FAMILY SESSION WELCOME GUIDE
OLINDA
RJ Hamer Arboretum in Olinda.
Arboretum is a Latin word meaning a place for trees. Here you will find over 150 species of native and exotic trees in plantations designed to represent forests, creating a patchwork effect over the hills. It’s quite a sight, and like most of my personally picked spots, you will probably find yourself wanting to come back and explore it further another day.
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.
INFORMATION ABOUT OLINDA
Your session will take place at RJ Hamer Arboretum in Olinda. It is a beautiful spot to wander around on a sunny Melbourne day with the views across to the Yarra Valley. The forest and the mountains in the distance, makes this one an ideal location to experience the late afternoon and sunset.
Health & Safety
RJ Hamer Arboretum is basically acres of walking tracks, creek, meadows. We will keep to the area not far off the car park, venture around the tall trees and have a sit down amongst the grasses. The terrain that we walk along to various points is mix of grass and 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 mainly grass.
HOW TO GET THE MOST OF YOUR SESSION + WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DAY
Please only have with you those being photographed at the session. Your session allows just you guys: parents and kids. It does not include extended family beyond that (unless you made a Group Family Session Booking). Please don’t feel like you need to bring anyone else for moral support. It’s SO distracting and I’ve been photographing families for a long time, I promise you that you will be fine.
We don’t have a forecast yet obviously, but I’ll be keeping a close eye on this (translate: I will be obsessing over it) in the lead up to the day. We can keep in close contact and if it is going to rain we will reschedule for another day. I don’t shoot in the rain.
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 both you and your partner lovingly embracing each other at times, with some subtle (at times) romantic moments, all that beside busy baby! 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.
Sometimes little ones take a few minutes to warm up to me. Don’t worry about this, it’s normal and they are usually holding my hand, cuddling me or beating me up by the end of it! I don’t shove a camera in their face straight away. I usually find myself getting to know your kids (and you!) first to find what will work best for you guys.
Prepare your kids in the normal way you would before a shoot (bribes are generally mandatory) and I urge you to connect with them and play with them as much as you can. A lot of kisses and cuddles too please. Please don’t worry about your children’s behaviour, and try if you can to avoid scolding them too much unless whatever they are doing poses a safety risk to themselves! Silliness is good. All I ask is that you relax, enjoy the time together and leave the rest to me.
If you are going to try and help me get your child to smile, remember to stand right behind me so I get good eye contact. Otherwise if you allow me to entertain them, that’d be even better.
Any hints you can give me to help your child open up quickly would be appreciated (e.g. favourite Paw Patrol or Frozen character!) I’d love to know as much about you as you’re willing to share.
Please don’t have anything with you that you need to carry (I’m the one who ends up having to carry it). Leave handbags/sunglasses and phones in the car. Have small bribes in your pocket.
I make a small exception to this rule when we are photographing a baby - for 3-9 month olds we are going to have lots of sat down portraits, and photos of baby lying down on the ground. There, any small number of essentials can be hidden in a old school hand held (small sized) basket. You can also plan for blankets to sit down on, as well as blankets to loosely wrap/keep around the baby - all to bring the softness to the outdoors and comfort for baby.
WHAT TO WEAR
I have put together a seperate page on the subject, so feel free to read more about the details here.
There is a particular style that I adore – neutral tones, feminine for the girls and rich solid colours – I also put a Pinterest board together showcasing “stuff I love”. You can check it out here:
However, this may not be for you. I also adore classic style, simple but beautiful tones with great fabrics. (It’s not unusual for people to spend more on their outfits than on their shoot by the way. Or maybe that’s just me when I get my family photos done…)
Want to text me your outfit choices? Go ahead, I’d love to see. 0451 442 710 or email them to me at studio@thefitzroys.com
Warning: I’m not a stylist – most of my clients do a better job at this than I’d do :)
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 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 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 to suit any online printing deals you might see. I edit in the order that I shoot so all clients receive their galleries in the order booked.
That’s it for now.
I’ll be in touch a little closer :)
Take care and have a beautiful day,
Aga x
