A maternity photoshoot on the Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne.

This Melbourne- based couple wanted a maternity shoot before their first baby made their way into the world. This is your typical summer night in Melbourne, and I particularly wanted to showcase this Mornington Peninsula location during this season.

This Melbourne spot has the perfect combination of long yellow grass, the ocean in the background and even a rocky beach down below the cliff. This is one of the most popular Mornington Peninsula location choices for photography (particularly maternity photography) and it’s easy to see why.

If you live in Melbourne or the Mornington Peninsula, and would like to enquire about a maternity, family or newborn photoshoot, hit the button below and we’ll chat! :)

Booking an extended family photographer in Melbourne

Hi there! After a lot of requests for extended family photoshoots, I thought I would write a quick blog on what you might need to consider before booking one- especially if you live in Melbourne!

I have also documented an example extended family photoshoot below, so you can see what to expect if you decide to book one yourself.

Extended family photoshoots are a bit more complicated than immediate family sessions. For this reason I am going to bullet point the main points for consideration:

• Who is going to be the person coordinating the extended family photoshoot? This is the person that will maintain communication with the photographer every step of the booking process, and then on the night of the extended family photoshoot.

• Can everyone agree on a date for the extended family photoshoot? This is often the biggest hurdle for families.

• Melbourne weather. We can’t not discuss this! Melbourne has an uncanny knack of giving us sunshine in the morning and rain in the evening. And vice versa! For this reason I suggest to the family that they choose two dates, and use the second as a back-up for their extended family session. Check what policy your extended family photographer has for bad weather.

• Money can be a tricky subject among extended families, so the budget would need to be agreed upfront before starting to search for the right extended family photographer, as would how the session cost is going to be split.

• Choosing your extended family photographer! This can be quite a subjective choice, as a preferred style can differ from family to family. In addition to agreeing on the budget, all family units would need to agree to liking the style of the photographer that is chosen.

• In the event that someone gets sick on the day, does your extended family photographer have availability if you need to re-schedule? And what is their policy on cancellation where sickness is the reason?

  I hope this gives you some food for thought when planning your extended family photoshoot. It’s not as straightforward as people think, but certainly can be a smooth process if your photographer has everything covered.

  If you are based in Melbourne, or on the Mornington Peninsula, and would like to enquire or book an extended family photoshoot, click on the below and I can send you some more information. Happy viewing!
  

Newborn photoshoot- Frankston South, Melbourne

This beautiful family live in Frankston South, Melbourne and wanted relaxed photographs of their baby Arlo in his own environment, including photos of him with 11 years old big brother Angus.

We had a lovely chilled afternoon together in their beautiful Frankston home and chatted non stop! Sometimes it can feel more like visiting an old friend for a cuppa instead of doing a job for a client.

For anyone wanting a relaxed family-newborn photoshoot in the comfort of their Melbourne home, contact me >>here and we’ll chat.

Outdoor Family Photoshoot in the Dandenongs, Melbourne

This Dandenong- based family wanted a morning photoshoot for their young family, so we opted for this spectacular spot. During our Melbourne summer there are wild daisies at this location which kept their two year old very happy indeed!

This was a morning photoshoot which is a great alternative to golden hour, which during summer months can be difficult for young families.

This is a great outdoor spot for any Melbourne families living close to the Dandenongs or surrounds, who are wanting a natural and relaxed photoshoot.

Jo from These Days Photography is a natural light photographer, specialising in relaxed family, maternity and newborn photography in South East Melbourne and surrounds.. You can contact her <<here to enquire or make a booking.

..

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 :)