This was our sixth session with Terence and Suzanna’s family, and by now the rhythm is pretty clear.
Sophie arrives already moving. Zoe hangs back, takes stock, and then quietly ends up in half the frames I like best. Terence and Suzanna do the useful thing and stay relaxed about all of it.
That part helps.
This time we met at West Kowloon at sunrise, which was the correct decision.
West Kowloon Before Everyone Else Woke Up
At sunrise, West Kowloon is doing a very different job from the one it does later in the day.
The harbour was still calm, the light came in low, and the whole place gave families room to spread out a bit before the city remembered itself. It gave Sophie somewhere to run, gave Zoe somewhere to watch from, and generally had the good sense not to interfere.
Very decent arrangement.
Starting on the Rocks
We started on the waterfront rocks, mostly because it worked and also because with this family there is no real need for an icebreaker anymore.
Sophie was already fidgeting. Zoe settled in straight away. Terence looked completely at ease, which is one of the perks of photographing the same family for years. Eventually everyone stops doing “photo face” and just shows up properly.
The Morning Walk
Once we moved to the paths, Sophie did exactly what Sophie does and took off.
She dragged Zoe into it where possible. Terence and Suzanna followed behind with the general energy of parents who know resistance is mostly decorative at this point.
These walking frames are some of my favourites with them because nobody is really posing. The family just falls into itself and the photos happen there.
Sophie and Zoe
I have watched these two grow up in photos, and the split between them still works.
Sophie brings the pace. She is first to run, first to laugh, first to invent a game nobody else fully understands.
Zoe brings the pause. She watches, reads the room, then gives you one small look or one quieter moment that does more than a whole string of louder frames.
Between the two of them, the balance is doing most of the work.
The Stuff You Cannot Really Pose
After six sessions, I do not direct this family much anymore. I mostly make room and let them fill it.
Dad on the grass with Sophie climbing all over him. Everyone laughing at something I was half a beat late on. Zoe leaning into Suzanna with that steady little contentment she has.
That is the useful part. Not because it is complicated. Just because it is true.
Solo Minutes
I still like taking a few frames of everyone on their own.
Not because everyone needs a formal solo portrait like we are doing yearbook administration. More because kids change quickly, parents do too, and it is useful to keep a record of who everybody was in that season.
The Jump
We end every session with this family the same way now.
It started as a joke and turned into tradition. One jump. Everyone in the air. No overthinking.
They still nail it.
See you at session seven.
Six sessions in, nobody is trying to make this look tidier than it is. That is exactly why it works.
If you want family photos that feel like your family rather than some tidied-up substitute, get in touch.
See more family work in the Tribe gallery or browse all sessions.