Family Session | Nielsen Park

Pam & John have been coming to Sydney to visit their daughter and her family for seven years now.  Their first visit coincided with my first pregnancy and there are now several children and many wines and fun times under the bridge.

I love sessions with multi-generational families.  There is something so special about the bond between Grandparent and Grandchild.  John is getting to meet his Grandaughter, Lauren, for the first time this trip which makes it all the more special and important to have images to look back upon.

As if you needed more proof that you really can't go wrong with a session at Neilsen Park, here are my favourites from the session.

My thanks to Pam & John, Sarah, Ben, Harry & Lauren xx

Cake Smash | Poppy

I have been watching the rise in popularity of cake smashes for a while now.  It intrigues me completely how this very American way of celebrating a child's first birthday has slowly but surely infiltrated our shores.

My Goddaughter's first birthday presented the perfect opportunity for me to test the hype of my "photog-friends", many of whom are engaged in regular, and very popular, cake smash sessions.

After quite a bit of research  into wipe-clean backdrops, smash-proof cake stands and which bakery bakes the best giant cupcakes in the Eastern Suburbs (enjoyed that last bit!), I was all set to go.

We started the session with some standard portraits as I had been warned that some children may not really get into the cake smashing bit.  Well, I really didn't need to worry about that with Poppy! One lick of the icing and she was away.  We finished up the session with a bubble bath which was just as well given how much cake she managed to coat herself in.

And my verdict?  Well, I'm a convert - they're silly and messy and basically fun.   Cake smashes are certain to be added to my offering very soon.


Rachel x 

(c) Rachel Wildig Photography
www.rachelwildigphotography.com

Family Session | Coogee Beach

This gorgeous family session was held at the northern end of Coogee beach with its beautiful moss-covered rock formations and ledges.  This a special place for Luca and his adoring parents, Coogee locals, who have visited this spot almost daily since his birth...you can see why!

At just five-months old Luca loved the camera and seriously turned it on, showcasing beautiful beaming smiles.  It was a short and sweet session, lasting just on an hour which is about all that was required to capture a beautiful range of family shots.

Watch out for some more of Luca when he comes to my home studio in a couple of weeks for his solo shoot.  I am already looking forward to seeing that cheeky little grin again.

Thank you so much to Sally, Raffaele and Luca for a genuinely fun morning and for allowing me to share your photos.  I still can't believe that I get to do this and call it work!

Rachel x

(c) Rachel Wildig Photography
www.rachelwildigphotography.com

Family Session | Centennial Park

The Borbone Family were the winners of my Birthday Giveaway which invited Facebook likers to nominate someone deserving of a complimentary family photo session.   This family have experienced a challenging few years and I could not have chosen a lovelier bunch if I tried!  Oh, and need I say how much I LOVED the kid's hair?  Those curls!

The Borbones have had photo sessions before and they didn't always go well.  The studio environment has proven too constraining an environment for their active kids so a morning at Centennial Park was just the thing to keep 4-year-old Angelique and 2-year-old Will occupied and happy.   We fed the ducks, played peekaboo, climbed trees and hunted for fairies in the woods.  We blew up balloons (and popped them within minutes!), had shoulder rides and swings and cuddles.  Just a beautiful morning all round, really.

My thanks to Val, James, Angelique and Will for a fabulously fun morning and for allowing me to share these images.

Rachel x

Family Session | Punch Park, Balmain

As I reached the Anzac Bridge there was a huge rainbow arching across Blackwattle Bay and I knew that this family session in Balmain was going to be something special.

Given the dismal rain forecast, we were lucky to have booked an early 8am session and were rewarded with an ample break in the weather to head out to Punch Park for some muddy fun.  Cute as a button 11-month-old Lucinda revelled in the muddy puddles and the abundance of twigs and leaves on the ground and we got ourselves a beautiful Autumnal shoot.

Phillipa and Nick had previously travelled to Boston, where I'm told the Fall colours are just gorgeous.  Well, I would like to think that we managed to make the most of Sydney's version of that.

Just as the rain started to fall, we moved indoors to the family's beautiful, newly-renovated home to round off with some images of the family in their own environment.  Check out Lucinda's gorgeous costume change and "take-all-the-clothes-out-of-the-basket" routine!  Beautiful.

My thanks to Pip, Nick and Lucinda for allowing me to share these images.

Rachel x

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