Mother's Day Mini Sessions Are Open!
I am thrilled to announce that Bree Hulme Photography is once again offering Mother's Day Mini Sessions & Bookings are now OPEN!.
This year we are thrilled to be hosting our studio sessions in the Bree Hulme Photography home studio, and our outdoor sessions at the stunning Long Reef Beach.
Simple, beautiful, elegant and timeless. That is the theme for this years Mother's Day portraits, focusing on your and your beautiful family.
Sessions are 20 minutes and your session fee includes your choice of 5 digital images. Additional images and prints can of course be purchased at our special Mother's Day prices.
Sessions are $250.
Bookings are strictly limited to two dates - Saturday 12th April and Saturday 3rd May! Get in quick to secure your Mother's Day Mini Session this year!
Book now using our live booking calendar.
We can't wait to see you all!
Bree x
What to Bring With You - A Checklist
You have booked your session and the date is coming up soon.
Are you wondering what you need to bring with you to the session?
Don't worry I have all of your questions answered and a neat little checklist as well to make sure you a fully prepared for your session.
General Tips:
(These apply to any session that you book with me)
- Have your outfits ironed or steamed, hung up and ready the day before your session. This makes sure that no matter what life throws at you on the day of the shoot, your outfits are ready. And make sure clothes fit - we all know how quickly kids grow, and you want to avoid anything that is too tight and snug for the photos.
- Clean shoes - especially kids shoes which may have been out jumping in muddy puddles. If they are going to be worn in the photos, make sure they are clean.
- Pack yourself a little bag of wipes, even with older children you may need to wipe noses and sticky hands before the session starts.
- For your hair and make up - pack your lipstick to reapply and a brush for those fly aways. Remove old nail polish that is chipped and peeling. Wash off those kids tattoos and stamps from hands and arms.
- Snacks and water - have some non-messy snacks for little ones to have after the session and water for everyone.
- A sense of fun and willingness to play games is essential!
- Leave your phones in the car - disconnect to be fully present during the experience.
- Remove your apple and smart watches, along with hair ties from your wrists so they are not in the photos.
- And allow plenty of time to you are not stressed or time pressured before, during or after your session.
For Outdoor & Beach Sessions:
- Mozzie Repellent - especially if we are doing a dawn or dusk session in a bushy area
- Towels to dry off afterwards
- A change of clothes for after the session in case we get wet or messy during the session - I love finishing a beach session with a splash in the waves!
For Newborn & Baby Sessions:
- Special or heirloom items you wish to include in the session - a special blanket or toy.
- Extra nappies, burp clothes and formula (if bottle feeding)
- A dummy for settling baby between poses
- If older siblings are included in a newer session, some quiet entertainment such as a book or colouring, to keep them entertained when not having photos
For Cake Smash Sessions:
- A change of clothes for baby and parent s for after the session - babies just love to share their cake with Mum!
Hopefully this helps you feel prepared and organised for your session. And takes some of the stress out of getting everyone to the shoot looking their best.
What to Wear - Outfit Inspiration
What to wear for your Spring & Summer Family Portraits can feel overwhelming.
But I have you covered. I have put together mood and inspiration boards for a range of different colours and tones to suit every family. Whether you are having portraits in studio or out at the beach or bushland, I have pulled together some current season clothes for all the members of the family. All the clothes in these inspiration boards can be found either at www.theiconic.com.au or www.davidjones.com.au in the current 2024/2025 season. When choosing what outfits you want your family to wear for your portrait session, think about the colours that suit your family and the area of your house where you will be displaying your family portraits. From neutrals, to muted pinks, green and blues there is a mood board and colour story to suit everyone.
I always recommend choosing an outfit for mum first, and then building the family outfits around that. My top tips for Mums is to wear a dress, choosing a midi or maxi length dress to allow you freedom of movement. Short skirts and dresses limit the poses you are comfortable in and much of my sessions centre around movement and fun. Make sure you are comfortable and feel beautiful. For dads a collared shirt in beautiful rich linens and weaves can elevate a simple outfit. And for the children, make sure everyone is comfortable and can play easily. Finally, don't forget about everyone's shoes - if we are shooting in a park or bush setting these will be in the photos. If we are on the beach, kick off the shoes and get those toes in the sand. If you are planning to leave shoes on, make sure they match the outfits and are appropriate for the location (avoid hit heels in bushy and rocky areas.)
Enjoy looking through these colour stories and choosing your families outfits for your family portraits, whether it is for a newborn, baby or family session. If you want some more inspiration head over to my Pinterest Board.
Why Sitter Sessions are the Best!
Did you miss out on newborn photos, but you still want to capture some gorgeous photos of your baby, and you just aren't sure what is the best stage or age? Or maybe you have had your newborn photos and you’re wondering, what’s next?
Don't worry! You don't have to wait long! The next best age for capturing your little one is when they are between 7-10 months old. This is the stage when your baby isn't quite walking or crawling yet, or perhaps they have just started to be on the move. Portrait sessions at this stage are called ‘Sitter Sessions’, simply because it’s the time when your little one can sit independently. With my natural style of photography, we’ll capture some gorgeous photos of their big eyes and tiny toes, giggly smiles and chunky thighs!
Older baby sessions are one of my favourites, as there is just so much to love that marks this stage for your baby.
Exploring – whether they can move around or not, their curious natures is on full display.
Learning to clap and play peek-a-boo.
Laughing at their parents being silly!
Playing with their tummy and toes, and showing us their big bright beautiful eyes and smile.
At a sister Session you can capture just your baby or combine it with some family photos as well. It is completely up to you.
So, when should we book?
As soon as possible! My diary can fill up between 6-8 weeks in advance, so it’s really important to book in as soon as you can.
All shoot dates and times are flexible. If we book a date in and then a month before you realise it coincides with your baby’s current nap time, don’t stress! We’ll simply adjust the date/time as needed.
Book your Sitter Session today!
Choosing Your Newborn Photographer
"That it will never come again, is what makes life so sweet."
~ Emily Dickinson
The newborn stage is so very fleeting, and often so blurred with sleep haze and overwhelm. Choosing to have a newborn shoot is an investment in your family and your memories. It will be a way to look back at this time in your newborns life, when they are so tiny, so new and all the emotions that come with new life and new parenthood. These images will last more than a lifetime, and they will still make you smile years later.
Every day your newborn baby changes and grows. Their little toes get bigger, their cheeks start to fill out and they generally lose that fresh newborn look. This is why it’s so important to capture these moments with the right photographer for you. There are a range of newborn photographers out there, all with slightly different styles and approaches to what they do.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the options, so I’ve written a few questions that you can ask yourself to help make your decision easier.
Do you love their work?
If you can imagine a photographer’s work displayed on your own walls, then they’re the right fit for you. After all, you wouldn’t purchase a piece of art that you didn't like! Look at their lighting, the colours that they use and the style of the images. Ask yourself if you can imagine these photos still on your wall in 20 years’ time - are they timeless? Imagine your family in these photos and if you feel inspired, find out more!
At Bree Hulme Photography, I focus on using whites and other natural colours, with minimal props to ensure that your baby is the focus of every image. Giving you timeless pieces of art for your home.
Newborn safety and comfort
A professional newborn photographer will know how to handle your newborn safely and have all of the skills needed to create a set of beautiful images of your family. It’s good to look through their portfolio and ask yourself, ‘does this baby look comfortable?’ If the answer is yes, then it’s likely that they are experienced and know exactly how to capture your baby at this age. If the babies look uncomfortable, with screwed up hands and limbs forced into awkward positions - they may not be the right photographer for you.
Ask your photographer about how they run their sessions. Does every baby get put in the same position regardless of their comfort and positional preferences? Every newborn has slightly different preferences about how they like their bodies, often this is reflective of their position in the womb- do they like their head to the left or right, are they comfortable on their tummy?
At Bree Hulme Photography I achieve my images with a baby-led-approach. We are led by your babies preferences, pace and needs. If they don't like their tummy that is ok, we focus on images with them comfortable on their back. If they prefer their head in a certain direction then we rotate them to suit their comfort. Every baby is different and we move slowly to make sure they are content and happy.
I do not do constructed newborn poses, as I don’t think it’s natural to see your baby propped up on their hands or sat bolt upright. Although some photographers do these poses well, they’re just not for me.
Are they passionate about what they do?
When you talk to a photographer, you’ll be able to tell whether they are passionate about what they do. Whether it’s in person, over the phone or via email, they will tell you everything you need to know, answer all of your questions and put your mind at ease. It’s essential to find someone who is completely transparent about their pricing, as you wouldn’t want to be surprised with any unexpected costs.
As well as being passionate, it’s crucial to find someone who is also professional. They will be able to show you a varied portfolio with lots of different babies, and have reviews from previous clients for you to read. If they don’t have all of these things then steer clear - don’t waste this precious time in your life on someone’s hobby.
Have they been recommended?
You wouldn’t hand your newborn baby over to a stranger, so it’s important to choose a photographer that has either been recommended by a friend, or who has plenty of reviews that you can read online. Don’t be afraid to ask questions - a professional photographer will be happy to answer them all and put your mind at ease. It’s ideal to find someone who is not only good at what they do, but is someone who you are drawn to as a person.
At Bree Hulme Photography, people arrive at my studio as clients and leave as friends. For me, it’s important to build a good relationship with my clients in order to provide them with the best experience possible - both at their shoot and in the future.
How would you like to display your images?
These days, digital images are increasingly popular. You may think that this is what you’d like to take away from your session, but consider this - what if in years to come, your files become corrupted and you can’t open them, or they end up on devices that become useless over time (anyone remember floppy disks?!).
After your newborn session, it’s important to ask yourself how you’d like to display your images. Do you want them on the wall for all to see, or would you prefer an album that you can pass round your friends and family? Ensure that your photographer offers the product that you would like at a high quality, as your images will last for generations to come.
As a society, we’re in danger of having children with no printed record of their lives (see this amazing project by Julia Boggio here). We take so many photos, but they stay on our phones and other devices. Imagine the difference it will make to your child if they grow up surrounded by photos of their family - showing them how much they are loved every day, just by seeing their photos on the wall.
How much are your images worth?
There are a range of prices that you can pay for newborn photography. The newborn stage is so fleeting that you can’t afford to choose a sub-standard photographer based solely on price. By the time you’ve received your images back, it’s too late to re-shoot if you’re disappointed. It’s a moment in time that you’ll never get back, so it’s worth investing in something that you know you will love.
Professional photography can be expensive, but this is because most of the work is done when you’re not there. From all of the training, to equipment & studio costs and all of the behind-the-scenes work - everything takes time. It takes years for a photographer to get to a place where they’re confident in the service they provide, and can really put their clients’ needs first by creating a relaxing experience in what is otherwise an intense time in their lives.
While money can’t buy happiness, it can buy quality. Choosing to have a newborn shoot is an investment in your memories. These images will last more than a lifetime, and when your children show them to their children, they will still make you smile all those years later.
At Bree Hulme Photography I have over 10 years of experience as a newborn and family photographer, I am a mother of 3 and aunt to 9.
Don’t let these precious moments pass you by. It’s recommended to book your newborn shoot whilst you’re still pregnant to ensure that your photographer is available around your due date. For more information on the shoot experience, please get in touch.
Baby Wardrobe
Are you not sure what your baby should wear for their photo session with Bree Hulme Photography?
At the Bree Hulme Photography studio, I have a growing Baby Wardrobe filled with some gorgeous outfits for babies aged 6-18 months to borrow! This takes all the guess work out of what your baby should wear for their sitter, cake smash or family portrait sessions!
My studio wardrobe is ever evolving, so I have created an Online Gallery to view the outfits which are divided into girl and boy wardrobes.
So if you are not sure what your baby should wear for their portraits, simply have a browse through the Baby Wardrobe and let me know which of the outfits you would like to use. I have taken all the stress out of wardrobe selections, what photographs well and looks adorable for your babies portraits.