Plan the time of your photo session carefully.

• Make your plan a simple and flexible one. The perfect family photo may not necessarily be the one you envision.

• Open your mind, relax and have fun. If you are relaxed, your children will be too.

• Make it a time when you won’t be rushed, children are fed and well rested.

• Wear comfortable clothing.

• Pick a location where you can take the majority, if not all of your photos.

• I usually encourage my clients to email me a wishlist of photo ideas and poses you’d like to achieve ahead of time to help me know what style of photos you’re looking form (casual, silly, formal, etc) so we can work on this together.

• Bring along some snacks, perhaps some games or other activities to keep younger children occupied while they’re waiting for other family members to have their photos taken.

• A few more things you might also like to have on hand: a brush or comb, hairspray, water or something to drink, wipes, a treat, an extra change of clothes in case someone gets dirty, a fun prop or two to personalise your session.

• Being prepared for situations that might arise during your session helps so much. Things go smoother and you can relax a little bit more when you know that if something goes wrong you’ve got some back up tools to help you out.n text goes here

Make it a team effort by inviting everyone’s input (especially childrens’) as far as clothing choice, poses and other ideas. When children are given some creative control and allowed to share their input they are so much more cooperative when it comes to taking photos we would like.

• The location of the shoot can add a whole lot of meaning and fun to your photos! The images will be focused on you, but a great background adds a lot of colour, texture, lines and light!

• In general, we shoot in either a natural or an urban location. Natural locations are gorgeous open fields, parks and beaches. They are great for playing and focusing on each other. The best time of day to shoot in these areas is just before sunset, so we can get some beautiful magical light!

• Urban locations are cool alleys and buildings. They have great colour, texture and variety!

• Since there’s a lot of great shade in these locations, we can be more flexible with the time of these shoots.

• There are no “rules” when it comes to what to wear for your portraits. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and be yourselves. Remember that these portraits are about you, not your shoes!

• Choose a style of clothes and coordinate them to show that you are a group, a family and that you belong together.

• Pick similar tones and colours that compliment each other. Lay out all your outfits, and see if they look nice together!

• If you’re going a bit more dressy, make sure everyone is looking sharp! If you want a more natural look, let everyone wear something very casual and comfortable.

The pregnancy stage of a woman’s life is one of the fastest growing developmental times. You are growing a baby – yay you! I know it’s not always comfortable…the cramps, the bloating, the swelling…oh my not feeling so amazing?! It’s ok.

My job as a photographer is to make you look and feel amazing for just about an hour. Then you can throw your legs up and eat chocolate the rest of the day!

A maternity session is designed to celebrate and document the precious new life growing within. This is one of my favorite sessions as it is a combination of glamour, beautiful belly and romance. A maternity session can be an artistic studio shoot or it can take place at a location of your choice. Some favorites include a local beach or natural field shortly before sunset, one of the many gorgeous parks, gardens or wooded areas in our beautiful city. My light-filled warm home studio in Lane Cove is also another option mummies-to-be like as parking is easy, we have a nice chat and play and the bathroom is very close!

These photos will help your children to know how proud you were to be their mother and what a privilege carrying them was.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SCHEDULE A MATERNITY PHOTO SHOOT?

We recommend between 32 and 36 weeks. This is a time frame where your beautiful belly is of ample size yet you’re not as “puffy” and uncomfortable as you may be in your last 4 to 6 weeks. Though I have shot maternity sessions up close to delivery with beautiful results, feedback from expecting mums has encouraged me to advise clients towards the earlier side where mamas-to-be are feeling their best and are more comfortable than they may be later where we might encounter the following: an early arrival, water retention may make your face and hands/feet puffy, hormones may wreak havoc on your skin or you might just feel too uncomfortable to do the shoot.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

The clothes that you wear during your session will play a vital role in how you feel during the shoot and about your photographs. We really want to show off your beautiful form, so choose a few outfits that accentuate your beautiful body! I love form fitting tops with chunky sweaters or long flowing dresses.

You can choose your favorite maternity outfit but solid colors work best. As far as specific colors, it is completely up to you. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable, confident and beautiful!

A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE

I would suggest pampering yourself before your session. Get your hair and nails done or take a relaxing bubble bath. Put aside a few hours for yourself to just relax and feel fabulous. The best photographs are created when expectant mothers are relaxed, feel confident and are able to just be themselves during the session. Don’t forget that this should be a special and fun day for you.

Babies are best photographed within the first 5-10 days of birth. They are still very sleepy, can be easily posed, baby acne hasn't appeared yet and any signs of jaundice have faded as well.

My newborn sessions typically take 1-3 hours. Because of this I typically schedule newborn sessions in the morning, around nine or ten. Babies also tend to be sleepier at this time of day. I am not shooting the entire 1-3 hours. Much of this time is spent switching blankets and props, getting baby fed or diaper changed/cleaning up messes and soothing baby into poses. A fussy or wide awake baby who is unwilling to fall into a deep sleep can also effect the length of the shoot.

Newborn sessions take place in my light filled warm home studio in Lane Cove. There is plenty of free onstreet parking available and we are 8 minutes walk from the Lane Cove Bus Interchange. From my experience, I understand new parents are very very busy and already have their hands full with getting to know their little one, struggling with sleep deprivation, feeding, getting the baby ready, packing the nappy bag, getting themselves ready, the last thing they want to do is run around cleaning their own house before the photo session. So don't worry. Just relax. Bring the baby to me and we will look after the rest. :)

Newborns are happiest when they are warm. My studio can be heated. It is a good idea to keep these items handy during the newborn shoot: wipes, burp clothes, pacifier, blankets or wraps and any special items such as grandma’s hand knitted beanie and footsies.

Babies are best photographed on a nice full tummy, so shortly before I am set to arrive please feed your baby. It is okay if you are still in the process of feeding when I arrive as I have bring in and set up as well.

I’ve got tons of stuff at my studio including hats, headbands, backdrops, baskets, buckets, you name it. Still, feel free to bring special things that you’ve bought, or family items you want included (monogrammed blankets, heirloom bonnets, a special necklace that will be passed down, etc).

If Mum, Dad and any siblings are going to be in any shots I suggest wearing simple, light and comfortable clothing for shots. If we will be shooting on a black background please make sure to have black shirts to wear.

6 month sessions are best between 6-7 months when baby is able to sit up on their own.

1 year + cake smash sessions are best between 11-12 months.

Plan photos around baby’s schedule, making sure it’s after naptime, after he/she has been fed and when he/she is in a happy mood. Make sure you have a favourite toy, blanket, chair, or other comfort object ready.

Play age-appropriate games with baby, like peek-a-boo, or try to get him/her to chase you as he/she moves towards the camera.

Photographing toddlers is a challenge! To get the perfect shot, we must make it fun, make it quick, and make it quicker. Usually, the first 20 minutes of the photo session are when we are going to have the most success capturing the photos we want. After 20 minutes, your toddler will get bored or tired and we have to work harder to get a shot. I’ve never had a photo session with my own or someone else’s toddler go 100% smoothly the whole time. It takes a little work and creativity to convince a toddler that photos are fun. Here are a few tips:

• Make the photo session all about your toddler

• Just play and have a good time

• Keep clothing changes and the location simple

• Give your toddler something to hold (a prop, a rock) – Be quick

Bring multiple outfits, snacks and a favourite toy in case the little one needs some comforts. As parents, think about how you can encourage your kids to be themselves. Have fun props on hand:

• silly hats

• stickers

• moustaches

• balloons

• musical instruments

• ball

• bubbles

• any items that have a special significance for your child (e.g. a teddy)

This age group can either be reluctant to have photos or be super excited for photos (especially if their friends are involved too)!

Chat to them and focus on helping them relax, talk about how important they are for the photos and how in a few years they will have these amazing photos to look back on that time.

Try a prop such as a hat, sports item, musical instrument, their pet cat or dog or something that is important to them that they want to remember.