Balwyn family photography
Professional lifestyle family Portraits and Outdoor Photography in Balwyn Melbourne
Balwyn is one of the leafy suburbs of Melbourne and one of my favourite places in Melbourne to photograph families outdoors. There are numerous options for a great outdoor family photography portraits session, including some parks that have rivers or small lakes. As a family photographer my aim is to record authentic moments filled with laugh and interaction between the members of your family. It doesn’t matter if your family is made up of all adults or toddlers and babies, my aim is to find a real connection and bring them out during your session. Aside form the love and connection between family members I also love to photograph little details specially in little children, as they will change very quickly and I believe that those little details are worth remembering and they also belong to your story.
The best locations for an outdoor family photography session in Balwyn are:
Wattle Tree Park: This park has numerous hills and great trails. The large trees gives it a bit more privacy compared to other parks around the area.
Burke Road Billabong Reserve: This is a great trail to discover with your family while enjoying your family photography session. The Yarra river flows through this reserve so it’s a great option for a variety of images.
Maranoa Gardens: This garden has a great diversity of Australian native plants. It also has several hills and walking trails.
10 tips for a great outdoor family photography session
Over the year I’ve been able to photograph many families of different age groups and sizes. With this experience I have learned to keep the children engaged and make the teens feel a bit less awkward. Here are some tips to prepare for your session and let things flow.
Choose a familiar location or a location that is meaningful to you. Through my session I normally like to start away from any play equipment and make my way towards it, so that I can keep the kids engaged with the promise of getting to the play area.
Always bring snacks and water, sometimes we are busy through the day and we forget that the hours have gone past and the kids get hungry. In case of tantrums they are a great distraction and a great moment to have a pause and reset.
Have a chat with your family about the importance of all of you being together in this portraits and the significance of memories and being on the other side of the camera: this is what is left behind once your kids have grown up, and it’s part of your story as a family.
Compromise: determine what’s the most important for each of you and let me know so that we can plan around it and make it happen.
Give them something to do: have a chat about your favourite activities: do you love to fly kites? Do you like to play tiggy or cricket? Then let’s add that to your session! Distractions are a great way to let loose and to engage with each other.
No new shoes please! It’s very important that you wear a few days before your session your outfits and your shoes: there is nothing more uncomfortable than new shoes or tight shirts, so make sure that everyone feels comfortable and relaxed.
Remember to dress for the weather: Melbourne can be all kinds of erratic and we can have the four seasons in one day! Remember to wear layers in autumn and winter, this will give you a great flexibility on outfits and the possibility of having different looks through your session.
Relax and remember that your kids are kids: I don’t expect anyone to be on their best behaviour, quite the opposite: let the kids run wild so that I can capture their true nature. I have kids of my own so I know how things can go pear shape sometimes, so don’t worry I got you! In case of tantrums we can wait it out and hopefully distract everyone… as long as you keep calm everything will be fine.
Avoid a busy day when possible. These days we are always in the go and sometimes we don’t realise how busy we are until we finally stop. Try to have a quiet morning or a few quiet hours before your session to make sure everyone is fresh and in the right frame of mind to have fun.
Bring your pet! YES! I love all pets big and small! When possible bring them along and we will make sure that they are part of your session.
I hope that this little list of tips and things to consider for your outdoor session in Balwyn or any other area in Melbourne helps you to plan your session. I can’t wait to meet you and your loved ones and tell your story!
Fran Jorgensen is a Melbourne lifestyle photographer, currently booking family portraits in Balwyn, Kew, Hawthorn, Ivanhoe, Surrey Hills, Camberwell, Ashburton among other suburbs in Melbourne. Also available for Newborn family lifestyle photography at home or on location.