How To Prepare For Your Bluebell Family Photoshoot
At the start of Spring, do you love it when you notice the days are getting longer and just a little bit warmer? Do you love seeing crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils poking their heads up above the ground? After that, it’s never really long before our local bluebell woods are carpeted in swathes of brilliant blue hues again.
If you look forward to Nature’s annual bluebell display every year and you’re thinking about booking a bluebell family photoshoot amongst these quintessentially British carpets of blue with me this year, I’m sure you’ll have some questions, so let me see if I can answer them for you here!
What dates are best for bluebell photoshoots?
Bluebells are at the mercy of Mother Nature! But despite whatever weather she throws at us each spring, bluebells (in Kent) tend to peak around the last week in April or the first week in May. So these are the dates I recommend to book in for a family photoshoot amongst the bluebells. If you have pre-school age children, weekdays are great, but if you can only have a bluebell photoshoot on a weekend, get booking ASAP as these sessions do book up quickly. Whilst those two weeks tend to be the peak of bluebell season, they do hang around for a month or so and therefore you should have plenty of time to book in for your bluebell photoshoot earlier in April or later in May!
Who are bluebell photoshoots suitable for?
Bluebell photoshoots are suitable for all ages! However, bluebells are delicate flowers, and their fragile nature means they can be easily damaged if stepped on. Therefore, it’s so important to tread carefully and respect their environment, sticking to established paths and using in-camera trickery to surrond you with bluebells. This means that I limit bluebell photoshoots to just one family unit at a time (max 6 people). Unfortunately, extended family photoshoots cannot be booked at bluebell locations, as larger groups increase the risk of trampling the flowers. By keeping sessions small and mindful, we can ensure that our quintissential British springtime blooms continue to thrive for everyone to enjoy.
How long are the sessions?
As we don’t journey too far during your bluebell family photoshoot, these sessions can potentially be shorter than other family photoshoots at different outdoor locations. Therefore, generally I allow anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour for these relaxed and fun family sessions.
What should we wear?
Preparation is the key here. Don’t leave your clothing choices to the last minute! Plan ahead and lay your ideas out together to see how they look.
1. Soft Woodland Neutrals
Timeless, calm, and very “storybook in the woods”
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Cream / Warm Ivory
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Oatmeal / Light Taupe
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Sage Green
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Dusty Blue
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Soft Brown / Tan
Why it works: These sit gently against the bluebells without competing and suit almost all skin tones.
2. Romantic Earthy Pastels
Dreamy, gentle colour with a hint of warmth
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Blush Pink
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Soft Lavender
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Muted Sage
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Light Denim Blue
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Warm Beige
Why it works: Echoes the bluebells while keeping everything soft and cohesive — perfect for spring families.
3. Rich Spring Neutrals (with depth)
More contrast but still natural and elegant
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Navy (not black)
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Camel / Warm Tan
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Olive Green
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Cream
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Dusty Blue
Why it works: Navy grounds the palette, olive and camel add richness, and the cream keeps it light.
4. Fresh & Light with a Hint of Colour
Bright but still organic — lovely for younger families
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Soft White
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Pale Grey
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Powder Blue
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Muted Mustard
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Sage Green
Why it works: The mustard adds a tiny pop without overpowering the bluebells, and the rest keeps things airy.
Styling tips:
Avoid pure black, bright white, neon, or strong reds
Texture > pattern (knits, linen, cord, lace)
Shoes matter! Browns, tans, or neutral boots photograph best
Don’t match exactly — coordinate instead
Footnote(!):
Bluebells season can sometimes (more often than not!) coincide with April Showers. It’s worth checking what footwear you will need. Bluebells are typically in woodland areas which, when wet, become exceedingly boggy! So wellies may well be a must for your shoot.
What should we bring?
If you have toddling children, a small (preferably nothing too neon in colour!) teddy is an excellent prop to bring. It’s something for them to focus on if they are camera shy and it will make them feel at home.
For the slightly older, but pre-teen child, if there are any signs of reluctance, I will have a stash of sweets to use as bribery – I’ll check with you in advance if there are any food allergies or issues with this – and a wealth of really bad jokes which will hopefully raise a smile from even the most recalcitrant of kids!
If you’re bringing teens along, please don’t bring along footballs etc (see below “Is there anything else we should know?”), but I do like to have a good chat with them about what images they might like (or not like) and let them get to know me a little bit and we can go from there.
Is there anything else we should know?
Since 1981, bluebells have been a protected species as they are under threat from habitat loss, hybridization and the illegal trade of wild-collected bulbs. It is important that, whilst we enjoy them and capture some gorgeous images amongst them, we don’t trample them; so I will advise you carefully during our shoot to stick to paths and bare patches of ground ensuring we preserve the bluebells for generations to come.
Find out more about bluebells and how to care for them for future generations here.
As the bluebells carpet the woods each spring, a family photoshoot becomes more than just a set of pretty pictures — it’s a chance to capture laughter, connection and joy in one of nature’s most magical backdrops. With a little planning and the right outfits, you’ll feel comfortable, confident and ready to make the most of your time together in the bluebells. I can’t wait to help you create beautiful, timeless images that you’ll treasure for years to come — and if you have any questions before your session, I’m always here to help.
Who is your Bluebell Family Photographer?
It’s Me! Hi, I’m Georgina.
I have a genuine passion for photographing families. My family photography clients tells me time and again how they’ve been meaning to book a photographer and life just gets in the way and they’ve missed years of memories with their gorgeous children.
I pride myself in putting everyone at ease in front of the camera (even grumpy partners!) and making each and every photoshoot as much fun as possible.
I have photographed children of all ages, from tiny new borns, independent toddlers, through the tructulent teens and into acceptable adulthood!
Do get in touch if you’d like to book a family photoshoot with me this year. I’ll look forward to hearing from you…
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