Frequently Asked Questions

I am based in Pegasus, in the beautiful North Canterbury. I work in and around Christchurch and the wider Canterbury area. If you are further away than this, I’m happy to travel, so do get in touch to discuss.

No I do not have a studio, however,  I am able to set up my lights and backdrop in any home to create timeless pieces of fine art.

When photographing families the stunning countryside all around us becomes my studio. This could be the local forest, a barn, the beach, the river, a field, your home… your imagination is the limit. In the outdoors you and your children can have the freedom to play games take a walk and be yourselves and show your true personalities. I shoot whenever possible, when the light is most glorious, in the morning just after sunrise or in the late afternoon/evening just before sunset.

Firstly browse through my website to view the style of images you will receive. If you like what you see you can pick a day and time through the booking tab, send me a message or you can ring me on 0275561198 where we can have an informal chat to discuss your needs. Please bear in mind weekends are usually booked up 6-8 weeks in advance. Newborn sessions ideally should take place within the first 10 days but this is not a must. Please get in touch during your pregnancy to avoid disappointment.

As an on-location photographer I am used to working in all types of weather conditions. The only times I will reschedule a session is when it is forecast for heavy rain or strong winds. I do ask you to be flexible on the day of your shoot as sometimes we may have to adjust the time we had planned to avoid a shower or two.

The session will last from around 30mins to 1 hour. However, I do not clock watch and will only finish the shoot once I am certain I have the images I need. I am guided by your children and will take breaks as and when required. Newborn sessions can be a little longer and can last up to 2 hours. We do not rush these sessions and go with the flow of your baby, feeding and soothing as we go along.

I ask all parents not to worry or be anxious about their children on the photo shoot. I am a Mum to 2 boys and 2 girls. I am relaxed and confident in working with your children. If one of your children is not co-operating I have a few tricks up my sleeve to break the ice. I may ask permission to take them off to the side for a few minutes on their own to capture their images. Many times, without parents looking on, children are remarkably well behaved and co-operative.

I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard this said to me. I like to keep my sessions super relaxed and it is my job to guide you and make sure you feel comfortable, so do not fear! If you prefer a more posed session I promise to gently pose you in the best light, and will give you tips on how to stand/sit to look your very best.

Remember the days of the whole family in jeans and white shirts? Those days of everyone being matchy-matchy are gone.

The idea is to choose a color palette of three or four complementary colours, and then dress the family in shades of that palette. Start with one statement piece that has a classic pattern – this is most often mum’s outfit – and then pick up clothing for the rest of the family that draws from the colours in that outfit.

Another alternative is to keep the colour palette neutral (think greys, browns, creams), and then introduce a pop of colour here and there.

Neon is a hard no. It doesn’t photograph well, and you will have crazy colour cast on the skin.

No to characters and logos sorry. As much as the kids may love their Paw Patrol shirt, it is a distracting element in a photo. The star of the show should be the people in your family session – not the logo or words on a shirt.

Finally... as much as it is important to consider colours and textures when choosing what to wear for a family session, we don't want dad grimacing in every photo because his collar is too tight, or Mum can’t twirl the kids around because she is worried about a wardrobe malfunction. The clothing you choose should fit well and be comfortable. 

Around 2 weeks after your shoot you will receive a link and password to your online gallery.

Your gallery will show around 20-30 beautifully edited and retouched images which will be available for download.

Weddings you can expect to receive your images 4 - 6 weeks after your special day.