Madelyn - Brisbane Newborn Photographer

When I first met these expectant parents at their maternity session I could tell it was going to be a beautiful afternoon out. We were so lucky with the weather, it was perfect that day - but also that the gardens were not too busy. You never know on a weekend, sometimes its crazy busy! 

I love how this maternity session was very natural. With the quiet surrounds and soft diffused light, we were able to capture some simply gorgeous images. 

They hadn't found out if they were having a boy or a girl so the excitement about meeting their little one was growing each day. 

While walking around together I could really sense how much love these parents already had for their baby and how excited they were waiting for their little one to arrive. 

Fast forward a few weeks and they had a little girl!  A beautiful little baby named Madelyn weighing 6lb 11oz! 

They warned me first thing that the previous day had been a "feeding/cuddling/not much sleeping" day but that Madelyn was usually pretty settled. Well. Madelyn was not done feeding and cuddling quite yet. 

She loved her snuggles for the family photos, but once we started putting together some wrapped setups she was not having a bar of it. She fought sleep to the bitter end. 

Not that it really mattered, it meant we were able to capture some gorgeous candid faces with open eyes, sometimes these are the most interesting photos because you can see some of their personality starting to come through already. 

It took hours - 3.5 hours in fact - but eventually Madelyn lost the battle with her heavy eyelids and we were able to photograph some sleepy photos in a couple of setups for her parents. 

By this stage, I hadnt expected her to fall asleep to be honest.  I had all but given up on getting those photos of her!  

As expected, it was not long before she woke again and we drew the session to an end, but you would never know from looking at her photos all the hours and hard work that went in to capture it. There are even plenty of serene little smiles! 

  

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www.brisbanenewbornphotography.com.au

Brisbane Family Photographer    |    Brisbane Newborn Photographer 

Chloe - Brisbane Newborn Photographer

 

When I answered the door as this family arrived, 3 year old Ella hid behind dads legs. They all came inside and we talked through a few things before heading up to start the session. 

Ella was still a bit unsure of me. 

I start my newborn sessions with parent photos and so Mum was up first with some adorable snuggles with little Chloe while Ella played with some of the Peppa Pig toys in the room. She smiled at me now and then. 

By the time we were ready for the whole family photo Ella had smiles for days and we captured not only a beautiful family photo but also a gorgeous candid one too when she reached over her dads shoulder for an extra snuggly family cuddle. 

So when it came Ella's turn in front of the camera by herself she was completely at ease. Giggling and laughing, she was so photogenic! Id think for sure I had captured one of the silly faces she was pulling but on review it was always a beautiful smile or thoughtful look.  

And when it came time for snuggles with little 11 day new Chloe, she was so excited and wriggly and then as soon as her new baby sister was settled into her arms an amazing calmness came over her and the bond between these sisters was so incredible. 

Chloe then took centre stage in front of the camera while Ella went out to play with toys and watch a movie. 

Oh My Ovaries. 

Chloe was the picture perfect cherub. A good sleeper, so smiley and sweet.   I loved how she snuggled into her mum so quickly anytime she was even slightly upset, and her mum was able to settle her so quickly with just a cuddle, kiss and some soft words in her ear. 

At one point she got the hiccups, and I suggested that I always found a breastfeed was the quickest way to alleviate them, and her dad said "Yeah thats what I always do." Which left an awkward second or two before he added "Drink a glass of water upside down." 

With the session all wrapped up the left in a flurry of smiles and chatter of a special treat lunch for Ella, which I reckon she totally deserved as the most doting big sister I have met in a long while. 

 

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www.brisbanenewbornphotography.com.au

Family Photographer Brisbane    |    Brisbane Newborn Photographer 

Hamish - Brisbane Newborn Photographer

One of the first questions I always ask at a session is "So what is your little ones name" which usually has a pretty straight forward response. However when I asked this question at the start of this session the answer was "Umm..." parents eyes darting at each other unsure "... Hamish? We think?" 

Got to love it, I totally know how much weight can be put on choosing exactly the right name for your new baby - I mean, it literally has to last a lifetime right?  

So introductions out of the way, it was on to the session itself. Hamish's grandparents were also at this session which is such a treat, I know how much this special time means for them as well.  Specifically this time around as Hamish is the first grandson, and they have 6 children! 

I can't tell you how wonderful these grandparents are, words just aren't enough. As any new mum will know the first few weeks of welcoming your baby can be very overwhelming, but with a support crew like these two living just around the corner it must help the adaptation to parenthood a lot. A. Huge. Lot. 

Gosh they had me welling up in tears as well, constantly telling Hamish's mum what an amazing job she was doing and how proud they are of her.

Then they had their own snuggles with Hamish and not just seeing the beautiful bond but being able to capture it for this beautiful family was simply an honour. 

Hamish did not like being naked. It made things a bit interesting at times, but we still managed to capture some gorgeous relaxed photos of him - even with a smile or two sneaking through every so often!

Hamish loved a snuggle. He loved a wrap. He loves his mum and dad and grandparents and they all love him back so much. 

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www.brisbanenewbornphotography.com.au

Brisbane Family Photographer     |    Brisbane Newborn Photographer

Top 5 Reasons You Think You Want Digitals (and why prints are better!) - Brisbane Family Photographer

You think you want digital files from your photography session, right? 

Have you ever asked yourself why?  

Take a moment now to consider...

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....

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So did you come up with one of these top 5 answers?

1. So I can share on social media or with family overseas

2. So I can print them myself cheaper

3. So I can make as many copies as I want to

4. So I can play with them in photoshop etc

5. I just... want them... you know?

Well, lets break it all down and by the end of this post, I hope you will change your mind and realise the true value of your images lies in printing them, and printing them respectfully. 

Before we get started... 

I'd like to quickly address the technology lifespan of a digital file.  

You see, if you get a USB of your photos, you put them on your computer and the USB goes somewhere "safe". 

In ten years time little Tommy wants to see a baby photo. 

You have a new computer and your photos weren't transferred. So you go to look for that USB drive. 

MIRACLE!  You remember where you put it! So you have your photos ready to show Tommy! 

But... your computer in 2027 does not have a USB port.  

Back up plan! Download the files from the cloud!

But... the software of 2027 does not read JPG files. 

There is a saying that the most photographed generation in history will have no photos of their childhood as technology means we no longer print enough.

Also, Digital File Corruption

Instead of ten years, lets just flash forward a couple of months. You plug your USB into your computer to show some family, and you see this:

It looked fine last time I opened the file, what is going on? 

Digital files can get corrupted at any time. Sometimes its just little lines like the ones above, sometimes much worse like this rainbow mess below and sometimes the file or USB just flat out will not open. 

So lets address those 
Top 5 Reasons You Want Digitals:

1. So I can share on social media or with family overseas

Fair enough. I get that. My own family all live overseas. Just remember, with any files you share online, it is safest to share watermarked photos. And just because you share files digitally, doesnt mean you should not print. Also, people look at photos on all sorts of screens, some will look good and some will look awful. Like... really bad. 

2. So I can print them myself for cheaper

This one actually makes no sense. Sorry. Lets break it down. 

You choose a photographer that you love the work and style of. You invest a lot of time and money on clothing, hair, makeup and an a few hours at a photography session. You pay your photographer a fair amount of money to take and edit photos to their high, professional standards. 

Then you take those digital images on your USB and print at the cheapest, nastiest print kiosk that Kmart has to offer and put discoloured, oversaturated, dark and dodgy photos up in your home to look at every day. 

After all the time and money you invested into your family photos, you sabotage the results at the finish line. 

Printing through your photographer means the best quality prints. The pro labs use inks and papers that are tested to an international standard to look perfect and last generations. Kmart, Harvey Norman and other consumer printers are chasing the cheapest paper, cheapest inks and will always come out discoloured and fade very quickly. 

3. So I can make as many copies as I want to

Sure, but... well we just covered this. And your photographer will always have your digital files on hand to print more for you any time you need them. 

4. So I can play with them in photoshop etc

Grrrr. No. You must never play with a professional photographer's photos in photoshop. 

The thing is, we create these images with a lot of training, thought and precision in our edits. When someone puts an instagram filter or photoshops our files, they are effectively vandalising our work. 

If an altered image is then shared, it is misrepresenting the photographer as an artist. People will think the photographer creates work to that level.  

Please, respect your photographer and do not alter their work. 

5. I just... want them... you know? 

Yeah, we have that feeling about them dont we! In this digital time we feel like "photos" means the digital file. 

But in the past, the days when cameras captured images on film, did anyone expect to receive the negatives from their photographer? Probably not. 

Not so long ago, we used to think of "photos" as the prints, and nobody ever asked for the negatives. 

Breathe Easy Disclaimer

Just so you dont freak out reading this blog, I can assure you I am not about to ditch the digital files in my packages, because I understand that people DO want them. 

I just want you to know how important it is to print your photos, to print professionally and to enjoy the true value of your photography session, which is for your memories to be beaming clear and beautifully from your walls every single day. 

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www.brisbanenewbornphotography.com.au 

Brisbane Family Photographer    |    Brisbane Newborn Photographer

Family Session - Brisbane Northside Family Photographer

You know you are in for a beautiful session when there are 3 year old twin sisters and their 18 month old sisters coming! 

I do love all things girly, so when these girls turned up with flower head pieces and pretty dresses I was so excited. The girls were a little shy at first - its very common for little ones to take some time to warm up to a stranger - and it was only towards the end of our session that they finally found their voices and started singing and dancing together. 

Little Esme was hilarious. She wasnt too sure about me at all - giving me a lot of funny faces that read something along the lines of "who IS this woman and why is she staring at me?" but once we started playing some tickle games with her Mum she had the most gorgeous smiles sneaking out.  

Being that little bit younger, she loved doing her own thing, but once my special little stool came out she was stuck to it like glue. Kids love this little stool, its the best trick I have for getting them to stay put, and Esme was no different. 

We captured some amazingly cute sibling photos and then Esme had some more cuddles with dad, being stretched into the air then coming down for snuggles and kisses. She squealed and giggled, its the best sound hearing a little girl having so much fun with her Dad! 

It was a busy day at the Enoggera Reserve so we had to clear the path a few times for cyclists and bush walkers, and there was not one, but TWO weddings on at the location that day! 

After the sun had dropped  a little more we headed off to look for some more pathway with a view over the dam. Lily and Gracie did some butterfly dancing for me and they loved it so much this was the point that all the giggles and smiles and words came out of them. They kept asking to do more of the butterfly dancing which of course we said they could. 

As the session wound down I realised I had nearly forgotten to take the one photo that we always forget to take - just the parents. I know myself how rare it is to have a nice photo with my husband (we aren't the selfie types) so I try to make a point of taking one at each of my family sessions because as much as we adore the photos of our children, it is so important to remember ourselves and our relationship with our significant other as well. 

So with the day all wrapped up we headed back to the car, which is a trick - of course I had to stop for one last photo on the sunlit path on the way! 

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www.familyphotographybynatarshamarch.com.au 

Brisbane Family Photographer    |    Brisbane Newborn Photographer