Lately I’ve been feeling like I want to get creative again and try some new ideas.  I have a lot of tried and tested poses and photoshoot locations like the Perth open fields, Perth Beaches (can’t go wrong!), Perth bushes and forest locations as well, that I know work and I know produce beautiful results, but sometimes I just need some new and fresh ideas to fill my creative cup.

This is probably going to be more of a word vomit kind of post because it’s really just trying to get some ideas out there for creative maternity photoshoots and creative family photoshoots.  Something unique and just different to. 

The first idea I have is for a maternity shoot where there is an older sibling.  I love getting those precious shots of the older sibling cuddling or kissing your belly and showing that there is a connection between the siblings long before the newest addition is even earthside.  However, sometimes I find that the older sibling is too distracted by everything else going on, whether it be the location, my camera, even just my presence and being an unfamiliar face (which can either be exciting or scary for them). 

I want to do sessions where we get some body paints, mumma’s belly is bare and we get to finger painting all over mumma’s bare belly.  I feel that not only will the images be a beautiful keepsake of this moment in time, but it will also be an experience shared between the family that unites them and bonds the siblings even more through interaction and creative expression.  I actually did a trail run of this session this weekend and the results were gorgeous. It also meant that the older sibling got so involved with touching mums belly where normally it can be wuite hard to keep their attention and keep them still to get that cute ‘hands-on-mums-belly’ shot.

The second idea I have is waterfights at the end of a family shoot.  While I love capturing your family in beautiful outfits and perfect hair and makeup, you can’t really match the energy and excitement that comes out when the threat of being soaked is imminent!  The way it goes in my head is we dedicate 45 minutes to a family photoshoot, then we bring out some supersoakers and depending on where we are, some water balloons, and we just let it all unfold while I chase you around and capture all the hits, sneaky tricks and tactics as well as so many natural laughs and celebrations as someone gets taken down!

I did an impromptu session like this during a catch up with friends. When our packing away turned into a big water fight, I whipped out my camera and got some awesome shots! I’d love to offer these as an add on to finish up a session!

Another idea I had after doing some photos at our family holiday recently is doing exactly that – photographing a couple of hours on a family holiday.  Bonus points if it’s a holiday house where everyone is staying together.  Chuck in a pool table, some drinks, spa/pool/beach activities and general relaxation and we can really encapsulate everything that the weekend has to offer. 

We have had family photos done on a few occasions and while I genuinely love our photos and love looking back at them, some of my favourites are the ones that were not planned, where we are not looking picture perfect and we are not thinking about the camera or planning poses.  I love that we have memories of the competitive pool games between the boys, the big “CHEERS” that my son did with us, that everyone was playing and dancing with him, making cocktails together, the lazing on the couch with slow back tickles between partners, watching the sunset from the rocks…you can’t get all that variety and capture that many different memories from a standard family session. 

I just imagine that it would be a couple of hours of myself and my camera being a fly on the wall at your family holiday and capturing all the beautiful, unique and individual moments that you wouldn’t get if the pressure is on to dress up etc. 

These are only some Perth family photoshoot ideas I’ve had and I’ve started to put some into motion and get the creative juices flowing.  Follow along at www.instagram.com/mirandaadiephotography to see which ones I do next and what they look like.