Jump directly to the content
Snap happy

Adorable couple share the cute photo booth pictures they’ve taken every year for 16 YEARS – from dating as youngsters to having kids of their own

Giles Paley-Phillips and his wife Michelle show how they have transformed from a beaming young couple to parents of two sons

AN ADORABLE couple have charted their relationships from their early awkward first dates to becoming a family of four after taking photobooth pictures together every year for 16 years.

Giles Paley-Phillips, 39, and his now wife, Michelle, 35, decided to document their love using the machines in 2000.

 The very first photo booth picture that Giles and Michelle took in Brighton train station
17
The very first photo booth picture that Giles and Michelle took in Brighton train stationCredit: Cover Images
 A year after their first photo booth picture together, the couple posed for their second in 2001
17
A year after their first photo booth picture together, the couple posed for their second in 2001Credit: Cover Images
 Giles and Michelle in 2002, when they first appeared as a married couple
17
Giles and Michelle in 2002, when they first appeared as a married coupleCredit: Cover Images

And since then the couple from Seaford in East Sussex, have squeezed into a booth every year - and eventually had to find room for their two children.

The snaps show how the young beaming couple in the first flushes of love transformed into the complete family of four.

Giles, now a children's author, was 23 and with bleached hair when he and 18-year-old Michelle went into a booth in Brighton train station after having dated for a few weeks.

 By 2003, the couple had been married for a year but kept up their tradition
17
By 2003, the couple had been married for a year but kept up their traditionCredit: Cover Images
 By 2004, the couple's appearance has started to change
17
By 2004, the couple's appearance has started to changeCredit: Cover Images
 The couple are still in love in their snap from 2005
17
The couple are still in love in their snap from 2005Credit: Cover Images
 The picture from 2006 is one the couple regard as special, as Michelle was three months pregnant with their first son
17
The picture from 2006 is one the couple regard as special, as Michelle was three months pregnant with their first sonCredit: Cover Images

They had grown up in the same small town and known each other as children but had recently bumped into one another again.

From then, their cute pictures show changing styles and a greying of the hair - but the smiles are a constant, with the most recent taken just before Christmas.

Two years after their first picture together, Giles and Michelle, now a designer and store planner, were able to appear as a married couple.

But Giles says that 2006's image was a "momentous photobooth moment" as Michelle was three months pregnant.

 By 2007, the first son Elijah has arrived but the couple took the snap on their first night alone since his birth
17
By 2007, the first son Elijah has arrived but the couple took the snap on their first night alone since his birthCredit: Cover Images
 In 2008, their son Elijah appeared in the pictures for the first time
17
In 2008, their son Elijah appeared in the pictures for the first timeCredit: Cover Images
 In 2009, the picture frame was full as they were joined by their second son Sonny
17
In 2009, the picture frame was full as they were joined by their second son SonnyCredit: Cover Images
 By 2010, the boys have changed from babies into toddlers
17
By 2010, the boys have changed from babies into toddlersCredit: Cover Images
 Giles' family pose of the camera for their 2011 family portrait
17
Giles' family pose of the camera for their 2011 family portraitCredit: Cover Images

He explained: "She had terrible morning sickness that day. I think we both knew life would never be the same again."

However, first child Elijah would only appear in the photo two years later because, in 2007, the couple snuck into a booth on their first night alone since his birth.

And by the 2010 snap, the picture frame was full as youngest son Sonny was able to join the family portrait.

Giles said: "The photobooth was in a post office and I remember trying to squeeze two growing children into the booth and realising there would be less and less space each year as they got bigger and that one day they would be grown men like me."

 By 2012, Giles admits he finally started to let his grey hair come through
17
By 2012, Giles admits he finally started to let his grey hair come throughCredit: Cover Images
 The 2013 family portrait taken inside a photo booth in their hometown
17
The 2013 family portrait taken inside a photo booth in their hometownCredit: Cover Images
 In 2014, the boys are now grown and are at school
17
In 2014, the boys are now grown and are at schoolCredit: Cover Images
 By 2015, the family were still keeping up their tradition but said it was difficult to still find photo booths available
17
By 2015, the family were still keeping up their tradition but said it was difficult to still find photo booths availableCredit: Cover Images
 The most recent photo booth picture that was snapped of the family last year
17
The most recent photo booth picture that was snapped of the family last yearCredit: Cover Images

By 2012, the effects of having two energetic young sons was also visible, as Giles says he finally let his grey hair come through.

The family say they will continue the tradition as Eli, 10 and Sonny, eight, grow up although Giles added: "It's getting harder to find photo booths, they are becoming more scarce."

Last month we revealed the poignant photos showing the man who took a Polaroid every day for 18 years until the day he died of cancer at just 41.

Topics