Melbourne Photographer specialising in portraits of newborns, babies, engagements and weddings
Meet Ava. The beautiful, sweet little Ava. And her equally gorgeous mummy and daddy.
They were totally worth sacrificing my Saturday morning sleep-in for. I’d do it all again next week if they asked. That’s how much I enjoyed my morning with them.
Little Ava’s going to be a big sister later in the year, and I’m already looking forward to capturing their family as they welcome a new little life into it.
I love my job, seriously. Early Saturday mornings and all.
Narrelle x
If I have one pet peeve, one that’s bound to push me to the limits faster than the rest of my pet peeves put together, it’s people telling me I look tired. I think it’s a given most days, with young children, that I’m going to look a little worn out around the edges. But if I’m that tired, physically, that it’s etched itself into the lines of my face for everyone to see, I’d be pretty sure that I’m already aware of the fact. I don’t need random strangers bringing it to my attention, as if I need to be made aware of just how little sleep I had the night before, or how cranky I’m feeling. And if, by chance, I’m not actually feeling tired the surest way to change that is tell me I look tired. It’s like letting the air out of a balloon – buoyant to flat in two sharp seconds. Pfffffftttttttttttt. Thud.
I confess that my attitude on any given day is ruled by whether I’m having a good hair day or a bad hair day. Or just how black the bags are under my eyes. If I feel good about how I look, then my day generally gets off to a good start. I’ve always stated that if I were to have one plastic surgery procedure done it would be an eye-lift, and whatever it does that smooths out the permanent pouches. If they were that bad. Which they’re not. Point is if they ever got that bad that looking at them every morning would cloud my mood then I would do something about it. I’m all for feeling good about myself.
That leads me to the real reason for this post. Well the other real reason, now that I have that confession off my chest. I’ve been organising a facelift, of sorts. Not for me, physically, but for my business. It’s a bit like my baggy eye phobia. I’ve been looking at my blogsite, and my logo, and marketing materials etc lately and they haven’t been exciting me. In a way they make me feel tired. Not because I am tired but because the image of how I think I should look and how I actually do look don’t quite match. Still with me? I feel fresh, and vibrant, and joyful, but then I look at myself (my ‘stuff’) and I don’t quite feel it. It affects my mood and how I run my business. So I’m doing something about it. I’m removing those bags, and getting myself a facelift.
I’m not quite ready to reveal myself just yet, there’s a couple of nips and tucks to be done. But not many. And I don’t even have any bruising. I’m tellin ya – I got myself a pretty good ‘surgeon’ and she’s done an awesome job! But one day soon you’ll pop around to see me and won’t quite recognise me. I’ll be the same, but different. Better. Fresher. And more like the real me. I can’t wait for you to see.
And whilst I didn’t take this photograph for this purpose, it speaks to me of where I’m currently at. Good times ahead.
Narrelle x
{ Melbourne Portrait Photographer }
There are moments when I walk away from a session with a deap-seated knowledge that I’m made to do what I do. I feel happy. content. complete. fulfilled. excited. all-a-quiver. quiet. elated. at peace.
This was one of those times.
I got into my car and headed away, waving goodbye as I left, a smile on my face and a chesire cat grin in my heart. The grin’s still there, by the way. Each time I think of little Mary, and her beautifully sweet nature, and her innocent heart, it lights up again. Gosh – I could go on and on about how much I loved this session, about how much I loved little Mary, about how wonderful it felt each time she ran to me with one of her hugs. How she reminded me of what childhood is all about. How she made me want to capture that so bad.
As I watched the images upload I gasped, then smiled. More than once. They were just how I wanted them to be. I could breathe again.
Allison and Tim, I’m thinking this could be one of my favourite sessions to date. It was an absolute joy spending time with you and your gorgeous girl. I can still feel her spontaneous, genuine hugs, even if , at the time, I was simply something to grab on to, to stop from falling. I’ll take them as hugs. And I’ll hold onto the warm fuzzy feeling that went with them. There’s nothing quite like the honest joy of a child – I could breathe in solely of that all day if my body didn’t rely on oxygen. And if Jaedon wasn’t already betrothed I’d be begging for an arranged marriage between the two of them.
Here’s just a few for now, though I’d love to pop the whole lot on here. They represent to me what I love about photography, and children, and life. And the blending of the three.
Narrelle x
{ Child Photographer Melbourne }
My first session for the day, and it was off to a good start. I walked in the door to be greeted by the most delicious of aromas and a fresh cup of hot coffee. Mmmmm.
And Vincent, my subject for the morning, was just as divine, if not more so. He had an impossibly gorgeous little face, and the rosiest of cheeks (teething will do that to you). He was a little shy, but we soon worked a smile or two out of him with all our dancing and singing, and funny face pulling. Maybe he thought we were funny, or perhaps he just smiled because he felt sorry for us. Either way works for me.
I love this age. And I know I say that whether it’s a newborn, a six month or a two year old child I photograph. I guess they all have their endearing qualities, each being at a unique stage in their lives. But at six months, most children are very alert, and very curious. They love soaking up their surroundings, and their eyes – so wide and full of innocence – contain the essence of childhood. And what I’d give to have eyes like Vincent. Boy, are the girls in trouble in sixteen years or so.
These are just a few images from his session. I’m glad we managed a few smiles out of your little boy, Antonella – he really is beautiful. Such a sweet little soul.
Thanks for a great start to the weekend, Antonella and John. It really was a pleasure spending time with you all. You have a gorgeous family, and it was an honour being able to capture your little guy at this stage of his life.
Narrelle x
{ Baby Photographer, Melbourne }
It’s an interesting Fathers Day here today, to say the least. Both our kids are ill and running temperatures, and one in particular is extremely miserable. If I’m being honest I can’t say it’s entirely the Happy day it’s supposed to be, but both daddy and I have realised that days like today are all part and parcel of being a parent, and being part of a family. So we’re embracing the ups and downs, mindful that this is but one day in a lifetime, and we are blessed by each and every day we share with our children. Joy will always reside, even should happiness take a short vacation. We wouldn’t trade what we have at the moment for all the Baileys in Ireland.
Being Fathers Day and all, I was thinking back over various sessions I’ve done, and some photographs that instantly come to mind when I think of the fathers amongst them. I love love love (yes, love) seeing dads with their kids, and being able to record the relationship between them. You wouldn’t believe how many photographs I have of Matt with our two, and I could look at them over and over again. So in honour of today, and the wonderful dads I’ve shared some time with, I thought I’d post a few of my favourite photographs. These are just a very few, mind you.
And of course all this talk about dads brings to mind my dad. I don’t have a whole lot of photographs of us together. When I was growing up photographs actually cost money to take – every time the shutter was pressed it cost around a dollar. Which in those days could probably have bought a loaf of bread and a carton of milk. Maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but to our parents, and a lot of other parents at the time, there were other things that took priority. Other needs that had to be met first. So I’m extremely grateful for the few photographs I do have. And though I’m not sure why – this one below would have to be one of my favourites
Each time I look at this image I smile. Maybe it’s because of dad’s cheeky grin (which hasn’t changed much), or of the memories it conjures. Or the reminder of the things about dad that have always stood out to me, like his HUGE big hands – seriously, his little fingers are bigger than my thumbs. Fortunately for Matt he has reasonably big hands too, as I somehow came to associate the measure of a man, and I guess the security it represented, by the size of his hands. I probably wouldn’t have looked twice at him if it weren’t for his broad palms, and the oil and grease beneath his fingernails. 
But whatever it is, it makes me happy. Dad makes me happy. Being married to a dad, my children’s dad, makes me happy. So I guess it is a happy day after all. 
(And, no, I don’t have that many brothers and sisters – the girl on the left of the group is my aunt, and the two next to her my cousins).
Narrelle x
{ Family Photographer Melbourne }
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