Family photographer telling real stories that matter.
Let the time of your life be documented without a care in the world.
Nic Shuttleworth is a documentary family photographer based in Yorkshire UK capturing thoughtful stories full of warmth and personality. She strives to make real photographs of loved ones, families, and friendships that matter.
Documenting real-life moments as they unfold, nothing staged or contrived with forced smiles or saying “cheese” to the camera for what seems like an eternity.
Let’s capture the time of your lives.
Book Nic to tell your family story:
There are three types of family photography packages available:
Full / Half day-in-the-life: £1,495 / £995
Family short story session: from £495
The honest portrait: from £345
There’s more details about each session below, have a look let’s see what is best for you and your family. If you’re not sure just get in touch and we can have a chat all about it.
“The photographs are incredible. I can’t thank you enough! I couldn’t stop looking at them!”
Family photography sessions are available in Yorkshire and throughout the UK.
What to expect during your family photography session
Here’s the easy part, just be yourself! There’s no need to wear matching outfits or put on your Sunday best, in fact it won’t matter if you’re still in your pyjamas all day if that’s how it goes. There’ll be no standing on ceremony, awkward posing or saying “cheese” to the camera for what seems like an eternity. The session will be you, your friends or family, just as you are on the day – which just happens to be documented on film (well in this case digital).
If you have any specific requests such as group family pictures or individual portraits, we can still make that happen. A relaxed family portrait can be worked into the session at a time and location that suits everyone best.
Multi award-winning photographer Yorkshire.
I have been awarded as a winner of the Portrait of Britain 2025 by the British Journal of Photography and am honoured to have received many international photography awards for my work including This is Reportage Family, The Family Photojournalist Association®, Click Pro Photographers Fearless Photographers and Made for Documentary to name just a few.
I’m a member of Click Pro Elite Photographers, in the top 25 of family photographers worldwide (FPJA®), Top 10 Family Photographer worldwide (Click Pro) and have been selected by Vogue many times, my work has been published and exhibited throughout the UK.
You’re in safe hands let’s say!
Viewing the gallery and fine art print products
Around 4 weeks after your session you will receive a link to view your private online gallery of curated photographs from which you can select your most loved photographs and watch the slideshow (on repeat)!
You’ll also get the opportunity to purchase from a range of beautiful fine art print products should you wish.
And that’s it! You’ll have access to the private online gallery for 12 months, plenty of time to download everything and order any fine art print products you desire.
To secure your date hit the button below and we can get started!
Family is everything and it’s ever-changing.
Let’s capture the time of your life.
A family picnic at Beningbrough Hall, York.
“We had a super day with Nic doing our photoshoot. She made us feel at ease straight away and it felt very natural yet professional. We are so pleased with the results, the photos capture our family perfectly and really pick out our childrens’ characteristics! Would definitely recommend her services to friends and family.”
Katy.
Documentary family photography packages
These photography sessions include:
Online or in person consultation to discuss your requirements and plan the session.
A curated private online gallery with all of the high resolution digital photographs to download, print and share.
A slideshow of the session set to music which you can download and re-live with your friends and family (on repeat)!
Complimentary fine art design service should you wish
Option to pre-order a beautiful fine art album of your session designed exclusively by Nic Shuttleworth for a supplementary £345 (worth £495).
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A £200 deposit is all that’s required to save your date.
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Full day-in-the-life
6-8 hours of Family Documentary Photography.
Signature session A full day of storytelling adventures! Let’s go out for the day, or have a cosy day at home, it’s your choice.
-£1,495
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Half day-in-the-life
3-4 hours of Family Documentary Photography.
Most popular! A morning or afternoon of your day, at home, in the garden, or out and about at your favourite place, wherever the mood takes you.
-£995
These photography sessions are available anywhere in the UK and Europe, for locations outside Yorkshire let me know your whereabouts and I can calculate any additional travel costs for you.
Family photography taster packages
These photography sessions include:
A curated private online gallery with a choice of digital photographs to download, print and share.
Complimentary fine art design service should you wish
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NEW! - Family Short Story
Up to 1.5 hours Relaxed Family photography.
Ideal as a taster session into documentary family photography, we can capture a family activity; a walk in the park, baking, or family games perhaps! In the comfort of your home or out and about at your favourite place, it’s your choice!
Let’s capture the time of your lives!
-Includes:
12 digital photographs from your curated private online gallery (option to purchase more*)
£495
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NEW! - The Honest Portrait
An individual documentary portrait (up to 60 minutes)
Candid photographs will be made of one person (or mother and newborn) in the comfort of your own home or garden allowing true personalities to shine through!
Play / activity will be encouraged, surrounded by the comfort of your environment whilst relaxed portraits are taken along the way.
-Includes:
6 digital photographs from your curated private online gallery (option to purchase more*)
£345
These photography sessions are available in Yorkshire and the surrounding counties, for locations outside Yorkshire let me know your whereabouts and I can calculate any additional travel costs for you.
*The full gallery of digital photographs can be purchased for an additional £295.
Family games in the garden, York.
“Oh my goodness. You had me in tears! Your photographs are absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much you talented lady.”
Emma.
Latest family photography stories from the journal gallery
Here’s a selection of some of my recent family photography sessions to have a look through, along with some useful advice and articles along the way, there’s plenty more stories to read here.
FAQ’S:
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Your finished gallery will be ready within four weeks.
I take a lot of time to carefully select and hand-edit your images for you. As soon as everything is ready, you’ll receive a private online gallery to view and download your photographs.
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Depending on the session length. You’ll receive a minimum of 50 edited images, often more.
I don’t limit the gallery to a small number — if it’s a lovely moment, it goes in, likewise i’m very careful to deliver the absolute best images which tell the story of your time. Generally a full day session will equate to around 300-400 images, a half day would be around 200 and a short family session 50-100.
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Your session will feel more like a regular day together than a photo shoot.
There’s no awkward posing, i’m just joining you doing your usual family thing. We’ll capture honest family moments: cuddles on the sofa, play fights, exploring outside — whatever feels like your life right now.
There’s some ideas on what to do on a family photoshoot here: https://www.nicphoto.co.uk/journal/things-to-do-family-documentary-shoot
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Not at all — almost every family I photograph tells me this at first.
My style of family photography is calm and unobtrusive, we’ll always have something planned for the session so that we’re all focussing on that rather than it feeling like a photoshoot as such.
I’ve written a blog post on 5’ things which will help you feel relaxed, and enjoy the documentary experience way more than you ever imagined’ here which might help!
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Yes — I can come to your home or meet you at a favourite outdoor spot in Yorkshire and beyond.
Whether it’s at your own home or a place you love to go together, the seaside, a favourite park or zoo… I’ll can help you choose somewhere you’re all comfortable so that your photos feel like your family story.
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Wear something comfortable that you feel good in — no need for matching outfits.
Wardrobe choices on the day often become part of the story so the most important thing for me is that you dress like yourself and feel comfortable. If you wake up on the day of the shoot and think, ‘hmm I feel like Spiderman today’, go for it, get that blue and red costume out of the wardrobe and off we go!
There’s a useful guide here that i wrote which might help:
https://www.nicphoto.co.uk/journal/what-to-wear-family-photography
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Yes — family moments matter, and grandparents are always welcome.
If you’d like to include extended family, neighbours, pets, members of the bridge club… that’s no problem at all! just let me know when you book so that i can make sure the session is planned well to include everyone. Once you’re all booked in there’s a little questionnaire i send out where you can list all the adults, children, pets and let me know any quirky details!
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If the weather isn’t comfortable, we can adapt or reschedule — no stress.
A little drizzle can be really fun, but if it’s truly miserable we can either switch to an at-home session or choose a new date. I keep things flexible because real family life doesn’t always run to schedule. So not to worry, if it’s sideways rain, we’ll sort it!
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The shortest session i offer is 1.5 hours and the longest is all day.
There’s no pressure and no rush — I allow space for little ones to warm up, have snacks, and just be themselves. Authentic family photography happens in the in-between moments, not to a timer.
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Yes — there’s an online shop in your gallery from which you can order prints, albums and wall art.
I have an extensive background in design and art direction and specialise in producing beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces of fine art photography for your space.
I love nothing more than to create something unique and special, and seeing photographs in print and on the walls is my absolute joy.
There’s a personally selected range of Fine Art products available and fully bespoke pieces of print can also be designed specifically with your family and home in mind.
Have a look here for more information:
Hey I’m Nic Shuttleworth, a multi award-winning and published documentary photographer based in Yorkshire UK, passionate about telling thoughtful stories full of warmth and personality.
Photography, as storytelling lies at the heart of my approach, I believe that family is everything and strive to make photographs of real lives, loved ones, families, and friendships that are filled with narrative and meaning.
Let’s capture the time of your life.
I’d love to meet you.
Family photography gallery
Fine art design service
I have an extensive background in Design and Art Direction and specialise in producing beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces of fine art for your family and home.
I love nothing more than to create something unique and special for you, and seeing photographs in print and on the walls in your home is my absolute joy. So I offer a complimentary design service for all fine art print products to help with the decision making process!
What is documentary family photography?
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1. Reframing the art of the family portrait.
In our social media dominated world where images of idealised perfection are everywhere, arguing that it’s ordinary, unposed and unedited moments of family life that make the most ‘beautiful and moving photographs’ might seem a bit left field. Except we already know that real life is where the magic happens.
In family life especially, it’s the intimate and everyday moments that tell the stories of our lives. Sadly, often these are the same special moments that pass us by unnoticed, uncelebrated, in between all the rush and busyness of our lives.
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2. Family life isn't always perfect, but there are so many perfect moments.
As a Documentary Family Photographer it’s my job, my passion, my art to capture those moments and share them with you. Storytelling lies at the heart of my approach. I love that a picture has the power to capture a moment and tell a story. Whether it’s a moment of togetherness, connection, joy, laughter, or, perhaps reflection.
Whether it’s a certain smile, peculiar expression, or a freaky dance move, I’m looking to make photographs that glimpse and preserve images of real lives, loved ones, families, and friendships that are filled with story and with meaning.
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3. No 'standing on ceremony' or saying 'cheese' to the camera for all eternity!
A documentary photography shoot is the opposite of a studio shoot. Clichéd backdrops, matching outfits and cheesy smiles are definitely out, real life dramas, spills, strops and mucky pups are in. I will come to your home or favourite place, and make photographs that say something unique about your family and your life together.
A family documentary photography session is super relaxed, allowing you to enjoy yourselves without a care in the world, so much so that most clients forget that i’m taking photographs at all!
An outdoor family photography session, York.
“We had Nic meet us at one of our favourite walking spots with the kids. After my other half moaning a bucketful about not wanting any pictures of himself we arrived to meet her. Immediately at ease and no pressure to ‘pose’ etc. The kids just did their usual things, running off and playing and Nic just hovered around in the background catching their natural characters. (And natural smiles which can often be shocking with kids if they are forced). We ended up with some beautiful shots from what appeared to me to be my feral kids flying off in different directions. Thank you so much for taking the time out and capturing our family so well. Our pictures will be treasured for years to come!”
Hayley.
Let’s capture the time of your lives, I’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch via the form below to enquire, I look forward to hearing from you and making some plans!
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Family photography
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Event photography
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Wedding photography
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Brand and commercial photography
Take a glimpse into a North Yorkshire family photography session in the beautiful grounds of Broughton Hall, with an unforgettable falconer experience!