A little guidance.
A beautiful evening.

Start with your phone.

The dependable setup is usually the simplest.

1. Clean the rear lens. Use native Camera, Photo mode and 1× as the dependable starting point.
2. Capture at native 4:3 (vertical display is 3:4); crop later. No assumed telephoto specification or unsupported manual shutter setting.
3. Tap a face for focus; adjust exposure with the sun control if needed, keeping skin and formalwear highlights detailed. Apple documents tap-to-focus/exposure adjustment and Burst.
4. Use both hands and keep the phone level. Step back for groups instead of putting faces close to a wide-angle edge.
5. Portrait mode is optional only for still solo 01 or 06 after checking hair and clothing edges; all supplied base instructions and renders assume Photo mode.
6. For motion, short Burst on supported iPhones: slide the shutter left and hold. Review open eyes, limb separation and group faces before moving on.

Follow the soft light.

Make it feel natural.

Give one direction at a time. Start with stable feet, then easy shoulders, then a place to look. Take a frame, speak to them, and take another as the expression changes.

“Turn a little toward me.
Let your shoulders relax.
Now tell me what you’re looking forward to.”

For groups, give each face its own gap. Leave space between shoulders, keep front-to-back depth shallow, and photograph everyone in the same light. Never insist on touching, clothing adjustments, or a pose that feels uncomfortable.

A good guest in the garden.

Garden rules checked October 10, 2026: small-group photography during dawn-to-dusk hours; keep pathways clear, stay out of beds, use permitted lawns, and never climb rocks or trees. Commercial use requires separate permission. Check the policy and notices before the actual session. Count teenagers plus all accompanying adults; the photography page does not give a numeric small-group limit, so confirm suitability with staff if the full party is large.

• Keep paths open and step aside for visitors.
• Stay on permitted paths and lawns, outside planting beds.
• No climbing rocks or trees. Leave plants untouched.
• Skip wet or unsuitable seating. No changing rooms are available.

Policy reviewed October 10, 2026. For a large party, count teenagers and adults and confirm suitability with staff. Commercial photography has separate permit requirements.

Friends first. Details next.

Allow about 55–65 minutes: approximately 42 shooting minutes, 5 minutes scouting and 5–15 minutes walking, checks and rest. These are planning allowances, not measured performance or an exact garden route. For 25 minutes prioritize 07 warmup, 10, 08, 01, 02, then 11 if everyone is still available. If low sun is actually present, move a compatible scene into that light only after checking faces; otherwise keep the shade sequence. Swap wet/inaccessible seating for 10 and drop 03.

Keep these five.

If time gets tight, these studies make a varied collection.