Antonina Mamzenko Blog: Natural Family Photography in London

Welcome to my blog. It’s the place to get to know me a bit better and where I share some of my work, photos from my travels, musings about life, photography and parenthood.

How to photograph your kids in bluebells

One of my favouritest things about British Spring are the stunning displays of bluebells that fill our forests come April or May. This year the bluebells have come pretty early, but there’s still some time left to capture the best of them. Here’s how.

Family picnic on Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath in North London is one of my most favorite places to photograph families. I often joke I ought to move closer, as I end up travelling up there a lot for family photoshoots, especially in the summer months. It has a perfect mix of wide open spaces, big blue skies, plenty of shaded areas to escape to during the hot summer days, and not forgetting the glorious views over London from Parliament Hill – always a hit with my expat clients living in the area.

How to survive those early years of parenthood – while running a business

I still have this vivid image in my head: I’m sitting in a bathroom of the real-life Downton Abbey, pumping milk, while a bride is getting ready for her big day in the grand bedroom next door. My client is patient and understanding: I’ve explained that I’m a breastfeeding mother, and I’ve arranged for a second photographer to join me for a day to compensate for the time that I will be hiding in the bathroom, expressing milk, just like I’m doing right now.

Photos from our Christmas trip to Scotland

One of my favourite places in Britain is the Highlands of Scotland. I keep coming back to it (there here as some photos from previous trips here), and miss it immediately after I’ve left, and start planning the next trip. If it wasn’t for the weather, I would move to the Highlands in a heartbeat (but I just can’t deal with rain for more than a couple of months of the year ;)).

The imperfection of family Christmas

It all began with Pinterest. Row upon row of perfectly styled Christmas trees, creatively wrapped presents and stylishly dressed children skillfully making star shapes out of cookie dough. Everything in perfect order.
As a photographer who documents real life of real families – mess, warts and all – I of course knew this perfection was an illusion. I know how these photographs are created, mess creatively cut out of the frame, decorations skillfully arranged in good light, children expertly entertained with fart noises to get the most gorgeous smiles, all the tantrums left on the cutting room floor. I know how it’s done because I’ve done it myself for many years.

15 ideas for your end of summer photoshoot

My mission is to make sure every family remembers not to chase “perfect moments” or “perfect family photos” but instead takes the time to document the little everyday things that are unique to you – things that one day in not so distant future will become the big things, and the things you miss the most.

A different kind of graduation photography

When Mireia first got in touch with me, she wasn’t sure if I photographed grown up families too (I do!) – but she really wanted me to be her photographer for a very special event in her life, graduating from the University of Oxford with a PhD in Physics – and documenting her family and friends sharing this day with her.

Elle

One of the perks of my job is that I get to meet people from all over the world, and this was one of those sessions. Barbi and Matt are from the US, and they booked a family session in London while they were here on their travels.

But it wasn’t only a vacation photography opportunity (a very popular trend, by the way, ensuring that you are actually IN your holiday pictures by hiring a professional to join you for a few hours or for a whole day). Their little girl, Elle, just turned one, and we celebrated the occasion by wandering the streets of London, checking out the landmarks and enjoying the sunny day.