Martin Family - Brisbane Family Photographer

I love a winter sunset, and when we team it up with an awesome family like this one the result was always going to be epic!

That is the word I would use to describe this session - EPIC!

I loved so much about this family, 6 year old Ethan the pocket rocket who was itching to climb the trees and giggle, 10 year old Hannah who was scared of the sea worms in the mudflats and 11 year old Keenan who just went along with all my crazy ideas!

We met at Brighton beach, and it was so packed with cars! Being a beautiful winters evening with a low tide a lot of people had brought their dogs out for a run around on the mudflats. We kept away from them and headed to the parkland to start the session.

The family had a lovely wander through the golden lit trees, the kids enjoying the dancing and goofing around in the late afternoon sun. The way the dust was kicking up under their feet as they danced was just gorgeous and the kids certainly enjoyed making the most of that!

Next we headed to the beach and as we were walking in I noticed this awesome silhouetted archway in some trees. I sent the family in and captured the most amazing silhouette photo, I was literally on an adrenaline rush from how cool it came up right in camera! I raced over to them, bouncing and jumping with impatience to show off the awesome shot!

As we walked across the mudflats with the sun setting behind them Hannah started spotting the sea worms and trying to avoid them while her brothers were spotting sea worms and trying to pick them up!

We captured some stunning sunset photos, epic scenic shots and gorgeous loved up family photos too. It was such a perfect evening that the water was like a mirror so we used it to create some fun reflection shots, spelling out HAPPY and then relaxing into a more candid one looking to the sunset.

With the light dropped below he horizon and the air getting cool quickly, we headed back to the cars, sandy feet, exhilarated kids and their very sweet parents all buzzing about how much fun the photo shoot had been.

www.familyphotographybynatarshamarch.com.au

Baby Isabella - Brisbane Baby Photographer

As her parents arrived and got out of hte car,  little Isabella was sound asleep in the back seat. This is just the way I like to start a sitter session!

Fully rested, fully fed and the energy banks fully loaded for a great smiley morning!

Isabella giggled and smiled her way though all the formal stuff we do before we start taking photos, chewing on a piece of paper and having a great time listening intently to all the things we adults were talking about.

Before long it was time to start the photo-taking!

We settled on a lovely grey background for the family photos and while her Mum and Dad were bringing their A game and happy smiles, Isabella was still warming up to me.

As we looked back over some of the photos on the back of the camera she was right in there as interested as everyone else about how she looked the photos!

By the time we put a cute floral bonnet on her she was very happy, smiling away at me and enjoying the clicking sound my camera was making.  She even lay on her back and smiled up at me which her mum said is something she usually is not very keen on doing!

We moved back to the grey set with an outfit change and captured some lovely photos in her cute jumpsuit and pink hairband, and when the chair arrived for her to stand up with, she beamed the biggest smiles of the day, clearly very proud to be showing off her amazing new skill of standing up!

I love a bit of neutral tones in each session so that was up next, some sweet simple photos where Isabella's incredible eyes and beautiful expressions shone through.

Since she loves standing we did a cute photo in another brightly coloured dress where she is standing in between her parents, holding one hand each. I love how she is barely taller than their knees!

A lovely soft brown set with a pop of pastel pink was the last of the day and Isabella was still loaded with smiles by this stage. I could barely believe it, she was yawning and giggling at the same time.

Which is always a sign that the session is done, our lead model wearing out from all the fun and excitement of their photoshoot.

She was nearly asleep in her dads arms as they made their way back to the car, a lovely quiet family afternoon planned together.

www.brisbanenewbornphotography.com.au

Baby Miranda - Brisbane Baby Photographer

Baby Miranda was in studio at just on 4 weeks old, a last minute booking to capture her photos at the same age as her hand and foot mouldings.

There was one image request for the entire session... laying on her tummy and looking to camera.

She had brought along her big sister 2 year old Helaina and since Miranda started the session with a drinks break I tried to capture some images of Helaina.

However the Peppa Pig toys in the studio were much more appealing as it turned out, and Helaina was not interested in leaving them just yet.

Soon enough Miranda was ready for her photos and so I wrapped her snugly into a rosy pink wrap and we started with some of the simple, classic portraits. Adding in a simple headband made her even sweeter, but when we put a delicate lace bonnet on, things got crazy cute!

Since Miranda was happy snuggled on the beanbag, we invited Helaina back to give her a kiss and a secret, and this tie Helaina was most happy to come play.  We were able to capture some beautiful images of the sisters together, bonding already. Helaina is very doting and excited about her little sister, and I expect she will be even more so when Miranda is old enough to run around with her!

Next we did a lovely purple set with a floral background. I tried a half wrap for her which allowed her hands and feet out of the snug wrap that she had been in up until now. Unfortunately as soon as she had a little room to stretch, Miranda kept stretching out straight and tipping her head back with a back arch, so in no time flat I had her re-wrapped into a snug little ball with a butterfly wrap this time around.

It was time for the big finale - the tummy photo!

We popped a cute pair of ruffle-bum nappy covers on her, her bearded dad laughing that he had never imagined the sentence "Yes I think the pink ruffle bums are cuter" would ever come out of his mouth.

With little babies like Miranda, so young that there is only a little strength in her neck, I only have a very short window to capture this photo. I had everything fully setup and a few light test shots clicked off before we lay her down on the blanket. Right away she lifted her head and looked around at us, even a little smile of pride on her face as she enjoyed a new perspective of view.

Sure enough, seconds later she was laying back down and relaxing again.

With the shot of the day in the bag, we wound the session up and waved our goodbyes, Helaina bribed away from the toys and Miranda sleeping soundly in her car seat after a long morning of modelling.

www.brisbanenewbornphotography.com.au

Baby Jesse - Brisbane Newborn Photographer

The first thing I noticed about little Jesse was that, well, he wasn't that little! He has delightfully chubby cheeks and the softest tufts of hair, a sweet button nose and eyes that look like they are talking in everything around him.

His doting parents had driven from the central coast NSW for this session and I felt under a bit of pressure to deliver for them!

With Jesse just under 6 weeks new we had a session lined up to capture all his lovely smiles and inquisitive looks, with the chance of a sleepy photo if he happened to drift off during hte session.

We started with the family photos and they were so fun, little Jesse snuggling into his parents very happily.

I had just come back from a photography convention with some brand new props to try out and while some of hte newborn outfits were too small for Jesse I did get to use two of my new backdrops and a beautiful dress too. For his mum, not for Jesse!

They were so gracious to indulge me a test shoot on my new grey set, with mum wearing a pink dress that is not her colour of choice but trusting me when I promised that I could change it in photoshop to create the soft floaty blissful image I had envisioned for them.

I did a simple set of Jesse laid out on the beanbag, snuggled in with a couple of little teddy bears, and then amped the cuteness up by adding a little teddy bear bonnet to him as well!

The last set of hte day we did as an earthy toned one, some delicious chocolate browns that Jesse suited so well. It took a bit of work to get him into a soft sleep for this photo but it was all worth it when you see the finished result here.

With the session wrapped up and Jesse still sound asleep I put on some lunch for these travellers before they headed back to the city for the afternoon.

It was such an absolute honour to photograph this beautiful family and capture this very special time in their lives for them.

Congratulations again Suling and Ash on a delightful little boy and a very happy family. xx

www.brisbanenewbornphotography.com.au

Reynolds Family - Brisbane Family Photographer

Winter had certainly arrived for this shoot! It was the first really cold day of the season with gusty winds to boot!

7 year old Isaac and his 5 year old sister Sylvie were both pumped about the photo shoot until I asked Isaac to take off his watch and his face fell into a panic. He was ok once he realised it was only for the photos and he could put it back on again soon.

Thankfully we had scheduled this session at the studio to make use of our expansive gardens where we are tucked away in a sheltered hillside with beautiful golden afternoon light filtering through the trees.

We started the shoot in one of my favourite spots, the stone steps just outside the studio door. Kids love these steps as they look like they lead to an adventure! Some kids think of fairy gardens and others think of bug hunting, but either way they are a popular spot for everyone.

Next we headed out to another spot nearby where we have some beautiful dark green shrubs growing and a big log which makes for the perfect little seat!  I love the deep velvety tones in this area, and they make for beautiful black and white photos here too.

We worked our way to the top of the hill and the sun was sparkling through the tree tops as Sylvie enjoyed a shoulder ride with her Dad. Isaac and his mum shared a nice little hug before we moved on down the slopey grounds to the spacious lawn at the bottom of the hill.

The kids were desperate to run down the hill but in the interest of keeping their clothes grass-stain-free we called in the fun police to make them walk. Once we were at the bottom however, it was a free for all!

Isaac and Sylvie loved racing around the grass, literally running circles around mum and dad before zooming in for a big squishy hug.

The light down here at this time of day is just divine, a golden glow enveloping the family in the last light of day.

With the kids breathless from running and the light dropping below the horizon we finished up the day just as the temperature was dropping to sub zero, or 7 degrees as non-queensladers would call it.

Isaac was stoked to get his watch back on his wrist so soon!

Baby Aiden - Brisbane Newborn Photographer

It was late afternoon when I got the phone call from this family that they were looking for a photographer for their two week old baby boy. Luckily for them, I keep wiggle room in my diary for early and late arrivals and just happened to have a session available the very next morning - so we booked it in!

Little Aiden was snuggled in his car seat as they arrived with his Nanna joining them. I quickly wrapped him up for family photos and we did a lovely generation photo too.

Next up was "classic portrait" a very simple, clear photo of Aiden laying on the beanbag, before adding in a few little things such as teddies and an adorable teddy bear bonnet. We all gushed at how sweet he looked in this photo, his Nan particularly taken with the cute little man.

For something different, we decided on an earthy brown image next. We discussed a few of the props and textures I had in studio, until Aiden's mum Grace requested some leaves and I said "Oh yes! I have loads of those!" So I quickly nipped out to our garden and collected a bag of leaves and twigs together, laid them out on a dark brown backdrop and designed this super adorable earthy autumn image.

For a change of colour we moved to silvery grey for the next set, and just check out this gorgeous big smile Aiden gave me!

I had a bit of fun in photoshop with this setup, creating the heart shaped background from my circular poser.

As we gently unwrapped him, Aiden started stirring and waking, so it was time for a drinks break and a change of set for the final one of the day.

Flow posing on the bean bag is fun, quick and timelessly beautiufl. When babies are asleep.

When they are awake, its a bit of a dud.

Aiden... was awake.

So we spent quite some time settling him back into a soft soothed sleep, white noise, heat, patting, stroking. and snuggling all coming in to play at this point. I always think how funny these moments are when we have 3 or 4 adults all standing around staring a newborn baby urging them to go to sleep!

Soon enough Aiden did drop off into a lovely deep sleep and we shot through he posing in no time flat. He managed to stay sleeping throughout every single pose, which meant we captured all the beautiful relaxed photos that his parents had hoped for.

With the photo session wrapped up Aiden snuggled into his car seat again ready for the ride home. His parents were so doting and wonderful with him, he is very clearly their absolute pride and joy.

www.brisbanenewbornphotography.com.au

Jasper and Coraline - Brisbane Children's Photographer

I was so excited to meet two year old Jasper and his big sister Coraline, they were coming to the studio for portraits and I love working with children in my studio space.

We decided to do three sets of different colours for their gallery. First up was a brown set and I had a beautiufl fluffy brown flokati on the floor. Coraline was having her hair done and so Jasper was first up in front of hte camera.

As we sat him onto the little set, he immediately jumped back off again, it seemed he was not keen on the feel of the flokati.

So a quick set change by removing the rug and just going with wooden board, but he was too interested in everything in the room and wouldn't stay put.

So I pulled out my trump card and brought in my vintage trike for some photos and BINGO! He was quite happy sitting on the trike, playing with the handle bars and pedals, giggling and smiling his brilliant smile!

Coraline came in next, quiet and sweet as a princess. She was so good at posing and listening to my directions to capture some beautiful images and her photos were clicked off in no time.

Next we brought Jasper back for some sibling photos, but the wiggles were strong in him and it made it hard to capture a sweet image together. So in stead we lay the kids down for a snuggle and a tickle and just like that we had some very sweet sibling photos.

The white background was next, and with all the light flooding around Coraline had a lovely twirly dance in the studio, then Jasper joined her but instead of dancing he was strutting his stuff and it was glorious!

Lastly we headed to the garden, just outside the studio. We have a beautiful large estate of gardens with purpose designed spots specifically created for photos at any time of the day. This means I can offer the unique photographic experience of a studio and outdoor session in the one location.

The kids loved the garden and their photos were clicked and finished in no time then it was off to enjoy the rest of the lovely weekend ahead!

www.familyphotographybynatarshamarch.com.au