updating our family photos had been on my list since my daughter turned one six months ago… and i’ve been kicking the can down the road every week since. but this weekend, we headed out to Karioitahi Beach, where luck was on our side with the weather (no wind! golden sunset!) and got it done.
here’s what i learned:
✅ locking it into the calendar was the most important part. i did this back in march after realising sunset would be early enough for our session to wrap before bedtime, and the weather played ball!
✅ getting yourself ready before everyone else is the best idea – did i do this? no. should i have? yes.
✅ full tummies beforehand always help
✅ the power of a baby wipe: greasy fish and chip fingers gone in just one swipe
✅ there’s a reason I don’t shoot with a tripod on a regular day: so slow! so clunky! having a photographer who is quick and nimble makes all the difference – toddler attention ebbs and flows, and the ability to read the room and pivot fast is everything
✅ squaring away the formalities at the start means you’re free to just be for the rest of the session
✅ selecting outfits for everyone is really hard (let alone keeping them clean between the car and photos beginning lol) hats off to all who take on this task: i thought about it for weeks in advance and even still had a last minute switcharoo. bought my daughter a new dress which looked way too oversized on the day, rectified with a cardi over top. good thing we didn’t need the spares I’d brought along cause we had a drink bottle leak through the bag on the way out 😅 cool cool cool.
✅ being outside at sunset is always a good idea – we drove away saying “we should do this more often”
✅ keeping things moving is key with kids – no further explanation required 😅
✅ making memories and capturing the here and now is what it’s all about – we had such a nice time together and it feels good to know I’ll always have photos to remember this age and stage and all its sloppy kisses and tickly cuddles and round and round the gardens
✅ finally, hiring me to photograph your family is a great idea – unless you’re me. turns out i need someone to take some candids of me and my whole family too 😂
if you’ve been putting off family photos (me too) and want to rendezvous with your family at sunset while I capture it all, send me a message .