Outdoor family photographers in Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula- what to look for.

So you want to organise an outdoor family photographer for a session in Melbourne? Here are a few things that you might want to consider.

• Firstly- the season! When considering an outdoor family photoshoot, what time of year do you want to do it in? Summer is extremely popular for the nice warm weather, gorgeous sunsets and summery wardrobe choices. The limitations of summer are busier locations and much later sunsets, which may not suit some families. At the other end of the spectrum winter photoshoots are not to be dismissed! Melbourne winters can offer the best sunsets, very family-friendly sunset times and much quieter outdoor locations. You would just need to be prepared to rug your family up and possibly reschedule if the weather is too bad.

• What time of the day? A lot of Melbourne photographers will only shoot at “golden hour” which is the hour immediately before sunset. This is when the light is the most flattering and offers that beautiful golden glow that you might have seen on other images. Sunrise is another beautiful time of the day to have outdoor family photographs done. If you want family outdoor photographs done at a different time of the day, be sure to check that your photographer will accommodate this.

• Outdoor locations. What takes your fancy? Do you want beach, woodland, long grasses or even in-home? Some Melbourne homes provide a great backdrop for photos (like below!)

Melbourne has no shortage at all of stunning locations to choose from. Bayside beaches, rugged bushland, the Dandenongs. Photographers can usually steer you in the right direction with locations, but have a think about what means the most to your family? How do you spend your time outdoors? Do you have tomboy kids who would love to climb trees during their session? Or a family who loves to spend their outdoor time at the beach exploring rockpools?

• Your photographer. Are they Melbourne based? Are they willing to travel to your preferred location? Are they experienced in photographing (for example) as a beach? Or is their portfolio mainly inland work? Make sure you have a good look at your Melbourne photographer’s outdoor work prior to booking and check that it aligns with your expectations from an outdoor family photoshoot.

• Is this an immediate family photoshoot? Or extended family? Some photographers don’t book extended family shoots. Others do, but it’s worth checking whether the fee is higher than just photographing an immediate family.

• Is the Melbourne outdoor location more suited to families with older or younger children? Some locations might require more adult supervision than others, so this is definitely worth checking with your photographer!

• Lastly- Melbourne’s infamously fickle weather! We’ve all witnessed downpours in January, and sunny days in July. How flexible is your photographer with outdoor family photoshoots? Can you reschedule easily? Or if you are happy to rug up and pop your gumboots on, is your Melbourne photographer happy to photograph your family in the rain?

I hope these little tips help you in your decision making process. This is an investment for you and your family, so it’s worth considering all the factors.

If you are located in Melbourne or the Mornington Peninsula and would like a family outdoor photoshoot, enquire below. I’d love to help you. Jo :)

Looking for a newborn baby photographer in Melbourne?

So you’re pregnant. Or maybe you’ve just had your newborn baby and you’re in the market for a newborn baby photographer in Melbourne. Here are a few things you might want to consider when choosing a newborn baby photographer:

• Do you want a studio or in-home newborn baby photoshoot? This is probably the first thing that you want to consider. If you choose a studio photography session, are they based in Melbourne? Can you get to them easily? An in-home newborn baby photoshoot might be your prefered option, but you need to check where is the photographer located? Is he/she willing to travel to your suburb in Melbourne? Lastly, the increasingly popular outdoor newborn baby photography might be your choice. This limits the poses that photographers can get with the baby (since baby needs to be nice and warm for any poses that involve stripping them off), but can offer stunning backdrops, especially in Melbourne where we have the most beautiful spots.

• Do you like posed or more natural/lifestyle baby shots? This is a very important distinction to make before choosing a photographer. Do not book a photographer based on seeing just one of their photographs. Have a proper look at their portfolio and see whether their newborn work speaks to you. Could you see yourself printing their work out for your wall?

• Do you want the newborn shoot to be mostly about your newborn baby? Or would you like your family (including possible other children) involved? Typically the more studio style newborn photography is mainly about the baby, with some offering sibling and family shots in the session too. An in-home newborn shoot or an outdoor baby shoot can include the whole family in a more story-telling approach.

• Budget! We all have one sadly. What is your budget? Does this align with your newborn photographers’ pricing? It is also worth checking what you get for the price, as often photographers can have tiered pricing. Pricing for photography in Melbourne can differ drastically, so it’s worth researching to see what you get for your investment.

• What product would you like at the end of your newborn photography session. Does the photographer offer digitals only, prints and print products only, or a mix of both? Some people are just happy with their newborn baby photographs as digital files, whilst others prefer professional wall art to display their beautiful baby.

• Reviews. Does your Melbourne newborn baby photographer have good reviews from previous clients? This is an important one to check.

• Timeframes. Does your Melbourne newborn photographer have a long waiting list? If so you may have to book in advance, or if you have already had your baby wait until they can fit you in. Some photographers won’t photograph a newborn after 3/4 weeks, so you might need to look elsewhere for someone who can fit you in sooner.

• Dress codes. I’ve just had a baby and feel frumpy. What do I wear??! Most Melbourne newborn photographers will either guide you in the right direction, whilst some studio based photographers will even have outfits for you and your newborn baby to wear.

So there we go! A few little tips for your to have a think about.

My name is Jo and I specialise in relaxed in-home baby-led newborn photography in Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. Feel free to check out my portfolio <<here or click below to enquire about booking.

Best of luck with your search :)

Family A- Beach maternity and in-home newborn photoshoot, Melbourne.

Melissa & Jed contacted me for a combined maternity and newborn shoot. Since their home is nestled in the beautiful Dandenong hills in Melbourne, they decided on a Bayside beach location for their Maternity photoshoot. Melbourne weather was not kind to us that night, but I think that the wild wind and cloudy sunset worked perfectly.

Their newborn shoot was set in their Eastern suburb home in the Dandenongs, Melbourne. We were able to merge and indoor and outdoor newborn shoot, and include their furry family member; Peach the cat.

If you live in the Melbourne region, are pregnant and would like a maternity and a newborn photography session, there is a discount for investing in both together. This blog just highlights what you can expect to receive from each photoshoot :)

Family D- beach family photoshoot Bayside, Melbourne

This gorgeous Brighton family decided to have an outdoor beach photoshoot before leaving their home in Brighton Melbourne and returning to their native America. When we spoke about the location for an outdoor family photoshoot, we settled on a quintessentially Melbourne spot in Bayside so they could look back and remember their time spent on the beach as a family.

If you or anyone you know would like to make some typically Australian memories at one of the many beautiful Bayside locations, then let’s chat. I promise, you won’t regret it :)

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At home photography with Family C- Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne

During what I call Melbourne’s “lockdown break” The Caves decided they wanted to document their time at home on the Mornington Peninsula, since they had spend so much time there during lockdown 1.0!

Well what a home they have! This Melbourne family live on an acre of land, in a converted B&B home on the tip of the Mornington Peninsula. They are patiently waiting for the day they can do their Australia trip with their caravan and 2 kiddo’s Alice & Max. An hour of photography was seriously not long enough for me, but we manage to capture some lovely memories for the family.