Why Sunset Sessions are Perfect for Family Photography in Brisbane

When it comes to capturing those priceless family moments, the timing of your photoshoot is just as important as the location or outfits you choose. One of the most magical times for family photography is during sunset, often referred to as the "golden hour." If you’re considering booking a family session, here’s why a sunset session may be the perfect choice to capture your family’s love and connection.

1. The Golden Hour Glow

Sunset offers a unique and beautiful light that can’t be replicated at any other time of day. Known as the "golden hour," this period typically occurs during the last hour before the sun dips below the horizon. The soft, warm light during sunset creates a beautiful glow that enhances skin tones, adds depth to your photos, and casts a natural radiance over everything. Your family will look bathed in light, making the images feel timeless and magical.

2. Soft Shadows and Flattering Light

Unlike the harsh shadows and bright highlights that midday sun creates, the light at sunset is much softer. This helps avoid squinting, overexposed backgrounds, and unflattering shadows on faces. The soft light wraps gently around your family, ensuring each person looks their best. It’s perfect for capturing tender moments like hugs, laughter, and playful interactions without worrying about stark lighting.

3. Stunning Backdrops

Sunset sessions naturally create breathtaking backdrops whether you’re at the beach, in a field, or at a park.

4. Calm and Relaxed Atmosphere

The end of the day often brings a sense of calm and relaxation, which reflects beautifully in family photos. By scheduling your session during the late afternoon leading into sunset, your family is likely to feel more at ease and less rushed than earlier in the day. After the hustle of the day has wound down, it’s easier for everyone to be present, have fun, and enjoy the experience together. This creates genuine, heartfelt moments that shine through in your photos.

5. Perfect for Active Kids

If you have younger children, sunset sessions can work wonders for keeping their attention. Many children are more energetic in the late afternoon and early evening after naps and meals. They’re ready to play, explore, and interact naturally, which is exactly what I love to capture during family sessions. Plus, with the backdrop of a beautiful sunset, these playful moments are elevated into something truly magical.

6. Timeless and Romantic Feel

Sunset photos have a romantic, timeless quality that families love. The gentle light, the vibrant sky, and the relaxed atmosphere come together to create images that feel classic yet personal. The golden hour is often associated with feelings of warmth and intimacy, making it ideal for capturing the close bond between family members. These are the kind of photos you’ll look back on years from now and treasure for their beauty and authenticity.

7. Flexible Location Options

Sunset sessions also offer versatility when it comes to locations. Whether you prefer a beachside photoshoot, a park surrounded by greenery, or a wide-open field, the sunset light enhances any environment. We can choose a location that’s meaningful to your family, and the light will work its magic, creating stunning results no matter where we are.

8. It’s All About the Experience

Finally, sunset sessions are about more than just photos—they’re about the experience of spending time together as a family in a beautiful setting. Watching the sun go down while laughing, playing, and connecting with each other is an experience that brings out natural joy and emotion. This creates genuine moments that translate into unforgettable photos, making the entire experience feel special and memorable.

If you’re looking for family photos that capture genuine emotion, warmth, and love, sunset sessions are the perfect choice. With soft lighting, stunning backdrops, and a relaxed atmosphere, golden hour provides the ideal setting for creating timeless family images. Let’s capture those moments together as the sun sets and create memories you’ll cherish for years to come.

Ready to book your sunset family photography session? Get in touch today to discuss available dates and locations! I look forward to capturing the beauty of your family at the most magical time of day.

She said Yes! A Surprise Proposal During a Family Photoshoot in Brisbane

Family photoshoots are always special, but sometimes they turn into something truly magical. This was the case when Serg contacted me to tell me he was going to propose to the mother of his two beautiful children during their family photoshoot. 

It was an honour to be a part of such a special moment and to capture the happiness and love of this family.

It was a beautiful moment, filled with tears of happiness, laughter, and love.

The rest of the photoshoot was filled with even more joy, laughter, and love as the family celebrated the engagement.

These types of candid, emotional moments are what make family photoshoots so special. I am grateful to have been able to be a part of this beautiful family's journey and capture these special memories for them to treasure for years to come.

If you’re looking to capture your own unique story, I would love to be your photographer. Let’s create cherished memories that will tell your story for generations to come.

Your story and your love are worthy of being remembered! - Brisbane Photographer

As a Brisbane family photographer and a mum of two, I am committed to ensuring that motherhood is seen by capturing the authentic emotion that comes with becoming a mother. Before having children, we spend a lifetime building our sense of self to reach a point where we know exactly who we are and where our place in life is. It is sometimes surprising how quickly we must re-evaluate who we are following the birth of our beautiful children.

Nothing can really prepare you for what truly happens when you have children. It is the unspoken side of motherhood that doesn’t rally the troops! One day you are an individual and the next you are forever known as ‘Mum’. Even though we lovingly embrace this new role as best we can, our feelings of uncertainty around how we look can leave us feeling insecure.

Photo credit First Echo Photography

Our concern about our new self-image and how we are perceived by the world, comes at a very busy time in our lives. Our once familiar wardrobe now consists of maternity jeans, oversized dresses, and durable clothing that can withstand the test of sandy playgrounds and little fingers covered in blueberries and pumpkin puree.

For many, the challenges of motherhood have an effect on the way we see ourselves.  I recently published a post on social media about the importance as to why mums need to be included in their family photos. It was heartbreaking to receive many messages from new mothers telling me that they intentionally excluded themselves from family photographs. The recurring theme in these messages was that their inner critic demanded that their bodies were perfect before stepping in front of a camera. 

I’ve been in the depths of motherhood for 11 wonderful, hectic years now and completely understand the rollercoaster that comes with changing identities and losing your self-confidence in the process. Our history of viewing motherhood through rose-coloured lenses has left many blind spots for women. So often we are misled by social media or glossy magazines that instill an ideal of what the perfect mum and perfect family is.

However, the journey of becoming a mother and raising a daughter of my very own has led me to confront a few things about my own sense of self. This journey compelled me to quit the oversized demands of perfection and shrug off any thoughts about conforming to society’s expectations.

Life seems to get caught up in a whirlwind of laughter, tears, and clumsily grazed elbows and knees. It is the precious moments between mother and child that need to be captured. 

Photo credit First Echo Photography

Taking beautiful photos will capture the way we felt in these precious moments. As time passes and memories fade, how you cuddled your children, or the funny things they did will bring back all of those nostalgic moments for you and your family.

My intention with photography is to give motherhood a visual representation that leaves a legacy of what it really means to be a mum.  To create deeply honest, beautiful images that capture the many stories to be told through family photographs. To create portraits rich in meaning and preserving the most beautiful memories of one’s life. 

My work results in a collection of images of women as they experience all the changes that come with being a mother. These mums, who would have hid their beautiful faces due to their fears of being judged on the false and preconceived ideas of exactly how a mother should look!

The process of sharing these stories is not only cathartic for mothers but also holds ancestral power, which, however extraordinary and mysterious, ultimately belongs to us all! 

Motherly love is the most wonderful of all feelings, pure and unconditional, so when your children look back on your photos in many years to come, they are not going to see your tiredness or your rounded bellies, but rather see the mother who tickled, laughed and played with them, and guided them through life, showing them how wonderful it was to be loved. The imperfections, the dirt, the ugly and the beautiful -  motherhood means so much more than a perfect vision doesn't it? It is the visibility of the mother that molded their lives that matters to them the most. The visibility of a woman who defeated her own hardships to place her children front and center of her universe, teaching them what being a fiercely committed and loving parent really looks like.

Let’s face it, being a mother is probably the most important role that you will ever play and your story, and your love, are worthy of being remembered! 

If you are in Brisbane and surrounding areas and are looking for a session that will help celebrate what motherhood means to you? Feel free to CONTACT ME today! I’d love to hear from you!

Lifestyle In-Home Newborn Sessions

Fingers entwined through locks of hair, eyes that squint with the newness of life and yawns that fill one’s entire face. These are the spaces where in a day, time will stop, your heart will skip, and memories will come flooding in reminding you of precious moments with your newborn baby.

I have been exactly where you are, trying to cling to a special moment, while being swept away in the midst of juggling life and all that welcoming a new family member brings with it. When time stands still and your thoughts are only of ‘I never want to forget this moment’, as you attend to the needs of your newborn’s routine.

Although your need to capture these moments are of the utmost importance, the thought of getting all glitzed and glammed and journeying out to attend a professional photoshoot is a little overwhelming, just to be handed reams of photographs with mannequin smiles and unnatural imagery that fails to reflect who you are and the magic that is your newborn baby.

So instead, you stay curled up at home, no uncomfortable shoes, no uncomfortable clothes, just to cocoon yourself in the haven that is you and your beautiful little loved one.There are no props, no awkward poses or mechanical smiles, just you in your own home, allowing us to capture the natural love and nurturing between you and your new baby.

I will capture the gentle, open and calm connectedness between you and your newborn, while allowing your baby to feel safe in their own home and in the arms of their loved ones.

The aim of our session is to create powerful imagery for you to relive the feelings, the moments and the experiences that is the love and beauty of having a newborn baby.

Do you have a new addition to your family? I would love to capture these precious moments for you too.

40 Years of love... | Brisbane Photographer

"You don't love someone for their looks or their clothes or for what they have. You love them because they sing a song only you can hear." said Audrey Hepburn. Love is a feeling that can't be put into words. This blog post is about love… 40 years of love!

I have photographed a lot of couples over the years and I have been fortunate enough to capture some of the most beautiful moments in time with my camera. It never gets old seeing people in love with each other and celebrating their relationship. Jen and Chas has had a love that is 40 years strong and  I’m so happy to have been able to capture their love! The joy they share together was enough for me to know that this shoot wouldn't be just another photo session. Seeing them together, it was clear how much they meant to each  from all of the laughter, dancing, smiles, kisses and the way they looked at each other. They were truly a beautiful couple who I will remember forever.

Life moves quickly and sometimes we forget the little moments in our lives that are important to us. This is why I do what I do! If you are looking for a photographer, don’t wait any longer to book your session. I would love to tell your story and give you beautiful memories to last a lifetime. 

‘What should I wear?’: Choosing the right clothes for your family photoshoot | Brisbane Family Photographer

One common question that clients ask me before their professional photoshoot is ‘What should I wear?’

The short answer is that it’s completely up to you – but it’s not that simple. Some clothing and accessories look gorgeous in photos, while others can distract or even ruin your photo.

Here are some tips before you rummage through your wardrobe or hit the shops to find the perfect outfit for your shoot.

Feel comfortable

Choose your outfit for comfort first. My clients are always more comfortable and enjoy the session more if they’re wearing clothes they feel confident in. This is especially true for children. They’re more likely to be themselves in comfy clothes.

Don’t buy restrictive clothes that constantly need adjusting, or shoes that are gorgeous but hurt your feet. You’ll be distracted by the clothes (or the pain!) and that will show in the photos.

Feel beautiful

This is your day to feel special, so wear something you feel beautiful in. When you feel beautiful or sexy, your confidence will show on camera.

Loose, flowing fabrics, like linen and cotton, can make any woman feel pretty, and the movement looks great on camera.

Choose your colours wisely

Colour is so important when choosing an outfit. You need to decide whether to complement or contrast with your background. And you need to keep the focus on you – not your outfit.

Make sure your colour choices are simple and look good together. You can choose up to four colours that compliment each other for your family photos or you can also choose one main colour and add softer tones. Use the below colour chart to see whether your palette works together.

But you don’t want to completely match each other either. (Though it can work when it’s done well, such as with twins or bridal parties.) Mix your textures, accessories and colours to make sure each person stands out.

However, be careful with patterns and prints. Subtle small patterns or light floral prints look great. Try to limit to one print at a time and avoid stripes as the pattern may blur on camera.

Neutral and earthy tones such as beige, rust, brown, mustard, grey, white, black, and even denim all beautifully complement the locations I generally shoot at. These colours create a timeless, classic, and visually harmonious effect, allowing the focus to be on the emotions and the beauty of the moment rather than on the clothing. So, when planning your outdoor photoshoot, remember: subtlety and earthy tones often work best for creating timeless and captivating photos.

Please avoid logos and any large graphics or text on shirts and tone down bright colours as bright colours attract attention away from the face and can be reflective.

Accessories

A hat can be fun, as well as scarves and some jewellery. But avoid big or jangly accessories that draw attention away from you. Combining layers and textures also create visually interesting photos.

Hair and makeup

For me, natural, uncomplicated hair always looks great in photos, especially in outdoor shots with the breeze. But, again, do whatever you feel comfortable with.

If this is your first photoshoot, you might not feel confident choosing your outfit. If you’re unsure, you can chat with me before your shoot to get some advice. I’m always happy to chat!

I am also excited to have partnered with Mama rentals to offer my clients an exclusive discount of 15% when you hire from their website. Mama rentals offers a wide range of beautiful outfits that are perfect for any photoshoot.

The process of selecting your outfits for your photoshoot can be an enjoyable one. Get the family involved, get the kids participating and most of all, have fun!!!