Booking a shoot is the bomb dot com, I get it. Super special, something you save for, something you plan, something that you hope to enjoy for years to come. I’m with you all the way so far - right up until the expectation and planning start to build those stressy vibes. Maybe a smidge of anxiety? If you can catch yourself every now and again, and think - friggin heck I need to care less and just BE in this moment…your experience will improve exponentially.

These two got ready together, popped out onto their balcony overlooking the INSANE views of the cliffs and water at Cape Schanck Resort for a (very) quick ceremony and bob’s your uncle - married! These two wanted very little fuss, something that was just for them with zero pressure, long drawn out moments and allowed them to get on with the business of living. This what about them, and their love for each other - no embellishment needed.

After years of work on the Mornington Peninsula I have a crap tonne of AH-MAZING places dotted all around this little corner of the planet that are simply the best to take. All of them are so kid friendly, free and a wonderful place to pull out your camera or phone to capture some incredible photos of your loved ones.

Quiet conversations, cosy outfits and an intimate little glimpse into how this family’s world has changed in the few weeks since Darcy’s arrival. I’m always so mesmerized by their little facial movements, the noises and stretches they do. So cute. Newborn photography takes time, as we rely on the bub to show us the way - feeds and changes are priorities, snuggles and kisses from mum and dad are a must - I’m just lurking in the background happy to be there.

I have tried to strike a balance between what I feel comfy showcasing and what I feel is appropriate for my families. With this thought at the back of my mind, I approached one of my recent shoots with the idea of upping the amount of moments I captured without their faces. The client would still receive their normal face filled gallery, but there would also be options that created the same feeling of love and joy - without seeing it on their face.

There’s nothing quite like those hazy summer afternoons in the lead up to Christmas, am I right..? Hanging out with this fam, running around the garden finding treasures and seeing how high they can swing during this shoot completely made me forget to leave on time. I stayed, we chatted and laughed and it was a bloody good time. A little magical afternoon in the middle of suburbia.

My 6 month business milestone coinciding with the end of the year has triggered a shit tonne of reflection, and some brutal honesty for myself. Not one to pull my punches, I’m taking that information and obviously going to write all about it and post it to the internet for all to see. I’m going to deep dive into what has surprised me over the last few months and what isn’t working as well as I predicted. It’s juicy, folks. Let’s jump in.

Driving into the court for this session was like a flashback to my youth - all the kids from the street were out on their bikes and skateboards, and every house had their door open with kids running in and out. Someone had some music playing, someone was mowing the lawn and the dogs were barking and running amongst the chaos.

Rather than listen to me ramble on (again) about my passion and joy with these photography shoots, I thought I’d hand the mic over to you and share what YOU’RE telling me is kicking butt in Backyard Sessions!

Never one to gatekeep, I am totes going to share all of these incredible local photography locations that are super family friendly, so you can toddle off yourselves and explore them together. Hopefully snap a few amazing photos of the kids, and just generally have a grand old time! Starting with a few local beaches, this will be an ongoing series to help you get out and explore where you live!

What do we say to our kids when we want them to look at the camera...? “Cheeeese!” It's our tried and tested method over years to get someone to look at the lens, and it does the job so well. Hear me out though…maybe we can also fill your camera roll with pics of your kids smiling naturally, moving joyfully and capturing glimpses of the true essence of what makes them, them. Want to hear how? Click the link, baby!

One scroll on your socials and you can see there are sooo many kick-ass, amazing humans are out there capturing incredible images and content these days. It’s bloody awesome to have so many choices, but it can be super intimidating to try and decide who you trust to capture your family, and who fling your hard earned cash at. I’ve put together 5 things you can think about before pulling the trigger and booking your family photographer. Let’s jump the heck in!

I’m so happy to share this process with you, and give you art that makes your heart sing every time you look at it. My heart sings with the thought of you all, years from now, looking at your images and feeling all the emotions and memories flood back. Sad, happy, tense, joyful, proud, LOVE. Your life is art. Let’s celebrate it, let’s capture it.