Family Photography Adventure in Corlette with the Hanrahan Crew

Coooo eeeeeee!!
There’s something truly special about photographing people you’ve known for years. It’s comfortable, honest, and just plain fun. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Toni and Desi for a long time. I was even lucky enough to photograph their wedding day back in 2009. So when they asked me to capture their family portraits again in 2023, I was beyond thrilled!

Corlette – A favorite spot

We chose one of my absolute favorite spots for this family photography session. Right near The Anchorage in Corlette, Port Stephens. If you know the area, you’ll understand why I love it so much. There’s a magic here that’s hard to beat:

• Winding little pathways between the houses and Corlette Beach
• Big grassy patches, shady tall trees and thick, lush plants
• Manicured gardens that are clearly cared for with so much love
• The rock formations are beautiful. There’s even a cheeky little cave that I used to visit frequently as a child, that’s my personal favorite!

AdventureAdventure Session

This time around, we made the shoot a little more relaxed. Toni & Desi went for what I like to call an Adventure Session. A 90-minute photography session that gives us time to explore, play and let the kids just be themselves.

Let’s playBecause playing games is more fun

Little Desi isn’t the biggest fan of having his photo taken. The last thing we wanted to do was not make this fun for him. We played games, told silly jokes, had a go at Chinese whispers and I had the kids shouting out their favorite milkshake flavors into the mini cave (because yes — McDonald’s milkshakes were 100% on the reward menu… and who doesn’t love to shout out in a cave!). The giggles were gold and honestly, it’s these unscripted moments that make the best images.

We were also joined by Toni’s lovely mum, Jenny.  I always, always encourage grandparents to come along for these sessions. Those multigenerational photos? Priceless.

Now, a little side note about Toni. She is not just a longtime friend and client. She’s also a total powerhouse. Toni runs Make Me Up, a boutique hair and makeup studio in Salamander Bay. We often find ourselves working together at weddings (which is such a treat!).

This session reminded me exactly why I adore what I do. Every family is unique and that’s exactly what your photos should show. With adventure photography, I get to mix relaxed, storytelling-style photos with timeless portraits. It’s real, it’s fun, and it’s exactly what modern families want in their photo albums these days.

Thanks again to the Hanrahan fam — I had an absolute blast and can’t wait for the next one 💛