It is common knowledge that the vast majority of people who book a photo session are women. In fact, so far ALL of my enquiries have been from women. It is also not uncommon for the woman to throw in a comment such as “My husband doesn’t want to take pictures with me,” “My partner hates photos,” “Or he always feels uncomfortable.“ So it goes without saying that most men are not overly keen on taking part in a photoshoot. (Now, credit to the amazing men who come along, because they are making the choice to be uncomfortable for the benefit of their wives and families.) I do not for a second believe that this is because men do not value the gift of photography or the “capturing of memories,” that happens during a family session. So perhaps the key to encouraging more men to “happily'“ take part is to firstly try to understand where they are coming from. So here are a few tips and ideas which may prove useful when broaching the subject of a Family shoot.

This amazing extended family had photos taken at a stunning beach house in Huskisson NSW. We were fortunate to have perfect weather and sublime views which really added to the relaxed, laid back vibe of the session. This family are blessed to have included Great Nanna who is 95 years young, parents who have been married for 35 years and two brothers with their families. We began with a shot of Great Nanna and just kept adding more and more family members until we reached the large family shot with everyone. As with all families, the 4 gorgeous children often steal the show with their antics and personalities and this was no exception. Our session involved tree climbing, silly dancing and faces, looking for crabs, beer drinking, frisbee throwing and a whole lot of jokes and laughter. I can honestly say that I was made to feel so at ease and accepted throughout the afternoon which definitely made my job a whole lot easier and enjoyable.

Have you heard the Ronan Keating song words "If Tomorrow never comes, would she know how much I loved her?" Yes, it's about a couple, but the analogy got me thinking. If I was suddenly not here, what would I want my daughter (and my sons, but more specifically my daughter,) to know? And the 1 thing (obviously, other than a deep rooted belief and trust in God,) that I believe can make a massive difference to every aspect of her life is this….

YOU ARE ENOUGH!

So with Valentines Day coming up very soon, it is the perfect time to share some insight into what the Mum’s, Wives or partners in your life actually want.

Yes, we won’t turn our noses up at a gorgeous bunch of flowers, box of chockies or a stunning diamond ring, (which I actually did get for Valentines day back in 2001.)But sometimes, a little more thought goes a long way.