Welcome to my blog. Here you can see more of my sessions. Do feel free to leave a comment as I'd love to hear from you
What looked like vacant, bushy land was actually a native reserve filled with all sorts of beautiful indigenous plants and trees in our local area. I've driven past this spot so many times but decided to stop and have a look.
Little Emma had such a great time (even in the rain), looking at all the flowering shrubs and tea tree! Children love to investigate, everything is an adventure!
I'm sure we've all been there.....Mum has organised a professional photo shoot, spent hours organising outfits and reiterating to their family to give lot's of smiles and behave on the day of the shoot. I totally I get it, you want the photographer to capture them at their best but sometimes there will be one child that won't be cooperative on the day! Most Dads aren't particularly too keen either (sorry Dads)! The stress of trying to get everybody ready and meet the photographer on time, once you get there you're stressed and all everyone can think of is getting it over with before someone loses it.
I like to ask lot's of questions prior to the photo shoot to get to know each of your family members and to help them relax and have fun during the shoot. It's okay if one child doesn't want to have their picture taken, don't stress as once they see the other members of your family having fun, they want to be included as well. They will come round!
My aim is to capture the interaction and love you have for one another. Hug them, laugh with them, tickle them, whisper silly things in their ears, throw them in the air and play with them so they see that this is more of a play date with Mum and Dad, not a photo shoot where they can't relax and be themselves. This is your family...you know them, you love them...show them how you feel and those gorgeous interacting photos will happen.
With less than a week to Mother's Day I thought I'd share some favourite images of Motherhood over the last year. Mum's deserve to be spoilt on their special day! Celebrate Motherhood, the love they have for their children, the behind the scenes work they do to make our lives run smoothly. Being a Mum myself and knowing how our time is so stretched thin, why not spoil your Mum with a photo shoot Gift Voucher, a present that will be cherished for a lifetime. My aim is to capture the love and connection all Mum's have for their children and family. Book now and you'll receive a free 7 x 5" art print.
7 Tips for Preparing for Your Autumn Session
Autumn is one of the most popular months of the year for portrait sessions. After all, nature is doing its thing with all those vibrant colors, plus you get a chance to really play up your wardrobe with accessories in the crisp weather.
1. Make use of accessories and clothing that play up the "autumn" feeling. For example, opt for leather boots, cable knit scarves and comfy cardigans look amazing on the whole family and can really bring a picture to life. Tip: neutrals do really well in the fall against all that foliage.
2. Timing is everything. Start paying attention to that shift in weather as summer melts into fall. Once the leaves start changing book a session. I know that I like to plan fall sessions, so chances are I've got a session ready for you.
3. Location is everything. If it's Autumn, you better believe we're playing outside in the gorgeous weather. I have a lot of locations to choose from that have particularly pretty backdrops. I'm also open to your suggestions.
4. Plan for a mid-afternoon to early-evening session, when the light is just gorgeous. The days are shorter in the fall, so we need to plan accordingly to get that golden hour light.
5. Play in the environment. Chances are there are leaves on the ground or a few buds lingering around. I may have you throw leaves up into the air or something similar. Remember, this shoot is all about capturing your family bond and having fun, so let loose and get into the season!
6. Pack the necessities. It can get chilly in Autumn, so you may want to bring some necessities on hand. Snacks and drinks for the kids and jackets on standby for when the sun goes in.
7. Wear comfortable shoes and accessories. Since we're going to be outside, we'll probably do lots of walking. If those boots look amazing but kill your feet, scratch them. If the scarf looks adorable on Tim but it's scratches his face and makes him unhappy, it's better left at all.
What better way to spend a chilly Autumn evening during the school holidays than toasting marshmallows in the fire pit in the backyard. Children love to do this (and get's them off the video games without too much hassle)!!
LITTLE GIRLS
(Karen Barnes)
Little girls are made of daisies and butterflies and soft kitty cat purrs and all the precious memories of times that once were.
Little girls are made of angel's wings and giggles and a firefly's glow and all the happy feelings deep inside that we all know.
Little girls are made of cinnamon and bubbles and fancy white pearls and snowflakes and rainbows and ballerina twirls.
Little girls are made of sunshine and cupcakes and fresh morning dew and these are the reasons little one, why everyone loves you.
Welcome to Bella's, such a magical place to be when you're a child...
you can even walk with the ducks! What an amazing make believe wonderland when you're visiting your grandparent's house!
"If he's riding, he's happy"!
More from a previous "A Child's Tale" photo shoot....The oh so talented Ava loves craft making and with that made the most gorgeous Indian head dress which was the perfect prop for a "A Child's Tale" photo shoot. Not only did Ava make her own Indian head dress but she decided to make me one as well. I was so touched that she went to all the trouble of making one for me! So clever, thank you so much!
Children love coming up with ideas for their own concept photo shoot. Can't believe that my son who usually hates me taking his photo, wants to organise a "A Child's Tale" photo shoot so he can have his own special canvas/framed photo in his room.
There's magic in the ordinary, you just have to find it! Gorgeous Ava did with her new, pink skirt and a photo shoot came to life!!
“May your love for me be like the scent of the evening sea drifting in through a quiet window so I do not have to run or chase or fall....to feel you all I have to do is breathe.”
Memories are made of the family down the beach on a Summer's evening. My son is growing up so quickly and soon those trips down the beach will be a memory but for now I'm making the most of it!
I love it when clients ask to organise a more concept shoot of their children. I get so excited as it brings out my creative ideas! A photo shoot that captures who their child is at a particular stage of their life! Introducing "A Child's Tale", where children can bring their imaginations to life and design a photo shoot around their passion! This is one shoot that this gorgeous girl and her friend wanted to do...to use her favourite vintage dresses and create an almost whimsical, dreamlike land.
This is a great idea for a gift for a child's birthday or keepsake. To make a booking contact Jenn on 0400 841627 and create a lasting memory for your child.
It always begins and ends with family! These two love each other to pieces and big sister is so protective of her little brother, the sweetest thing!
One of the perks of my job is meeting wonderful people and this family is one of those! This was my second time capturing this beautiful bunch. We had lot's of fun at the park with snuggles, laughs and giggles. Here's a few of my favourites from the day. Hope you enjoy your preview....
I will always remember my doll's names when I was a child. The hours that I'd play with my pram and dolls was something I'll always look back on and treasure. Dolls seemed so real and gave us a glimpse of who we wanted to be in our adult lives.
Summer is almost here, well officially and I thought I'd suggest some different activities for your family photo sessions. When you think of having a family shoot you picture slightly more posed shots and everyone looking their best. To really capture the essence of who your family is, it's great to organise a few activities not only to keep the children entertained but give a more relaxed feel to your photos and really bring out those natural smiles. Some ideas are:
Photograph your family playing in the Sprinkler
Yep, you guessed it, bathers, water, plastic toys, wet hair, chasing each other with the hose, all out fun! The children will be having so much fun (and so will you) that they won't even notice the camera.
Head to the beach
We can take photos of your kids building sandcastles, jumping waves, giggling, burying themselves in the sand, etc. The list is endless!
Picnic at your local park
Load up the kids with a picnic lunch, throw in your picnic blanket and have a play date at your nearby park. There's so many great parks around that also have lakes with ducks and play equipment to keep the kids entertained for hours.
Don't worry about if the kids getting wet, as long as they don't get a chill, let them have a ball jumping in puddles and even playing in some mud. I love these photo opportunities. These are the memories that they and you will cherish from their childhood.
"Every child is a different kind of flower and all together they make this world a beautiful garden."~ Author Unknown
One way I get to know children and to help them feel relaxed with me is to ask them what their favourite things are. It's a great idea to have photos of their favourite things at a specific age to look back on as of course they change as they grow. Little 'L' couldn't wait to show me her favourite bracelets and the special necklace that her Mum gave her.
"When you look at your life, the greatest happiness is family happiness." Dr Joyce Brothers
Oh I love it when previous clients welcome me back to photograph their growing family. This is the most beautiful family....hope you enjoy the preview!
Toby fell in love with this Koala Bear hat that he found on a recent trip to Adelaide. That inner child still shines through when you least expect it!
