School holidays + autumn – I couldn’t be any happier. Term 1 of this year was a long one and as usual I could not wait for school hols to get here. As luck would have it, the weather seemed to have changed just in time. Autumn in Sydney is fabulous – my absolutely favourite. It is warm and dry and the light is just to die for. Today was our first day on our own so we decided to head off to playground out of our neighbourhood. We tossed around a few ideas (ie – looked at some photos on the computer) and Rushcutters Bay won out. There is a lovely gated playground with bright and colourful equipment, a kiosk guaranteed to be open, and a view that makes you feel like you are on holiday somewhere else. Such a gem so close to the City. We arrived a little before 11am and it was packed with little ones running around everywhere. But as lunch time came and went, the crowds died out and for an hour or so we had the place almost to ourselves. We ended up staying til well into the afternoon. I can’t remember the last time we spent almost five hours at one park. The kids would have stayed longer but dinner called so off we went with promises to return again soon. Such a wonderful start to the holidays. I just know they are going to go by too fast!
I’d love to chat with you about booking your Autumn family or child session.
Do you have a favourite park? I’d love to capture an afternoon of childhood fun for you and your family. Contact me to book a session.
It was a sparkling Monday and the start of the spring school holidays when I met up with Shane, Lewis and their three energetic boys. Shane and Lewis live just off Hyde Park in Darlinghurst along with their twin five year old boys and seven year old big brother. The boys were keen to do some scootering in Hyde Park that morning so off we went. I could tell by how quickly they began scootering around that they were frequent visitors and thought how awesome it was that this iconic park served as their front yard. From there we made our way back through their neighbourhood stopping at Bill and Toni’s for coffee and babycinos (their Saturday morning routine), and some fun and giggly pictures on the footpath. On our our way back to their house, they showed me a mural painted by Wendy Littlewood which had their portraits incorporated into it. Such amazing gems can be found in the neighbourhoods in the City!
I asked Shane if he would share some thoughts about raising his boys so close to the CBD. He was quick to say that he and Lewis never really made a decision to stay in the city. It was more that it never felt right for them to move into the suburbs. They like being close to their work environments, enjoy the city living vibe and also appreciate the diversity of the neighbourhood which exposes their children to different lifestyles, values and ways of living (as well as reminding them some people are not as blessed as they are). The parks, bike paths and general ease of getting around make Darlinghurst an easy place for the five of them to live.
When asked what important opportunities Lewis and Shane felt the children had because they lived in the City, Shane replied that “Our children are blessed with daily exposure to the workings and challenges of a modern international city. I like to think that this familiarity will equip them later in life to fit into any city.” But it is important that within any big city that there is a sense of community wherever you live. Shane said one of the improvements that could be made to make a city lifestyle even more enjoyable was “if the old concept of a city of villages was embraced by landlords and developers so that some of the basics in retail e.g. bakery, deli, etc move into overpriced rental areas that are just one street off the CBD.” Definitely a brilliant idea!
And without further ado, here are some images from our morning.
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It was such an honour and privilege to begin this Kids in Sydney project by photographing Claudia and Matt Bowman with their three gorgeous children. Claudia and Matt, natives of Sydney, decided to settle in the heart of the City upon returning from their travels about ten years ago. When they decided to start a family, it never occurred to them to move out from the vibrant neighbourhood of Potts Point. They feel strongly that their kids are at a great benefit growing up within a stone’s throw of Kings Cross. “The dynamic city neighbourhood provides us with the most educational, stimulating, convenient, social environment for us to exist as a healthy, happy, balanced family unit whilst working and interacting with our environment and the people in it,” Claudia said the day we met for her family session.
We met on a sparkling Sydney Saturday at their new apartment in Rushcutter’s Bay. The children have a stunning public front yard in which to run, play, laugh, and learn. With tennis courts, a playground, and the harbor all at their feet, it is hard to argue that the space sacrificed by apartment living is really necessary to a healthy, happy childhood. The children, 6, 5 and 3, were eager to show off their favourite trees for climbing, beach for dipping their toes in, and grassy green parks where they played chase and a bit of football while I snapped and looked on.
Claudia is also a legend when it comes to advocating for resources needed to raise kids in the City of Sydney. And Matt has supported her efforts every step of the way. Claudia has spent years encouraging the City to invest in needed infrastructure like upgraded parks and playgrounds, safer crossing areas, bubblers, and improved library space for kids. “We are fortunate to have an accessible local government that has been most sympathetic to the changing demographic of our neighbourhood- there is no doubting that our neighbourhood has had to evolve to accommodate the change of behaviour of young families staying in the city rather than heading out to the suburbs,” said Claudia.
Claudia and Matt are active in the community professionally. A small business owner, Claudia is a cheesemonger and owner of McIntosh & Bowman, a cheese events company. Matt is a dedicated high school teacher.
I asked Claudia what opportunities she and Matt felt their family had access to because they live in the City. , Claudia was quick to rattle off at least a dozen benefits of city living. At the top of her list was the ability to offer their children more opportunities to be stimulated and educated by tapping into the amazing comprehensive and free schedule of public events hosted by the City. Events like Vivid, Art and About, the Night Noodle Markets and the Christmas Concerts give families who might have limited financial resources the ability to still offer incredible cultural opportunities to their children.
It was such a joy to photograph this amazing family in their beautiful city neighbourhood. Here are some images from our afternoon together.
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Week 8 was the week of the family self portrait. I had been wanting to get a family portrait with my in-laws for probably two years. My father-in-law is often in Korea and when he is here, it is still hard to get all six of us together in good weather for a portrait. Lately I have grown rather cognisant of the passing of time and how you just never know what tomorrow will bring. I was determined on this trip to get that portrait before he headed back to Seoul. And we did. And I love it. Now just to get it on the wall! You can read about how to take your own portrait in my blog post on the subject. But besides that, we visited the Chinese New Year Lantern Markets in Darling Harbour, discovered Hello Kitty Kinder Surprise eggs and went on with everyday life. March will be here before we know it!
46/365 Lantern Festival
ISO 2500 f/2.5 1/160
47/365 Family Portrait
ISO 640 f/3.2 1/2500
48/365 Storytime
ISO 2500 f/2 1/200
49/365 Pow Pow Class
Samsung Galaxy 5
50/365 Hello Kitty
ISO 4000 f/2.2 1/60
I’d love to capture your every day moments.
Week 7 was filled with Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year Markets and a Star Wars Party. Darth made several appearances as my son’s latest obsession. As Valentine’s Day is a family celebration in America, we have our own little party each year filled with handmade decorations, pink cakes and a few presents. We ended the weekend with a fabulous Star Wars birthday party full of make-your-own-light-sabers, light saber training and a Death Star pinata. And at the end of the week had dinner at the fun and festive Chinese New Year markets down by the water in Pyrmont. Food stalls were abundant and the kids loved the lanterns and the DJ playing dance tunes on the wharf. There is always something fun to do in Sydney with kids which is why I love it so much. In between was normal life but it is amazing how fast the weeks go by!
38/365 Sleeping
800 ISO f/2.5 1/125
39/365 Bath
ISO 2500 f/2.2 1/160
40/365 Making Valentines
ISO 800 f/4 1/200
41/365 Leah and Darth
ISO 1600 f/2.8 1/200
42/365
ISO 160 f/1.8 1/4000
43/365 Darth and Hagi
Samsung Galaxy 5
44/365 Buzz at the Lunar Markets
ISO 500 f/2 1/2000
I’d love to capture your every day moments.
Contact me to book your session!