The Formby Sessions

Soft light, sea air + soulful moments: capturing family magic at formby beACH

Formby Beach is where the land exhales.

A place where wind moves like memory, and the horizon stretches with a kind of hush that makes you feel small—in the best, most freeing way. The sand is pale and wide, scattered with salt-blown grasses and whispers of ancient dunes. Pines sway just beyond the shore, their shadows long and dappled, and the sea—ever-changing—carries the sky’s mood in its tide. It is not dramatic, but deeply soulful. Not showy, but honest. A place for barefoot children and slow walks, for whispered secrets and laughter that gets caught in the breeze. To stand at Formby is to be reminded that beauty doesn’t shout.

Sometimes, it just breathes.

There are few places in the North of England where light and landscape perform in such effortless harmony as Formby Beach. Wind-sculpted dunes, whispering pines, and tides that dance with golden hour—Formby doesn’t just set the scene; it tells a story. It’s here, I have created something quietly extraordinary: a family photo session that feels more like a whispered poem than a posed production.

I am an award-winning fine art photographer who prides her work on feeling timeless yet intimate, composed yet deeply human. My eye is editorial, but my heart always tuned to emotion. And these sessions aren't about stiff smiles or orchestrated perfection. They are about truth. Soft, fleeting, golden truth. About families being in love, and me learning all the ways they love each other.

My approach is editorial yet effortless - Vogue meets Sunday morning nostalgia. The result? Imagery that feels like memory, but elevated. Honest, but impossibly beautiful. Photos that could sit as easily on your living room wall as they could within the pages of a luxury magazine. With families barefoot, windswept, and entirely present: wrapped in textures and tones that complement the sea and sky. Linen, cream, soft blues, the kind of palette that breathes. Children running wild and free, laughter caught in the salt air, parents watch with the kind of glances you can’t stage. I don't entirely direct so much as gently guide, letting real moments unfold in front of my camera.

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Styling Notes: What to Wear for a Timeless Coastal Shoot

ALILOPHOTO sessions are about soul, not spectacle—so styling is best when it enhances, not competes. Think of your wardrobe as an extension of the landscape. Here’s how to dress for Formby without ever looking too dressed:

• Choose a tonal palette: Soft creams, muted sands, weathered blues, and gentle greys work harmoniously with the coastal surroundings. Avoid strong prints or logos—they distract from the emotional tone of the imagery.

• Layer textures: Think flowing linen dresses, cotton knits, raw-edge shirts, and gauzy scarves. Texture brings depth to stillness. For children, loose rompers, oversized jumpers, or vintage cotton dresses work beautifully. And, have you ever tried your little ones in XS adult knitwear - because it is giving in photos...

• Barefoot is always in style: There’s something inherently nostalgic about toes in the sand. If shoes are necessary, opt for minimal leather sandals or weathered plimsolls in neutral shades.

• Hair undone, hearts open: Wind-swept is welcome. Avoid stiff styles or too much product—movement is part of the magic.

• A touch of heirloom: A vintage locket, a hand-knitted cardigan, or a father’s old jumper worn by the youngest child—these pieces lend emotional gravity and timelessness to the frame.

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I love to see the in-between. The way a mother tucks hair behind her child’s ear, the chaos of little legs running through tidal pools, the quiet clasp of hands behind a father’s back. These are the moments I hope to immortalise, with grace. Formby, with its unfiltered charm and cinematic coastline, becomes not just a backdrop, but a collaborator in the session. The sea offers rhythm. The wind offers movement. And, I love to captures it all like a composer—photographing not just how it looked, but how it felt. For families seeking more than portraits—for those who want an heirloom session with ALILOPHOTO, it is not just a photoshoot. It’s a love letter to your now. And, your future self will thank you for the eternal memories.