwork and let everyone relax and feel comfortable before the fun starts! When you arrive at the studio you’ll be able to see samples of some of our work and amazing wall art in The Photo Cafe. This is also the chance for us to discuss what type of pictures you’d like us to create. Arrive early enough and they’ll certainly be time for a delicious hot chocolate or flat white before your session.

Who to bring with you

That entirely depends on who you’d like to have pictures of! Our studio can comfortably accommodate at least 10 adults and we’ll more than happily photograph the family pets too.

Please be aware that we do not have disabled access to our studio which is located on the first floor of the building.

A few extra suggestions to help you get the most out of your session:

Be prepared for Mum and/or Dad to take part in some of the shots….after all…when was the last time you had an amazing family portrait taken all together?
Talk about any particular ideas or images you would like us to capture and we will accommodate these wherever possible in order to make your session personal to you.
Think about any personal items, eg. a favourite toy that you would like to include.
Kids love to dress up so feel free to bring along any princess outfits or football kits!

2. YOUR PHOTO SESSION

We allow an hour for each session so there’s plenty of time for a variety of poses during the shoot. In terms of clothing, it is best to bring at least one change of outfit for you and your family. Avoid clothing with any large logos or colours that may clash.

2. YOUR PHOTO SESSION

We allow an hour for each session and it’s generally cut into three parts. We begin your photo session with a mini portrait shoot before we get all messy! This is a great chance to get some lovely milestone portraits of your baby. Then we bring on the cake and it’s time for your baby to explore all the textures and tastes that sit before them. After the cake smash photos we’ll clean up with some bubble bath photos to finish off.

3. AFTER YOUR SESSION

At the end of your photo session we will arrange a convenient time for you to return for your personal viewing appointment where you will then get to view your edited photos. Any additional family members are always welcome too. You are also able to purchase additional images if you wish from our special offer range; however there is absolutely no obligation to do so.

Please be aware that it is not permitted to take pictures or videos with your phone or any other device during the photography session.

How to find us

Photo Cafe and Memory Gate Studio Studio is situated inside Croydon House at:

1 Peall Road

Croydon

CR0 3EX

just off Thornton Road by the Big Yellow Storage.

Opening hours

Monday – Saturday

9:30am till 5:00pm

Nearby public transport :

Therapia Lane tram stop is a 10 minute walk from the Photo Cafe. Brading Road bus stop is across the road from the cafe and serves the 264 bus for customers coming from Tooting and Mitcham and central Croydon.

Parking

On street parking on Peall Road is free but limited. The West Retail Park on Peall Road has a large free car park.

Disabled access

Unfortunately we do not have disabled access at our Croydon studio.