With all the happenings of the modern world the idea of heading to such wide open spaces and experiencing complete silence while surrounded by nature can seem quite impossible to some. It’s a big reason why I love heading up the Murray river on a houseboat – as although you’re never really too far away from civilisation, the act of saling yourself down the middle of the river makes you feel as though you’re the only people within miles – particularly during the winter!
Last week I got back from one such family holiday where my family and I sailed up past Renmark, into Victoria and New South Wales and back again. While doing so I made sure to make a bit of a family photoshoot near Renmark, where I made the best of the camping nature that you get on a houseboat making fires, and also the stunning natural beauty on display along the sides of the river.
Heading out to the Riverland for photography is very much like visiting a different country! the creative juices get flowing being surrounded by such different scenery and allows everyone to be relaxed while being in front of a camera as everyone is having a great time! The changes in weather – particularly in the winter really makes for some stunning changes in scenery too! One morning we woke up to a thick pea soup fog which I quickly ran off the boat to meander through the bush – really reminded me of Hans Heysen’s paintings.
I was asked to head out for a Wilfred Taylor Reserve photoshoot in Morphett Vale to capture a bit of family joy with the Deng Family! In the beginning we were a little concerned about the weather, in fact they contacted me only 15 minutes prior asking if we should postpone their shoot due to the rain – however it wasn’t raining at the reserve so we went ahead with it – and the weather tuned out just perfect for a Family Photoshoot!
The Deng family took advantage of my flexible photoshoot packages to have photos done of not only their family, but also combinations of their children, grnadparents, and even some couple shots to round it all out! Certainly saves a bit of time and money combining all these smaller shoots into one fun-filled family photoshoot that involves everyone!
Wilfred Taylor Reserve Photoshoot
Baby with blue hat
Family at Wilfred Taylor Reserve
Dad holding baby above
Wilfred Taylor Reserve Photoshoot Family
Family walking through Wildred Taylor Reserve
Family together under the gums
Boy running away from family
Couple walking on path
Boy sitting in long grass
Couple standing together near wooden fence
Grandpa helping boy
Boy climbing tree trunk
Family sitting on tree trunk
Family fawning over baby
Sitting together during family shoot
Boy climbing tree at family photoshoot
Dad holding bubs
Mum and Dad kissing baby
Mum and Dad holding one another in tree
Mum and Dad holding one another in tree looking at camera
Thanks go out to the Deng family for having me capture their photos from their Wilfred Taylor Reserve Photoshoot!
Last weekend, I found myself with no weddings booked so I figured it would be neat to offer my services at a very cheap rate in what’s known as a ‘minishoot’ or mini session. It was one week prior to mother’s day so I figured it might be a fun way to get some nice photos of the family for Mum!
The best thing about a mini shoot is that it’s really geared for people who aren’t overly keen on being in front of a camera, as the session only lasts for 15 minutes – and if the photos dont turn out as expected – ie the little one was upset, or the dog wasn’t looking, etc – then it’s no big deal as it was not that expensive!
It’s also great for people who want some nice family photos done, but don’t want to spend too long getting them!
The mini shoot was an up front cost of $65, which included the shoot and editing of the photos before being supplied via my online store, and each shoot received a $30 credit to spend – making the whole thing effectively only $35 and you get to go home with either some prints, or digital files – however you’d like to spend that $30 credit!
As a result, the sessions booked up fast, with 12 bookings coming in – the majority being young couples, with little kidlets in tow, but also a few couples and whole families. I held the shoot at the Cherry Garden’s Soldier’s Memorial Gardens with the aim of using the autumnal colours from the falling leaves with the park, while also making use of the impressive memorial trees that cast quite a bit of shade.
Each booking received an average of 54 photos in their album to choose from – which surprised myself, as generally I like to have 100 photos done for an hour photo shoot, let alone 15 minutes – but I guess that’s the benefit of a minishoot, it means that i am familiar with the surrounds and know what will work when for each group coming through. I can then use this knowledge to move quickly and get each shot.
All in all, I think the winter minishoot results speak for themselves – the autumnal colours of the leaves, and the happy smiling faces of each group really made for an awesome experience, that I’d be looking forward to doing again in the future – I’m thinking Christmas? Watch this space.
Southern Adelaide Winter Minishoot Results!
Little Ones
All the little ones who came through were really well behaved and quite enjoyed being in front of the camera! This made things rather easy, as the surrounding autumn leaves did the rest making for some awesome shots!
Boy climbing tree
Boys throwing leaves
baby girl in autumn leaves
Brothers laying in autumn leaves
Bothers hugging in leaves
Baby lying in autumn leaves
baby talking to stuffed elephant
Boys climbing tree
Smiling girl under autumn leaves
happy baby sitting on fluffy mat under tree
Smiling baby girl under autumn leaves
Boy under autumn tree
baby under autumn leaves
Sisters in autumn leaves
Baby boy sitting in autumn leaves
Family
The autumn leaves also made for some nice family portraits. I had the family groups walking through the trees, sitting on the dry leaves and basically treating their time with me as if it were a quick family outing to a nice park.
Holding baby girl
Lifting baby into sky
Family sitting on bench
Family sitting in leaves
Baby peeking over shoulder
Family hugs for baby
Family sitting on ground with baby
Family sitting in autumnal leaves
Holding baby in the sky
Carrying baby through trees
Family standing under autumn leaves
Family standing behind long grass
Family sitting toegtehr under autumn trees
baby flying in sky
baby getting cheek kisses
Couples
I had two sets of couples come through, which was treated as a simple date idea, and they got some nice photos out of it at the end!
Happy couple leaning against tree
Couple walking between trees
Couple sitting in the autumn leaves
Couple walking under autumn leaves
Couple holding one another
Couple standing looking through leaves
As far as winter minishoot results go, I feel as though we got some incredible photos, using the stunning natural light that filtered through the autumn leaves nicely. If there was one thing I would have done differently would be to schedule the last session a biut earlier as the light was fading quite a bit – but we still got some great shots!
Recently I was asked to head out for a family photoshoot, nearby Mt Compass in Nangkita – but I’m going to put this under Mt Compass Family Photography as I hadn’t heard of Nangkita before being asked to head out here!
The family was enjoying a get together for the Christmas and New Year period, that sounded like a rare occurance considering the last time they had a family photoshoot done was when the ‘kids’ were 6, and now in their mid thirties – and also that some are now living overseas and makes it hard to get together.
Their little family photoshoot took place on a family farm, which was lush with Australian bush and off the beaten track so much that they kept asking if I had any trouble finding the place! All I can say was thank goodness for GPS in cars!
We held most of the shoot under a gnarly old tree on the property which provided ample shade and a neat backdrop for group photos. After the majority of group shots, we then did individual portraits and also some coupley shots in amongst the pretty overgrowth of trees.
I head out for a Thalassa Park family shoot with Paula and her family recently and put together a selection of family shots, along with individual portraits for them to keep hold of and treasure as a record of where they are at right now. It’s a lovely thing to do as having a family shoot done allows you to really capture the essence of your family unit and when put on display around your home truely makes everyone feel welcome at that house.
Thalassa park is a large, well kept area in Aberfoyle Park that boasts a wide range of scenery – from a rose garden towards the south-east, to this area that we used to the north of the park which is a little more unkept, but perfect for more intimate photographs using the foliage to close in around the subject of the image.
We head out early morning, to make use of the rising sunlight seeping through the trees which made for some beautiful backlight for the photographs. It was a lovely morning, full of smiles, laid back fun and a nice brisk walk throughout the park!
