Let me tell you a little secret: I actually hate those photos where everyone is lined up and looking straight at the camera, smiling through gritted teeth. You know the ones. Mum whisper-yelling, “Just smile!” while Dad checks his watch, and the kids are bribed with snacks and screen time. Sure, they might be technically “perfect,” but to me, they feel like… nothing.

I believe family photography should feel like you. It should look like your family feels, wild, quiet, chaotic, snuggly, loud, soft, whatever your flavour is in this season of life. That’s why my approach is all about connection over perfection. Because let’s be honest, perfection is boring, and usually not real.

So, what’s the point of family photos?

It’s a question I always come back to when I’m behind the lens. Why are we doing this? What do you actually want from these photos?

For some, it might be about getting that “one good shot” to send to Grandma. But for most of the families I work with, especially the ones who keep coming back year after year, it’s something deeper. They want to remember how this season of life felt. How it felt to hold their child’s hand when it was still small. The laughter during tickle fights. The way their kids ran straight into their arms without hesitation.

That kind of magic doesn’t live in stiff poses and forced smiles. It lives in the moments in between, and that’s what I’m here to capture.

Every family is different (and that’s the best part)

The connection you share as a family? It’s completely yours. It might be loud and playful, or quiet and snuggly. You might love rough-and-tumble games at the park or slow, sleepy cuddles at home. Some families are all about jokes and banter, while others are more touchy-feely.

Your connection has its own rhythm, texture, and colour, and my job is to notice it. To gently guide you into prompts and moments that bring it out naturally. No stiff posing, no awkward silences. Just a relaxed session where you can be you.

The secret ingredient: Posing prompts (not poses)

I don’t do traditional posing. Instead, I use prompts, little games or instructions that get you moving, playing, laughing, and interacting with each other. Think: “Whisper something silly in Mum’s ear,” or “Run up and give Dad your best bear hug.” These moments often end with real laughs, genuine cuddles, or completely unexpected joy. And that’s where the gold is.

The kids think it’s playtime (because it kind of is). The parents stop worrying about what their faces are doing. And everyone forgets there’s even a camera involved. That’s when I hit the shutter.

It’s not about how you look. It’s about how it felt.

When you look back on these photos years from now, I don’t want you to notice how your hair looked or whether your child had a grass stain on their jeans. I want you to remember the feeling of that day. The way your son ran into your arms without hesitation. The way your daughter twirled through the park, barefoot and carefree. The way your partner looked at you when you weren’t even aware of it.

That’s the heart of what I do.

Real connection, “Picture perfect”

If you’re someone who loves perfectly coordinated outfits, matching backdrops, and everyone looking straight at the camera, I might not be your girl. And that’s okay! There are so many amazing photographers out there who do that beautifully.

But if you’re someone who wants your photos to tell a story, to feel like a little time capsule of who your family is right now, messy, real, beautiful, then I’d love to be the one to tell it.

Let’s go on an adventure together. Let’s play, laugh, cuddle, and explore. Let’s capture the kind of memories you can feel every time you look at them.

Because for me, that’s what it’s all about.