This first story will be of this amazing family and how we handled a tricky situation. Despite needing to overcome some difficulties, this family photo shoot has become one of my favourites of all time. This was shot on a little beach in Dodges Ferry which is a 30 minute drive from Hobart, absolutely stunning!

I have known them since the twins were just born and I’ve photographed their journey ever since – that’s the beauty of photography, you grow with the family. This winter shoot was chilly and a touch windy, the twins weren’t the happiest to start so the famous ice cream bribe had to be used. As a family it can be daunting to wonder how a photo shoot is going to go; are my kids going to smile, are they going to be naughty, will we be able to have a nice family portrait etc etc. All these worries are completely normal and I guarantee that every family feels this way. Most shoots don’t go as planned and I have to improvise depending on the mood of the kids. But after 15+ years in the business I have a trick or 2 up my sleeve for every situation, even for the adults 😉

I decided to let the kids do their own thing so they could relax and feel like they were in control, once they were I started giving little directions here and there to them and the parents. I only need a few seconds for a great photograph so I have learnt to grab that moment when it arrives. As soon as the kids became fussy again we let them be. This resulted in some amazing casual moments that the family can cherish forever. It wouldn’t be a Joelle Beekman shoot if there weren’t some dramatic staged shots in there so I always make sure to include them as well – I love a good silhouette and a few wide angle shots to complete a gallery. 

The moral of the story is not to worry about how your kids are behaving but to always keep smiling, no matter how frustrated you get. I only need a few seconds to get a great shot and I see through all the chaos so I can capture all the beauty of the moment. Trust the process and you will create some amazing memories to look back at when the kids are grown up.