Some photoshoots are beautiful. Some are emotional. And some are just cute as fuck. 😂❤️
This one? Definitely the latter.
I recently had the absolute pleasure of photographing the most adorable mother-and-daughter duo, who turned up ready to take on the galaxy as none other than Darth Vader and Grogu!
Yes, you read that correctly.
Mum came as the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader, while her gorgeous little daughter stole the show as Grogu, everyone’s favourite tiny green Force-sensitive cutie from Star Wars.
And honestly? I don’t think the galaxy has ever looked quite so adorable.
A little Star Wars magic, with a whole lot of personality
There’s something incredibly special about a photoshoot that lets people show off who they really are.
Forget standing stiffly in front of the camera, forcing smiles and worrying about whether everything looks perfect. Sometimes the best photographs happen when you embrace the ridiculous, get dressed up as your favourite characters and have a proper laugh together.
That’s exactly what made this session so lovely.
A mum and her little girl, sharing a love of all things Star Wars, stepping into character and creating something completely their own.
Darth Vader might be one of the most intimidating villains in cinematic history, but when he’s paired with a tiny Grogu, the cuteness levels are off the scale.
I mean, how are you supposed to concentrate on taking photographs when you’ve got that much adorable happening in front of your camera?!
From the Dark Side to the cutest side of the Force
If you’ve watched The Mandalorian, you’ll understand why Grogu has stolen so many hearts.
Those big eyes. Those tiny ears. That little green face.
Now imagine all that cuteness paired with a mum dressed as Darth Vader.
It’s the kind of combination that makes you grin before you’ve even picked up your camera.
But beyond the costumes and the Star Wars fun, what I really love about sessions like this is the connection between a parent and their child.
These are the moments that become family stories.
The photographs that get looked at years later, when that little girl is bigger, and Mum can tell her all about the time they dressed up as Darth Vader and Grogu and had their own little adventure.
One day, she’ll be able to look back at these images and see just how much fun they had together.
And that, to me, is what family photography is all about.
Not perfection. Not everyone looking at the camera at exactly the right moment.
Just genuine connection, a little imagination and memories you’ll treasure for years to come.
Why I love photographing families who dare to be different
As a photographer, I will always have a soft spot for people who come to a session ready to embrace their personalities.
Want to dress up? Absolutely.
Want something quirky, silly, alternative or completely different from traditional family portraits? Let’s do it!
Your photographs don’t have to look like everyone else’s. They don’t have to follow a particular trend or fit into somebody else’s idea of what family portraits should be.
They can be funny. They can be creative. They can celebrate your favourite films, your shared hobbies, your weird little traditions or the things that make your family your family.
And if that means one of you is Darth Vader and the other is Grogu?
Well, I reckon you’re onto a winner. 😂
I love creating photographs that reflect real personalities, because those are the images that feel personal. They’re the ones that tell a story rather than simply showing what someone looked like on a particular day.
And years from now, these two will have something even better than a lovely photograph.
They’ll have a memory of being completely themselves together.