by Alana | Aug 21, 2018 | Burns Beach, Couples, Family - Location, Hyde Park, Information, Maternity, The Wanneroo Pines, Uncategorized
You’ve decided to book in a photo session to capture some memories – perhaps you’re investing in a family shoot to remember your family as it is now; a couple session to celebrate your relationship; or a maternity session to celebrate your beautiful growing baby bump. In all of my sessions my main focus is on capturing the connections between you, and the little details. To do this, I usually place you close together on a rug. The aim of this is not to get you to all smile towards the camera – the aim is just to get you CLOSE. From there, it’s quite common for me to be running around and capturing you all from different angles – above, below, left, right, behind and in front. It can feel like you’re staying in one spot for a long time, but because I’m moving around a lot, I’m capturing you from all different perspectives. I’m also looking out for those little details – your little one holding onto your hand; a stray curl of hair blowing across your face; a beautiful expression on your face. The fact that I move a lot also has the added benefit of ensuring that you’re not tempted to always just smile at the camera – because the camera keeps moving! For this reason, the actual location isn’t always important. However, it’s always nice to be in a location that you feel represents what you want to get out of the shoot. As I’m based North of the River, I’ve put together a few locations I regularly shoot at. This doesn’t mean you can only choose from these locations – as I’m always open to new suggestions or places that are important to you – but these are just the places which are regulars for me.
- The Wanneroo Pines. This place is great to go to with kids, as they love to explore amongst the tee pees made of sticks, play with said sticks, and jump on the logs. This allows them to burn off some energy between shots – or capture some candid images of them playing. These candid images often result in those genuine smiles and fun energy kids have when they’re free to play. While kids are playing, I can take the opportunity to get some images of mum and dad. It’s also a beautiful location for maternity shoots – the tall trees make a beautiful backdrop to show off your pregnancy. It’s always most beautiful to go here (as it is with most locations) in the hour before sunset. The glow from the setting sun gives off a beautiful magical feel – especially when it peaks between the trees. If you’re unable to book your shoot during Golden Hour (that hour before sunset), then the trees do provide a decent amount of shade, making it an option for daytime shoots as well.
- Burns Beach. This location is most popular for maternity shoots. It can be more challenging with family shoots depending on ages of the children, due to the water. Burns Beach is beautiful as it also provides some rocks and greenery as a backdrop, without needing to solely rely on the water backdrop. The absolute best time of the day for a beach session is the Golden Hour – the hour before sunset. I generally don’t like to shoot here outside of those hours unless the day is particularly overcast, or if timing wise the shoot needs to be at another time. Maternity sessions here are beautiful – the setting sun makes a great backdrop to a pregnant tummy.
- Perry’s Paddock. This is another location which is best towards golden hour, as there’s a lot of open space. This is one of my favourite locations to shoot at, as we can utilise the trees while the sun is still quite high, and then move to the open field once the sun starts to set. This is where I get some silhouette shots which is always a fun way to show off your family! This location is pretty much perfect for any type of shoot – there’s a lot of space for kids to run around, an abundance of gorgeous light, and the sky always looks beautiful once the sun has set. There’s also a beautiful old white building which can be used as backdrops.
- James Spiers Park, Wanneroo. I love this park for the variety it brings to a session. It’s particularly beautiful in Autumn with the leaves fallen on the ground. This park offers a beautiful area with trees and greenery, a staircase, a wall for people to sit on, as well as a basketball court with a wall that is great for backdrops. There’s a lot of choices at this park, and also a lot of shade options for when shoots can’t be scheduled for golden hour.
- Hyde Park. I love this location, although due to additional travel, I do charge a small travel fee to go here. There are so many choices at Hyde Park, and is another one which offers a lot of shade so is a good spot if we can’t schedule a session for the golden hour (although that time of day is always best no matter the location).
These are just some of the options of places for your shoot. If you’d like to organise a location shoot for yourself, or as a gift for someone else, please Contact me. You can view more family sessions in my Maternity Portfolio or Family Portfolio.
by Alana | Aug 20, 2018 | Burns Beach, Maternity
I met with Jordan and her son at Burns Beach on a freeeeezing afternoon. We’d had a bit of bad luck with weather and having to reschedule sessions, and had almost had to cancel that session as well as it had been raining on and off throughout the day. We decided to keep it. I felt so bad for Jordan – she looked absolutely beautiful in her outfit – yet I was freezing all rugged up, so could only imagine how ice cold she was! We had a quick session due to the weather conditions, but I absolutely love the images. I love that she included her son in them. The image of his little legs wrapped around his Mummy’s tummy is the perfect image of the time they have together before his title as an only child is over and his little sister is born. Just as with maternity sessions with mums and dads, I also love to not only focus on the growing bump, but also the connection between mum and son. And the connection between these two was so obvious. He loved cuddling in to his Mummy, and kissing his little sister through her tummy.
If you’d like to view more maternity images, look at my Maternity Portfolio. If you’d like to book a session for yourself, or a gift for someone else, Contact me here.
by Alana | Aug 16, 2018 | Information, Styling
It’s so common to worry about what to wear to a photo shoot, especially when you’re trying to coordinate your family. It can be overwhelming and can be hard to know where to start. I’ve created a Styling Guide, but often people need a little more help. I’m more than happy to help clients with choosing their outfits – you can send me images of clothing you’re considering, and I can help you along the way. In the meantime, I’ve also decided to create this blog for some visual assistance. When starting to look at outfits, I usually recommend picking one outfit that you love, and then work all others around it. This might be your own outfit, or one of your children’s outfit – but just start somewhere! When searching for your outfits, there are a few things to consider. Please note though, that you don’t need to follow ALL of these guidelines – these are simply things to keep in mind when choosing your outfit – but they are not hard and fast rules. They may just help you get started, or may help you if you’re choosing between two items (for example, you might love a plain black jumper or a thick mustard knit – reading these rules may help you choose the mustard knit as you know that texture and pops of colour are great in photos). In general think: Tones, Texture, Pops of Colour and Pattern and ALWAYS include at least SOME neutrals. Main things to avoid are: too much black, uncomfortable and restrictive clothing, clashing colours and clashing patterns. These are some areas to think about when choosing your outfits:
- Location – you want your clothing to suit your location. There’s no point wearing heels and a tight dress on the beach, just as you wouldn’t wear a bikini in the park. Your location will determine the overall ‘mood’ of your outfit choices. For example, if you’re at home go casual to reflect the fact you’re at home – but not your oldest tracksuit! If you’re at the beach, think light and floaty, and if you’re at the park think about something you might wear to a nice barbecue or birthday party.
- The location can also help you determine colours used. You want to be able to stand out from your background, whilst also looking like you belong there. At the beach it’s nice to wear lighter clothes in the tones you would see at the beach such as blues, whites, creams and pastels. This also runs the risk of blending into your background, so floaty clothing or clothing with some kind of movement or layers will help. Avoid too much black at the beach as it’s quite a harsh contrast to the softness of the environment. You want to stand out from your environment, but you still want to look like you belong. If you’re in a park with a lot of greenery, then wearing greens, oranges and browns will often cause you to blend into the background rather than stand out from it. Think about using pops of colour to help you stand out from your background, or lighter, pastel clothing. One colour to avoid (as well as too much black), is fluro or overly bright colours – deep, strong colours work much better than bright fluro colours.
- Type of session. If you’ve booked a maternity session, you want to be able to show off your baby bump. This is the perfect time to find a beautiful lacey or flowing outfit, but can also be achieved by wearing tighter fitting clothes or a two piece outfit which shows off your bare belly. Try to avoid black over your stomach, as this can hide the tummy rather than enhance it. If you’ve booked a newborn lifestyle session, try to dress your baby in simple clothes. Plain onesies work beautifully to enhance gorgeous baby features. You can always add interest with a gorgeous textured beanie, booties, wraps, blankets or headpiece. Try to avoid two piece outfits on little babies as they can bunch up and detract from your little baby.
- Texture is the perfect way to add another dimension to your images – I love texture!! Texture can be added through knitted jumpers, kimonos, long thick cardigans, or in accessories such as beanies, scarves, umbrellas and blankets. Layers add texture to outfits, as does any type of movement in material (such as flowing dresses or skirts, ruffles and interesting details on tops, long earrings, or ribbons in your hair).
- Tones. When you have more than one person in your shoot, you want to keep in the same tones without overly matching. For example – avoid everyone in blue jeans and white t-shirts – we want something a little more interesting than that! You want to be in the same colour palette – that means you don’t want some in bright colours, some in all black, and some in all white. In fact, try to avoid too much black overall – especially if others in your group are wearing lighter colours. Some black is fine, but just try to avoid it being the overall colour of your outfit (for example stick to black pants or black cardigan, rather than a black top AND black bottoms). If you do want to wear black, then adding colour and texture with accessories and layers is a great idea to break it up. It’s good to have a neutral colour base, and then add in some pops of colour in the same colour palette (perhaps through a patterned kimono, coloured cardigan, textured beanie or colourful skirt).
- Patterns. I actually like patterns! (As long as not EVERYONE is wearing them!). I think they can add interest and texture to your images. I particularly love florals, and stripes or spots. More than one person can wear a pattern as long as they’re in the same tone. Patterns can be added with leggings, jackets, dresses, kimonos and through accessories. Patterns do no mean logos! Avoid logos!
- Pops of colour. If there is a nice neutral base of colours, it can be nice to add some pops of colour. This can help you to stand out from your environment, and create interest in your images. Strong, deep colours, or soft pastel colours work better than bright fluro colours. If you google ‘Complimentary colour wheel’, you will see which colours tend to go well together to create a colour pop as they create visual interest and contrast, whilst still remaining in the same tone (yellow and purple, green and red, blue and orange). When adding colour, it’s always a good idea to add enough neutral tones (such as creams, greys, denim) in order to break up the colour. Also avoid everyone being in a strong colour where possible. You can add a colour pop through a coloured cardigan, headpiece, belt, skirt, or even through jewellery or lipstick.
One of the most important things to remember when styling for your photo shoot, is that you want to be comfortable, and you want the clothing to be a representation of you and your family. And as for things to AVOID, try to steer clear of these:
- Avoid too much black – black is fine as long as you’re not dressed ALL in black (break it up with some colour, texture or layers).
- Avoid bright fluro colours. Strong, deep colours work well, as do soft pastels. Bright fluro colours tend to cast their colour over your skin, which doesn’t result in a very appealing skin tone in photos. If you want to add bright fluro colours, do so in small bursts such as through a small accessory, or one small part of a colour in a pattern
- Avoid logos – this means front and back of your outfits. A small logo can sometimes be okay, but large logos which take up a large amount of space on your clothing is definitely to be avoided when possible
- Avoid clothes which make you feel uncomfortable. You don’t want to constantly be fixing your strap or pulling down your skirt – you want to be comfortable and unrestricted
- Avoid clashing patterns. As mentioned, patterns can be great, but you don’t want everyone wearing them. If more than one person is wearing a pattern, you want to stick to the basic rules of styling, and ensure that the patterns are in the same tone as each other.
- Avoid newborns in too many layers or bulky clothing. Keep it simple.
- Avoid being too hot or too cold – think about the weather when planning your shoot. This is also where layers are great!
I know it can still be overwhelming. The best advice is to step back for a moment and ask yourself these questions:
- Where will my shoot be? (Home/Park/Beach) The answer will determine the style of clothing you’ll be looking for
- What season are we in? This will determine whether you’re looking at summer or winter clothes, or if you need to think more about layers (Layers are great all year around!)
- What type of shoot is it? (If it’s a maternity shoot, you want to find clothes that show off your tummy. If it’s a family shoot, you want to find clothes that suit you as a family)
From there, you’ll have an idea of the type of clothes you’ll be looking for. Look in your wardrobe first (or your kids wardrobes), and find one outfit that you love and want to include in the shoot (or even part of an outfit, such as a skirt, a pair of shoes, or a scarf). Once you’ve found that, work the rest of the outfits around that item, keeping in mind all the tips above regarding tones, patterns, texture and colour. Try not to stress about it, and please feel free to contact me for any additional advice (I often have clients send me images of outfits they’re considering, and I’m more than happy to help you too!). I also have a Pinterest Board which can give you some visual ideas on great combinations!
If you’d like to book a session, or gift a session to a friend, Contact me. I’d love to help you!
by Alana | Aug 15, 2018 | Fresh 48
After being lucky enough to witness Evie’s birth (see The Birth of Evie ), I was excited to visit her again a couple of days later for her Fresh 48 session. Fresh 48 sessions are images taken in the first 48 hours of a new baby’s life – and are taken in the hospital or place of birth. They are a gorgeous way to remember that time in the hospital which is your first home together as a family. I personally always loved my time spent in the hospital. I found it was such a nice way to bond with our new baby without the distractions of cooking and cleaning, and all of the normal daily life stuff. It let us stay in a little bubble for awhile and just absorb our baby. So for me, I have fond memories of the time spent in hospital and I think it’s beautiful to capture some memories there.
I was amazed at how much Evie had already changed since she was first born less than 2 days earlier! I was also amazed at just how fabulous her Mummy Ashlee looked – it was as if she hadn’t just delivered a baby! I felt like I was walking in on the perfect family. Evie remained just as peaceful as she was when she was first born, and both Matt and Ashlee were completely in love with everything about her. Ashlee had styled Evie perfectly – they changed her into a plain white onesie and added a gorgeous textured beanie, and gorgeous textured booties. Texture and simplicity = perfection. The booties were a little big and kept falling off of her feet – but that just made them even cuter! Evie slept her way through a lot of the session, which made for perfect opportunities to capture those new baby cuddles. These are some of my favourite images!
To book a Fresh 48 for yourself or to gift one to someone you love, Contact me here. You can also view my Fresh 48 Portfolio. You can view Evie’s Newborn Lifestyle Session here.
by Alana | Aug 14, 2018 | Family - Lifestyle
As well as shooting newborn lifestyle sessions, I also love family lifestyle sessions. I captured some of my favourite images for Kate, Andre and Hugo in their home in July. Prior to my sessions, I ask clients if there are particular images they’d like to capture – things that might be important to them and their family routines. I absolutely loved Kate’s response. Some of the images she wanted to capture included Hugo playing with his favourite toy (the colourful cups), their bed, making tea and toast in the kitchen and out the front of their house. While there we also went into Hugo’s nursery (check out that beautiful wall!!), and I quickly discovered that his favourite book is “Funny Bones”. He loves it so much that his mum often hides it just so that she can read something different! I knew I wanted to capture that memory for them as well, so I got them to read the book to him. These times are fleeting, and although we think we’ll always remember – we quickly move onto the next phase and a lot of things are forgotten. It’s important to me to capture some of those every day routine moments which are unique to each family. In my own life, I often think about little things that each of my children love to do at a particular time, and I try to find a way to capture it before they move on. For example, my son used to love pulling all of his books out of his bookshelf and ‘reading’ them when he was 1, and then he became obsessed with brushing his teeth when he was 2. He no longer does either of those things in the same way as he used to, but I have immortalised some memories of him doing them. I love being able to give that to families as well.
If you’d like to capture some of your own memories, Contact me and we can discuss the best choice for you. You can also view more of my family sessions in my Family Portfolio.
by Alana | Aug 13, 2018 | Birth
When I started photography, my ultimate dream was to photograph births. I had a birth photographer for my 4th baby, and I absolutely cherish those images. You can never ever get that time back, and they grow so quickly (too quickly) – that soon enough they’re not that fresh newborn anymore. It can be hard to absorb it all when you’re experiencing it – there’s a lot in the way which prevents you from always soaking it in (the pain, the sleepless nights, the exhaustion, discomfort, the ‘new normal’ you’re trying to adapt to…so many things). By having someone there to capture those memories, you can revisit them forever. By looking at the image again, you can be transported back in time to that moment, and you can remember the smells, the feelings, the sounds….an image can be so powerful. Birth and preserving memories through photos are two of my absolute favourite things – so it’s an absolute dream come true to be able to merge both of those things together and do birth photography.
When my sister in law asked me at the end of her maternity shoot (see Ashlee’s Maternity Session) if I would consider being at the birth of their daughter, I was so honoured and excited!! As the time got closer to the birth, their plans were changed a little and it was decided that she would need a C-section. We were all happy that their doctor was excited at the thought of a birth photographer in the room, and that they would still be able to get their journey recorded. As they wouldn’t be going through the labour, I really wanted to make sure that I captured as much of their story as possible. I met them at the hospital when they arrived, so that I could capture their journey from the moment they arrived at the hospital. All those little details before the birth are just as important to the story – the nervous approach to the hospital; the feelings when signing in at the desk, knowing that when you leave you’ll have your baby; the excited walk into your room; the anxious and supportive hand holds; your room number….all of it is part of the story and part of that special day in your life. One that in so many ways can be so ordinary, but in other ways is so extraordinary.
The time in the hospital actually went very quickly – before long Ashlee was being taken down the lift to the operating theatre. There were nerves, tears, laughter, anxiety, excitement….so many mixed emotions. Throughout it all, Matt was there supporting Ashlee. He was holding her hand, giving her strength and just being there for her the whole way through. I can’t imagine a time when men weren’t allowed to be a part of it all. It’s as much life changing for them as it is for the mum. As for Ashlee, she was so strong. There was fear at points, and tears at other points, but she remained so strong throughout it all, and I truly admire her for that. The strength of a woman having a baby is so powerful. There is no easy way to deliver a baby. A C-section isn’t ‘an easy way out’. I looked at Ashlee on the bed, and I wondered if I could be as strong in that situation. Then I remembered, that when you have a baby it’s not about you anymore – it’s about your baby, and you find so much strength that you didn’t even know you had.
The moment they lifted Evie up to see her parents, I had to shoot through tears in my eyes. They were so happy – all fear and anxiety was completely gone and was replaced just with pure peace, joy and love. Their eyes both brimmed with tears, but they were happy tears. They were in love, and they couldn’t believe she was real. Their first cuddles together was just amazing. Evie was so peaceful from the start – she just knew that everything was going to be okay, and was happy and content just to gently fall asleep or calmly look around and try to focus her eyes. Ashlee and Matt took awhile to decide on her name, and I captured an image of the three of them on the bed just as they decided that she was Evie. Matt is kissing Ashlee, and Ashlee is holding their daughter who they have just named. Beautiful.
After the birth, the story continues with those first breastfeeds, those first moments absorbing their fresh new daughter, and first visits from Evie’s Grandparents and Aunty and Uncle. And of course, I had my first holds as well. And it took everything in me to give her back.
If you’d like to book a birth session, Contact me here. As much as I love births, I can only take on a small number per year as I have my own little people as well, so it’s important to contact me as soon as possible. You can view my Birth Portfolio here.
by Alana | Jul 31, 2018 | Photo books
Recently I’ve added photo books to one of my collections. There are many reasons I love photo books:
- I’m a big believer in displaying memories and looking back on them. I also love printing some images and displaying them around the home, but photo books are the perfect way to preserve those memories even when you update the frames around your house. As time passes, the photo book remains as something you can look through any time you like. Images in frames may change, but the photo book will always be the same.
- I’m a storyteller through my images. My main goal when doing my sessions is not to get the ‘perfect everyone smiling at the camera’ photo (although sometimes we’re lucky enough to get those too!). My main goal is to tell the story of your family – whether that’s on location or in your home. I tell the story through detail shots, through moments captured, emotions and moods, through different perspectives and things that make you, YOU. Some of these images may not be ones you’d frame – and yet they tell the story of you and your family. Photo books allow them to be preserved and remain part of the story. Nothing makes me happier than when a client can have all of their images, and keep them in a photo book to look through in years to come.
- They look beautiful. The photo books I create have a linen cover – there are multiple colours to choose from to suit your session – and are customised with whichever title you choose. They look beautiful displayed on a shelf or in the nursery – which makes them easily accessible to look through compared to bulky albums.
- You’re more likely to look at a photo book. Images in frames may change; images on the computer may be forgotten; images in bulky albums may not be opened – but a beautiful photo book which is specific to one moment in time is much easier to keep on hand (think bookshelf, coffee table, nursery) and therefore much easier to always look through.
- They’re perfect gifts. If you’re looking for a special gift to give someone, the photo books are a perfect option. One client recently ordered an 11×11 for herself, and an 8×8 as a gift for her sister. Another bought some photo books of their family session for the Grandparents.
- You can choose which images you want in there. I create a photo book, and then share it with you online. Once you’re happy with it, I’ll order it. Delivery usually takes a few weeks.
- They just feel special. Including them in packages allows you to get something tangible and special from your session. It’s a beautiful way to remember the time which is obviously special to you – as you’ve gone to the effort of booking a photo session.
- Time passes so quickly. The big reason I love taking photos is because I want to freeze time along the way. It all passes so quickly. The newborn won’t be a newborn for long; your family won’t look the same in another year…or 5…or 10…; your pregnancy will be a memory in only a few short months; your birth can never be re-experienced. Photo books allow you to revisit that time by picking up your book, and soaking in those memories of a time since passed.
These are just some of the reasons I love photo books and have included them in one of my collections. I don’t want to just give you images that will get lost – I want to give you memories that will last. If you’d like more information on photo books, please don’t hesitate to Contact Me.
by Alana | Jul 25, 2018 | Newborn - Lifestyle, Uncategorized
I met little Eve and her family at their home on July 25th. Eve has a big sister Ruby, and mum Amanda had warned me that she took awhile to get warmed up to new people. She had told me this information through a pre-session questionnaire that I send out, which is a great way to get an understanding of the family I’m due to meet and what they want to capture. It was interesting watching Ruby – she would act somewhat shy, and yet in the next moment she’d be sneaking in the photos! It was obvious that she actually did want to be involved, but just needed a little warming up to the idea. By the end she was dancing and spinning all over the place! With toddlers, it’s always good to get them engaged in an activity that they enjoy to help them warm up. In Ruby’s case (as seems to be true for many of the toddlers I photograph), this involved reading books. She was so happy to read book after book on the bed with her family, and would run excitedly to get a new one. These every day moments are important to me to capture, as well as being a good distraction for the kids. It’s a win-win situation!
Meanwhile, little Eve was one of those ‘go with the flow babies’. She was asleep on the bed when I arrived, so I took advantage of capturing some images of her straight away. Unfortunately moving her woke her, but for the most part she was happy enough, although by the end I knew she was due for a lovely long sleep (probably being held by her mum which was where she liked to sleep the best). Amanda had mentioned that they had trouble getting photos of the two girls together, so as Ruby became tired towards the end of the session and climbed into her mum and dad’s bed with some milk, we took advantage of the situation and placed little Eve right beside her. That’s the beauty of lifestyle sessions – instead of forcing them together, we just followed what was naturally happening in front of us – this usually results in much less stress for everyone! I absolutely loved capturing images for this family.
If you’d like to capture some memories for yourself, or provide a gift to someone you love, Contact me. You can view more beautiful newborn lifestyle images in my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio. You can also learn more about what a lifestyle session is here.
by Alana | Jul 24, 2018 | Newborn - Lifestyle
Hugo’s Mummy Paula had contacted me to do her maternity session. We booked it in, however the day before she began getting contractions and was admitted to hospital for the next week to try to delay delivery. Little Hugo obviously wanted all the attention on himself and was very eager to enter the world! She contacted me again once she was home, and we organised a Lifestyle Newborn session for the day before her mum was due to fly back to Brazil. Her husband was unfortunately away for work, but it was lovely to be able to have her mum involved, who had also gifted the shoot to her.
When I arrived, her mum was in pyjamas as she insisted that she didn’t want to be in any photos. Throughout the session though, it was obvious how much love she had for her daughter and grandson, and she couldn’t stop herself from jumping in some photos. I’m so glad she did, because they’re some of my favourite images. Both women showed such natural emotion when hugging and kissing Hugo. Their passion and adoration for him just bounced through the photos and made my heart sing. These are the types of images I just LOVE to capture. Hugo was so happy and awake during his session. Paula insisted that he could be grumpy, however I saw no evidence of that at all! He was just perfect!
If you’d like to view more beautiful newborn lifestyle images, check out my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio and learn more about lifestyle sessions here. If you’d like to book a session for yourself or as a gift for someone else, Contact me here.
by Alana | Jul 15, 2018 | Newborn - Lifestyle
Every time I look at the images of the gorgeous Jude, my heart does a little flutter. Those big brown eyes and perfect features…it’s just too much! I love Newborn Lifestyle Sessions – they have to be one of my favourite sessions to do. The newborn stage can be such a blur for us as mums, and yet also something that we look back on and wish we could revisit for just a moment. As cliché as it is, they really do grow so fast. I love capturing memories for families in their own environments. I love knowing that when they look back on their precious babies, they’ll also be able to look back on what life was really like at that time. That couch they spent so much time cuddling their baby on; the nursery they spent all the time decorating; the way their older child would smother the baby with love; the beauty and chaos all rolled into one.
The other reason that Newborn Lifestyle sessions are so amazing, is that the kids don’t need to be on their perfect behaviour. Little Jude was unsettled for some of the time, but that’s all part of the story. It’s a perfect time to preserve those daily memories we have of settling our babies and helping them through their sleepiness and tummy troubles. His big brother Xander was also gorgeous, and full of toddler energy! Being in his own environment allowed him to come in and out of the areas we were taking photos in – shower some energetic love on his baby brother – and then go back to entertaining himself, without the need to sit still and smile at the camera. Newborn lifestyle sessions are a beautiful way to preserve the memories of the most special times in our life – it can be challenging, beautiful, exhausting and peaceful all at once.
If you’re interested in booking a Newborn Lifestyle session, Contact Me and we can discuss capturing some beautiful memories for you too! View more beautiful Newborn Lifestyle images in my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio. You can also learn more about Lifestyle sessions here.
by Alana | Jul 3, 2018 | Newborn - Lifestyle
It was well worth the drive to Byford to meet the gorgeous little Phoebe and her family, including her Mummy and Daddy, her big brother Ollie, and her Aunty Kayleigh. Kayleigh had gifted the session to her sister Alana, so she could celebrate the early days at home with her new family. Alana asked if Kayleigh could also be a part of the photo session, as she was so appreciative of the gift, and also wanted to celebrate the fact that Kayleigh is such an important part of their everyday life – and has the well-earned title of Favourite Aunty. I was more than happy to include Kayleigh in our morning, and it was obvious whilst there just how close they all are, and how important they all are to each other.
Alana and Corey had chosen to dress Phoebe in a gorgeous pink knitted cardigan, and matching pink booties. Whilst cradling Phoebe in his arms, Corey explained to me how his Grandmother had knitted them long before Phoebe was even born. She had knitted in pinks and blues, so that she had something to give to her future Great Grandchildren when they were eventually born. I thought this was truly beautiful. His Grandmother has since passed, but she is still an important part of his new family, and Phoebe is able to wear something her Great Grandmother made for her, which is like getting a nice warm hug from her. I thought this was such a perfect outfit choice for her Lifestyle session, as it’s these special things that I love to capture.
Alana and Corey decided to upgrade to the full album once viewing their gallery, and with that they’re also receiving a beautiful linen photo book to display their beautiful images and keep them special forever. Learn more about Why I love photo books.
If you’d like to book a Newborn Lifestyle session, Contact Me for further information. For more beautiful newborn images, look at my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio. You can also learn more about Lifestyle Sessions Here.
Gallery Factory error: The folder/album with ID 137 was not found.
by Alana | Jun 28, 2018 | Birth
June 28th 2018 will always be a day I remember. On this day I was lucky enough to be able to witness and capture the birth of the beautiful Chloe. I had met her parents at The Wanneroo Pines a few weeks earlier to celebrate their pregnancy – view Charlotte’s Maternity Session, and they asked me if I would consider being their Birth Photographer. I absolutely love birth – I think it’s the most beautiful and precious moment, and that moment when your baby is placed on your chest is just so addictive (perhaps why I have 4 kids of my own!), so it didn’t take me long to say a big YES!! I had a birth photographer for my last baby, and I treasure those memories so much. I was so glad to be able to provide those memories for someone else.
The day was long, and yet the time flew (for me at least!). There was an amazing amount of love in the room – Dylan was so attentive and supportive of Charlotte, and Charlotte was so strong and beautiful throughout it all (despite some challenges she had to face throughout the day). Throughout it all, I captured their tender moments; her pained yet beautiful face; the moments of laughter in between. The time for Chloe’s birth came suddenly in the end and took us all by surprise (progress had been slow, until the last hour).
The moment Chloe was born was one I’ll never forget. She was lifted onto her Mummy’s chest, and all the pain was forgotten. Only love and joy remained. And tears Lots of tears. Even from me. I’m surprised I managed to capture some images through my blurry eyes. Throughout the day, Charlotte and Dylan had been loving the sound of other newborns crying, and now they were able to hear their own baby cry. I’m so honoured to have been present for their birth story. Thank you Charlotte and Dylan, and welcome to the world Chloe.
I offer a small number of Birth Sessions throughout the year. If you’re interested in capturing this beautiful time, Contact Me and we can discuss further. If you’d like to view more images, look at my Birth Portfolio
by Alana | Jun 15, 2018 | Newborn - Lifestyle
I first met Crystal and Luke during Crystal’s Maternity Session. I was so excited to meet their little girl Tallulah in a Newborn Lifestyle Session – it makes me so happy when I get to meet the babies I’ve photographed in their Mummy’s tummies! Tallulah was such a peaceful baby – she was so content to just feed, look around, cuddle with her Mummy and Daddy, and eventually fall asleep. Her Daddy held her and did this magical breathing thing – apparently if you slow your breathing down, the baby’s breathing also slows and helps them relax to fall asleep. It worked! In no time, she was sleeping – there was no crying beforehand, no fussing – just gently fell asleep. In so many of my sessions I seem to leave with the baby asleep. Newborn Lifestyle sessions generally last for 1.5 hours, so it all works out with their feed and sleep rhythm. I love leaving with the house quiet and peaceful and baby asleep. It seems like the perfect way to end my time in their home. Throughout their home, I could also see framed images from our Maternity session – that makes me so happy! I love images being displayed. For this session, I gave them a slideshow of their images. For me, this brings the images to life. It gives them movement and adds to the emotion. I’ve included slideshows in my top packages, but they’re included with all Birth sessions as well.
If you’d like to book a Lifestyle Newborn Session, Contact Me. You can view more Lifestyle Newborn images in my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio. If you’d like to learn more about lifestyle sessions, you can do so here What is a Lifestyle Session?
by Alana | Jun 14, 2018 | Maternity, The Wanneroo Pines
Charlotte and Dylan are the beautiful couple who allowed me into their special time with capturing the birth of their daughter Chloe (see blog post The Birth of Chloe). Whilst Chloe was still tucked safely inside her Mummy’s tummy, we met for her Maternity session at the Wanneroo Pines (we may have had a little miscommunication, and they ended up at the Pines in Ellenbrook instead – oops!). I’m so glad we found our way to each other in the end, because I just love these images, and I’ve come to love this couple as well!
I have to admit that when I saw the outfit Charlotte had chosen to wear, I did a little internal happy dance – how gorgeous does she look?! This is the perfect time to find something romantic and flowing to wear, to really show off the beauty of pregnancy. Dylan complimented her perfectly – only real men wear pink, right Dylan?! During a Maternity session, I not only love to capture Mum’s beautiful belly – but if her partner and/or kids are there – I also love to capture their connection. Babies are beautiful, but they also bring about a lot of change. I think it’s really special to capture that time right before life changes – to remember the feeling of the time as well as what it looked like. I always look back fondly on my own 4 pregnancies, despite the discomforts and struggles that also came with them, so I love being able to capture that time for other mums. I always regret that I never had Maternity photos for myself – maybe 5th time hey….(don’t worry husband, that’s a joke….kind of…!)
If you’re interested in booking a Maternity session, Contact Me and we can discuss capturing some beautiful memories for you. I have packages available to include other special times as well, such as Birth, Fresh 48 and Newborn Lifestyle. If you’d like to view more beautiful maternity images, look at my Maternity Portfolio. You can also view Chloe’s Lifestyle Newborn Session here.
by Alana | Jun 9, 2018 | Maternity
Ashlee is my beautiful sister in law. Her and her husband Matthew (my husband’s younger brother), are due to have their baby any day now – and fingers crossed I get to be there at the birth! Soooo excited!! They’re having the first girl born into our immediate family since my own daughter 10 years ago! Since then there have been SEVEN boys born (3 of them are mine!)!!! I was so happy to capture some images for them so they could celebrate this special time in their lives. We met at John Oldham Park, on a rather dodgy weather day. It was also their anniversary of when they got together – so it was a perfect date to choose. Luckily the rain stayed away for us, and we were able to get some beautiful images. Matt is already emotional about becoming a Daddy – I can only imagine what he’ll be like at her birth!! He talks to his daughter every day, and so I really wanted to capture that memory for them. This is something their daughter will now not only get to hear about, but will also get to see. I also asked him how he felt when he found out he was having a little girl, and the look he gave was beautiful. She’ll now also be able to be part of that memory with them. I can’t wait to watch this little girl grow up in our family, and to watch Matt and Ashlee as parents. They’re both always so amazing with their neices and nephews, that I know they’ll be awesome at this. You’ve got this guys!!
If you’d like to capture some of your own memories, Contact Me. If you’d like to view more beautiful maternity images, check out my Maternity Portfolio
