Have a question? Chances are the answer is here…
Do you travel?
Yes! I travel anywhere you’ll have me! I have been lucky to photograph families all over rural and remote parts of Queensland and New South Wales and areas of Sydney and Melbourne too.
I travel up to 200km free of charge and anything further involves a fee. If you’d like a quote just send me an email!
If you have a friend or family member living in/near your town and they would also like to book a session with me you can share the travel fee. I will even waive the fee for three or more bookings for the same area.
Location
As I’m a family photographer I recommend we photograph at your home. This is where everyone is most comfortable and the photos will have more meaning to you. Majority of the session will be outdoors in the backyard or paddocks where we can all relax and move freely. We can also incorporate an additional location to the shoot if you like. For instance we start at your home, then we can go to a field/creek/beach/coffee shop to finish the shoot – the options are endless. But where ever we go I want it to have some kind of relevance to your family and be a place you enjoy to go to together. Having a second location also adds variety to your gallery of photos and a change of scenery can be very helpful for stir crazy kids!
Time
I rely on natural light for my sessions. Majority of my shooting happens outdoors in the late afternoon about two hours before sunset when the sun is low, soft and golden. I also offer early morning/sunrise shoots because the lighting is very similar at this time but I understand this time slot isn’t for everyone.
What do I wear?
This is the most common question I am asked before a session…
My style of photography is very natural and I want your wardrobe to reflect this too. That definitely means no matching blue jeans and white shirts!
I photograph A LOT of farming families, and I love nothing more when everyone wears just their normal work clothes and boots – how they would dress for a weekend of cattle or sheep work or an afternoon of fishing. That’s real life and that’s how I want to photograph you!
If that’s not your jam, then simply wear something you feel great in but most importantly comfortable. My number one tip is choose your outfit first, then select complimenting outfits for everyone else.
If you think you’ll need to iron a shirt or pants for anyone’s outfit, then you definitely need to choose something else to wear! (I don’t know of anyone who irons clothes just to chill out around the house on a weekend). These photos shouldn’t be the occasion when you all dress up and wear your ‘Sunday best’. That looks very fabricated. If it’s not something you would wear at home with just your family, then I would suggest you don’t wear it during our photos. Keep it real.
T-shirts or polo shirts work perfectly for Dad’s/boys and to be honest, they will feel more relaxed in one than a button up, ironed dress shirt. Keep it real guys. We will be doing a lot of sitting down and moving, so if you’re going to wear a skirt or dress, keep the length in mind because you will find it hard to get comfortable or into a favourable position if it’s too short.
Natural and neutral shades work so well and avoid dressing any two people in the same colour because they will blend into eachother and it’s hard to distinguish between bodies – this is especially obvious with black or navy blue! Avoid t-shirts with large logos/images/wording on the front because they are very distracting and will surely date.
Don’t be afraid of a little pattern and texture either. Linen, cotton, denim, corduroy and lace all work beautifully in photos.
If you need help or inspiration with clothing options I have collected some broad ideas of what can work well. Please click here to have a look.
Preparing your home
If you’d like to shoot inside it will only be for a short amount of time before we move outdoors. If you would like to incorporate inside your home then I suggest you de-clutter the rooms that I would most likely shoot in which are the main bedroom, kids bedrooms and living area. In saying that though, I will only shoot in the rooms with the best natural light.
If we shoot in the main bedroom it would be a good idea to have a clean and neutral coloured bed spread and pillows on your bed.
Day of Shoot
When I arrive at your home I would love for you to show me around, that way I can work out the best areas to work in. I will be guiding you on how to achieve natural family photos with regards to lighting and I will also suggest ways in which you can sit together and interact. I let the session unfold and I capture exactly what I see. Please don’t feel you can’t be yourself in front of me. If you enjoy an afternoon wine or beer, please know that it’s ok to crack the bottle open while I’m there. Hey, it may even help you relax…!
How & when will I receive my photos?
Your images will be ready to view online within two weeks of our session and it will be sent via email with a link to view your private online gallery where you can download your digital files instantly.
After you have viewed your gallery you will have two weeks to download your digital files and to also choose the photos you would like printed (according to your package). If you do not choose your prints within this time frame, your gallery automatically expires and there is a $50 access fee to open the gallery again.
Printing your photos
When you receive your online gallery it will also be linked to my recommended print store, Atkins Photo Lab. I will arrange your print products (as per your package) but you can also purchase additional products (for family and friends) through the store at any time.
What if we are unwell on our session date?
No problem – we reschedule. Just let me know as soon as possible and we’ll work out another date that suits us both.
*There will be a $100 fee if you choose to reschedule more than twice for reasons other than illness and weather.
What if the weather isn’t ideal on shoot day?
I’m happy to work in all weather conditions that Mother Nature might throw at us but rain is where my camera and I stop. Overcast days we will still go ahead.
*There will be a $100 fee if you choose to reschedule more than twice for reasons other than illness and weather.
What if we have grumpy kids on shoot day?
There’s nothing I haven’t seen, trust me. I have two kids of my own and I get how these things happen every now and then, or even on the daily! It might be your tween going through a ‘too cool’ stage or you have a teething and screaming toddler… Please don’t let this stress you out and ruin the experience. I’m not there to photograph ‘perfect’. I’m there to capture a time in your lives that’s real and if that means tantrums, then so be it! I want real life, not cheesy fake smiles.
Can you Photoshop me?
This is something I don’t do. It wouldn’t be true to my style of real family photography if I did. I will remove the odd blemish but that’s about it. These photos are not about how you look. I want you to treat this experience as an opportunity to connect with your family, drop your insecurities and to make some memories with them. You won’t regret it. Trust me, your kids won’t look back on these photos and pick your physical appearance apart. They will just see Mum and that’s what is most important.
