Let’s Begin

Having your portraits taken is so much more than the final product you receive in so many ways. 

This statement kinda seems ridiculous on many levels as your photographs are what you are going to be looking at in many years to come, but its about what makes those prints the ones you want to put on your wall as opposed to the countless images that sit on hard drives, in drawers and hardly ever see the light of day.

I don’t want you to build this experience up in your mind to be huge before it happens, but I also want you to think about having your photographs taken as a gorgeous experience you have with your loved ones. It is about capturing your love and story, and I’m sure when you are with your loved ones in your most comfortable state you certainly aren’t smiling at a camera and saying “cheese”.

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” Marcus Aurelius.

Where do we start?

Get in touch and we can find a time for your session that suits us all. Finding the time that suits can also affect the location we choose. I don’t shoot on location outside of close to dusk or close to dawn – the light is just….well….it’s not the most flattering or kind light created.

I photograph using natural light and short of bringing a studio lighting set up to your location session at midday, I have no magic trick that will make that look pretty, so lets stick to sunset… Indoors however is another story.

Location: 

The location of your session can be anywhere that is meaningful to you, if that’s important. Or we choose a location based on your style – e.g. urban or natural. Personally I have an affinity with natural locations at dusk – it’s all my loves piled into one (people, nature and the golden glow of sunset) I am also able to travel to any corner of the globe and if you are located far, far away, I am happy to quote you a travel fee on top my normal session rates. Should you have a group of friends that also need their photographs updated I look at bundle rates for you all to lessen the extra travel fees.

If you are located in Brisbane, I have some usual haunts I love to photograph you at. I’ll bring a blanket for you to relax on and we discuss any other props that may suit your session (eg your child’s favourite toy, a football, some books etc)

_DSC8705Indoors:

Lifestyle sessions that document you in your “natural habitat” are loads of fun, and also a way to increase the comfort levels of all involved. These sessions are great if you have little ones as at anytime, they can take a break from being photographed and you don’t need to fret as to their whereabouts etc. These sessions are also a lot more unposed and have a documentary feel to them, which also removes “performance anxiety”. They are about celebrating your family and home all at once, and how you all “live” together.

I still aim to get the “Granny Shot” in every session and this session is no exception. The “Granny Shot” is the one where {hopefully} everyone is looking at the camera, and Granny loves it, and gets one to put on her credenza.

An indoor lifestyle session usually begins with me arriving and just chatting and relaxing first, perhaps even having a cuppa {wink wink}. You give me the grand tour of your home and we pick out some locations for shooting, and I might get a rough plan in my head. In saying that, I will absolutely be going with the flow of how everyone is going and nothing will be too forced. I’ll be looking for big windows with filtered light flooding in. If you don’t have this I’ll happily work with what you have as well. Generally in Brisbane, where I’m based, there’s plenty of light even indoors!
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There’s no need to have your home looking like a show home for this kind of session….but….. from experience, I know most people like to remove most clutter and at least have the dishes done and  beds made, as beds are heaps of fun for silly games, rolling around, jumping on and of course, photographing on. If you have plain linen this is best to have covering your bed on the day – heavy patterns can be too distracting.

moment design, photography, authentic photography, beloved photography, beloved collective, beloved, australian children's photographer, australian family photographer, portraits, brisbane family photographer, brisbane family photography, family photography, lifestyle photographer, lifestyle photography, clayfield photographer, child photography, natural family photography, family portraits

moment design, photography, authentic photography, beloved photography, beloved collective, beloved, australian children's photographer, australian family photographer, portraits, brisbane family photographer, brisbane family photography, family photography, lifestyle photographer, lifestyle photography, clayfield photographer, child photography, natural family photography, family portraits

moment design, photography, authentic photography, beloved photography, beloved collective, beloved, australian children's photographer, australian family photographer, portraits, brisbane family photographer, brisbane family photography, family photography, lifestyle photographer, lifestyle photography, clayfield photographer, child photography, natural family photography, family portraitsWhat if the little {or big} humans are ‘naughty’  ~ heaven forbid 😉 ???

The day of your session there will be no good, no, bad, no naughty, no nice, no anything – just you and your family how you are. Of course being a good mood will help, so don’t put pressure on yourself by expecting you little people to smile for the camera, and try, in the lead up to your session to keep things as calm as you can. This mind-set can absolutely help you relax and calm any nerves you may be feeling. Fake smiles? That’s not my style. I am quite good at reading kids and have lots of experience  as a mum of 2 myself and as a currently registered primary school teacher. If the kiddos are shy to start with, I normally will focus my attention on the grownups and the kiddos that are feeling comfortable with me, until the ones that aren’t warm up a little {sometimes the big people can also be a little shy and take a while to warm up too}. I’ll go slower with my games and tricks to gain their trust so they know I’m not an alien about to steal their parents or something nutty like that! If you are relaxed with me your children will {eventually} be too! But please, don’t worry about how good they will be for me, frowning at a child with love and concern doesn’t make the best photo – lets all just relax and go with it…whatever “it” may be on the day….

 

I can’t decide what to wear!! HELP!!!

Ok, so this is a tough one, and I completely get it! I have had my own family portraits taken in the past few years twice! Once in winter and once in summer. I tell ALL my clients to first and foremost be comfortable – I wore no shoes to my in home session, and my havaianas with orange suede jeans to my outdoor session! your clothes should reflect you in the sense that if you the kind of person that wears crazy hyper colour then don’t change just for your photographs – by all means wear that. If you never wear colour maybe don’t start at your shoot!

Try and  avoid heavy logos, branding and too much pattern as it can detract from your beautiful family. It’s a great idea to ‘theme’ your shoot, but not to match too heavily so it looks like you are all “twinning” for your session – slightly uncool….UNLESS of course this is what you do normally 😉

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I am absolutely happy to guide you with this and often  receive multiple options in text message images laid out  with ideas and we can brainstorm from there!

Last but not least, make sure your little people are comfortable and not upset about what you’d like them to wear – it’s so important to have them happy at the start of the session!!!

During the session

I will guide everyone with questions and prompts and games, lots of games. I want to find out about your family – how you all became a family, what family means to you. This is the part that makes your family different and unique to every.single.family.in.the.WHOLE.WIDE.WORLD. This is the part that I love, how we are all the same yet so, so different. I want to tell your story and show you what an amazing story that actually is!

Authentic human connection is what I’m searching and together we uncover it’s beauty!

After the session, I’ll go home, feeling on high from just having had an awesome experience and you will all be feeling pretty grand yourselves. Most families go out for dinner after on location sunset sessions and take the time to continue with the family connection and relaxing part. This also helps with going into the session feeling relaxed if you know at the end dinner is sorted! {it’s the little things right?}

Around 3 weeks after your session, I’ll get in touch to let you know your gallery is ready. My packages are all inclusive and so when your images are ready and final payment is made, you can download them straight away which is exciting and fun and fantastic all at once – yep it’s kinda like Christmas!

I seriously LOVE doing this, I love showing people the love I see between family when I get to spend time with them. It’s beautiful…. I hope I can take a glimpse at our beauty one day.

 

Jess  x

 

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