Location Option – plenty parklands
Plenty Gorge Parklands by Plenty River.
Plenty Gorge is a large reserve with plenty of walking tracks and is a beautiful spot to wander around on a sunny Melbourne day. There's plenty of wide-open space for playing with kids and having a relaxed walk. This place is a great backdrop for stunning landscape views and the abundant native wildlife are always on show! By 6pm during the months of daylight savings, we should have glowing sun rays filtering through the trees, illuminating you and your family and just wrapping you in pure natural wonderful beauty.
Plenty Gorge Park is only 20 km from Melbourne CBD, it is a public park, so no permit is required.
Here’s a few examples from a session to give you an idea on the backdrop:
Your Family Session Welcome Guide. You know what this means? It means you’ve booked in your own magical family portraits with The Fitzroys. So awesome.
I adore these sessions. I love meeting new little faces but I also love love love having families come back year after year and watching those tiny little faces become bigger and seeing the little personalities morph into wonderful kids.
If you’ve had a session with me before then you know what to expect; but if you haven’t, then this is to help set you up.
Your session will take place at Plenty Gorge Parklands in Bundoora 3083 at mutually agreed time.
The parking is location: we will discuss in more details in the dead up to your session. Please allow for traffic and finding your way!
HEALTH & SAFETY
Plenty Gorge Parklands is basically acres of walking tracks, creeks, wetlands and a couple of lakes, but we won’t be going near the water.
The track that we walk along to various points along the park is mix of dry grass areas, some dirt so please take care walking and relatively sturdy/flat footwear is recommended.
And we are in outdoors! Which means uneven ground, unpredictable obstacles and the like, so please keep this in mind when choosing footwear for all. There may be prickles in some areas - all a part of being out among Mother Nature. The park floor is a mix of tree logs, sheared tree bark, dry grasses.
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF A SESSION
You are blessed to have this “not rushed, but not super long” session; one thing I’ve learned from photographing families is that time goes fast, usually because we are having a lot of fun and keeping busy. My #1 priority will be photographing you as a family, but majority of time will be spent on you together at play. I will be looking for the perfect light, given the evening sun light and constantly adjusting for the quickly changing conditions. I don't have a set plan as each session is different, but I will be looking to see family interacting with each other, playing with kids and keeping it really relaxed and natural. In another words – you will have the perfect opportunity to be yourselves, pause for a moment and enjoy the blissful evening. I will gently guide you or direct you to certain position based on the source of light too. But my aim is to photograph you in nature in a most natural (and flattering) way.
If you have something in particular that you’d like me to achieve, you must tell me at the very start – this way I can plan as we trail along the nature path to bring the idea to life as best as it is possible.
WHAT TO BRING ON THE DAY
You! That’s mainly it. I don’t use props or gimmicks – I am photographing you and your most favourite people in the entire world. I don’t have high expectations of you knowing what to do either; I’ll guide you and make it seem seamless. So other than yourself, you may want to bring a nice large rug/blanket -as a lovely touch to your outdoor session, especially that we are planning to have many sit down photo opportunities.
My biggest aim is to evoke those emotions you have for your partner and child(ren) and capture it for you – almost like bottling it up, and giving it back to you to open up forever and a day. You may not even realise on the day what I’m getting – all I ask is that you trust and leave it to me.
The images will be real, something you and your children and your children’s children will appreciate for many years to come.
Excited yet? Me too!
WHAT TO WEAR
This topic is important, and clothing/styling can make the difference to an ok image to something really special.
Before anything can be said, the most important message is to be comfortable. High heels, extra tight skinny jeans or tops that ride up are not advised. The best outfit for the lovely family session is (and probably always will be) a l flowy feminine dress (or feminine top?) - we should have some light breeze so that'll add on a little movement to the images.
When it comes to a clothing advise for partners, please know that I am no styling expert, but as a general rule on outdoor session - I suggest natural breathable fabrics and comfortable to wear. Here is a handy link I prepared as a general guide: family session: what to wear.
Dress from head to toe. Remember to dress down to your feet.
Boots, sandals and even a clean pair of thongs are perfect. Or bare feet if the location calls for it (more for the summertime than when on chilly side). Consider wearing grey woollens and layers (with scarfs/pashminas) if the evening is looking a little on a cool side. They photograph beautifully, especially on an overcast day or at the beach. DRESS FOR YOU! What I have to say is all well and good, but you know what colours suit you, what style suits you, and what is YOU! And if it’s all too overwhelming, remember a pair of jeans and a nice top that’s on trend is convenient, practical and can look gorgeous.
And dress family as one piece - complementing colours and textures rather than matching is best.
WHAT TO BRING
Don't bring much other than small bottle of water for baby and some snacks to keep them happy (little toy if they are inseparable). You may want to take a blanket to sit on, and generally when in doubt, feel free to pack all into the car and we can pick and choose from the boot when we meet.
WHAT TO DO IF WEATHER LOOKS BAD OR YOUR CHILDREN ARE ILL
With weather, I don’t make a call until between 8 – 24 hours out from the shoot. Forecasts can change and a rainy morning can ultimately be a ripping evening, so we’ll talk closer to the date.
Sick kids (or you for that matter?) Don’t do it. We’ll reschedule. Yep, you might have gotten your hair done, bought the clothes, arranged a million things to have this time free. But it’s not worth it. I’ll work something out to lock in another date.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE DAY
Please allow up to 40-60 days for processing and delivery. If I put up a sneak peek on Facebook/IG and you love it and would like it sooner for any particular reason then feel free to let me know and I can send it to you. I only put flattering ones up (promise).
I do not alter turn around times and I edit in the order that I shoot so all clients receive their parcels in the order booked.
I am so excited to meet your family, I can't wait!
Aga x
