One special day, four generations, and a whole lot of love. Celebrating Colleen’s 70th with a family portrait session in Tea Gardens.

After a week of flooding across the NSW Hunter and Mid North Coast, it was touch and go if Colleen’s 70th birthday and family reunion in Tea Gardens would happen. With family travelling from Mudgee, the final call wasn’t made until the day before!

After two weeks of grey skies and soggy grounds, Saturday rolled around and, would you believe it, the sun came out beaming. It was like the weather knew this day was special. I met Colleen, her husband Peter, and their extended family to capture some “together” memories for her 70th birthday. As a Port Stephens family photographer, these kinds of sessions are right up there with my favorites. Loving real moments, big milestones, and people just genuinely happy to be together.

The family had hired out their regular holiday home in Tea Gardens, a place full of years of memories for them. We started there, then we took a short walk to the edge of the Myall River where we re-created a photo of all the grandchildren together. It was just like an old image they’d taken years ago. A real “then and now” moment. Honestly, it was a joy to see how much they all loved that idea.

Capturing extended family portraits like these is always such an honour. With children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren all in one place, it’s not something that happens every day. It’s those rare moments that become the most treasured.

After our shoot wrapped up, the family headed off to continue the celebration at Colleen’s birthday party.

If you’re planning a special event and want to capture your own family story, I’d love to help.