Berkhamsted and Tring based newborn and family specialist
Thanks for visiting our website. If you're looking for a photographer to take beautiful photographs of you and your family, whilst having a fun and bringing out the personality of your children, you've come to the right place.
We’re based in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, but are happy to shoot throughout Herts, Beds, Bucks and London.
I’m Rachel Powell, director and owner of Lightmonkey Photography. Ive been a photographer for almost 20 years after studying it as part of my degree at Sheffield University, back when cameras took film and had nothing to do with computers. I caught the bug again after having my two boys and refreshed my training at The London School of Photography, The Trained Eye and The Newborn Workshops. I am constantly updating my skils and I have studied with some of the UKs top photographers including Nina Mace, Rob Mank and Damian McGillicuddy.
Now I am lucky enough to call it my job. Having children myself I know how important it is to capture those moments and memories. And I think everyone should be able to have beautiful photographs of their family.
Photographer Ceri Besent has been working with Lightmonkey since 2018. Like me, she is a mum and her passion for photography was sparked by capturing her two daughters grow.
We like to work as a team, giving you two photographers and two pairs of hands where possible.
Ceri is our pet photographer and seems to have magical powers when it comes to calming and befriending animals - she has a huge amount of experience handling horses, dogs and cats - but her skills seem to be universal to all animals!
You’ll also find her photographing our family sessions and personal branding clients. Ceri works closely with me as my right hand woman on newborn sessions, assisting and using her magical calming powers on babies and parents alike.
Ceri has trained with some of the UKs tops photographers including Stephanie Belton, Nina Mace and Gary Hill.
Specially trained in Newborn Photography..
I specialise in newborn photography, a stage I just adore to capture, and I have trained with some of the UKs top newborn photographers including Shellie Wall, Maddy Rogers and Rob Mank. I am also a Professional member of the Baby and Newborn Photography Association (BANPAS) who promote safe working practice in the industry - so you can be sure your baby is in safe hands. If you're interested in newborn photography please click here for more information.
Capturing every stage…
It’s not just newborn though, we shoot every stage of life from bump to baby, twos to teens, furry members of the family and even business and personal branding photography.
We’re honoured that most of our clients come back year after year and we get to capture their families grow, celebrate their milestones and even help promote and grow their businesses.
We’re happy to photograph your family at any age or stage, in our cosy studio or outside 'on location', which can give you a much more natural feel.
Why “Lightmonkey”?
People often ask me the origin of Lightmonkey. The term was coined by Albert Einstein, who was irritated by the photographers who flocked to his public appearances. He called them Lichtaffen, German for Light monkeys.
It was an era when photographers weren't respected as artists - compared to painters, they were seen as talentless 'monkeys' who played with light.
Although originally a derogatory term it has a playfulness that I just couldn't resist. And he was right, photographers do play with light, photography is all about light (but we're not completely talentless!)
