“Having Heidi take our photos is more like having a friend come over, who just happens to have a camera”
What they Say...
- Nikki
Are you the Mum who loves to take pictures, but are starting to realise you’re hardly ever in them?
Do you have 25,000 photos on your phone, but other than the few you share on Instagram or the family chat, they just stay there, lost in the camera roll?
Do you love sitting, smiling, flicking through photo albums of your own childhood whilst also feeling ALL the Mum guilt that your own kids’ lives are flying past at the speed of light, and making photo albums is STILL an overwhelming task on your ‘to-do’ list?
What if you could have all the most precious parts of your family story documented beautifully, truthfully and with you in it?
And then have those stories kept in a book for you and your family to hold and love and treasure for generations?
Let me take care of that for you…
Don’t wait another year to hold that story in your hands…
A Year in the Life
4 x 1 hour Real Life sessions over 12 months
A full gallery of digital images, usually 70+ per session
A slideshow of images to music, to download
A mix of relaxed ‘family photos’, all the activities, chaos
and in-between magic of your everyday life
A family yearbook with 200 images
to have and hold and love forever
A YEAR IN THE LIFE
The most precious parts of your family story, documented beautifully, truthfully and with you in it
A Year in the Life is 4 documentary style sessions capturing your family, in your favourite places, doing your favourite things.
It’s not about ‘dressing up for photos’ and frolicking in grassy fields until hubby’s eyes roll so hard they fall out of his head. It’s about the real-life ups and downs of family life- the fun, the love, the tears and the laughs you share together.
Perhaps this is a big year for your family- a new baby on the way, building/renovating or moving house, or your family is complete and you just want to bottle up all their goodness before they move onto the next phase. No two family stories will ever be the same, but here are a few examples of what your 4 sessions may look like:
Baby’s First Year:
Maternity session at the beach,
Newborn session at home,
A walk/ride with the dog to the local park,
A first birthday party with family and friends.
Embracing the Seasons:
Fish and chips and a summers arvo at the beach,
A home session on the trampoline and in the garden,
A trip to Nanna’s house,
Decorating the Christmas tree and making a gingerbread house.
Photos at your ‘old’ house remembering your time there,
Photos at your ‘new’ home mid-build or mid-reno,
A session once you’ve moved in enjoying all the hard work put in,
An extended family yard party to celebrate a birthday or Christmas.
The point here is not to pick activities that sound fun or might be photogenic, but to slow down and think about the simple, ordinary everyday things that make up YOUR days. The things your family love to do most during this chapter of life together.
Moving or Building a Home:
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Q. My kids are adorable, but they don’t sit still and I’m worried they won’t behave..."A. I’m a mum of two very energetic boys, I get it, the more you tell them what to do, the less they want to do it! I usually start with a few ‘everyone look at the camera’ shots and then the rest of the session is pretty chilled out, I might give some suggestions for things to do, or more photogenic places to go, but generally I just let the kids play and explore. Often the best photos are when your kid is doing the thing that makes them most happy! And if meltdowns happen (and they will!) I may take an adorable photo of that, and then we can take a little break or head on a different adventure.
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Q. Should I wait until everything is perfect?A. Is family life ever perfect? Your kids want to see you, with them, so they can hold those memories and feelings in their hearts. You may never lose those 5 kilos, you may never re-paint that feature wall, and that is okay. Your kids don’t care, time goes fast, don’t wait. (or if you’re like me, a photoshoot is a great deadline haha).
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Q. So how does it work? Where do we start?A. Great question – click here to find out about the process of working together.
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Q. When should I book my family session?A. If you need a weekend, I am usually booked out 2-3 months in advance, so get in touch ASAP to check availability. If a weekday suits you, at least 2-4 weeks notice is great. I do get the odd cancellation, so it’s always worth checking if you aren’t sure!
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Q. When should I book my newborn session?A. If you want to capture your bub when they’re brand new, book a session as soon as you can. I only take on 4 newborns a month so I am able to be flexible if they need to be rescheduled. My sessions however are very relaxed and don’t require bub to be asleep to perform any crazy baby yoga positions, so even if your bub is 4-6 weeks old by the time you are feeling up to photos, they will still capture all that new baby love.
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Q. What if my baby arrives early or late, can we move our newborn session?"A. Yes, absolutely! Often babies don’t like to stick to their due date and that is fine. I usually recommend booking your session for 2 weeks after your due date, and if bub comes early or late we can work out an available date to move the session.
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Q. What days/times do you do the sessions?Weekday Minis These are only available Monday-Thursday and can either be mornings around 9am or afternoons about an hour before sunset, depending on your home/location/activities. Real Life Family/Newborn Sessions, A Day in the Life and Extended Family Sessions These are available Sunday to Thursday and can either be mornings around 9am or afternoons about an hour or two before sunset, depending on your home/location/activities. Friday and Saturdays by request.
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Q. Where can we do the shoot?A. I absolutely love photographing families in places that are special to them, whether that is your family home, or the beach or park you always go to together, if the place is special to you, the photos will also be that little bit more special in the years to come. If it’s just a photogenic location for your sunset session you need, then let’s chat and I’m happy to recommend some options around the Gold Coast and Northern NSW.
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Q. Can my dog be in the photos?A. Absolutely! I have a big dog and he is our baby, I couldn't imagine having family photos without him! Let me know if you want to bring your fur baby and we can make sure it's a dog friendly location. They can be in all the photos if you want, or we can find a shady spot to tie them up or let them roam free if they are allowed, up to you!
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Q. How much is it?A. Click here to find out
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Q. Can I have a discount?A. For past clients who have had a full family or newborn session with me I offer a $100 discount off your chosen package. If my sessions aren’t within your current budget, keep an eye out for one of my mini sessions by following me on my Facebook or Instagram as they are announced here first.
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Q. Do you do mini sessions?A. Yes! I usually do ‘Mummy & Me’ mini sessions around mothers day and Christmas mini sessions in November. These sessions are shorter than my regular sessions, with a small number of images at a discounted price. Best to keep an eye on my Facebook or Instagram as they are announced here first.
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Q. What if the weather is bad or we’re sick on the day of the shoot?A. Cloudy skies make for great photos, but I certainly don’t want to get stuck in a storm. If it looks like it may rain and this will affect our shoot, I’ll be in contact in the days prior and we can decide if we should reschedule. If you or your little ones are sick, please try to give a least 24 hours notice, and we can reschedule when everyone is feeling better.
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Q. What should we wear?A. I’ll send you a detailed guide after you book your session, including lots of info on what to wear, what to expect and how to prep for your session. But if you have any questions, let’s chat.
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Q. Do you photograph extended families?Yes! The relationships between cousins, grandparents, aunts is truly special and many families gift a session to a loved one for special occasions. You are welcome to also split off into separate family groups for photos also. Click here for more info and pricing.
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Q. Do you travel outside of the Gold Coast?Yes, travel within 45 minutes of Burleigh Waters is included in your session. Travel to Brisbane or Byron suburbs is $50. Happy to consider travel outside these areas. I often road trip down the coast to see family in Sydney and the Central Coast so please get in touch to see when our next trip will be.