A Creative Guide to Capturing Childhood
Robin Fox, Shay Cronin, Hilary Palmer and Jackleen Leed
Four Photographers. One Honest Approach to Photographing Children.
A Creative Guide to Capturing Childhood brings together four photographers sharing their unique approaches to creating honest, emotive images of children—through child-led sessions, golden hour shooting and editing, storytelling through framing, and crafting timeless, nostalgic images using narrative, light, and location.
let's talk about
what makes it different
Students will gain over two hours of rich, immersive content that blends behind-the-scenes shooting, thoughtful editing, and in-depth image analysis—all centered on capturing childhood with honesty and heart. This course offers a rare, inside look at how four photographers approach storytelling, emotion, and timeless imagery in completely different but complementary ways. It’s not just about technique—it’s about learning to see differently, shoot with intention, and create meaningful work that truly stands out.
COURSE TYPE
SELF PACED
SKILL TYPE
basics, editing, storytelling, composition, shooting
PREREQUISITES
NONE
here's a look at
what you'll get
Transcending Time: Creating Nostalgia Through Photographic Elements with Robin
Robin Fox shares how she creates timeless, nostalgic images that feel like memories. You'll learn how she uses light, location, and narrative elements to craft photographs that transcend the moment—images that connect emotionally and tell a deeper story of childhood and family.
Golden Hour Play with Shay
Step behind the scenes with this golden hour session where play meets purpose. In a simple outdoor setting, you'll see how letting kids lead the way creates authentic, joy-filled images. Learn how to work with shifting light—experimenting with small movements to find the glow—and capture the magic as it unfolds. Then, head into the editing process: cull with intention, select the images that tell the strongest story, and enhance them with rich color and emotion. This course is about more than technique—it’s about feeling the moment and making it shine.
Using Framing for Storytelling with Hilary
explore how intentional framing can transform your storytelling—adding depth, focus, and emotional weight to your images. Through insights and creative guidance, you'll learn how to use natural frames to draw the viewer’s eye, enhance your narrative, and create stronger visual impact.
From doorways and windows to light, shadow, and negative space, you'll start to see framing opportunities everywhere you go. Combined with other compositional tools, framing becomes a powerful way to guide the story you're telling and add layers of meaning to even the simplest moments. This course will inspire you to look with fresh eyes and photograph with greater intent.
Let Them Lead: The Art of Child-Led Photography with Jackleen
Step behind the scenes of a family session where the children set the pace and the magic unfolds naturally. In this course, you’ll witness a child-led approach to photography—where parents take a step back, kids are free to play and explore, and the pressure of perfection melts away.
This session is about honoring childhood in its truest form: wild, curious, and beautifully imperfect. Learn how to gently guide without controlling, embrace spontaneity, and capture moment-driven images that tell a deeper family story. More than a technique, this is a mindset—one that invites authentic emotion, connection, and unforgettable memories for everyone involved. You’ll walk away not just inspired to shoot differently, but to see childhood through a more honest and heartfelt lens.
Four Photographers. One Purpose: Capturing Childhood with Heart, Story, and Timeless Beauty.
check out what's in your classroom
Over 100 Minutes of Video Content
Over 100 minutes of video content, including in-depth image analysis on how to use framing for more impactful storytelling, and how to capture nostalgic, timeless imagery through thoughtful use of location, light, and emotion. You’ll also get a fly-on-the-wall look at a family session where the children lead the way—showcasing the beauty of natural, unposed moments.
Editing
Watch Shay edit her golden hour images to highlight the joy of childhood and the warm, magical glow of evening light.
Guided Image Breakdowns & Insightful Commentary
Gain valuable insight through thoughtful, guided commentary as these Pro's break down their imagery—explaining the choices behind framing, light, emotion, and story. You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how to elevate your own work with intentional, impactful decisions.
NEW HERE? See how our self-paced courses work
by the end of this course,
you'll gain a deeper understanding of how to capture honest, emotive images of childhood using light, framing, storytelling, and a child-led approach.
meet your instructors
Robin Fox, Shay Cronin, Hilary Palmer and Jackleen Leed
Robin Fox - Robin Fox is a lifestyle and commercial photographer located in Ontario, Canada. A wife and mother to four children, she is grateful for the support and encouragement of her loved ones. Robin has delighted in every moment of her photography journey thus far and looks forward to seeing where the road will lead to in the future.
Shay Cronin - Shay is a self-taught photographer, mom of four, and storyteller at heart. Her love for photography began during her travels and grew deeper with motherhood, as she found beauty in the everyday. Known for capturing honest, emotive moments—often during golden hour—Shay embraces imperfection, play, and natural light to create timeless images. With a deep love for connection and a passion for sharing her journey, she brings an open heart and a unique perspective to every frame.
Jackleen Leed - Jackleen Leed lives on an island in the Salish Sea with her partner, son, and identical twin girls. She specializes in poetic, embodied, and soulful moment-driven family sessions, and empowering rewilding sessions where women are encouraged to reclaim their inner wildness, intuition, and step into their power unapologetically. She holds a PhD in psychology, is a former university instructor, forest preschool teacher, and has studied herbalism extensively. These previous “lives” influence how she works with individuals during her sessions. Her ultimate goals are to cultivate connection, honor the everyday, and document the invisible work of motherhood that keeps the world running. To that end, she shares photography as a portal to living more fully and intentionally in each moment.
Hilary Palmer - Hilary Palmer is a photographer based in Oxford, UK. She captures the everyday adventures of her two energetic boys in a natural way, using light, environments, compositional techniques and fun to tell stories of how they experience and explore the world around them. She particularly loves to document the boys’ personalities and their relationship as they grow, and hopes she is creating a visual record of their childhood that they will treasure.
