Mums… We need to talk!

As I family photographer for 18 yrs I have heard every reason why women don’t like themselves, or what to be in photos…

I’m too fat

My eyes are too small

I don't like my wrinkles

That’s not my best side.

I don’t like my hair

I hate myself in photos

They don't realize that when their kids have grown up and what to look back on their family photos to fondly remember their childhood, that those things won't matter at all..

Recently I was showing a mum the photos from a recent session. Her family photo session with her 2 teenagers daughters had been super fun as they had brought their dogs along for this session. Including family pets in a session always makes it super relaxed as the family laughs at their pets reactions.

Before we started photographing her session, the first thing she said to me, was that they have never had family photos & how much she wished she had family photos from when her girls were little . She was so excited she was going to finally have that family photo to proudly display on her wall.

I was so excited to show her a slideshow of the beautiful photos of her family. When the slideshow was complete, she was super happy & excited to chose her favourites. They had so many lovely photos to chose from, but most importantly she had her request of a gorgeous family photo with her husband, her two gorgeous teenage girls & even her 2 dogs all smiling at the camera.

But when we started to pick her favourites for her wall., she kept on saying she didn’t like each family photo.....

So, there I was looking at the gorgeous family photos, that every mother dreams of having of their family. Everyone was happy, looking great, with great outfits that really suited them and relaxed with beautiful, natural smiles. I couldn’t help but ask her “what was wrong” ???

Do you know what her answer was?

That her fringe was messy……

As soon the words left her mouth my heart sank. I couldn't quite believe what she was saying.

The reason why I am so passionate about my business, is because I lost my dad very suddenly in 2011 to a heart attack. He was a healthy, happy 68 yr old, just starting to enjoy his retirement with my mum, and suddenly he was gone.

When I went back to look at our photos after he had passed there we no family photos, other than the stiff, boring family photos were taken on my wedding day. Those staged photos that are taken at a church door with everyone watching. Although it is important to document the wedding day; there is nothing about these photos that really capture who my family really was.

Those photos didn’t capture the special relationship between my Dad and I.

Growing up I had always been close to my Dad and shared a special bond with him. He loved fishing, and from a young age I loved going out on his boat and he would teach me all his fishing tricks. I could never sleep on a car journey, so when we were driving on family holidays we would chat all the way, while everyone else slept around us. He ran an orchid nursery and I loved being able to work with him on the weekends & school holidays.

When I got married and moved away from home, we developed an even stronger bond; He was the first person I would call when I had a problem, needed some advice or a shoulder to cry on. He was an amazing Grandpa to my 3 kids. My parents retired to a property in Bowral, and he loved teaching the kids about his cattle, riding horses, feeding the chooks and gardening. The perfect weekend getaway for city kids.

When I started my business I realized he had also been my mentor.

I had thought my Dad would be around forever, that he as a doting granddad would watch my kids grow up…

and in a heartbeat that was all taken away from me....

We never did family photos when I was younger.. my mum made all the typical excuses.. she would lose 10 kilos and then she would do it. There wasn't enough time as my dad worked on the weekends. She worried that with 3 kids so close in age we wouldn't behave.

I can never go back and capture that… I will forever wish that could have been different...

And yet here I was sitting with this mum who had something that I would give anything to have and all she could see was her messy fringe...

It made me feel so upset & sad...

How have we become too concerned about our “perfection” that we are missing out on seeing the real connection in a family photo.

I know those two teenage girls will never look back and worry that their mums fringe wasn't perfect. They will just see an amazing moment of their childhood captured, the connection and love between their parents and the love their parents have for them. They will see how much their dogs were part of their family.

When their dogs have passed, or even harder still when they lose one of their parents, those photos will become an incredible treasure to them...

I would never have looked back at a family photo & thought my mum would have looked better if she had lost 10 kilos.

So ladies, You really need to think about this… and I know it's hard to think about... but what do you want your children to have to remember you one day when you are gone?

Would you love a treasured moment that you know will always make your children smile every time they look at it, or are you too concerned about your little “faults” that you are losing sight of what is really important?

I know I should lose some weight, I have a bunch of little wrinkles that show my age, and my hair never seems to do the right thing when we do our family photos, but I know I will never regret having our family photos taken many times over the years.

I know that one day when I am gone, my kids will have beautiful photos to show their kids & tell them about their childhood.

Don't let the excuses get in the way... take the time to capture your family portrait.

The only photo of my Dad and I

My My family photo from last year, I could find all the faults in myself, but all I can s see my family’s story of this year. My boys getting bigger and starting to step away a little from us, Millie still by my side at 15 but wanting a little more independence. And how my hubby and I have actually become closer as the kids have grown older.

Pregnancy and Maternity Photography

Imagine that it’s 18 yrs from now…. that little person who’s wriggling inside you & kicking you all the time has just finished their HSC and it about to take off on a gap year trip around Europe….

You are struggling to remember when you were pregnant with them. All the amazing moments that happened as they grew inside you.

The first flutters when they first started to move, and then the kicks and rolls as the got bigger and struggled with having enough room to move.

Sitting on the coach watching your tummy move.. when they had hiccups… the first time your partner felt your baby kick..

Now it’s all a blur…

When they are tiny we think we will remember .. but life passes by too quickly… and we forget.

Maternity sessions record this special time in your life, to capture the memories so you will be able to remember being pregnant forever.

You can choose whether you are photographed alone, or bring your partner, or older kids or even your fur babies :)

Maternity photography FAQ

How long does a maternity session take?
We recommend to allow 1/2 to an hour for your session. We will able to create a variety of looks during your session

Where will my maternity session be photographed?
We have a a dedicated photography studio at Gordon on Sydney’s North Shore.

When is the best time to do your pregnancy photography session?
We recommend doing your maternity session around 32-34 weeks. It’s when you are as big as you are going to get, but you will still feel comfortable.

What do I wear for my maternity session?
When you book in your session, we will send you our What to Wear Guide which covers everything you will need to know about your session.

When can I book my pregnancy photo session?
Our sessions are photographed Tuesday-Saturday between 9am and 5pm. If you want to include your older children, we always recommend booking around their nap times.
We recommend booking in asap as we are often booked out weeks in advance

How much are the photos?
Our print prices start at $95. Framed prints from $290. We also offer digital file packages from $690. After your session we get you to come back into the studio to view your photos, and this is the only time you will need to make a decision in regards to what you would like to order.

Do you offer newborn photography sessions?
Of course, we would love to capture your newborn for you. At your maternity we will chat to you about the best time to book in for this.

Family photography- our FAQ guide

So you are think about booking a family photography session. We understand that can be a bit daunting if you’ve never done it before, so we thought we would answer the most common questions please ask us in regards to booking their family photography session.

Where does your family photography session take place?

We have a dedicated studio at Gordon, on Sydney’s North Shore. Our studio has been designed to feel and look like a home. With a gorgeous bed and coach, our stunning windows and chairs and other props. We have 2 very different backdrops so we can create a variety of different looks for you. You want your family photographs to feel real and natural & our studio is setup to allow that to happen. Your kids will get to jump on the bed and couch and have a tons of fun. Most kids don’t want to leave at the end of their session. Ans even more important our photography studio is totally pet friendly, so you are most welcome to bring your fur babies to be photographed too.

When is the best time for your family photography session?

We highly recommend working around your family’s routine. If you have a bub or toddler that is still napping, please pick a time that works around their naps. With younger children and babies, we would always recommend a morning session as they tend to be happier in the mornings.

I don’t like how I Iook in family photographs

Our photographer always say, their job is to make you look good. If you don’t like the photo, then there is no obligation to purchase the photos. Our photographers will give you a bunch of little tips at the start of the session, that will help you to feel more comfortable. They will do a variety of family poses, so that you can find the one that you like. And they can always use a little photoshop, if there is something that really bugs you.

How long does a family photography session take?

We recommend to allow an hour. We tend to work quickly with babies and kids as their mood can change very rapidly. And we understand that for dads, who often aren’t that keen on having their photos taken, the quicker the session is the better.

What does a family photography package include?

Our session fee covers your one hour family photography session, and a credit towards prints. We have prints starting from $95. We have options to suit every budget. After your session we will set up a time for you to come back into our photography studio to view your photos and it is only at this point that you will have to make any decisions.

How long before I can see our photographs?

At the end of the session we will make a time for you. This will around 1-2 weeks after your session.

What should we wear for our family photography session?

When you book in your photography session, we will send you our comprehensive what to wear guide. It covers how to chose the best outfits and colours for your session. It will make the process super easy

What if my kids won’t behave during our family photo session?

Our photographers have a load of experience of working with children. Because our studio is setup as a home environment, kids feel super comfortable, so its rare that kids won’t behave. We will do lots of things without them are interactive, so they don’t need to sit still.

My kids can be very shy, so I am not sure its the right time for a family photography session
Our photographers understand that some little ones take a little while longer to warm up. We will spend some time getting to know them & make them feel comfortable before we start taking any photos.

What to Expect at Your Newborn Photo Shoot

You’ve scheduled your newborn session, and you can’t wait to get precious photos of the new addition to your family. But this may be your first newborn photo session, and you may not know what to expect. 

Newborn photos are different from other portraits and require a little more thought and care. Below are a few things to consider to better prepare you for your newborn session.

Before your session

We recommend gently cleaning off any flakes of skin or eye gunk with a washcloth. If they have super flaky skin, some moisturiser can help as well. Make sure you only use one that you have used previously as you don’t want your baby to react before their first photoshoot.
Use baby trimmers to trim the baby’s fingernails.

Give your baby as big a feed as you can before you leave home.

When you arrive for your newborn photo session, you want your baby to be settled. You’ll want them to be full and content, so they can more likely fall asleep and be posed for the photos. Don’t forget to burp your baby well after feeding. 

Your photographer will allow the time for you to give them a top up feed if they are unsettled.

We are not worried about your baby falling asleep during the session, we just want to make sure that you baby is settled and content. The photos where your baby has their eyes open will end up being your favourites.

Outfits

We recommend having your baby arrive in an outfit that you would like your baby to be photographed in. We understand that accidents can happen on the way, so make sure you have another spare outfit that you would also like photos in.
We will start the session with baby clothed. We then have some little pants that your baby can wear to cover their nappy, so that we can get those beautiful naked shots without the worry of getting weed or pooped on :) 

Be patient.

Please don’t stress out if your baby is a little unsettled. Every newborn baby is different, and remember that they only just arrived in this world. We allow plenty of time for settling as required If you get stressed, your newborn will be able to sense your anxiety and frustration and may become stressed as well. We have lots of experience with older kids, so we have things on hand to keep them busy. For some children a new baby can be unsettling, and they may not want to hold their sibling, and that’s totally OK. Our photographer will take the time to make sure that they are comfortable as well with having their photos.

Trust your photographer.

Our newborn photographer knows how to pose your newborn safely and how to get smiles out of every other member of the family. Be open to their ideas and trust their expertise and ability to get you the images you want. We know as a mum you may feel a little self conscious about your weight, our photographer understands this, and will make sure to direct you in a way to make your photos flattering. We also have the magic of photoshop if you are unhappy with how you look.

About Our Studio

Our studio is located at 768 Pacific Highway, Gordon. There are 3 council car parks all within easy walking distance of the studio. The closest is in Moree St.

Our studio is located upstairs. There is a space at the bottom of the stairs where you can leave your stroller safely.
If you arrive early and want to grab a coffee, there are a number of coffee 

shops in the area.

For more information check out our newborn session guide