Unscripted Photography

Unscripted Photography is a Gateshead-based specialist in family photography, led by Claire Batey. My work is documentary-first: I chase the small, honest moments — the socks-in-the-hallway, the tiny hand in yours, the bedtime story smudged with yoghurt — and turn them into images that feel like memory itself. Life is unscripted... so why fake it? Why choose Unscripted for your family photoshoot? Because I focus on real life. Whether you're after a Day-in-the-Life documentary session, a Mummy & Me portrait, a Mini-Unscripted half-hour taster, newborn or baby photographs, I bring a calm, conversational presence that puts you at ease and lets your family be themselves. My aim is simple: to create photographs that feel true to you and that you actually want to live with in your home. What makes my approach special is its storytelling heart. I work unobtrusively, watching for the little interactions that say more about your family than any posed smile. I’ll capture children at play, gentle family rituals, and those fleeting expressions that dissolve if you try to stage them. If you do want a few lightly directed shots, that’s fine too — I mix relaxed prompts with documentary moments so you get the best of both worlds. How we’ll work together: most sessions happen in the places that matter to you — your home, a favourite park, or a local spot in Gateshead. I’ll guide the session with warmth and humour, keeping things informal so even camera-shy parents relax. After the shoot I carefully edit the images into a curated story of your day, ready to share and print. I specialise in family-focused work: newborn and maternity memories that nod to those early, tender days; children and birthday sessions that celebrate personality and play; and milestone moments like baptisms or communions captured with respect and feeling. While I also take on portrait and occasional commercial work, family photography remains my core passion and expertise. If you want family photos that look and feel like your life — imperfect, loud, tender and utterly real — let’s have a chat. Based in Gateshead and working throughout the North East and beyond, I’d love to help you preserve the everyday for tomorrow.