by Alana | Mar 1, 2021 | Family - Location, Hyde Park, Maternity, Newborn - Lifestyle, The Wanneroo Pines
There’s nothing I love more than meeting up with my families again, and I’ve had the pleasure of catching up with this gorgeous bunch since Adriana was pregnant with Felix during their maternity session at The Pines. Next I was able to meet the gorgeous Felix during their newborn lifestyle session which are undoubtedly my favourite sessions to capture! And more recently (although I’m massively behind with blogs!), I met with them at Hyde Park for their family session. This beautiful family come into their session relaxed, willing to have fun and connect with each other, which makes for the most beautiful and natural images to be captured! During all of my sessions I want you to connect with each other, and not be focused on looking at the camera. That’s just my style – always looking for the authentic expressions of connection between you!
Hyde Park is one of those locations that is still beautiful outside of golden hour, but of course that magical period where the sun is setting always always always results in the most magical light!
If you’d like to book in a session or ask any questions, send me an email! You can also view more beautiful photos in my Family Portfolio.
Contact me to book in your session!
by Alana | Feb 23, 2021 | Family - Lifestyle, Newborn - Lifestyle, Slideshow
Scarlett was born during Covid, which meant that her Daddy didn’t even get to meet for the first few weeks of her life, as he was stuck interstate. I was there to capture him meeting her for the first time at the Airport, and then met with them again a few weeks later to capture a lifestyle session in their home. Lifestyle sessions are totally relaxed, totally go with the flow, and totally authentic memories. It’s you on the couch with your baby…it’s feeding your baby and cuddling them…it’s your baby sleeping, crying, smiling….however they are in the moment. There are no props, no formal poses…just the beautiful authenticity of you and your baby. Simple, real life and intimate.
If you’d like to book a session, send me an email! You can also view more of my work in my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio.
Contact me to book in your session!
by Alana | Feb 12, 2021 | Newborn - Lifestyle
“Embrace the chaos” is something I truly believe in, and this is definitely something I want you to keep in mind during your newborn lifestyle session, especially when you have other kids! Don’t worry if your kids don’t ‘behave’ – these sessions are truly about going with the flow of life! I have 4 kids so I totally get the noise and chaos that comes with a busy house….the absolute best thing to do is just to go with it. If your kids need a break, give them one…if they don’t want to be in a photo, don’t force them…I know we can want things to turn out ‘perfectly’, but to me there is perfection in the natural chaos of life. As crazy as it is, we’ll miss it all when they grow!
No matter how chaotic it might feel, I can guarantee we’ll still get some beautiful images just like these. Remember, photos don’t have sound!
if you want to book in a session or have any questions, you can send me an email! You can also learn more about newborn lifestyle sessions, and view more of my work in my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio.
Contact me to book in your session!
by Alana | Aug 10, 2020 | Maternity, Newborn - Lifestyle
How crazy and unexpected has this year been?! We were all booked in to do a maternity session for Kirsty and Cameron to celebrate their first pregnancy – and then Covid hit, throwing everyone’s plans out the window! Plan B worked out even better though – as we were free to meet when little Harriet had been born and was able to join us in a gorgeous newborn lifestyle session in their home!
Lifestyle sessions are so much fun! We get to just chat, relax, and go with the flow as I look out for those little moments between you to capture. The natural laughter…the little baby expressions…the closing of your eyes as you soak your baby in…the way your hands play with her finger…the way you all fit together. It might sometimes feel as if you’re staying in one spot for a long time, and you might not know if you’re doing ‘enough’. But you are. We don’t need to be moving constantly to get the most beautiful photos. You just need to be you, together, still and taking in the moment. Just breathe, relax, and let me do all of the work.
I’ll usually look for the best light during our session – and a window like the one in Kirsty’s lounge room is just perfect! But really, any window light will do. I don’t need (or usually want) overhead lights on – my focus is on working with the natural light and the natural moments between you. I’ll guide you, and direct you, and we’ll set up situations sometimes…but the emotions that come from the photos…that’s all you!
Harriet is one gorgeous little baby, and I was lucky enough to sneak in a little cuddle with her at the end! Spending time with you and your new little person is probably my favourite thing to do, because I know how special and fleeting this time is, and also how messy, emotional and complicated it can be. Sometimes, it’s by looking back on photos, that you can really enjoy it properly.
If you’d like to book in a session for yourself, Contact me! You can also view more examples of my work in my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio.
Contact me to book in your session!
by Alana | May 29, 2020 | Family - Lifestyle, Newborn - Lifestyle
Amidst all of the Covid chaos, little Dustin was born. His session had to be delayed a little, but we were finally able to go ahead and capture some of these once in a lifetime moments!! Newborn lifestyle sessions are probably my favourite sessions to do. Being invited into your little bubble for awhile is always so special, and to be honest it always brings back memories of my own kids when they were babies. It makes me realise how fast it all goes, but how your memory can snap you back there in an instant! That tiny ache when you realise that you’ve said goodbye to that stage of your life, that exact little person….a stage which at times felt never ending. And sometimes you’d wish it away – because, let’s face it – some days are just hard and you don’t enjoy them!! But for the most part, they’ll always be special to you, because this is the start of it all. The start of getting to know and love your little person, and watch them grow. Photo memories help you hold onto each version of your baby just that little bit longer, and help you remember what it felt like.
If you’d like some photo memories for yourself, Contact me to chat! You can also view more examples of my work in my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio.
Contact me to book in your session!
by Alana | May 25, 2020 | Extended Family, Family - Location, Fresh 48, Maternity, Newborn - Lifestyle, Perrys Paddock, Photo books
I first met Oliver’s parents at Perry’s Paddock for their Maternity Session in the pouring rain! I then met Oliver the day after he was born during his Fresh 48 session at their home. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to see them all again, as well as Oliver’s Grandparents, for a family session at Perry’s Paddock. We almost had some weather issues again, but luckily the rain held out this time! I love being able to see my families again, and couldn’t believe how much Oliver had grown. From a one day old newborn, to a sitting, smiling 7 month old baby….there are sooo many changes that happen in those first years. Changes that happen before your eyes and literally over night. Each stage can sometimes feel never ending, but it’s really not. Time passes so quickly, and brings with it so many stages, changes and phases. This is part of the reason why I love photos so much, because they freeze some of those stages in time so that you can revisit them long after they’ve passed. You can look at a photo and it can bring back all of the memories…the feelings and the emotions…and you can almost relive it again. How often do you sit and hold onto a photo, smiling as you remember what it was like when it was taken?
Dea and Chris chose to include a photo book with their collection, which is the perfect way to keep some of your favourite photos in one place so that you can look through them again and again. I’m a big believer in not only taking photos, but also in displaying them! Don’t just keep them on your computer, never to be seen again!
If you’d like to create some beautiful photo memories, Contact me and we can chat! You can also view more examples of my work in my Family Portfolio, Fresh 48 Portfolio and Maternity Portfolio.
Contact me to chat about your session!
by Alana | May 24, 2020 | Extended Family, Family - Location, Hyde Park, Newborn - Lifestyle
I first met Harrison and his parents and grandparents during his Newborn Lifestyle Session back in October last year. While his other grandparents were visiting, his parents chose to celebrate them all being together by organising an extended family session at the gorgeous Hyde Park. Despite some weather issues, and the emerging issues with Covid, we managed to meet up and capture some beautiful moments for Harrison with those who love him the most. As with any session with young children, it all revolves around them and their needs. When Harrison needed some cuddles from mum, we’d stop and let him have them. When he needed a feed, we gave him one. When he fell asleep, we let him be. I think he did pretty perfectly!!
If you’d like to book in a session for yourself, Contact me and we can chat! You can also view more examples of my work in my Family Portfolio and Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio.
Contact me to chat about your session!
by Alana | Feb 15, 2020 | Newborn - Lifestyle
Let’s face it, life with a new baby can be stressful, chaotic and emotional. Add to that a toddler, and the thought of having to organise to pack everyone up and organise photos to be taken can just seem like an impossible task. You have to think about different sleep patterns, alllll of the things you need to pack, as well as your own exhaustion and sleep deprivation. This can sometimes mean that you miss out on capturing this truly special, and fleeting, time in your life! Before you know it, you blink and your newborn isn’t quite so ‘newborn’ anymore, and you realise that you’ve missed your opportunity to freeze some of that newborn goodness in time!! This is one of the reasons why newborn lifestyle sessions are so amazing, and PERFECT for new parents! They’re captured in your own home, so you don’t need to go anywhere. I come to you, and we work around your kids sleep needs and their moods. There’s no pressure for anyone to ‘perform’ or ‘behave’ – these sessions are so incredibly ‘go with the flow’ that they allow us to capture some truly raw, beautiful moments between you and your family.
Recently I met with Banjo and his family, including his doting big brother Alby who just loved showering him in kisses! When you have a toddler, we take advantage of the moments when they’re in the mood to be involved, and then when they inevitably get a little over it, we let them run off and play with dad, have a snack, or take their clothes off if that’s what they feel they need to do! There are no rules and no expectations! Relax into it, and inevitably your toddler will too. Leanne said “I was grateful that you were relaxed in your approach and happy to work around us, particularly given we’d been up all night with the baby and our 3 year old was tearing around the house during the session. He brought out the superheroes and stripped off his clothes, yet you never broke a sweat!”
If you’re considering a newborn session, but you’re not sure what it involves, feel free to ask me any questions! Leanne provided me with this feedback after her session: “We’re so pleased we had a newborn lifestyle session rather than any other type of photo session. We had a lot going on bringing our second baby home over the crazy Christmas period, so it was a relief that you were so relaxed about how the session ran yet the outcome was a set of very professional photos. I am also impressed that you managed to shoot around the mess in our home, and just follow our movements – all of the photos made the environment look so bright and clean, and we love the photos we got of Banjo as well as capturing how much his big brother adores him.”
You can learn more about newborn lifestyle sessions, and view my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio for more examples of what you can expect. Feel free to Contact me with any questions or to book in a session!
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by Alana | Feb 15, 2020 | Newborn - Lifestyle
I love newborn lifestyle sessions, and I especially love them when you already have other children. What better way than to capture your kids getting to know each other, in the very environment that it’s all actually happening!! These real memories are the ones that will end up meaning the most – because they tell the story of what life was really like!! What it really looked like, and really felt like. You might feel like it will be this way forever, but it all changes so incredibly fast. Those toys they used to play with, they’ll outgrow…the way their room looks, it will change as they get older…the little details that make up your life as it is now, it evolves as the age of your kids change. It will never look quite this way again, and the details you think you’ll remember, you won’t. Until you see them in a photo and you smile and say ‘oh yeah! I remember what that felt like!’, and you might even pause and let yourself have a little holiday there in your mind.
The other obvious benefit of newborn lifestyle sessions when you have older children, is not having to pack everyone in the car to go somewhere! I come to you!! All you need to do is maybe clear some clutter from a few main rooms, and then just relax in your own environment! Let your baby feeds when he needs to feed, let your toddler have a break in another room when she’s not in the mood to be involved, get some snacks when needed…the freedom and ‘go with the flow’ nature of these sessions is exactly what you need when you’re learning to enjoy your life with your new baby!!
How beautiful is baby Lucas and his big sister Ava? Such a beautiful, fun, affectionate family, and extra special with their Grandparents also staying with them to get to know little Lucas. Grandparents being included in your session is one of my absolute favourite things…this is one bond you’ll always want to remember.
If you’d like to book a session for yourself, Contact me to chat! You can also view my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio and learn more about newborn lifestyle sessions!
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by Alana | Jan 15, 2020 | Newborn - Lifestyle
When you have a new baby, the time can pass in such a blur of sleepless nights, feeds, and trying to figure out your ‘new normal’. This is a time where you and your baby are getting to know each other. A time where you spend a lot of moments at home, on your couch…on your bed…pacing the halls…and welcoming visitors. These are the moments you’ll want to one day remember – the normal, every day moments which although exhausting, are also the most magical moments of your life. That doesn’t mean that they’re perfect moments – it just means that it’s life as you know it right now. The moments that your baby will never remember, and the moments that will fade in your own memory. A newborn lifestyle session means that you don’t need to leave your house, because I come to you to capture some of these moments for you and give them to you in a photo to be able to hold onto forever!
Gorgeous little Harrison was surrounded by love with his parents, his uncle and his Grandparents. I always think it’s so special and beautiful to include other family in your session!! They’re important people in your world, and their love and support helps you through this beautiful, but also challenging, time with your new baby! There’s nothing quite like welcoming a new little family member into your world – the dynamic changes and everyone melts just a little bit. So invite them over, include them in your session, and freeze this moment in time!!
A few months after this session, I met up with Harrison and both sets of Grandparents for a location session at the gorgeous Hyde Park. Check it out here!
If you’d like to book a newborn lifestyle session for yourself, Contact me here. You can also view my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio and learn more about Newborn Lifestyle sessions here.
To book in your session, or find out more, Contact me here!!
by Alana | Dec 28, 2019 | Newborn - Lifestyle
You know how sometimes you’re around people and their happiness is just infectious?! This is how I felt after meeting Callan and his parents, as well as his beautiful Grandmother who had come to stay from Scotland. Callan is their first baby, and it was pretty clear they were all on Cloud Nine! Their faces were a constant expression of how happy and in love they are with their little boy, and Callan himself was just pretty content the entire time. It’s impossible not to look at their photos and just smile!!
Steph had received a voucher as a baby present from her friends and co-workers, which is such a perfect present to give! This newborn stage is so fleeting, and is often one that passes in a complete blur of sleepless nights, overwhelming love, and finding your way in your ‘new normal’. Looking back on these photos taken in your own home, with your own memories surrounding you, will let you always hold onto this time in some small way. You’ll not only remember that moment, but you’ll feel it too. You might smile, or stop and hold onto one of the photos just a little bit longer as the feelings of the memory come flooding back. You’ll remember how it felt and what it sounded like, and you’ll realise how quickly and suddenly things have changed and how much you’ve learnt along the way. And you’ll miss it. So you’ll smile at these photos as you take them all in, and step back in time just for a moment to remember a time in your life that once was.
If you’d like to book in a session for yourself, or learn more about newborn lifestyle sessions, feel free to ask me any questions and Contact me here. You can also view my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio for more examples of my work and the gorgeous memories created.
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by Alana | Nov 23, 2019 | Newborn - Lifestyle
When you have two boys, there’s always going to be a lot of energy and noise in your home, and during this session it was obvious that baby Zac is loved on with quite enthusiastic force by his big brother Lachie! Newborn lifestyle sessions are very relaxed, go-with-the-flow type sessions. When you have one baby, they revolve solely around the needs of your newborn. When you have other children, they usually revolve a little more around the toddler. When your older child wants to sit and cuddle their baby, let them. When they need a cuddle from mum or dad, give it to them. When they need to jump on the bed, or play flying games with Dad, let them do that too. No two sessions follow exactly the same routine, because each family is unique and different. The one thing that does stay the same is that there is no pressure and no expectations…it’s all about capturing your life as a family as it is today, in this very moment. Some days might seem never ending, but I promise…they end all too quickly and before you know it, they’re just memories of a time that once was.
During our session, Lachie had leg rides from dad, played with his trucks, snacked on some food, jumped on the bed, flew on the couch, did stamping with Mum, read stories with Dad, and cuddled his new baby brother. All in the day of the life of a little boy who has just become a big brother! Meanwhile, Zac remained calm and chilled throughout it all. Eating when he needed to eat, and sleeping when he needed to sleep. And this session is now just a little snapshot into their life as it was during that very time in their lives.
If you’d like me to capture some memories for you too, Contact me here. You can also view my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio and learn more about newborn lifestyle sessions here.
Contact me to book in your session!
by Alana | Nov 23, 2019 | Newborn - Lifestyle
One of the reasons I love in-home newborn lifestyle sessions so much is that they are absolutely perfect when you have other children! Little Theo is the third baby in this beautiful family, who also have a 4 year old and almost 2 year old at the time of the session. Sarah had mentioned that there would be ‘lots of patience and going with the flow’ needed, and that’s exactly what goes on during a lifestyle session! Rafe and Clementine were included when they were willing, but were also given time to play outside with Dad or Grandma when they needed a break. Little kids shouldn’t be expected to sit still and ‘behave’ the entire time. Giving them freedom and flexibility and not forcing them to do anything allows them to actually enjoy themselves, and also allows us to capture a little bit of real life. And real life is beautiful, albeit chaotic!!
Theo’s Grandmother was also staying over from America, and so I made sure to include her as well – despite her initial reluctance! The relationship between Grandparents and Grandchildren is always such a beautiful, precious one to capture. Theo is definitely one loved, beautiful little boy, and I truly loved spending time with this gorgeous family.
If you’d love to book in a session for yourself, Contact me here. You can also view my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio for examples of my work, and learn more about newborn lifestyle sessions here.
Contact me to book in your session!
by Alana | Oct 30, 2019 | Newborn - Lifestyle
Georgia’s parents received a Gift Voucher for a Newborn Lifestyle session to celebrate her arrival – what a perfect present to give!! Gift vouchers can be for any amount and are a perfect baby shower or new baby present. You never really realise just how quickly this time passes, and how much your baby will change. These newborn days are such a blur of feeds, nappy changes, sleepless nights, and just trying to get to know this new little person who has come into your world! When there are other kids (such as the gorgeous Harrison in this family!), it’s also a time of changing dynamics and learning to parent more than one child at a time. It’s hard, chaotic and noisy…but it’s definitely worth remembering!!
I love including your dogs in our sessions as well, they can be such an important part of your family and deserve to be in some of your memories!! So never hesitate to include them!
If you’d love to capture some memories for yourself, or organise a gift voucher for someone, Contact me here. You can also view more examples of my work in my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio.
Contact me to book in your session!
by Alana | Oct 30, 2019 | Newborn - Lifestyle
One of my absolute favourite things about being a photographer is being able to meet some amazing families and spend some pretty special time with them, and I especially love it when I get to revisit those same families. I first met Adriana, Josh and Elias during their Maternity Session at the beautiful Pines in Wanneroo. Within a matter of weeks, I was meeting their perfect new addition – little Felix!! Stepping into their apartment, I was so thrilled to see that they already had displayed their photos they received from their maternity session – displaying photos is so important to me!!
Just as with any session, it usually revolves around the toddler and his moods. I never want to force kids to behave, to sit still, or to really do much of anything. And most of all, I don’t want parents to stress about that!! Having been with me during their maternity session, Adriana and Josh already knew that we would just go with the flow, and that inevitably we’d come up with some magic! Take pressure away from kids, and they’re likely to just naturally bring that magic along themselves, and I’m just always ready to capture it when it happens!! Adriana said that prior to her session, she felt “Relaxed and excited. Even though we knew our toddler could have been difficult we knew Alana would be amazing with him”.
It’s fair to say that Elias definitely brought along the magic when he was ready to – and after we’d let him fly in the sky with dad, play trains with dad, and jump on the bed! This time in your life is chaotic and noisy, it’s beautiful and it’s crazy, and a lifestyle session aims to capture all of that!! There’s no sitting still and smiling at the camera, it’s simply just being YOU and letting me capture that for you!! Adriana describes my style of photography as “Real life beautiful photography capturing genuine moments between us”, and describes the photos she received as “Precious, heartfelt and artistic”.
If you’d like me to capture some of these moments for you too, Contact me here. You can also view my Lifestyle Newborn Portfolio for more examples of my work. And yes, I offer gift vouchers!
Contact me to book in your session!
