Family Photos | AU NATUREL
Coco and her family made the most of North Head National Park, Manly, walking, talking and taking photos. Her four year old, who goes to Headland Montessori Early Learning Daycare nearby, showed everyone all the best places. We chatted to Coco after she received her photos…
Where did you do your family photo shoot and why? Was it a special place for you?
Elena suggested we think of a place we love or has a meaning to us, so we suggested going to North Head. Our son goes to kindy there so he knows the area and felt comfortable, and we often go for bush walks there. The location worked out well, but I believe Elena would have done the job fantastically in whatever location you choose.
What kind of look and feel were you after?
We wanted it to be warm and natural. We had a newborn shoot done with our eldest son four years ago where we were put into poses, studio style, and weren’t allowed to move. This time we wanted it to be more dynamic, be ourselves, and wanted our children to be allowed to be lively.
What did your family think of the photo session?
It was fun! For our older son who’s almost four, it was lovely for him to run around, have a closer look at plants, while we carried our baby. For us it was great – we chatted with Elena, she showed us some ideas, we’d go here for a few minutes, played with the children somewhere else for a few minutes, and it didn’t take too long. It was just the right amount of time before the children got bored – about 45 minutes.
What did you think of the results?
Ahhh, they were stunning! We are very, very happy. We had a look at her website before the shoot so we knew what they would be like, and they were even better. My partner didn’t feel so well the day before and day of the session, and I had to convince him to go ahead with the shoot, but he loved the result and was glad we did it. The afternoon light is really charming on faces.
How will you use the photos?
I want to do a photo book, printed several times, for family overseas and for ourselves and we’d love to show some of them in our living room. They work especially well together as a set.
How did you decide what to wear?
We thought that we going to be in nature so let’s look very natural – we didn’t want to be too colourful or wear any patterns, so decided to wear cream and light colours.
What are some tips you’d give other families doing the same thing?
I would consider what to wear, I think if you are going to be photographed, wear something you really love. You don’t have to be dressed up and styled up a lot, it’s how you feel yourself, as if you’re going on a nice family outing – comfy but looks nice. It also helps children behave in a more relaxed way. Dressing up kids is worse than dressing up yourself.
I was not surprised because I know Elena is a fellow mother, but she is really good with the children, making eye contact, making our baby smile and he played with her, so there are some really good shots being made. She is really great at making you feel relaxed and being yourself, you don’t have to be nervous. Be yourself, feel like yourself, that’s how good pictures are being made.
Visit our Lifestyle Family Photography portfolio here.
Interview Janine Phillipson
Little Manly Photography
Tags: Family Photography Sydney; Family Photography Northern Beaches; Family Photography North Shore; Family Photography Manly; Family Photography North Head
Sonia’s story
A growing bump.
A little one to cuddle.
Everyone together.
A beach maternity photoshoot can make room for all of it: a few portraits of your growing bump, your little one on Dad’s shoulders, a favourite toy that comes along for the ride.
Sonia’s session brought these things together, with soft pink skies, warm light across the water and plenty of sand between everyone’s toes.
I love the photograph of her little one laughing from Dad’s shoulders, toy truck firmly in hand. It feels like such a good place to begin this family’s story.
Room for everyone
A maternity session
with the whole family
When you’re expecting another baby, your older child brings so much personality to the photographs. There are cuddles, little distractions and moments when they want to be right in the middle of everything.
In Sonia’s gallery, there’s a shoulder ride, a hand held while she sits on the sand, and the whole family together at the water’s edge. These are the kinds of moments I look for in my family photography sessions. I’ll give you gentle direction, with plenty of room for your child to move and be themselves.
You don’t need to spend the session asking them to look at the camera. Being close, playing and responding to each other gives us plenty to work with.
A moment for you
Winter morning light.
A little space for you.
Alongside the family photographs, I like to make time for portraits of you on your own. Sonia’s cream cardigan, white top and jeans worked so beautifully against the sand and sea. Simple layers, her hands resting on her bump, warm light catching her hair.
For a beach session, we’ll choose the location and timing together, taking the light and your family’s routine into account. You can wear something comfortable that feels like you; there’s no need to buy a whole new wardrobe.
My maternity photography sessions include gentle guidance with movement and where to place your hands, so you don’t have to arrive knowing how to pose.
The things you’ll remember
The little details I love
One photograph I keep coming back to is the black-and-white close-up of a sandy foot resting against Sonia’s bump. Her little one is still holding the toy truck, tucked into her arms.
There’s also a close-up of small hands exploring her belly. I love including these details alongside the wider photographs. You can see the beach and the light, then come closer to the things that are particular to this family.
There’s a lovely rhythm between those quieter moments and the photographs of everyone splashing together.
Your next chapter
Planning your own
beach maternity photoshoot
If you’d love maternity photographs that include your family, we can plan a session with time for everyone together and a few moments just for you.
I’m based in Manly and photograph families across Sydney and the Northern Beaches. I’d love to hear what you have in mind.
With love, Elena
Maternity photography · Sydney
Before everything changes,
let’s remember this.
Your bump, your people, this little chapter. Let’s plan a relaxed maternity session that feels like you.
Let’s plan your session Explore packages & pricingSonia’s story
A growing bump.
A little one to cuddle.
Everyone together.
A beach maternity photoshoot can make room for all of it: a few portraits of your growing bump, your little one on Dad’s shoulders, a favourite toy that comes along for the ride.
Sonia’s session brought these things together, with soft pink skies, warm light across the water and plenty of sand between everyone’s toes.
I love the photograph of her little one laughing from Dad’s shoulders, toy truck firmly in hand. It feels like such a good place to begin this family’s story.
Room for everyone
A maternity session
with the whole family
When you’re expecting another baby, your older child brings so much personality to the photographs. There are cuddles, little distractions and moments when they want to be right in the middle of everything.
In Sonia’s gallery, there’s a shoulder ride, a hand held while she sits on the sand, and the whole family together at the water’s edge. These are the kinds of moments I look for in my family photography sessions. I’ll give you gentle direction, with plenty of room for your child to move and be themselves.
You don’t need to spend the session asking them to look at the camera. Being close, playing and responding to each other gives us plenty to work with.
A moment for you
Winter morning light.
A little space for you.
Alongside the family photographs, I like to make time for portraits of you on your own. Sonia’s cream cardigan, white top and jeans worked so beautifully against the sand and sea. Simple layers, her hands resting on her bump, warm light catching her hair.
For a beach session, we’ll choose the location and timing together, taking the light and your family’s routine into account. You can wear something comfortable that feels like you; there’s no need to buy a whole new wardrobe.
My maternity photography sessions include gentle guidance with movement and where to place your hands, so you don’t have to arrive knowing how to pose.
The things you’ll remember
The little details I love
One photograph I keep coming back to is the black-and-white close-up of a sandy foot resting against Sonia’s bump. Her little one is still holding the toy truck, tucked into her arms.
There’s also a close-up of small hands exploring her belly. I love including these details alongside the wider photographs. You can see the beach and the light, then come closer to the things that are particular to this family.
There’s a lovely rhythm between those quieter moments and the photographs of everyone splashing together.
Your next chapter
Planning your own
beach maternity photoshoot
If you’d love maternity photographs that include your family, we can plan a session with time for everyone together and a few moments just for you.
I’m based in Manly and photograph families across Sydney and the Northern Beaches. I’d love to hear what you have in mind.
With love, Elena
Maternity photography · Sydney
Before everything changes,
let’s remember this.
Your bump, your people, this little chapter. Let’s plan a relaxed maternity session that feels like you.
Let’s plan your session Explore packages & pricing