Family photography across Brisbane's Northside.

Where we'll shoot

Forgan Park, Joyner (Lake Samsonvale)

Set along the edge of beautiful Lake Samsonvale, Forgan Park offers stunning sunset light across the water, creating a soft, golden glow that's perfect for relaxed family moments. With its open spaces, charming fences, and beautiful trees, it's an ideal location for a mix of natural, candid images and gently guided portraits.

Sweeney Reserve

Nestled among tall, established trees, Sweeney Reserve has a peaceful, almost hidden feel. Little bridges, soft grassy areas, and filtered light through the trees create a calm and intimate setting. It's perfect for families who love a more earthy, shaded backdrop with plenty of space for children to explore.

Eatons Hill creek sessions

A beautiful, relaxed creekside setting at sunset, perfect for playful, candid family moments. With shallow water for children to splash in, throw rocks, and explore freely, this location naturally encourages movement and fun. The golden light filtering through the trees creates a warm, dreamy backdrop while families simply enjoy being together in a laid-back, unposed environment.

Samford Valley

With rolling mountains in the distance and wide open fields, Samford Valley offers a classic Queensland countryside feel. Weather and timing permitting, you might even spot cows grazing in the background, adding to the charm. Fences, soft light, and expansive views make this a beautiful, relaxed setting for storytelling family images.

Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha

Located close to central Brisbane, the Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha are perfect for families based on the south side. With lush greenery, manicured gardens, and a variety of scenic backdrops, this location offers a refined and versatile setting while still feeling natural and relaxed.

Sunshine Coast Hinterland

For something a little more adventurous, the Sunshine Coast hinterland offers a stunning mix of forest, winding dirt roads, and natural textures. Surrounded by towering trees and soft, earthy tones, these sessions feel quiet, organic, and beautifully understated, perfect for families who love a more rustic, nature-inspired setting.

Bayside: Sandgate, Shorncliffe and Brighton

The bayside offers a beautiful, open backdrop of sky and water, with the charm of the old jetty adding character and texture. Soft reflections and coastal tones create a light, airy feel to your images. These sessions are best suited to calm, still afternoons when the wind has settled, allowing for a relaxed and effortless experience by the water.

A place meaningful to you

Sometimes the most special location is one that already holds meaning. Your backyard, your favourite local park, or a family home filled with memories. These spaces add a deeply personal layer to your images. Photographing your family in a place you love brings an authenticity and connection that can't be recreated elsewhere.

Studio in Cashmere

If a studio setting feels like the right fit, particularly for newborns or younger babies, the Cashmere studio offers a calm, comfortable space with beautiful natural light.

The right time of day

The last ninety minutes before sunset, almost always. The heat is gone, the light is soft and warm, and most children have weathered the afternoon slump. We pick a start time once we've settled on a date: earlier in winter, later in summer.

Mornings work for very young babies and on days when an evening session isn't possible. The light isn't quite the same, but a quiet morning park is its own kind of beautiful.

Children set the pace

I direct loosely. Most of the best frames come from movement, not from posing: a piggyback, a chase, a parent making a toddler giggle. We'll do the formal family group early while everyone is fresh, then let the rest of the session unfold around what your kids are actually doing.

Snacks are welcome. So are nappy changes, outfit changes, and breaks for a tantrum. I use only positive reinforcement, and I won't ask a four-year-old to sit still for ten minutes. That ends in tears for everyone.

What to wear

Choosing what to wear doesn't need to be complicated. Instead of matching exactly, choose a tone family and build your outfits around it. Soft neutrals, warm earth tones, denim, and touches of mustard or rust photograph beautifully against the greens of the Northside.

Beautiful combinations include cream, beige, and tan with denim; rust and terracotta with soft neutrals; sage or olive with warm browns; or baby blue and white with navy denim. These classic tones create a relaxed, timeless feel.

Bare feet on the grass always photograph beautifully and help keep things natural and relaxed. If you've got a teenager who isn't overly keen on being photographed, let them have a say in what they wear. They're far more likely to relax and enjoy the experience.

Try to avoid stripes, large logos, fluorescent colours, and bright white, as these can be distracting or reflect light harshly. Soft, natural fabrics and layers work best.

Most importantly, wear something you feel comfortable in. When you feel good, it shows in your photos.

Wet weather

Brisbane being Brisbane, the forecast sometimes turns. We stay in touch the day before and on the morning of the session. If it's clearly going to be miserable, we either reschedule to the next available evening or move indoors to the studio. There's always a plan B. No one ends up shooting in the rain unwillingly.

Read more

From the journal: what the light does at Sweeney Reserve at the right time of day, and why we keep going back.

A golden-hour family session at Sweeney Reserve →

For pricing, see the Standard, Elite and Exclusive session options. Most families with two or more children pick Elite or Exclusive for the extra time and the second outfit.