Where to take newborn photos in your own home?

I often get asked if I do newborn photography. I think this is because it’s not as easy to find my newborn photos in my portfolio as my style looks different to traditional newborn photos and what we think these photos have to look like. Clients will pencil in a time for their newborn session, I come to your home and we spend an hour together taking photos in a few different spaces, while you have the relaxed freedom to feed, soothe or change baby in the comfort of your own home. There’s no over-packing the baby bag ‘just incase’, no stress rushing out the door to your local photography studio and no time pressure to soothe baby back to sleep so they can then be posed for the photos. If reading this gives you a sigh of relief and takes the dread away from doing a newborn photo shoot, this post is for you.

These photos capture parts of what it feels like to be at home with your newborn. While some areas of your home might feel a little hectic and messy as you do your best to keep up with the washing pile while trying to find a clean outfit to wear, you will be pleasantly surprised by what we can do with just one or two spaces in your own home. Here are some ideas and ways to turn your home into the perfect backdrop!

YOUR LIVING ROOM/LOUNGE IS PERFECT FOR PHOTOS

I’ve done photo sessions where the living room was the only space we could use for photos and it worked out perfectly! Sometimes all we need is one corner or one wall of a room that has minimal clutter and decor and a couch. Some helpful tips:

• Clear your coffee table so it is free of things like paper, tv remotes and coffee mugs. I like leaving a couple of items on the coffee table so it still feels like a lived-in space.

• I like to use a space where there isn’t a window directly behind the couch. Some spaces allow enough room to move the couch to a different wall.

• I try to avoid having the TV in the background of the photos, otherwise, it looks like a black square taking up space.

THE MASTER BEDROOM

Getting some photos all cuddled up on the bed is another suitable area for photos. Helpful tips:

• The whole bedroom doesn’t need to be tidy and clear of clutter, just the head of the bed and the spaces on either side of it. You can move additional items to the opposite side of the room where it won’t be too much in the way.

• Clear away any extra items from bedside tables like phone or watch chargers, water bottles

NATURAL NEWBORN POSES

During my 1 hour sessions we will do photos of everyone together and baby on their own. For the photos of baby we can keep them in the same outfit or you can swaddle them in a way that they are used to or prefer. You might have a special blanket that has been made for them as a gift that we can use for photos, I’ll lay the blank on the bed (or a soft couch also works) and then we will get baby comfortable. Cribs and bassinets also work well! Photos awake or asleep work perfectly, there is no right or wrong preference as long as they are happy. I love capturing all the little in-between moments too, like a yawn or sometimes a crying shot too is super cute and one for the memories.

Tesh and Tim - Sudbury wedding, Te Horo Kapiti Coast

Here are some of my favourite moments from Tesh and Tim’s wedding day! ♥️
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They booked us for photo and video back in 2021, so we had lots of time to get to know more about these two by following them on socials and even getting some help with plumbing issues (shot Tim!) Straight away I could tell we were all going to vibe as I love their values and the connection they have for each other. A special mention to their love of cats which we relate to and also how ironic it was that a cat walked right into the middle of their ceremony during their vows.
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Their wedding was at Sudbury farm and we also popped down to the beach for some sunset photos, which was one of our favourite parts of the day. On our way back from sunset at the beach Tesh popped into Cottage 103, where the girls got ready earlier in the day, and got changed into a second outfit for their dancing. They walked down the road back to the venue and surprised their guests with an entrance in a new outfit!

Kendyll and Michael - Wedding at The Martinborough Tree Church

Kendyll and Michael celebrated with their biggest party yet at The Martinborough Tree Church! In all of their wedding speeches their friends all said how much they looked up to them as couple goals. I feel so lucky to have captured their engagement photos and wedding day from preparations through to the dancing. I had so many laughs with them and felt like I could let my hair down a bit on the dance floor.

Should you have a first look before your wedding ceremony? Pros and Cons! Tarureka Estate Wedding - Ruby and James

Couples sometimes ask me what my thoughts are and my preference is for having a ‘first look’ and all wedding/bridal party photos prior to the ceremony. Ruby and James had a first look before their ceremony so this is a perfect example of how the day can look doing things in this order!

I personally don’t have a preference because it’s completely up to each couple and their priorities for the day. For our own wedding, we hired a photographer for 4 hours and did the bulk of our photos before our ceremony so that afterwards we could relax and party (talk about some weird priorities considering photography is my job!)

PROS OF DOING A FIRST LOOK

There are some really sweet and intimate moments that can be captured when it’s just the two of you. You might feel nervous and worried you’ll lose your cool in front of all your guests (which is not a bad thing by the way, I love and respect vulnerability), but if this gives you anxiety then it can be a great way to keep the moment just between the two of you.

As I mentioned earlier, you’ll get more time to socialise with your guests after the ceremony. This was really important for our wedding since a lot of guests travelled from afar who I hadn’t seen in a while. Doing photos after your ceremony could mean being away from guests for 30 minutes - 1 hour (I even hear stories of this being longer if there is travel to a particular location).

CONS OF DOING A FIRST LOOK

The main downside for a photographer is the lighting conditions. It will mean doing photos earlier in the day which is often when the sun is at its brightest. BUT if you have a venue with some shaded areas with tree cover and a great photographer this should not be an issue. For Ruby and James’ wedding, we had some clouds in the sky which really helped defuse the bright light at 1pm and I used this driveway which was mainly covered by trees and in the shade.

Once we finished family photos after their ceremony, Ruby and James were able to spend 2 hours with their guests before heading into the reception. Lots of time to mingle, enjoy the canapes and drinks, play some tennis and get some photos with your friends!

Later in the evening Ruby and James were happy to head out for more photos of just the two of them while the light was really nice. They said they appreciated just having this short moment for the two of them after such a full on day.

Rose and Smith Wairarapa Wedding - Rosa and Ben

My first time out at Rose and Smith! I had so much fun hanging out with this wedding crew and documenting the day for Rosa and Ben. I started off the day by driving down a long gravel road that looked like a shortcut to Rosa's Airbnb, Google maps did me dirty and my car was not the best for that kind of road. Thankfully I safely arrived to see the wonderful Alana MUA doing hair for Dollhouse Do. Alana worked her magic and made Rosa feel like Kim K, she looked incredible.

It rained every 10 minutes and then the sun would come out. On my way to the venue, I was driving through torrential rain so I was feeling very thankful for the indoor ceremony at that moment. Then for the rest of the day, we had NO RAIN and look at their outdoor photos! The party went off and the costumes came out. I was eyeing up the expresso martinis but mahi and professionalism, plus driving back over the Remutakas, not a good mix.

Thanks again Rosa and Ben!! My heart felt very happy on this day. Also a big thank you to Jess Dewsnap Photography for joining me as my second photographer on the day, can’t wait to team up again soon!

Preparing for family photos on your wedding day

Doing family photos on your wedding day after your ceremony doesn’t need to be an overwhelming experience! We have all been to a wedding where this part of the day took too long with many combinations of the same photos. Quite often on the day couples will ditch their original list or skip a few groups just to get it over and done with. It doesn’t need to be this way though, there are things we can do to prepare so it goes smoothly and quickly!

Quick Tips for your family and group photos on your wedding day

• We will need 2 guests to help with family photos - one person who can call out from the list and one person to be a runner/find people, while I'm photographing. You might like to have one helper from each side of your family. 

• I recommend including the individual names of the people in each group photo so no one gets missed (I can't photoshop people into photos if they are missed on the day) 

• You may like to take photos with grandparents or any children first so they can relax afterwards

• I recommend no more than 20 groups. 15 groups is an easy amount to get through, any more than this and it can become overwhelming for couples on the day.

WRITE A LIST OF GROUPS/BE SPECIFIC

It can help to write down the names of everyone in each group so they can be read out on the spot and we can check to make sure no one is missing (it’s never a great feeling as a photographer knowing that someone important was left out of a photo when we had no idea they were missing). If your venue allows for pets, add your doggo to the list! Keep your combinations to no more than 25 groups (this seems like a lot of photos but it can quickly add up when you start to look at your guest list and make decisions for this part of the day).

ASSIGN HELP, WE CAN MAKE THIS QUICK!

Prior to the day assign some help for this part of the day so we can efficiently take family photos. I recommend having one person read from your list of groups, calling out names (while your photographer is taking photos) and a second person who can be a runner to find people. This could be an MC or a family member so they are familiar with everyone on the list. It’s a good idea to ask people who are confident, if your venue has a microphone reading the names out loud can be a quick way to gather people and get their attention.

ONE LARGE GROUP PHOTO

If you would like one big group photo of everyone, do this first before guests spread out across your venue area. The bonus of having Karl with me for weddings (my husband who does videography) is he can sometimes take your large group photo using his drone which makes a great image where everyone can be seen. This bonus service isn’t included in every job we do, it is weather-dependent and only if you have videography booked. Here is an example of a drone photo versus a photo I have taken standing on a large ladder (supplied by a venue).

ORDER STRATEGICALLY

First do your big group photo with all the guests as mentioned in the previous paragraph, followed by any images with grandparents or children. Then work through one side of the family, then the other. Try to move people around as little as possible. 

KEEP IT SIMPLE

For our own wedding we made it really simple and had basic combinations with no double-ups. It was more important to spend time with our family than overdo it with multiple photos with the same people. I highly recommend approx 15 groups if you want to keep this easy and spend less time on these.

Have fun and embrace the process of having photos taken! Preparing for stress free photos with children.

My favourite jobs are always the ones when parents let their children have fun! Yes it’s important to get a staple photo of everyone smiling and looking at the camera but what a lot of people don’t realise is that sometimes the best photos are when you’re not looking at me and you’re in the moment. Having your family photos taken does not need to be stressful. Here’s one of the best family sessions I’ve done in 2022 and a few simple ways you can prepare to have the best experience on the day of your photo shoot.

FIRSTLY - IF IT TURNS TO SH**, IT’S OK

I’ve seen it all.. there’s not anything that will shock or bother me when photographing kids. Don’t feel like you need to apologise for a tantrum or something that your kid said. I’m there to work through all of that, I have thick skin and I have a few tricks up my sleeve. When you don’t realise it I’ll be capturing moments. Every time when the photo shoot feels like it’s gone terribly for parents they are always pleasantly surprised by the photos taken in between the chaos.

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.

EXPECTATIONS

If you go into your photoshoot feeling stressed and nervous about how your toddler or kids are 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

Towards the end of your session let your kids run in the sand and roll in the grass, create a fun memory with them. 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 children 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.

Would love to hear if this post resonated with you or eased some of your worries going into your photo session! Also let me know if you love this style of photographer over the more formal and posted look of family photos!

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.

Things brides and couples wish they knew before their wedding day!

LIPSTICK LIFE HACK
For longevity purposes when drinking from a glass if you lick the glass where you are going to put your lips it creates a barrier keeping your lipstick on your lips and not on the glass. Also for lipstick revival always carry a lip balm, apply a small amount over top of old lipstick and it will look like new again!

PJS/SILK ROBES
The cute button down pyjamas or silk robes you see everyone wear in prep isn’t just for looks - it’s practical so you don’t have to lift anything over your freshly done hair and makeup.

These two tips are from Alana Hair and Makeup Artist! Alana’s Instagram is filled with so much incredible content and more helpful ideas.

SAVE YOURSELF SOME CAKE
Make sure your caterers save you some cake if you’re busy during the night of your reception and don’t get to eat a piece.

Tip from Becs at Stiletto Studio who has made many cakes for me, highly recommend!

WHEN TO WASH YOUR HAIR

Wash and dry your hair the night before unless instructed otherwise by your hairstylist! We can easily give your hair extra volume and texture with products if it’s feeling too silky, but if it’s too oily, there’s nothing we can do!

Emily Faye Belle’s tip for hairstyling, you can catch her on Instagram here!

MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BOUQUET

When talking flowers I always recommend having vases on the bridal table to pop bouquets into. This keeps them fresh and it's a good way to reuse them as it often means you don't need extra arrangements on all the tables. And always go for seasonal blooms!

Tip from Flowers by Megan!

HEAD TABLE SEATING

If you’re having a sit down meal with a head table, seat the shortest people on the side that the MC (or guests doing speeches) will stand on. This means your partner doesn’t constantly have to lean back so you can both see. Or consider having a different spot for speeches.

Tip from Married by Ashleigh!

Orui Station Riversdale Beach - Wairarapa Wedding

Feeling incredibly grateful to have photographed Hanna and AJ’s wedding at Orui Station in Riversdale! A week prior to this I wasn’t sure if I was going to be well enough to photograph due to recovering from Covid19, but everything worked out perfectly! It was soul-healing being back photographing.

I haven’t had any beach weddings recently and this venue was so unique! It was my first time visiting the little town which is about 40km east of Masterton. If you’re keen on a day trip it’s worth the visit! Have a look through these highlights for cute pics of their doggo who loved being in the photos and also some fun with sparklers at the end of the night.

Bouquet Flowers: @floriade_wellington
Catering: @bluecarrotnz
Dress: @astrabridal.wellington
Suits: @rembrandt1946

Waitarere Beach Intimate Wedding

Over here reminiscing on the past few weeks and can’t believe that the summer wedding season is finished! So far this summer I’ve had 9 incredible couples who weddings I photographed, some intimate occasions and others were full day weddings. All different and unique in their own ways ♥️

Here are some of the highlights from Kaitlin and Jacob’s Waitarere beach wedding from a few weeks ago. We were all introduced a few years back at another wedding so it was really special seeing them again! I loved the relaxed and cosy atmosphere of this wedding, it was all about celebrating their day at a place that was special to their family.

Silverstream Retreat Intimate Wedding Ceremony Wellington

Georgia and Joshua tied the knot on the 2.2.22 at Silverstream Retreat in Upper Hutt Wellington. It’s a special date to remember, one I won’t be able to forget no doubt! They asked me for a custom package to suit their smaller wedding, due to covid-19 some of their guests weren’t able to make it. Instead of a full 10 hour day, we were able to do preparations, their ceremony, bridal photos and an afternoon tea with a cake cutting in the space of 4 hours. These custom packages and smaller weddings are an absolute favourite of mine and I love that I can be so flexible with the services I offer!

Wellington family photography at home!

Photos at home but lets make the most of your own back yard! These are the images that your little ones will look back on and think ‘remember our garden, the playhouse, that stream and the bridge’, this is a part of their childhood memories. You can capture great family photos in your own space, it doesn’t need to be at a location!
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Here are some of these moments I’m talking about! This is my third photo session with Ellie and her family. I’m so grateful to have captured their family over the past couple of years.

Intimate wedding elopement at Yvette Edwards Plant Studio Wellington

Should you elope? If you're considering it then the answer is already YES. The number one reason couples choose to elope instead of having a wedding is so they can have that "just us" experience. Some couples want to have the freedom to spend the day together without all of the traditional rules and distractions that come with hosting a wedding. Plus saving money is a huge benefit and you're valuing memories rather than the materialistic side of having a traditional wedding.

I love that Rochelle and Tom had their elopement at Yvette Edwards Studio! Surrounded by plants and florals made the perfect backdrop.

Dress by @layplan
Makeup/hair by @alana__muha
Celebrant - @marriedbyashleigh
Venue/flowers - @florist.stylist

Anam Cara Gardens Wedding in Otaki - Photography and Videography

Jana and Tim’s wedding day at Anam Cara Gardens was a treat! They were so cruisy and completely trusted us to do our thing!

We did their first look before the ceremony which gave them more time to catch up with their guests before the reception. Their family photo list was super short and sweet (something we are always grateful for, this is always the hardest part of the day for everyone), but we were able to get lots of candid moments and photos with their guests during the cocktail hour.

After a few speeches and a yummy dinner made by Nosh Catering, we made our way to Otaki beach for some sunset photos with the bridal crew, while their guests treated themselves to some delicious cake and expresso martinis (how good having a signature cocktail on the menu). Overall a stunner of a day and a perfect match these two!

Public Trust Hall Wedding - Inner City Wedding Wellington

Wellington’s Public Trust Hall was refurbished in 2019 and this is my first wedding at the new wedding venue! Rachel and Tim had their ceremony and reception here all in the same room, it’s the perfect space for an all-in-one wedding venue (ideal if you want an indoor ceremony).

We actually had rain all morning and thought there was zero chance of doing any waterfront photos as we planned, but thankfully during their ceremony it started to clear up! We took a few family photos before heading outside with their bridal party. We ended up having a very special guest called Oscar (their pet dog) meet us on the waterfront for photos!

Rachel and Tim picked my middle package which is currently 6 hours total and they managed to fit their first dance into this amount of time. If you’re clever about how you do your timeline there is a lot you can fit into 6 hours!

How to choose the right wedding package for your day?

When it comes to booking a photography package everyone’s wedding day will look slightly different, so it’s important that your photographer can customise to your needs.

POPULAR WEDDING PACKAGES

For weddings with over 60 guests I start with providing a PDF that has my 3 most popular package options: 3 hours, 6 hours and 10 hours. This is a good starting point for clients to figure out if they want the full day or half day covered. I also give a guideline for the parts of the day that would fit within those hours, which looks like this.

3 hours:
Ceremony
Candid photos of guests
Family photos
Bridal shoot

6 hours:
Preparations
Ceremony
Candid photos of guests & Family photos
Bridal shoot 
Entrance to the reception
Reception details
(Couples can pick preparations or 2 hours of the reception instead)

10 hours (max):
Preparations
Ceremony
Candid photos of guests & Family photos
Bridal shoot 
Full reception coverage & First dance

FULL DAY VS. HALF DAY

Most couples will book the full day/10 hour package but I won’t ever try and sell you this package if it’s not what you need. If you’re really clever with your timeline you can actually fit a lot into the 6 hour option. If preparations aren’t as important to you then you could have only 1 hour of getting ready photos, or even opt out of these all together, that way you can have more of your reception covered. A great way to get your first dance into your 6 hour package is to have your reception entrance which leads straight into the first dance, this is a really unique way to get your guests excited for the evening.

The 10 hour option is really good if you don’t want to be following a strict timeline on the day and if there is travel to multiple locations. I cap this package a 10 hours because it starts to be a long day for everyone.

CUSTOMISE YOUR PACKAGE

If the options you’ve been given don’t quite fit your timeline then find out if a custom package is an option! 6 hours might not be enough, 10 hours could be too much, maybe 8 hours would be perfect!

ELOPE INSTEAD!

If the idea of a full-day wedding sounds like too much and you’ve started considering what it would feel like to just elope instead, then it’s probably a perfect option for you! Elopements always end up being just as special as a full wedding day, they bring so many good memories and I absolutely love photographing them!

GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR TIMELINE

Knowing what package to go for does require having a draft timeline of the day which can feel really daunting if you don’t know where to start. Have a read of my blog post which runs you through some ideas here! I’ll give clients plenty of time to make the decision on which package, you can always book me in by paying the deposit and we can decide on the amount of coverage at a later date.

Something Blue - A wedding at The Boat Shed Wellington

Something old, something new, something borrowed and lots of Blue - shoes, hair and even blue boat sheds. It was a treat photographing Erin and Peter’s wedding at The Boat Shed in Wellington.

Wellington put on its best windy weather for us and we still headed outside for bridal photos after their ceremony. There’s something special about a city wedding and being all dressed up right in the middle of it all! Where is your preferred wedding location - mountains or city vibes?

Wellington wedding elopement - Plimmerton Beach

My very last wedding for 2021 was an intimate elopement with Theresa, Zack and baby Ezra! It felt like we were on a tropical island out in Plimmerton, you wouldn’t know that it had been raining earlier in the day. I loved these relaxed elopement style ceremonies! This was a simple 40 minute photo session without any guests, I was one of their witnesses so it was really small and intimate for them.

Thank you Patricia Robbie for joining us as the celebrant for their ceremony!

Intimate wedding elopement in Breaker Bay, Wellington

Alison and Nicola planned an elopement ceremony looking over Breaker Bay. We knew that the forecast was for rain but we still risked it and managed to get 20 minutes of photos in the exact spot they originally wanted for their ceremony before it really started to rain on us! We jumped in the car afterwards, all windswept but full of adrenaline and made our way back to their accommodation where we met @celebratewithjill for the ceremony. I shared a glass of bubbles with them as we got the space ready for their vows and then we hit record on their phone while I took photos. It was just 5 of us and it was so special to be a witness for them on their special day.

I’m telling you their story as a reminder that getting married can look any way you want it to. It can rain and plans may change but you WILL have the best day ever if you focus on whats most important… and that’s love!