Liss contacted me late last year wanting a Tamworth family portrait shoot. She had seen a friend of her’s Melissa had a family shoot & wanted the same for her family
When I email & chat to my families I love to know everything about everyone, ages & what photos the mums usually love- they are the ones that usually plan the shoot.
I also love chatting about what everyone will wear or what look they want in their photos. This is so important as you not only want everyone to look great but feel confident in what they are wearing. SO after a few pictures & messages back & forth Liss decided on these outfits for her family. What an eye she has I just loved how they looked in their family photos.
Liss & Matt have three great kids all with their own cute personalities so I wanted to capture these.
Twenty minutes into our shoot a few of the kids were attacked & bitten by green ants. And as most people would know to any small kid this isn’t great. So after lots of tears & a few great snuggle shots with mum we decided to finish the shoot & finish another day. I want all families to love their photos & when something like this happens very rarely can you recover or get your child as his normal happy self. So I think its so important with something like this to offer this at no extra charge.
A few days later we moved spots & met at Matt’s parents family farm for a few more shots. This place was incredible with endless paddocks of green grass surrounded by hills made the perfect backdrop.
This post is written from a friends viewpoint. All of us have had a family member or friend who has had to battle with Cancer. So when one of your best-friends, Deanna tells you whilst your on the other side of the world they have breast cancer it leaves you feeling so anxious, sad & so so far from home.
Fast forward a month we arrive after Deanna’s surgery & she is ready to tackle chemo-therapy.
It has been so comforting to be here whilst she undergoes this but also very confronting to see your friend in so much pain & knowing she has weeks of pain ahead of her. So these weeks whilst Im editing at home we’ve had many days together chatting over coffee, watching chic movies & our favourite TV shows. SO that has been one positive.
The one thing like most women, Deanna was most worried about was loosing her hair. After it started to fall out a few weeks after her first chemo session, Deanna went to her long-time hairdresser Renee at Glamour Empire to have “the shave”.
As you will see by the pictures below, Deanna has an amazing shaped head. & totally rocks it. Yes she is beautiful.
Its probably an unusual photoshoot to some but as I said to Deanna this will be the only time in your life you will have no hair. What will you loose, worse case we can delete them.
It was also very empowering to photograph & let her relax and have fun in front of the camera.
I also believe that for any woman who has been through this, is going through this or will go through this in the future- these images say-“you got this, & you have permission to be beautiful & feel empowered despite what changes your body is going through.
I first photographed Deanna with just me but after her family seen some of the pictures they wanted a few as well. So we headed out another afternoon to get these. I loved this as well because it is not only the person going through cancer but the whole family is affected too.
Thank you so much for letting me do this. I just loved spending time doing this & photographing your beautiful struggle.
I first met Scott & Melissa years ago for their wedding back in February 2012. They had their ceremony & reception in the beautiful garden at The Pavillion. I still remember their day with a smile. Scott & Melissa had the best day with perfect weather, & surrounded by perfect family & friends.
So 7 years down the track I have photographed Scott & Melissa, their maternity shoot,newborn pics & now updated family pictures of their gorgeous little family of 4. They now have the gorgeous, very friendly & full-of-beans kids Willow & Jasper.
Melissa said she would always tell Willow her eldest daughter about the day her dad & mum got married as they drove past the The Pavillion function centre. Willow always wanted to go & visit as it always looked so beautiful & of course she believes with a beautiful garden there must be a lot of fairies that live there.
So last Sunday was the day to go explore, have family pics taken, Jasper with his digger & Willow in her princess dress ready to find some fairies
The light was just golden & so perfect.
I hope you love these pictures as much as me. What is there not to love a gorgeous family of four, two parents who truly love each other with two gorgeous kids with personality plus.
Being in business for over 15 years as a photographer in the Tamworth area definitely has its perks. I get to meet amazing couples for their engagement shoots, then their wedding, & then the babies.
This is the case with Matt & Ellen. They have been married 9 years & three babies later I still love catching up & sharing/photographing in all their big moments in their life together.
In October last year I did their maternity/family portrait for baby number 3. I just adored this shoot. A family of five in the paddock at home. Kids & horses & an amazing sunset. So fast forward to nearly a year later baby number 3, Meg is nearly a year old.
Matt & Ellen always have a family shoot for every new member of the family. Matt & Ellen choose to not have a newborn shoot but when bub is a little older. They do this as you can see their little personality shine through. Whilst I love newborns shoots I agree & as you will see with these photos, Megs personality & her relationship with her brother & sister shines through.
I had such a beautiful time, as usual catching up with Rosie, Roy & little Meg. They are the most hilarious, down-to-earth, well mannered kids. Thanks Ellen & Matt for being such great parents & such great people.
Last week I caught up with Cath & Bart Leach for their family portrait out at their family home at Moore Creek.
I first met Cath & Bart back in 2013 for their wedding at Tangarratta. I just adored this wedding. Cath & Bart were one of the best couples I haveever photographed. Yes my type of couple. Funny, in-love, had great friends & family that were up for any photo. I remember their day fondly, I came away from that wedding with a sore mouth from laughing & smiling so much.
Like many of my couples I keep in contact through facebook, & I love seeing their posts of their new babies & special things happening in their life. So when Cath contacted me saying they needed a family shoot I couldn’t wait.
Their kids Max, Molly & Sadie are just like Cath & Bart, cruisey, relaxed, friendly & very funny. SO I just loved every minute!!
I just adore your photos. Your family is just adorable You cant beat a family shoot at home. Everyone is relaxed, the fridge isn’t to far a way for a beer.
Good luck in choosing a favourite!!
Thanks again guys
cheers Karissa
perfect backdrop..the white water tank in the background
My first shoot since returning from Cambodia was the Doherty family, Andrew, Nicole, Zoe & Jackson.
I first met Nicole & Andrew when she was pregnant with Zoe. The location for the pregnancy shoot was The Doherty families farm at Loomberah, just outside of Tamworth.
I just love catching up with families again to see how they have changed & see how the kids have grown.
The farm was a little different this time with the drought. Though green paddocks are beautiful & make amazing photographs I also love photographing when the paddocks are like this. I guess you can see beauty in anything.
At the Doherty family farm near Tamworth we had the perfect family portrait setting of green by the creek & dusty paddocks, the best of both worlds.
Nicole & Andrew also wanted to have a few photos with Andrew’s mum & dad to make it extra special.
We also organised a few shots a few days later when they had all the kids & grandkids home.
Sunday of the long weekend was Sarah & Michel’s wedding at the spectacular Goonoo Goonoo Station. As you will see by the amazing photographs below this wedding was just amazing.
Goonoo Goonoo Station is located on the outskirts of Tamworth. This place is made for weddings. Heritage buildings, Incredible food, amazing reception room & a destination get away where you can spend the weekends with your guests. It also has endless photo locations.
What also makes this place outstanding is the staff & function coordinator, Andrea. Their service at Goonoo Goonoo is perfect. They go above and beyond to give you the perfect country Tamworth wedding.
Michel & Sarah met years ago in a chance meeting over breakfast in Fiji. Michel is from the Netherlands & Sarah a country girl from Australia.
So Michel moved over here to be closer to Sarah & the rest is history. Sarah had her mum, Sue help with a lot of the planning & décor for their wedding. She did an incredible job & thought of everything. The décor was just Sarah & her love for horses shone through.
Fireworks
A kiss at your wedding with fireworks!!! Perfection!!
As a surprise gift Sue organised fireworks for the reception. This just topped off their night. We bought all the guests out for a “guest photo” & as we started taking photographs the fireworks started! it looked just magical against a beautiful Tamworth night sky.
I just adore weddings like these. You actually feel more like a guest than a photographer. Sarah, Michel & their families & their guests were all just so friendly, relaxed & who were there to celebrate & witness two people, from two amazing families marry the person of their dreams. Yes this wedding had me leaving with a smile on my face & goosebumps.
Thank you again for asking me to photograph this perfect day!!
Sarah & Michel chose some amazing people to help make their day perfect.
Their ceremony was officiated by Vanessa Dobson, who is always so easy to work with. She’s bubbly, friendly, professional, gets your guests involved & disappears for “the kiss”. ( trust me a lot of celebrants don’t). She also loves an unplugged wedding which I am always a fan of!! Thanks again Vanessa it is always a great catching up again!
Reception
At Sarah & Michel’s reception I loved their idea of doing their bridal waltz as soon as they entered. With Dj Will’s amazing skills they had everyone on the dance floor which set the stage for the great party later on. If your looking for Tamworth’s best DJ please go with Will. He reads the crowd & always plays the best music!
Sarah & Michel’s MC for the night, Jeremy Roberts was perfect! Sue ( Sarah’s mother) mentioned how amazing these two boys were & they actually do this professionally. Yes one of the best MC’s I have witnessed…Thanks again
Another behind the scenes moment I loved was the staff of Goonoo Goonoo. They were all so interested in the guests but also commented how beautiful this wedding was. They noticed the guests, the families & the couple and loved the fact that it was a caring, intimate wedding. I think this speaks volume not only about Sarah & Michel but about the reception place- Goonoo Goonoo. To them it was not just another weekend, another wedding, another couple they were able to see little differences & help be part of that atmosphere.
Thank you again Michel & Sarah for choosing me to photograph your wedding. You are such a beautiful couple!!
Many of Australian photographers have on their wedding shoot bucket list a sunset wedding in Darwin. Yes to be a Darwin Wedding Photographer- even if it is just for one day. So when Shaylan, who I knew when we both lived in Tamworth called me up & said he was marrying a girl from Darwin & asked if I love to come shoot their wedding- I jumped at the chance
A Perfect Darwin Wedding
Shaylan & Sheryl had their reception right on the water at Casuarina surf-club. Under the stars with the most epic Darwin sunset. Casuarina surf-club was the most gorgeous venue. Beautiful green grass with fairy lights dangling above. Hearing the faint sounds of ocean in the background. Everything was perfect-the location, food, their family & friends & the couple.
For photography location spots we looked all around town but after going for a walk around Casuarina Beach I knew we didn’t need to go anywhere. This place had it all. The beach, rainforest, long golden grass, amazing rocks, sand junes & a fabulous sunset over the water. The beauty of this is when your finished your photography you are instantly ready for the reception party.
Ceremony
Shaylan & Sheryl were married at the kingdom hall of Jehovah’s witnesses Darwin. I just love a service packed with good friends & family to help celebrate & watch your perfect day. Sheryl told me before the day “I don’t want to be late, I want to be on time, even early. So waiting on a few guests to arrive whilst she patiently waited in the car in the car park she finally got to walk down to isle with her Dad.
Sheryl is from Fiji so she had family & friends perform a few Fijian traditional dances which was a highlight of the night as well as a few speeches from family & Shaylan’s good friend Jamie. Jamie I just loved your speech it was short, meaningful & a bit “goose-bumpy”, yes just lovely.
“B” -Bridal Party
Shaylan & Sheryl wanted a very simple wedding & chose to have “B bridal party”. So where you invite your friends to hangout with you, have some fun photos but you don’t have the hassle of dresses, flowers, suits, jewellery etc. Shaylan & Sheryl’s friends were fun, cruisey & very funny.
The couple also had many friends help with their cake, set-up & decorating of the venue, amazing Greek deserts ( by Anna who ever you are- but your deserts were the most amazing deserts I have ever tasted- yes I want to meet you!) I cant wait for you to all see these photos below. what a perfect day! Perfect couple!!
cheers Karissa xx
Shaylan needs a quick cut!
This light is gorgeous…Darwin rainforests make amazing pictures for your wedding!
Hold on tight Sheryl!
these are definitely a couple of favs of mine!
sand dunes + Darwin + smoldering look =LOVE IT
Grazing Tables at Weddings are amazing!!
Sheryl & her girl Squad!
a “B bridal party” when you want your friends without all the fuss…LOVE THIS!
In April I was lucky enough to travel to Newcastle for so many family shoots. But this shoot of Shane & Jacqui was extra special to me.
Shane is my cousin, so I guess you can say we have known each other for a little while now.
I photographed their wedding in Tamworth, a few years back, which was so much fun.
“The Cronin” family weddings are always a blast. So many laughs, good times, banter & oodles of dancing. Whilst I love weddings like this, especially ones where I know most of the guests, I do also love shooting individual families.
Jacqui & Shane asked me to capture their family at Redhead beach on an early Sunday morning. A perfect location for little Austin. To him this was not a photoshoot it was all about exploring, chasing birds & trying to get himself wet as well as his parents .
It is hard to get up super early for a sunrise shoot but the results are always incredible. On the east coast of Australia the sunrise over the ocean is always gorgeous. Along with Redheads’ beach of amazing cliffs, rocks & different textures we had the perfect morning.
It was so lovely catching up & spending time with “The cousins”. Thanks again Shane + Jacqui + Austin
Many people choose their family photographer for newborns based on the type of photography they personally like.
Some couples love highly posed in studio where they can control the environment & they put their newborns in poses & props. Whilst I do love some of these shoots its not really my style.
The style of newborn photography I like is where you are at home or outside. Where you hold your baby close in your arms & I get to see & feel the relationship & love you have for your new little one. I see you interacting, comforting & holding this precious gift close to your heart.
Your bub is fully clothed, wrapped & feeling very secure. This is when I feel you get the best photos of your new bub.
This style of shoot suited Joel & Belinda perfectly. They live on a gorgeous farm where they have gorgeous horses & amazing sunsets. The place where Roy will take his first steps, the place he will call home. The place where a families memories are made.
Thank you again Belinda & Joel for inviting me to photograph your precious new family. There is so many amazing pictures of you all. I had such a hard time choosing my favourites.
