North Curl Curl | Our family’s first photo shoot
Mum of two pre-schoolers, Elisha Smyth had never been able to capture a great photo of her whole family, or one of her with her kids. Despite worrying about her children’s participation, she wishes she’d done it sooner.
Where did you do your family photo shoot and why?
Was it a special place for you? We live in Curl Curl and did the shoot at locally at North Curl Curl, which really suited us because the kids are used to going there so it felt comfortable. We did photos on the rocks, headland, round the walkway, and finished up on the beach which was great because it wrapped up with my son and daughter getting drenched in the water. The location was really key in making it work so well because the kids felt at ease being somewhere they knew so well. For my husband, who was a bit reluctant, it was important to reflect our family as we are, not too constructed, and going to the beach is something we do as a family. Elena really captured something real and meaningful to us, which wasn’t forced.
What kind of look and feel were you after?
For us, it was finding moments we could get the kids engaged in - play, cuddles, kisses, conversation and that’s what Elena shot. I said to my husband Chris, I will be so happy if we get one photo out of this shoot. I can’t get them to do anything!
How did your family find the experience?
Elena was amazing with the kids and was so in touch with how to engage, or distract them, and so efficient with time that we didn’t feel rushed, but she kept things moving and changing so the kids didn’t get bored. It wouldn’t have worked for our family to be overly directed. Our son Sam is five and very, very shy. We weren’t sure how he’d go - we anticipated he’d be very reluctant. He was immediately at ease with Elena, so we could settle in to the shoot, and it felt normal.
What did you think of the results?
The photos just look beautiful - I can’t even pick our favourites, there are so many shots we adore. When we saw the photos, we couldn’t believe it. There are photos we all like. The kids loved seeing the finished pics too. That also shows it was a really enjoyable experience – even if you get good photos but it was traumatic, it’s not fun to look at, and the kids obviously remember. Elena got a couple of Chris and I right at the end on the beach - after she said she’d finished - having a kiss and a cuddle. I know that was this little moment, that we thought ‘yay, we did it’, it’s so meaningful because it’s real. When we got married, it rained, and we didn’t get many shots of us at our wedding so it’s nice to have such a lovely photo of us. I know how much my husband hates having his photo taken, most are a pained expression, so when I saw the photos with him and the kids, it’s so nice to capture him just enjoying them.
How will you use the family photos?
We are not the sort of people to have photos around, we’re more inclined to have artwork or photography, but now I feel like we have something that’s both. They are great pieces of art, not just family photos. I think we will pick a selection in varying sizes and do a photo wall downstairs, where the kids can see them. They go really well as a collection. We’ve already got some orders from grandparents. Otherwise I’ll get them printed into an album. Surprisingly, my husband has one on his phone screen, so he’s loved the results too. I would absolutely recommend it and completely do it again, to capture our family at the next stage. If anything, I wish I had Elena capture the kids as babies. One reason I was keen to this is because I never had photos done as babies.
How did you decide what to wear for a family photo shoot?
Sam will only wear tracksuit pants, but the weather was nice so I convinced him to wear shorts and his fave t-shirt. Amy, who’s three, had been given a dress for her birthday so she was happy to wear that. I tried to find a balance between what they wanted to wear, and looked ok. I bought a dress at the last minute, which looked lovely. I can’t quite believe we’ve all got there without a meltdown!
What are some tips you’d give other families doing their family photo shoot?
Relax, try and have fun, and trust that Elena will then capture what she needs to. I think the more self-conscious, the more it stands in the way of getting a good photo. Looking at the photo I really like, I wasn’t really even aware she was taking a photo, it was more in the moment. As women, we’re so hard on ourselves to look this or that way. It can be tricky not to be highly critical of ourselves, but it’s so worth it, and Elena’s style captures you at your best.
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