Most people who book a family photoshoot have a version of it in their head before the day arrives. Sometimes it looks like a stressful hour of trying to get everyone to look the same direction. Sometimes it looks like the kind of photos you see on Instagram that bear no resemblance to any real family.
That’s not what I’m going for.
If you’re wondering what a family photoshoot in Melbourne with me actually looks like from start to finish, this is the it. No glossing over the toddler who refuses to cooperate, no pretending the dog won’t photobomb at least one shot with their bum.
How it starts: before the day
Once you book, I will send through a short questionnaire. It asks about your family: what your kids are into, how they tend to respond to new people, whether anyone is nervous, and anything else worth knowing before I arrive.
I’ve photographed families with neurodivergent kids, reluctant teenagers, anxious parents, and dogs who consider themselves the main subject of every photo. The more I know going in, the better I can tailor the session to how your family actually works.
Where family photoshoots in Melbourne happen
Sessions can happen wherever suits your family: a park, a beach, your backyard, your living room, or somewhere that has meaning to you. I photograph across Melbourne, including the eastern suburbs, Yarra Valley, Inner North, Bayside, and wider Victoria.
Weekend spots book quickly, so it’s worth planning ahead. I can suggest locations once I know a bit more about your family, or you’re welcome to come with somewhere already in mind.
For outdoor sessions, I recommend either really early morning or around an hour or hour and a half before sunset. Light is softer and easier to work around fast-moving kids. Indoor sessions work best in the morning when the natural light in your home is at its most workable, we can also do a hybrid in-home/backyard or walkable local park.
That said, happy kids matter more than perfect light. If a different time works better for your family, we’ll figure it out.
On the day: what actually happens
I arrive, and we don’t start shooting immediately. We spend a few minutes just existing in the same space. I’ll chat with the kids, ask them about whatever they’re currently obsessed with, and generally let everyone get used to me being there.
This part is more important than it sounds. Over fifteen years of photographing families, I’ve discovered many ways to get kids on my side quickly. Games, distractions, and genuine curiosity about their world, I also help them to be curious about what I’m doing too, the buy-in can be huge. We keep things moving and fun.
From there, we move through our time together pretty naturally. I give enough direction to keep things flowing, we might go for a walk, have a family hug or race, or stop to climb a tree. If your youngest decides they want to show me their bike, we photograph the bike. If your dog is part of the story, we let them be involved too.
Sessions run for around an hour. Extended family sessions run for about an hour and a half.
You might like to read: What to wear for your family photoshoot
The bit parents worry about most: kids behaving
Let me be straightforward about this. Kids at a family photoshoot do not behave like children in a carefully crafted Instagram life. They do not. Sometimes they are wary and shy, sometimes they are overexcited and bouncy. Some even declare they don’t want photos approximately thirty seconds after arriving.
I’ve seen all of it, and I know what to do.
Having kids be genuinely engaged rather than just compliant is something I’ve spent over a decade getting good at. I have tricks for the shy ones, games for the energetic ones, and a lot of patience for the ones who need a bit more time to warm up. I work quickly and responsively, which means I’m not waiting for your child to cooperate for an extended stretch. I need one genuine moment (two seconds even), and those happen more often than you realise.
Your role as a parent is to actually just have a great time together and to hold lightly your expectations of the time. Kids smile when they’re having a good time. The best thing you can do is have a positive with them and let me do the watching. This helps the experience feel good for all and will help me make the very best images I can for you.
A few practical things that help: feed everyone before the session, bring clean snacks in case you need them, and try not to put too much pressure on your kids in the lead-up. Children who’ve been told this is very important and they need to behave tend to arrive tense or worried about getting in trouble. Keep it simple, let them know what’s happening, a bit of what to expect but mostly that you’re there to have a fun time together and there’s something there to take photos.
If someone needs a break mid-session, we take one. If a toddler needs five minutes of not being looked at, that’s fine. Sessions have room for real life.
What I’m actually watching for
While your family is doing whatever your family does, I’m watching for LOTS of specific things: the way your kid looks at you when you’re not looking, the moment just before the giggle, the small habits that show up when people forget they’re being photographed. The wonder of a leaf they’ve found on the ground… so many little things.
These photos hold up over time. Don’t worry, we’ll absolutely get those ‘looking at the camera photos’, but I am also after the ones where you can see how your family actually feels about each other and what makes you, you.
This is also why I ask parents not to point toward the camera or prompt their kids to smile. Leave me to take the reins. Be on your kids’ team, there’s so much joy here. That’s why we’re doing this.
After the session: Your Gallery
Your gallery will be with you within two weeks. It will contain 60+ high-resolution images that you can download, share, and print. No tricky choosing your favourites, you get the lot. You’ll also receive print credit to help you get started on getting your images on the wall.
Ordering prints can be done directly through your gallery, which connects to a professional lab. No fiddling with cheap online services, no re-uploading files. You choose your favourites, click order, and they arrive at your door.
What to do now
If you’ve been thinking about a family photoshoot in Melbourne and keep putting it off, the truth is that the stage your kids are at right now won’t last. Whatever age they are, whatever phase they’re going through, this is a version of your family worth documenting.
Send me a message if you’d like to know what’s available. I can’t wait to meet you and your crew!
You can also read more about how sessions work and see pricing on my family photography page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at a family photoshoot in Melbourne?
A typical session runs for about an hour. I arrive, spend a few minutes letting everyone settle in, then we move through the session naturally with light direction from me. Kids can bring snacks, need breaks, run off and come back. The goal is real, relaxed photos rather than a staged production. Your gallery of 60 or more images arrives within two weeks.
How much does a family photoshoot in Melbourne cost?
Sessions start at $1250, which includes a one-hour session and all high-resolution images with print credit. A $300 booking fee secures your date, with the balance due a week before. Payment plans are available if that helps.
Where should we do our family photoshoot in Melbourne?
That depends on your family. I photograph at parks, beaches, backyards, and in family homes across Melbourne, including the eastern suburbs, inner north, Yarra Valley, and bayside areas. I can suggest locations once I know a bit more about your family, or you can come with somewhere already in mind.
What time of day is best for a family photoshoot in Melbourne?
For outdoor sessions, early morning or about an hour before sunset gives the best light. Indoor sessions work well mid-morning. That said, happy kids are more important than perfect light, so if a different time works better for your family, we can work with it.
What if my kids won’t cooperate during the photoshoot?
This is the most common concern I hear, and it’s rarely the problem parents expect. I have fifteen years of experience getting kids engaged and on side, and plenty of tricks for reluctant ones. I work quickly and don’t need your child to cooperate for long. A single genuine moment is enough, and those happen far more often than parents expect once kids are actually having fun.
Do I need to do anything to prepare for a family photoshoot?
Not much. Feed the kids before you arrive, bring a snack for mid-session if you think they’ll need it, wear something you feel comfortable in, and try not to build it up too much beforehand.
