Nestled in the heart of Paignton, Devon, Oldway Mansion is a dream location for a family portrait session. With its grand architecture, beautifully landscaped gardens, and charming hidden corners, it provides a stunning backdrop for timeless photographs. Recently, I had the pleasure of capturing a wonderful family at this historic site, blending natural beauty with the warmth and love of their family bond.
The Gear Behind the Magic
For this session, I worked with my trusted dual Sony A7IV cameras, ensuring I could quickly switch perspectives without missing a moment. My lens choices were the Sony 70-200mm f2.8 V2 for those beautifully compressed shots and the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 V2 for wider compositions that included more of the stunning surroundings. Lighting was key, even on an overcast day. I used Godox V1 speedlights on both cameras, seamlessly controlling a single Godox AD600 Pro. The aim was subtlety; while I used off-camera lighting, my signature style ensures that the final images look naturally lit, with just enough separation between my subjects and the background to make them pop.
A Grand Setting for Family Memories
We began our session on the majestic steps leading up to Oldway Mansion. The grandeur of the architecture made for a striking backdrop, lending a sense of timeless elegance to the portraits. Here, I guided the family into fun poses first, then the more relaxed poses, , making sure they interacted naturally with each other. The two children, a boy and a girl, brought wonderful energy to the session, sharing laughs and sneaky hugs that made for heartfelt moments.
Exploring the Grounds
After capturing some formal portraits, we wandered through the gardens, embracing a more candid style. Oldway Mansion’s expansive grounds provided endless opportunities for dynamic and engaging images. One of the highlights was the abundance of wildlife; particularly the squirrels. These little creatures were surprisingly tame, coming right up to the children. The kids were fascinated, their eyes wide with excitement as they crouched down to watch. These moments of pure joy made for some of the most memorable candid shots of the day.
A Little Maze, A Lot of Fun
Tucked away in the gardens, we stumbled upon what looks like a small hedge maze, no more than a few feet tall. It became an unexpected source of fun and creativity. The resulting photos were playful, full of movement, and completely natural; just the way family photography should be.
The Perfect Lighting Conditions
One of the best things about this particular shoot was the overcast sky. While some may prefer sunny days, for a photographer, soft, diffused light is a dream. No harsh shadows, no blown-out highlights; just beautifully even light that allowed me to position the family however I wanted without worrying about sun flare or squinting eyes. My lighting setup worked its magic, subtly shaping the family’s faces and giving them that wonderful three-dimensional look without making it obvious that artificial lighting was used.
Bringing It All Together
As the session came to an end, I knew we had captured something special. The combination of Oldway Mansion’s grandeur, the playful nature of the children, and the beautiful connection between family members resulted in a collection of images that they will treasure for years to come.
Oldway Mansion remains one of my favourite locations for family portrait sessions, not just for its visual appeal, but for the atmosphere it creates; something magical, timeless, and full of character. If you’re looking to capture your own family memories in a setting like this, I’d love to help tell your story through my lens. Let’s create something unforgettable together!
