I couldn’t have asked for a better family to photograph for my very last family session in Australia before I moved my life to Virginia, USA. This wonderful family live around the corner from my parents new home in the Adelaide Hills, Australia and we managed to fit their session in just a week before I left!

Location Matters…

What made this session so special, apart from the fact that this family is so gorgeous, was the location that Danielle selected. Not only did it have diversity: stunning gum trees and open fields, but it was also the family farm she grew up on. (You can find more about east brook vegetable farms here!) I highly recommend choosing a location that not only allows for stunning golden light, but has an emotional connection for you and your family – it makes your photos even more special!

Before our session I met up with Danielle in her home and helped to choose her family’s outfits to bring out their style, match the location their images would be taken at, and ultimately suit the walls of their home where they’d be displayed! Danielle already had an incredible photo wall set up, and a few frames over the piano she wanted to display images in so being able to see these in her home first enabled me to know exactly what shots we were aiming for to suit each place they would be displayed.

Creating a Stress-Free Experience

Something that often causes stress with family photos is getting everyone ready and presentable, being on time and still keeping everyone happy in the process! Without fail something often doesn’t go to plan, a child has had a bad day at school, or in this case, the school bus runs late! Something that I highlight to all the families I work with, is that things aren’t expected to go to plan and that it’s completely ok for a family to do what they need to be ready, even if it means we run a little bit late. I would much rather the kids had a good time, took 5 minutes out to have a snack and chill out, than that we were on time but with high stress levels! So in this instance, we decided to push the schedule back by half an hour, took the pressure off, and let everyone relax after school, before heading over to the farm. This way the experience was so much more enjoyable for everyone, we still had plenty of golden light to work with, and the overall memory of the day was a happy one!

It’s all about the connection!

My priority during a family session is focusing on the relationships & connection – not on everything looking ‘perfect’. If that means the kids want to go explore the trees and play with sticks, and come back with a smile on their face, lets do it! I’ll always get the shots we need, and am more likely to capture them happily playing, with natural expressions, than if we forced them to sit still and smile!

Here’s what Danielle had to say about her session:

“Cilla explained how she would allow the kids to be themselves, she was great at taking them aside if they needed it and making it a fun session, where we all felt comfortable. I loved that she focused on what is important & that she was so happy and positive. Overall I was thrilled with our experience, the boys were not heaps keen on a photoshoot, but they did well, thankyou!”

If you’re looking for a custom-designed photography session that focuses on connection and is an enjoyable experience for everyone in the family you’re in the right place! Click the button below to get in touch and arrange a time to meet up for an obligation-free chat, where we can bring your vision to life.