Our Darling & Us [Family Portraits]

Posted on 25/05/2017 by maddie

Gosh I love meeting new families. There is something so delightful about the journey of life – welcoming little people and savouring how they add to your world as they grow! It’s a joy to meet people for the first time and so quickly be able to see into their world and capture something they can enjoy forever. For all the hard work it can be as a parent, nothing can match the joy of a giggle or sparkle in their eyes when you are together xx This cute little family are friends of one of my lovely long term clients and we had a wonderful morning together! Sweet bliss xx

Mermaids by the Sea [a party]

Posted on 21/03/2016 by maddie

A few years ago I threw a Princess & Brown Paper & String party for my daughter – it was so much fun! Five years later, my daughter has now turned 8 and I’m at it again. She’s a water baby, who has dreamed all year of owning a Dream Blue mermaid tail. She was SO excited to open it and has been swimming like a pro in it ever since! It’s amazing how fish like it is as it propels her through the water. So for her birthday gathering with school friends, we stuck with the mermaid/seaside theme. We prepped it at home and then we boxed it up and headed to the Settlement Cove Lagoon. Here’s a peek at the fun things we created. Have a wonderful weekend! x Maddie

Invitations: designed as clam shells with a tiffany/sea blue theme and text inside a brown paper envelope Number Eight: fashioned from a garland in the shape of an 8 on the wall Cake: a sea themed cake with a ornamental mermaid on top. Blue ombre icing detail with sand at the top and bottom (made from butter and crushed biscuit). The diamonte 8 and pearls were from Life of the Party at North Lakes. The name garland was handmade. Inside were hot pink ombre layers as a surprise! Turtle Eggs: cool mints in shot cups (with a cute turtle decoration on the side) Pearl Clams: passionfruit melting moments with pearl lollies at the front Sea Shells: chocolate shells in sand (made from crushed biscuit) Sea Cups: cheesecake bases, vanilla panacotta and blue jelly layers – Ocean Pops: white chocolate lollipops with sea themes and pearl accents Sweet Seaweed: Grapes and blueberries on skewers Driftwood: chocolate wafer sticks and rosemary and salt crackers in jars Ocean Water: water bottles with personalised labels Crunchy Coral: regular popcorn with a dash of coloured popcorn for effect Fish n’ Chips: French fry crisps with home made fish shaped crackers Jellyfish: chocolate shaped tentacles with half moon chocolate buttons Activity 1: Mermaid crowns with jewels and decorations Activity 2: Swimming with a mermaid! Take Home Bags: Brown paper bags with a thank you note, filled with treasure treats, bubbles, stationery and small glass bottles with teeny tiny shells detailing ‘she sells sea shells by the sea shore”.

Summer Love [commercial photography]

Posted on 15/09/2015 by maddie

Last summer I got to meet the wonderful owners (Darren & Jo) of Old Cossack Drinks Co. Such a lovely couple – and it always makes me happy to see people taking a dream and a passion and starting a new business! Their drinks are divine – a collection of fizzy, refreshing tastes that are actually good for your health. The range includes Ginger Beer, Lemon Lime & Bitters, Mint Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade, Strawberry & Vanilla Cider, Coconut Water Kefir and my favourite Pear Cider! So yummy. As we head into the warmer months I’m reminded of their goodness – you can catch them at the Carseldine Markets every Saturday morning or at many of best foodie spots in Sth East Qld! Follow them here to find out where they will be xxx

Beach fun! [family photography]

Posted on 04/09/2014 by maddie

Family portraits are fascinating. If you never have them done, you’ll probably never know what you are missing. You might see other peoples photos and think they are nice but that it’s probably not for you. And that’s okay, cause you’ll never know. You see, they are something that become valuable only AFTER they’ve been taken. And that’s a privilege I don’t take for granted (and that makes my work so fun!). It’s like I’m treasure hunting on behalf of you. To capture what you don’t see when you’re just hanging out together. I’ve had many families tell me how much they adore their images and how they love to see them around their home in the midst of a busy life. And when I think about it, I guess that’s my main goal at all family sessions – to create images that sooth your soul, that take you back to that happy place that is your family at it’s best. I love it! Today’s feature is a sweet crew who were visiting the Gold Coast from Tasmania this month on their annual holiday (mum is also the talented creator of Mooi Handmade). We began our session with a little walk and scooter ride followed by sandcastles and fun at the beach. Coastal bliss at it’s best. Enjoy!

our happy places [brisbane family photography]

Posted on 28/05/2013 by maddie

The thing that I love most about lifestyle family portraits, is that there are no rules. You can make your session as simple or creative as you like. You get to wear the things you love (whether thats jeans & T’s or something quirky or extravagant). You can have your session in a place you adore (perhaps that’s your wonderful home or maybe somewhere that you’ve been hoping to visit together for months). You get to do the things you love to do together (from pancakes at your kitchen bench for breaky, to visiting the organic markets, to an adventure at a sideshow alley). YOU get to choose. And you get to have a great time as a little family where the focus is only on having a fun together. It doesn’t matter if it’s just a mum and daughter, or parents with a wild big brood of kids, whatever your story is, that’s what I want to discover. It’s about you, being you.

This sweet family desired to have their saturday morning family tradition captured. When they are all up and dressed, they head off for a walk together to their local reserve. They explore and have fun. They watch the ducks swim and find cool sticks and rocks to play games with. They laugh and giggle together. Then they finish their stroll with babycinos and coffees at their favourite local cafe. It’s sweet, pure fun at it’s simplist. It’s a story that is theirs, memories that will remind these parents of the time when their little ones were young. And as the years pass, they can share these beautiful moments with their children – showing them the very beginnings of their family traditions. It’s family. It’s good fun. I love it x Maddie

Sugar and spice [brisbane newborn photography]

Posted on 12/04/2013 by maddie

When I had my own first baby four years ago my husband and I had wanted the gender to be a surprise. So when our baby was born, we were thrilled to realise we had a delightful little girl in our arms (what we secretly had wanted!). But like many mums, I had a small thought that I would endeavour not to overdo the ‘traditional pink’ look in the clothing department. Within a few weeks though, we were inundated with pink gifts, pink clothes, pink hats and pink shoes. And the funny thing was, I soon realised, that my little girl looked absolutely ADORABLE in pink! I tried red and blue and yellow and nothing made her look as rosy and sweet as pink did. But I loved it. So she went on to spend the next few years fashioning various shades of wonderful pink and I enjoyed every second of it!

So far this year, my newborn sessions this year have been a good mix of both boys and girls. But I thought I’d share a real girly one from earlier this year that I’ve been meaning to post. This is adorable little Poppy with her mum and dad. I met them a few months ago and Poppy certainly suited the sweetness of pink. Her mum has done an amazing job creating her nursery too and the whole session was truly wonderful. We all had a relaxing time spending the morning at their family home, a little while inside the nursery and then some time out in the garden. So cute!