The importance of parents being in photos with their kids.

These days with smartphones and social media, capturing and sharing photographs has become a daily ritual for many of us. As parents, we want to document our children's lives and create lasting memories. However, there is often one crucial element missing from these photos: us!

I’m super passionate about photographing the WHOLE family and getting YOU in some photos too. Even if you feel exhausted or don’t feel that you’re looking your best, or if you hate photos of yourself and can’t think of anything worse than having a photoshoot. If you don’t get in some photos you will probably regret it in 10+ years time. When your kids are grown up and look back at the photos of their childhood they will wonder where you were. Let go of how you think you should look and just get in some photos. It doesn’t need to be perfect. Future you will be thankful that you did!

It's totally normal to not love photos of yourself but your kids love you just the way you are and being in photos with your kids creates a visual legacy that tells a story of your love and involvement in your kids lives. Do it for them, not for you!

Once you are in some of the photos make sure you print them and display them in your home. Having family photos displayed throughout the home helps children develop a strong sense of belonging. When kids see images of themselves with their parents, it reinforces the bond they share and reaffirms their place in the family unit. These images serve as a constant reminder that they are loved, valued, and an essential part of something bigger than themselves.

Displaying family photographs in the home not only fosters a sense of belonging but also boosts your child's self-confidence. When children see their smiling faces alongside yours, it sends a powerful message: "You matter. You are an integral part of this family." This visual affirmation contributes to their self-esteem, self-worth, and overall positive self-image. They feel seen, validated, and supported, which is beneficial for their emotional and psychological development.

While digital images have their place in our lives, our kids don’t know if we have changed our display picture or proudly shared photos of our kids with friends and family. By printing and displaying family photos, kids can see that they are valued and it creates a visual timeline of their growth and milestones.

 A home adorned with family photographs exudes warmth, love, and togetherness. The presence of these images creates an environment where children feel secure and nurtured. It becomes a sanctuary where they can find solace, draw strength, and create lasting memories with their loved ones. By surrounding kids with images of joy and connection, children are reminded daily of the love that envelops them, promoting a positive family identity and deepening their emotional bonds.

As a photographer, I believe that every parent should make a conscious effort to get in the frame with their children and print and display family photos in their home. By doing so, we create a legacy of love, belonging, and self-confidence that will shape our children's lives and memories. These photographs serve as a visual affirmation of the bonds we share and the unconditional love that exists within our families. So let's capture those precious moments, print them, and proudly display them—because in the end, it's the people in the photos that truly matter.

Tammy x

Things to do with kids on rainy days.

I know it’s hard to leave the house with kids and on rainy days it seem almost impossible! But in my experience it’s always worth the effort to get out and do something fun and then the rest of your day will go much more smoothly and your kids won’t go stir crazy.

Here are a few of my go-to activities:

Visit one of the Museums in Port Adelaide.

These cost about $12/adult and kids under 4 are free. On weekdays there’s only usually a handful of people there and weekends are usually quiet too. There is the Railway Museum http://nrm.org.au/ , Maritime museum https://maritime.history.sa.gov.au/ and the Aviation Museum http://www.saam.org.au/ . The Railway Museum has free train rides every 30minutes where you get to go on a small train on a loop around the museum. The train ride only goes for a few minutes so it is perfect for young kids. The rest of the time you can explore and climb on a bunch of trains and there is also a model railway. The Maritime Museum has lots of boats to explore and there are plenty of areas that foster imaginary play. The Aviation Museum has lots of fun planes to climb on where you can pretend to go on a holiday and there’s one plane where the kids can sit in the cockpit and press all the buttons and go on an imaginary flight. They even have little plane trolleys so you can leave the pram in the car and your kid can enjoy being pushed around in their very own plane. Keep in mind that these museums are inside big sheds. They are sheltered from the rain but can still be cold and windy so just be sure to rug up! They are also quite big so it may be worth bringing the pram/stroller. Your kid will be in and out all the time to climb onto and off the trains/planes/boats, but as always, a pram is useful as a trolley so you don’t have to carry everything! Allow 1-2 hours for each museum. If you want to make a day of it you could head to two in the same day (they are 2mins from one another).

Go to the Zoo or Monarto https://www.zoossa.com.au/

Kids under 4 are free and adults are about $35, or you can get an annual membership for around $120. The zoo is mostly outdoors so I don’t recommend this on days where torrential rainfall is forecast. But it is great on days with scattered showers. On rainy days it’s extra quiet, but there are actually a heap of inside and undercover areas so it’s easy to take cover while any rain showers pass. If it’s your first time to the zoo you could spend all day there, but if you are a regular, it’s a good way to kill an hour or two. If the weather turns out nice it can also be fun to pop next door to explore the botanic gardens.

If you have zoo membership, entry to Monarto is included. Monarto is about 40 minutes up the freeway, so it’s not actually that far away (depending on where you live). When you go to Monarto you go on a shuttle bus around the park which takes about an hour. You can get off at different stops but if it’s rainy I’d recommend just staying on and doing the loop. Keep this in mind if taking young kids as you’re pretty much stuck on the bus for an hour which isn’t everyone’s idea of fun. But kids aged 3 and over generally love it. The bus drives through the animal enclosures so you get to see giraffes and lions right next to you out of the bus window. It’s pretty cool. After the shuttle bus you can grab a coffee or lunch at the café before heading home, or your kids may like to do another loop on the shuttle bus.

Bounce https://www.bounceinc.com.au/

Bounce has a site in Marleston (inner west) and another in Greenacres (north east). They have introduced “Play Dates” for $11 on school days where your toddler can have 2 hours of fun playing on trampolines, in foam pits, ball pits and one of those kid maze things like they have at play cafes (but smaller and cleaner). Its usually relatively quiet and who doesn’t love trampolines?! Bounce at Greenacres has an awesome little kids area for 0-5 year olds, as well as big trampolines, rock climbing and an arial coarse for the older kids. The only issue is that young kids can’t go in the big kids area, and big kids cant go in the little kids area which is hard if you’re the only adult and you have both big and little kids. When going to bounce definitely wear activewear as you will find yourself crawling through the maze or climbing out of a foam pit in no time.

Baby sensory/Toddler Sense (for kids aged 0-4) https://www.babysensory.com.au/

These classes are very popular and are usually booked for a whole term, but they sometimes have casual spots available so it’s worth contacting your nearest centre to ask. It’s a great regular activity for terms 2 and 3 when its often cold and wet outside. My kids absolutely loved baby sensory and toddler sense and there is a lovely sense of community in the classes. Your baby/toddler will have the best time and it’s so lovely doing new and exciting activities with them while also being a great bonding experience between you and your baby/toddler.

Adelaide Museum https://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/ and Art Gallery https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au/

Entry is free and there is always lots to explore. The museum is very kid centred and although your kids will find some areas of the art gallery “boring”, it has an area that always has art/craft activities for kids. My kids also always love tram rides so we often catch the free tram a few stops along north terrace and then catch it back again. You’re also right next to Rundle Mall so can always pop in there for a snack or lunch, or a spot of shopping (if your kid allows).

Kindergym (kids aged 1-4)

My kids loved kindergym, but not enough to commit to going every single week so we loved going to places that had casual options rather than needing to book in for the whole term. Glengowrie YMCA https://www.sa.ymca.org.au/what-we-do/gymnastics/glengowrie/preschool-programs offers casual Kindergym classes, as does Ascot Park Primary School. I’m sure lots of other places do too, but these were the ones I went to. It’s worth contacting a few local centres to see if they have casual spots and then it can be one of your options on rainy days.

Library Rhyme Time/Baby Time (kids aged 1-4) https://www.libraries.sa.gov.au/

Check out your local library as almost all libraries offer free weekly programs for babies/toddlers during school terms. These sessions involve singing nursery rhymes to your child and using various props like puppets, reading books, peek-a-boo scarves and shakers. I have such fond memories of my library sessions with my kids when they were babies. Most libraries have good areas for kids as well so you can hang out for a while before or after the session. And more often than not there is a coffee shop near the library so you can also grab a coffee and babycino while you’re out. Some libraries also have a toy library which is a great option to get some different toys each week or two rather than buying everything.

Ride bikes/scooters around Tonsley. https://www.facebook.com/tonsleysa/

This is one for the weekend as during the week it’s a business hub so not really appropriate to bring kids for a play right next to offices where people are trying to work. But on the weekends it’s a huuuge undercover area with lovely smooth concrete ground which is perfect for little ones learning to ride, scooter or skate. It can get surprisingly busy but has a funky and fun vibe. It’s free and you can stay as long as you like. There are also fun little garden areas perfect for games of hide and seek, and there are table tennis tables and exercise equipment if you’re feeling enthusiastic. The only down side is that none of the cafes are open, and the toilets are locked. So BYO snacks and a potty if your little one is toilet training

Embrace the rain

Pop on your gumboots and coat and grab the umbrella then head outside to jump in puddles and have fun catching raindrops in your mouth. Sing and dance in the rain and play a game where you pick up leaves, sticks and rocks and pop them in a stream/puddle to see what sinks and what floats. If there are any streams of water you can have races where you both drop a leaf or stick in the water and see which one travels the furthest. I suggest doing this close to home so you can quickly head home for a warm shower/bath afterwards.

What is your favourite thing to do on a rainy day with your kid(s)? Let me know and I’ll add it to the list to help inspire others.

Have a great day and keep warm,

Tammy x

10 Reasons to have a photoshoot in my Studio.

Hi there,
Lot's of us shudder when we think of a photography studio thanks to good old "Studio 2000" but don't worry, my studio is NOTHING like that!! There are NO cringey poses or awful forced fake smiles! 

Below are 10 reasons why a photoshoot in my studio can actually be really great.

1. I have a Nespresso machine and you get unlimited coffees. If coffee is not your drink of choice I have other options (including alcoholic options) covered too ;-). You can stop reading here and just go ahead and book haha. Or continue reading if you are interested to hear the other 9 reasons.

2. You don’t have to worry about the weather. We won’t get rained on or freeze our butts off. And you won’t get sunburnt or get gross and sweaty. It’s always the perfect temperature in the studio.

3. You don’t have to wear shoes! Honestly sometimes picking footwear can be the hardest part of preparing for a photoshoot, and if your kids are anything like mine getting them to wear any shoes, let alone ones that will look semi decent in photographs can be near impossible. Luckily in the studio barefeet go well with the boho vibes so shoes are optional.

4. I have a client closet for mums and kids so you don’t need to worry about what to wear. I offer this service for outdoor photoshoots too, but let’s be honest, it’s much easier getting changed inside an actual building (and with mirrors so you can see how you look), rather than trying to change in the car, or quickly stripping off in public.

5. You can view and order your photos the same day. This one is super exciting!!! As I have everything at the studio I can get your photos ready for you to view within one hour of your photoshoot. During this hour you can chill out at the studio with another coffee while watching TV, go for a walk, or visit a nearby playground or café. You then get to see your gorgeous photos and order your prints and wall art on the exact same day as your photoshoot! There is no need to wait weeks or even months to see your photos. It takes around 3 hours from the start of your photoshoot to finalising your order. If this all sounds like too much for one day and you would prefer to come back and view your photos another day we can totally do that too.

6. There are no strangers around to steal the good spots or photobomb your photos. You also don’t have to feel awkward about having photos done in public with other people around.

7. We can do the photoshoot at the time of day when your kids are happiest. Outdoor photoshoots depend on light from the sun and for that reason outdoor photoshoots are usually done close to sunrise or sunset when the sun isn’t as harsh. When you have kids it’s mission impossible to get ready for a photoshoot near dawn, and the kids have often already turned into gremlins when it’s approaching sunset. In the studio this is not an issue and we can do the photoshoot at absolutely any time of the day.

8. You won’t have to be a pack horse carrying your kids and all their stuff from the car to the photoshoot location. You can park right out the front and once you get everything inside you can make yourselves at home and you wont need to be carrying anyone, or anything anywhere!

9. You can all settle in and relax. As the studio is in my house I have all the comforts of home including comfy chairs to feed babies in, a change table, fridge, microwave, bathroom etc. I have everything you could possibly need to keep all members of your family comfortable for the photoshoot.

10. The photoshoot takes less time. As everything is set up and ready to go, once we get started we can smash it out surprisingly quickly.

If you would like to know more just flick me a msg on 0422 896 108 or click the "book a call now" button at the top of the page to schedule a convenient time for me to give you a call so we can start planning a photoshoot to suit your family.

Tammy x