MEET HELEN BARTLETT | CANON AMBASSADOR AND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

Meet Helen Bartlett | Canon Ambassador and Family Photographer

Shooting family portraits means not only working in challenging conditions, but having to be ready for anything. “You never quite know what's going to happen in these shoots," says Helen, and that's why she values exactly the same features that sports and action photographers look for in a camera.”

Helen Bartlett is one of the UK’s most sought-after family photographers. Her timeless black and white images capture the joy of childhood.

Dedicated to telling stories by freezing a unique moment in time, Helen loves the energy, challenge, and creativity of her work.

Helen is a brand ambassador for Canon and has spoken at many industry events and prestigious venues including The Photography Show, Photokina, The Societies of Photographers, and the Apple Store on Regent Street. Her work is regularly published in the UK and around the world.

Family photos with the EOS full-frame mirrorless system

“I work with Canon mirrorless cameras – two Canon EOS R5 bodies and a variety of lenses - although I have also used and loved the EOS R and EOS R3 recently.”

When it comes to lens choice, Helen says her go-to lenses are a RF 35mm F1.8 Macro STM Lens, a RF 50mm F1.2 L USM Lens, and a RF 85mm F1.2L USM. “I also have in my kit bag the RF 16mm F2.8 STM, RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM, the RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM, the RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM and the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM although these often come out on specific circumstances for example the RF 100mm Macro when photographing newborns and babies and the RF 100-500mm when working on the beach or with activities where I need some extra reach.”

Helen's work captures both the kids and their parents in disarming moments. Taken on a Canon EOS R with a Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM lens at 1/1000 sec, f/1.8 and ISO1600. © Helen Bartlett

When photographing children, Helen always aims to incorporate an element of fun into her images, which is a great way to ensure natural-looking shots. Taken on a Canon EOS R3 with a Canon RF 85mm f1.2L USM at 1/5000 sec, f/2 and ISO200. © Helen Bartlett

Playing around with lighting can help to create bold images. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS III USM and control ring adaptor at 1/1250 sec, f/8 and ISO100. © Helen Bartlett

5 tips for family photography

1. Keep your camera to hand, not your phone “The first step towards taking great photos is to make sure you always have your camera with you. Smartphones take decent photos these days, but a good camera will give you much more control over your images. Most cameras also give you higher quality files to work with which is really important if you want to print your pictures."

2. Photograph special occasions "It's wonderful to capture the family's routines and traditions at Christmas or Easter. As your children get older, looking at these memory-filled images will transport them back to happy times. If the weather is good at Christmas, head outside with your camera and the children's new toys. Photographs of children kicking a new football or riding new bikes will always make you smile, and those moments offer a perfect opportunity to photograph your family in a natural way. With Easter round the corner then Easter Egg hunts are an exciting activity to photograph and pictures of the children covered in chocolate as they feast on their treats are always delightful’

3. Start early "I tend to start my shoots at 8am. Children are best photographed first thing in the morning, when they are well rested and have had a good breakfast. As the day progresses, children will get tired, toys will be fought over and co-operation can go out of the window. So try to do any formal or group shots early in the day. Then the rest of the time you can all relax and get fun natural images without worrying about how to get a toddler to smile for the camera.”

4. Get down to their level "Get down to the children's eye level to see the world from their point of view. Try sitting or laying on the floor. This approach can also minimise background clutter and distractions from your shot. You can often fill the background with sky or trees or walls rather than with the entire contents of the toy cupboard spread out by your feet, though it's also good to get a shot of a child delighted with the mess they have made!"

5. Print your pictures "Whether you have a home printer or get your photos printed online or at a shop, do make sure you print them out. You can even make your images into mugs, posters and more. This way they can be enjoyed every day. Paper prints can be preserved and kept safe, and they won't get lost on a computer or memory card."

Photograph the everyday - When Helen is not at work, she often carries a camera in her pocket, frequently the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III. “I like the G7X Mark III for taking pictures out and about whether on a walk in the park or a day trip with my own family and friends. It’s nice to have something high quality that fits in a pocket and the G7X Mark III ticks those boxes for me with high quality files and a fast lens.”