Family [brisbane family photography]

Posted on 07/06/2016 by maddie

In August 2012 I photographed a gorgeous maternity session in a pretty field, where I met a beautiful couple who were expecting their first baby. The sun was shining, they were excited and within a month or so I was given the chance to photograph their new baby girl under the shade of the spring Jacaranda blooms. Since then, I’ve watched their little girl grow, with mini sessions every year or so (super sweet!) and now in 2016 an outdoor family maternity session in January, followed by a session at home with their new baby boy, just a few weeks ago – divine!

Spending time with them highlighted just how fast young families grow and change. My personal favourite mummy quote when my kids were little was ‘the days are long but the years are short’ [Gretchin Rubin]. As I pondered my gratitude attitude back then, I appreciated the words personally from within one of those young family stories. And now as my kids have grown (my baby is five already!) when you get to watch a young family from afar it is even more obvious how quickly they change! It’s truly a privilege to share in the story of family beginnings and an honour to see my clients cherish their little ones. I know these two little darlings will bring their parents loads of joy! Have a beautiful weekend! Maddie xx

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River [brisbane newborn photography]

Posted on 25/09/2015 by maddie

I’ve heard it said…that the name River… implies that the recipient of that name will lead an adventurous life… will pave their own way…will carve new paths… and push against the common, foraging into new ground. What a glorious honour…and what a grand dream for a new babe.

I truly love meeting new parents with their little bundles – there is something wonderful about your firstborn, the massive learning curve that is enveloped by your heart that has grown in an instant.

It was a pleasure to get to know this loving, creative family as they welcomed their new little man last month. Enjoy x

Bushwalking love [brisbane family photography]

Posted on 27/07/2014 by maddie

When I was in highschool I always loved writing, particularly story telling. And although it’s not words and letters as much these days, I love that for me, when I photograph families, I am STILL telling stories.

Instead of a pen and paper (or keyboard), it’s a camera. And instead of characters and plots, it’s you and your world. But it’s still the chance to write a story of a tale that exists – and to bring my eye and my creativity, wrapped around the story of your life. And that, brings me a happy heart.

Recently I followed this sweet family on a bushwalking adventure under the Glasshouse Mountains. It’s their favourite space and it’s what they do together every week. Their sweet little girl may just enjoy the ride today, but when she is old enough to ask to go, she’ll be able to see the fun they were having – from the very beginning. Bliss! Enjoy x

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!

merry christmas & a little giveaway

Posted on 20/12/2012 by maddie

Just a quick but meaningful note to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and all the best for the beginning of the New Year! 2012 has been an amazing (and full!) year for me and as I begin my focus primarily on portraits, I am very excited to start a year of even more wonderful people stories. A special and beautiful thank you to all of my portrait, wedding and commercial clients from this year, it has been TRULY delightful to meet each and every one of you. I feel honored that you let me into the most precious moments of your lives and allowed me to capture your story xx so thank you xx

Also, in the spirit of giving, I would like to offer a giveaway! I cherish the fact that my photography surrounds me with some of the most beautiful times in life and I know that for many others this isn’t the case. Be in their work industry or just the hard seasons of life. So for this reason I would love to give away one session as a sweet etta photography gift, to pass on the love. The session can be any type – pregnancy, newborn, baby, child, family, couple, fashion portfolio or individual. It will include a 30-60 minute session in North Brisbane during January, an online private gallery of 20 images, two linen print display sets and a disc of your ten favourite digital images (valued over $500). To enter the draw, please leave a sweet comment of any sort below and make sure you include your first name and email (only your first name and comment will show below). I will draw a winner by RANDOM selection from comments at 12pm on Christmas Eve (noon) and then email the lucky person/people to let them know. All the best to you and I hope this will bring a little piece of joy to someone’s world who truly needs it xx

As I close off for 2012, I send much love to all and also ask that you too do something kind for a stranger this Christmas – just for the sake of old fashioned goodness! Pay for a strangers fuel. Cook your neighbour a meal. Tell someone in customer service what a great job they are doing. Let a car into your lane even if it means you’ll miss the lights. It keeps your heart rather happy and you never know whose world you may change. So for now farewell, I will be returning to work on January 7th and will respond to all emails in date order on my return. See you in 2013! x Maddie

giggles and playfulness [brisbane baby portraits]

Posted on 22/02/2012 by maddie

I often get asked what the best age for baby portraits is, and while there is no ‘set’ age (it’s all cute to me!) I do find that the two most common ages to photograph babies are newborns and about six months of age. With newborns, it’s all about the freshness of your new little bundle – so tiny and new, so wanting for cuddles and a precious life story yet to be written. The other popular age is about six/eight months or when your baby can confidently sit up on their own. It’s when they are full of giggles and playfulness and their personality has really started to shine through. At this age they want to play and explore all the time and every new object or noise is amazing to their little minds. It’s such a joy to capture their ‘wonder’. With my own babies, this was one of my favourite stages – you’ve begun to understand your little ‘puzzle’ and life has settled to a point where you can really enjoy playing with your little person. It’s a fleeting time, and before you know it they have changed again, but this stage is truly one of life’s little blessings. I love it xx