My story | Family photographer, Gordon Sydney

The über photography story

Hi, I'm Kate.

I'm a mum of three. Felix, Max and Millie. And for more than twenty years I've been photographing families on Sydney's North Shore.

über photography started in 2004. Chris, my husband at the time, had loved photography since the day we met, and I'd grown up in a family business, so the idea of running one from home while the kids were little really appealed to me. We'd both had corporate careers we enjoyed, but we wanted a different lifestyle and more time together as a family. The boys were five and three and I was pregnant with Millie. So we jumped.

The name came from Chris's German background. We had it well before Uber cars existed, just so you know. I wanted something simple and easy to remember, and über happens to mean the best of the best, so it stuck.

We started with a couple of friends' weddings and then it took off. For five years we photographed fifty weddings a year, in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Noosa, Fiji and Bali. Being trusted with someone's wedding day is a big thing and I never took it lightly.

I'd trained as a primary teacher, so when my brides started having babies and asking me to photograph their families, I said yes straight away. That was the moment it clicked for me. Telling the story of a family as it grows and changes is the thing I'm meant to do.

By 2009 all my kids were at school and something had to give. Weddings meant losing a full day every weekend. I was missing sport, missing the ordinary weekend stuff, missing them. So I stopped photographing weddings and went all in on families.

Then on 8 August 2011, everything changed.

Where I'm at now

I photograph families on my own now, from a 175sqm studio at Gordon with three big arch windows and a lot of light. It feels more like a home than a studio, which is deliberate. People relax faster in a room that feels like a room.

Around 2,500 families later, I still do this the same way. No stiff posing. No pretending your toddler is going to behave. Kids being kids, parents in the frame instead of behind the camera, and the dog up on the couch with everyone else, because the dog is family too.

Millie, the baby I was pregnant with when this all started, now works with me on the admin and social media. Lollie, my miniature dachshund, supervises. Some of the families I photographed in those first few years are still coming back, only now their babies are taller than me.

If getting family photos done has been on your list for a while, I'd love to hear from you.

Kate x

If you want the practical rundown on family photography in Sydney, pricing, process and all, I've put it in one place.

CHECK OUT OUR MODERN STUDIO SESSIONS

These are our most popular family sessions. These in our beautiful light filled space, with our simple props of our bed, fireplace and chairs

What to Wear for Studio Family Photos

What to wear for family photos is the thing most mums get stuck on, usually at 10pm the night before. Outfits change how the photos feel more than almost anything else you can control, so they're worth ten minutes of proper thought. Here's how I'd approach it, after 23 years of doing this and roughly 2,500 families through my studio in Gordon.

Start With Mum, Then Build Around Her

Pick your outfit first. Everyone else coordinates around you.

I say this to every mum who asks, and the reason is simple. You're the one most likely to feel awkward in front of a camera, and if you're not comfortable in what you're wearing, it shows in every single frame. Your kids will be fine. Your husband will be fine. You're the one I want to get right.

So choose something you already own and already love. Something you've worn before and know you look good in. Not the thing you bought last week that you're not quite sure about, and not the thing that only works if you stand a certain way. You'll be sitting on the floor, holding a toddler, leaning into your husband, laughing at something one of your kids has said. Comfortable matters more than clever.

If you're between two options, go with the one that's softer and has a bit of movement in it. Stiff, structured fabric photographs stiff. Fabric that moves reads as relaxed, which is what you want.

I've had mums turn up with three outfits in a bag because they couldn't decide. Nine times out of ten we go with the one she's worn before and already knows she feels good in.

Takeaway: choose yours first, build everyone else around it.

Think of the Whole Family as One Outfit

Coordinated, not matching. There's a big difference.

Matching outfits, everyone in white shirts and jeans, means everyone blends into everyone else. You lose the individual people. What you actually want is a family that clearly belongs together but where each person still looks like themselves.

The test I use is this. If every item of clothing you've chosen was somehow on one person, would that outfit work? If the answer is yes, you've got it. If it's a mess, something needs to change.

In practice that means picking two or three colours plus a neutral, then varying the tone within them. One person in a deeper shade, another in a lighter one. Let one person wear a pattern if they want to, then keep everyone else fairly plain so the pattern doesn't have to compete.

Texture is your friend, especially in the studio. Knits, linen, denim, corduroy. They give the images depth without adding visual noise. A chunky jumper does more for a photo than a busy print does.

Have a look through my family portrait gallery and you'll see the same principle in most of them. Nobody matches. Everybody goes together.

Takeaway: if it would work as one outfit, it'll work as a family.

Four Colour Palettes That Work in the Studio

My studio light is controlled, which means colours behave predictably. These four are the ones I come back to.

Blues and greys. Endlessly versatile and easy to shop for from what's already in the wardrobe. Mix the shades rather than using one flat blue across everyone, and throw in one small hit of a different colour if you want some lift.

Neutrals. Creams, oatmeal, tan, soft white, warm beige. This palette gives a very natural, calm feel and it's lovely if you want to put the little girls in something floral. It also ages well, which matters if the photos are going on the wall for the next fifteen years.

Black and grey. Black is flattering and a lot of parents feel more confident in it, so I'd never tell you to avoid it. It works particularly well in the studio where I can control the light and keep the shapes separate. Add grey and white for the kids so you're not looking at one solid block of dark.

Your own palette. Pick any three or four colours you actually like and coordinate around them. Cohesive without being matchy. Nobody standing out more than anyone else.

Takeaway: pick a palette before you pick the clothes.

Blues and greys

What to Skip

A short list, because there really aren't many rules.

Big logos and slogans. A small logo on a pocket is fine. What I mean is the brand name running right across the chest, or the slogan T-shirt. Your eye goes straight to the writing instead of the faces, and in ten years the logo will date the photo more than anything else in it.

Loud character prints. Your five-year-old loves that dinosaur shirt. I understand. But a big cartoon print pulls focus off your child's face, which is the whole reason you're here.

Anything brand new and untested. New clothes are stiff, sometimes itchy, and nobody knows yet whether they're comfortable. A child tugging at a scratchy collar for an hour is not a good look for anyone.

Too many competing patterns. One pattern in a group is interesting. Four patterns is busy.

Very bright single colours in large amounts. Strong fluoro or saturated brights can throw colour up onto skin under studio lighting. Fine in small doses, tricky as a whole outfit.

Takeaway: anything that pulls attention away from faces is the thing to change.

The Practical Bits Nobody Thinks About

Lay everything out two or three days before, not the night before. This is the single thing that reduces stress most and it costs you nothing. You'll spot the missing button, the stain or the pair of trousers that no longer fit while there's still time to do something about it.

Bare feet are my default in the studio. It means shoes are one less thing to organise, and bare feet look softer and more natural than socks or school shoes.

Bring a spare top for yourself if you're torn. It takes two minutes to change and you'll feel better knowing there's an option.

Hair the way you normally wear it, not a style you've never tried before. And take the hair ties off your wrists, they turn up in more photos than you'd think.

If your dog is coming, and dogs are genuinely welcome here, give them a brush beforehand and swap a bulky harness for a plain collar or nothing at all. They photograph better without a lead across the frame.

One last thing. All of the above is for studio sessions. If you're booked for an outdoor session, the advice shifts a fair bit, mostly around layers, footwear and the fact that you'll be sitting on grass.

Takeaway: sort it early and the day itself becomes easy.

And If You're Still Not Sure

Whether you've got a newborn, three kids under ten or teenagers who need bribing to be there, the same approach works. Get the outfits decided early, then turn up and let me handle the rest. Nobody has ever failed a family session on clothing.

I photograph families at every stage. If you've been thinking about booking a session, now is the time. You can see what's included and what families usually spend on my pricing page, or just send me a message and tell me what you're thinking.

Kate x

Should you include your dog in Family Photos?

Your dog is part of the family. So why is the dog never in the family photos?

I hear this all the time. The kids have had their school portraits, there might be a nice shot on the wall from a holiday, but the dog who sleeps on the end of the bed and greets everyone at the door is nowhere to be seen. For a lot of the families I photograph, that feels wrong. If the dog is family, the dog belongs in the photo.

I've been including dogs in sessions for 23 years. It isn't an add-on or a novelty. It's one of my favourite parts of the job. So if you've been putting off family photos because you aren't sure how the dog will cope, let me talk you through it.

Will my dog behave?

This is the question I get more than any other. The honest answer is that dogs don't need to behave. They need to be themselves. I'm not after a stiff, sitting-to-attention shot where everyone including the dog is frozen. I'm after the real thing. The dog leaning into your youngest. The dog looking up at you. The dog doing a lap of the studio because there's a new smell to investigate.

My studio is a big 175sqm space with room for a dog to move. Dogs are allowed to sniff around, settle in and get comfortable before we start. When a dog feels relaxed, the photos look relaxed. That's the whole trick.

A few simple things that help

A few small things just make the session run smoother. Take your dog for a walk beforehand so they burn off some energy.

If your dog gets groomed, book it in for the week before rather than the day before, so their coat has a little time to grow back.

And bring some treats along. I actually prefer to work without them, because dogs can get a bit fixated on the treats, but they're there as a backup if things aren't going to plan.

You don't need to train your dog for anything beforehand. I'll just work around them, help them feel comfortable and gently guide them into the shots.

And if your dog gets nervous, let me know before the session. I've worked with anxious dogs and senior dogs and everything in between, so I'm comfortable with whatever the day brings.

Why it matters more than you think

Here's the part people don't always say out loud. Dogs don't live as long as we want them to. The family photo with the dog in it becomes one of the photos you'd never part with, because one day that dog won't be there and you'll be so glad you have it.

I photograph a lot of families who come back years later, and the sessions with the old dog in them are the ones they talk about most. That's not something you can redo. This is the dog you have right now, at this age, with these kids at these ages. That combination exists once.

‍What the photos actually look like‍ ‍

Warm. Natural. A bit chaotic in the best way. Your dog isn't squeezed into the corner of one shot at the end. Your dog is in the family portrait, on laps, in the middle of the cuddle pile, wherever they naturally end up. Because that's where they are in real life.

If you'd rather be outdoors, I do outdoor sessions too, which some dogs love because there's more room to run. You can see how those work on my outdoor sessions page.

Ready to get your dog in the picture?

‍If you have a dog who is family and a wall that is missing them, let's sort it out. I'll handle the chaos. You just show up with the family, the dog and the treats.‍ ‍

Book your session here or get in touch if you have questions about bringing your dog along. I'm always happy to talk it through.

‍ ‍

Kate x

What Do You Actually Need for a Kids Modelling Portfolio?

Most parents who contact me about kids modelling portfolio sessions aren't sure what they actually need. Their child has been scouted, or they've decided to approach an agency, and someone has told them they need photos. Good photos. But beyond that, it's a bit vague.

Here's what I can tell you after 23 years of photographing children on Sydney's North Shore: agencies are not looking for the photos that make your child look beautiful. They're looking for photos that show an agency who your child actually is.

What Agencies Are Looking For (and What Most Parents Don't Realise)

There's a common misconception that a kids modelling portfolio is essentially a collection of the nicest photos of your child. It's not. Agencies want to see clean headshots, natural expressions, personality, and range. They need to be able to look at those images and quickly assess whether your child has the kind of presence that translates to commercial work.

That means the photos have to do specific things. A clear headshot showing your child's face without distraction. Images where your child looks genuinely relaxed, not like they're performing for a camera. Two or three different looks to show versatility. And most importantly, images where the real personality comes through, because agencies work with casting teams who need to know what they're getting.

I've worked with Sydney modelling agencies across my career and I know what a portfolio brief looks like. This isn't a standard family session. Every image I make in a kids modelling portfolio session is shot with that brief in mind.

Why a Relaxed Child Always Photographs Better

This is the thing I come back to in every single kids session I do, whether it's a family portrait or a modelling portfolio. A relaxed child photographs better than a performing one. Every time.

When kids arrive at my Gordon studio for a portfolio session, I don't pick up the camera straight away. I spend time talking to them first. Finding out what they're into, what makes them laugh, what they're nervous about. By the time we start, they've usually forgotten they're there to have their photos done. That's the goal.

I had a 10-year-old once who told me she was worried she didn't know what to do with her face. We spent five minutes making each other laugh before I even touched the camera, and by the end of the session her mum was floored by how natural the images looked. That's not luck. It's just knowing how to work with kids.

After 23 years and roughly 2,500 families and children through this studio, I'm comfortable saying that getting genuine, natural expressions from children in front of a camera is genuinely one of my strengths. I know how to make it feel like nothing.

Who These Sessions Are For

Kids modelling portfolio sessions at über photography work for a wide range of ages and stages.

If your child has just been scouted and needs a portfolio to approach an agency for the first time, this session gives you exactly what you need to make a strong first impression. If they're already signed and need fresh images that reflect how much they've grown and changed, this session covers that too. And if they're already working in the industry and need updated portfolio images or new content for their social media, we can build a brief around that specifically.

Sessions start from around six months old, as soon as a baby is sitting up, and go right through to teenagers. The 45-minute studio session at my Gordon studio on Sydney's North Shore includes two to three outfit changes, and I'll guide you on what to bring and how to style each look before you arrive.

You can find full session details, including pricing and how to book

What Happens After the Session

Within a week of your child's session, you'll have an online viewing session to choose your final images. Two retouched high-resolution files are included, with additional images available if you'd like more.

If you'd prefer to select images on the same day as the session rather than waiting for a separate viewing appointment, just let me know when you book and I'll arrange for your viewing to happen the same afternoon. It's one less thing to coordinate, and for families with busy school schedules that option tends to work really well.

The images are delivered as high-resolution digital files, ready to submit to an agency or use for social media straight away.

A Note for Parents Who Are Considering It

If your child has shown an interest in modelling but you're not sure whether to pursue it, a portfolio session is a genuinely low-stakes way to find out. You'll have professional images that showcase their personality and range, and you'll quickly get a sense of whether this is something they enjoy and are ready for. Some kids arrive at the studio a little uncertain and leave completely buzzing from the experience. That tells you something.

And if it turns out modelling isn't for them right now, you'll still have a beautiful set of portraits of your child at this age. That's never a waste.

If you'd like to know more about booking a kids modelling portfolio session in Sydney, get in touch

Kate x