Extended family photos with Grandparents, Parents, Siblings and Grandchildren - Wellington

Extended whānau sessions are one of the best ways for everyone to update their family photos. Not only will you receive pictures of everyone together (which often only happens on rare occasions), but each family will also receive photos of their immediate family and other group photos like cousins all together with their grandparents (or any group combination you like). During these 1 hour photo sessions, we also do a mix of photo styles that show everyone looking at the camera and more candid, fun and natural-looking photos.

It also means you can split the cost between a few of you! The pricing for groups of 6+ people starts at $890 inc GST (* this price is set as of October 2024, travel is not included and the price varies depending on the number of people). Between a few family members contributing this works out to be cheaper than booking your own smaller session.

Wet weather options for photo shoots in Wellington

We all know that saying Welly on a good day.. just as well as we know how unpredictable our weather can be here in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington. Sometimes plans for photo sessions may change if the weather is rainy or too windy for the desired location but I will help you navigate this! I have learned that checking the forecast days in advance before your photo session can only add to sometimes unnecessary worry. While it is best to wait until the day before (or the day of) to confirm plans there are a few options we can discuss when making your booking for a backup plan.

WINDY OPTIONS

Certain locations, like Whitireia Park in Tītahi Bay as the main example, are more exposed and vulnerable to strong wind forecasts as it is on a hilltop. This scenario can mean changing to a different location with better shelter on the day. I try to keep my day flexible on photo shoot days, so if we need to we can move our appointment to the morning we can. If clients are mindful of their commitments and other plans on the day of a photo shoot we may have more flexibility to pivot our plans last minute for a more suitable option.

RAINY DAY OPTIONS

With the weather forecast changing so frequently (and sometimes being unreliable in advance) we can leave it to the last minute to make a call about your photo session going ahead.

If it is raining on the day of your photoshoot

• We can reschedule to a new date on a weekday with no additional fees, please note my weekend availability is limited and usually booked out weeks to months in advance so rescheduled appointments usually take place on a weekday. If moving your shoot to a new date on a weekday isn’t an option here are some ideas below for going ahead on the day of your photo shoot.

If rescheduling is not an option

• Photos at home
  Some clients like to move their photo sessions indoors into their own homes if it’s a rainy day. In your home we only need one or two spaces to create beautiful imagery, usually the living room for bigger groups or the master bedroom if you are a smaller family. We may need to change the time of day for your session if we originally planned a sunset session (a more ideal time indoors would be mid-morning or early-mid afternoon at home due to lighting conditions).

• Parliament Buildings (permission required in advance)
  When you think of Parliament don’t just think of the Beehive in the background, the photos I take here aren’t touristy and the surrounding areas are quite beautiful! There is a semi-sheltered area at Parliament Buildings near the old library that can be helpful for photos. There is a roof cover to be out of the rain but on a windy day, this too can be a little exposed, so I recommend bringing a warm jacket. This area is suitable for extended family groups and if the rain stops even for 5 minutes we can pop out to nearby garden areas for more variety of locations. For permission at this location, I can email security to pre-arrange this option in advance. This is a great option for those booking in for photos with extended family members who may be traveling from out of town.

• Begonia House Wellington Gardens (permission required in advance)
  At the Wellington Botanic Gardens, there is a fully enclosed glasshouse which is great for photos, however, it often isn’t the best option for families and I don’t often recommend this location to clients due to the extra fees and admin required to get permission.

  We need permission to take photos at this location and there is an additional fee that clients will need to pay directly to the Gardens/Wellington council for use of the grounds indoors and outdoors (these fees go towards their heritage plant collections and future projects at the gardens). In my past experiences the fee to photograph at the Wellington Botanic Gardens has been $110-$210 depending on the time of year and where we are (this fee also applies to outside areas). Their hours are limited to 9am - 4pm in the Begonia House. This information I’ve provided could change based on their policies updating over time. You can contact them directly here - bookings@wcc.govt.nz

TIME-SENSITIVE PHOTO SESSIONS

If your photo session is time-sensitive, like a maternity shoot, and you would like some additional reassurance going into your booking please reach out as I may be able to reserve an additional weekday space as a backup option for your photo session.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Once we have discussed your location and any backup plans that we may want to have, I will usually be in touch 1-2 days before your session for us to confirm our options and the weather forecast. Feel free to reach out before this timeframe with any concerns. I will be watching the weather forecast leading up to the day, however, we likely won’t know what the weather will do for us until the day before or the day of your photo session. On the day of your photo session if we need to change plans last minute I will contact you via text or call (as my email notifications are turned off and only checked at certain times of the day in my working schedule). You can reach out to me at any time via text message, I am here to help and make this process as easy as possible!

HELPFUL LINKS FOR PHOTOGRAPHER FRIENDS!

If you’d like more information on how to enquire about permission at Parliament see their website here. It is really easy to email the Speaker’s office and they usually reply within 1 business day. They will also sometimes suggest a suitable time based on any events taking place near or at Parliament like protests etc.

Extended family photo sessions Wellington

Extended family sessions are the best way to get updated photos of the whole whānau and also your immediate family members. These sessions are 1 hour long and during this time we can do as many combinations as you’d like to do. This means you get your own set of family photos with your kiddies and partner, plus the extended group photos so it’s like having a few mini shoots all in one. You can also split the cost between a few of you which in return does save you some money, smart! These sessions with larger groups start at $990 plus travel (price set as of May 2023), which works out to be really affordable when there are a few people contributing to the session.

What to wear for your family photos in winter?

START WITH YOUR LOCATION

In winter the weather can work against us for these outdoor photo sessions. Sometimes it’s a matter of waiting for the right day for a particular location or picking a safer option that’s sheltered from extreme winds. If you’re at the top of a hilltop location you would want to consider wearing your hair tied back and avoid anything too floaty like a dress just in case it is too windy and cold. Parks are great with children because they feel calmer/more entertained and we can shoot during the day when the sun is out (rather than waiting for sunset when it gets too cold for little ones).

STAY WARM AND BE PREPARED

Don’t be afraid to layer up with thermals and multiple layers. Put on a wool jumper or puffer vest/jacket, especially on your children so they don’t get cold and grumpy. If jumpers are too casual for your style then wool coats are a good alternative. Pants are a great option, save the dresses and skirts for summer. If you can try to wear coloured pants rather than black (for example, blue, grey, navy etc), but if you only own black jeans then that’s ok too!

ADD IN TEXTURES AND A POP OF COLOUR

Add in some textures if you are going for a matched look, sometimes too much of the one colour starts to blend together too much, but you can break this up with either a different type of fabric or a small pattern. Avoid big and bold patterns (like logos or large text), simple patterns like in the images above are ok, the reason being you don’t want your clothing to distract your attention away from your expressions. Don’t be afraid to add in a pop of colour somewhere, could be on your child's jacket or jumper! No matter what style you pick, go for a look that suits your family. If your vibe is more relaxed and comfortable then keep it authentic.

WHAT COLOURS WILL BE IN THE BACKGROUND

Think about what will the colours be in the background, from here you can start to think about clothing and how these will blend or contrast with the background. The colours could be seasonal but most importantly, try to pick colours from the same pallet or similar in tones (bright vs. earthy). The grass and trees worked perfectly with the earthy tones this family above chose to wear.

MUM PICK YOUR OUTFIT FIRST

Mums you might find it easier to start with your outfit first! I know how hard it can be to find clothes or an outfit that you love. You want to feel confident and beautiful for this shoot. You can then style your children’s and partner’s outfit around what you’re going to wear. You might think it sounds a bit selfish but you also deserve this moment to shine.

My favourite photo sessions with pet dogs!

We love our furry companions, so much that we treat them as if they are members of our families. Our two cats Maple and Fig will always be our ‘firstborn babies’ even after/if we have children.

When clients ask if they bring pets along to their sessions it’s a big YES from me. I’ll usually suggest bringing along an extra person to help lead your dog if you know they will get really excited during the photo shoot. Most of the locations I use are dog friendly or have a car park nearby so it makes it easier to bring them along even if it’s just for some of the photos. Here are some of my favourite shots from photoshoots (and weddings) with dogs! Take your pick and vote for the best-photographed doggo.

Winter Family Photo Session - Eastbourne Wellington

Eastbourne is a popular Wellington spot for its long grass, beach setting and harbour views. Here are some of my favourite photos taken at this location from a recent session with Hannah, Josh and Archer, who had the best smile! This session was to celebrate Archer’s 1st birthday.

Lifestyle Newborn Photos At Home

Having your photo taken isn’t something we do every day which is why my family and newborn sessions are easy-going, less about industry trends and more about the experience I can provide. Here are some cute moments with Ange, Rory and Marlow. The great thing about being at home for their photos was they were about to feed Marlow between shots and settle her throughout our whole session.

Bringing a baby into the world is the perfect reason to have your pictures taken. I’ve had lots of newborn sessions lately! They are one of my favourite kind of photo sessions.

Tips for Photo Sessions with Children and Toddlers

My latest adventure with Becci and my three favourite tiny humans! Lifestyle photography captures children in their element. I love these real and unfiltered moments of playing in the mud, gathering wood for the fire and bushwalking. Some parents feel anxiety leading up to their photo session as they want the day to go smoothly and hope their children will behave for photos. Spending some time with Becci and her three kiddies reminded me of what really goes into making great photos.

PREPARE YOUR CHILDREN

Start talking to your children about your photoshoot a few days prior to get them familiar with the idea. Talk about it with excitement but also make it sound normal and fun, you don’t want to overwhelm them with expectations of how you think it will go. Tell them what to expect from your photographer. You can tell your children that your photographer is a friend, so they don’t seem like a stranger.

EXPECTATIONS

If you go into your photoshoot feeling stressed and nervous about how your toddler is going to behave, the chances are they are going to pick up on this tension. They might not want to sit still, look at the camera and smile. My first evening with Becci one of her twin boys didn’t want to come outside for photos and she didn’t force him which I really respected. If you put pressure on them it might make it harder and we knew there would be another opportunity to get photos on the following day (this situation is a little different to my normal 1-hour session as I spent the night with them).

My best piece of advice is to go with the flow and work with your photographer to capture natural moments together, these are often the best photos! You might need to make it fun and let your child play, be convincing that its fun!

LISTEN AND GO WITH THE FLOW

Children will go through different stages and phases. They may only want one parent to hold them and getting them on their own isn’t going to happen without tears. The best way to work with toddlers is to not force them but to comfort them, they might be nervous! Work with what you can. Sometimes bribes can work, or perhaps they just need their favourite toy.

Becci is definitely the most ‘go with the flow’ parent I’ve ever met, this mud puddle was so much fun and she didn’t care about the aftermath or clean up. Totally worth it!

LIFESTYLE FAMILY PHOTO SESSIONS

My family photo sessions are fun, relaxed and easy going. I’ve photographed families with children of different ages and every session will be slightly different. I use all of the tips mentioned above in order to capture the best moments of your family.

Wellington Waterfront Family Photos - A Special Occasion in NZ

What’s something you’re looking forward to the most this Christmas? I’m excited to see our families. Lucky for us Karl’s parents live 1.5 hours away so we get to see both sides of the family.

Here’s a couple of moments from my recent family session with Craig and his family while they were on holiday in NZ. I love how NZ was the destination for them to get together right before Xmas and celebrate their Thanksgiving.

Stress Free Family Photos

Family photoshoots always bring me so much joy. They remind me why my job as a photographer is so important. I always feel so accomplished when parents come back to me with feedback saying they love the photos and appreciated how easy going the photoshoot was.

Some parents feel anxiety leading up to their family session as they want the day to go smoothly and hope their children will behave for photos. If you’ve got children there is some planning that can help ease this feeling. Going into your session with an open and positive mindset is the first place to start! I’m definitely one to go with the flow and get children on my side before I take photos of them. Heres how you can have a stress free photoshoot.

PREPARE YOUR CHILDREN

Start talking to your children about the photoshoot a few days prior to get them familiar with the idea. Talk about it with excitement but also make it sound normal and fun, you don’t want to overwhelm them with expectations of how you think it will go. Tell them what to expect from your photographer. You can tell your children that your photographer is a friend, so they don’t seem like a stranger.

DAY OF THE SESSION

On the day of your shoot, make sure everyone is fed and not coming into the session hungry. Wait until everyone has eaten before changing into your outfits for the shoot. You may want to wait until you arrive at your location before changing younger children or toddlers into their outfits.

EXPECTATIONS

If you go into your photoshoot feeling stressed and nervous about how your toddler is going to behave, the chances are they are going to pick up on this tension. They might not want to sit still, look at the camera and smile. If you put pressure on them it might make it harder. My best piece of advice is to go with the flow and work with your photographer to capture natural moments together, these are often the best photos! You might need to make it fun and let your child play, be convincing that its fun!

LISTEN AND GO WITH THE FLOW

Toddlers will go through different stages and phases. They may only want one parent to hold them and getting them on their own isn’t going to happen without tears. The best way to work with toddlers is to not force them but to comfort them, they might be nervous! Work with what you can. Sometimes bribes can work, or perhaps they just need their favourite toy.

LIFESTYLE FAMILY PHOTO SESSIONS

My family photo sessions are fun, relaxed and easy going. I’ve photographed families with children of different ages and every session will be slightly different. I use all of the tips mentioned above in order to capture the best moments of your family.