The Clark Family — Extended Family Photography at Red Hills

There’s something really special about photographing a family on land that means something to them, and this session with the Clark family was exactly that.

We met out at their berry farm in Red Hills for an extended family photography session, with the most incredible mountain views stretching out behind us. It was one of those shoots that felt both relaxed and meaningful — the kind where everyone had made the effort to be there, and you could feel how much that mattered.

Suzie and Gavin were there with their four grown children, Aaron, Abby, Tamara, and Jenna, along with Tamara’s little girl Audrey, who was two and a half, and three very loved dogs.

Meet the Family:

This was a proper family gathering in the best sense of the word.

Suzie and Gavin’s children had organised the session as a gift for their mum, and the timing was planned around Abby being home from the UK. Even when family lives in different states it can be hard to get everyone together, so when someone lives on the other side of the world, it makes these kinds of family photos feel even more important.

There was also Winston, the family dog, Bonnie, Jenna’s dog, and Maya, Tamara’s dog, who wasn’t very well at the time. Maya had been at the vet for a couple of weeks and was snuck out so she could be part of the portraits, which made those photographs feel especially precious.

The Session Story:

Because the session was on their farm, it made perfect sense to lean into the landscape a little. Aaron brought up some hay bales for us, and I used those to pose the family with the mountains and open view behind them. It looked incredible and suited the setting so well.

Now, I won’t pretend Audrey was thrilled about family photos. She was very much in her own world, doing what two-and-a-half-year-olds do best, and while she looked absolutely adorable in her little white dress, she definitely kept us all on our toes. Everyone was also trying to keep that dress clean, which added its own level of chaos.

But honestly, this is exactly why I photograph the way I do. Kids don’t need to behave perfectly for beautiful photos to happen. You work with who they are, not against them. Even with a toddler who would have preferred to be literally anywhere else, we still got gorgeous, natural family photos that felt like them.

I was also aware that everyone had taken time away from work on the farm to be there, so while the session didn’t feel rushed, I did keep things moving. We got through everything we needed without dragging it out, which meant the whole experience stayed easy and relaxed.

Favourite Images:

Some of my favourite images from this session were the big family portraits gathered around the hay bales, with that beautiful Red Hills backdrop behind them. They had such a strong sense of place, which I loved.

I also loved photographing the Dogs, especially Maya. Knowing how unwell she had been gave those images an extra layer of meaning.

And then there were the in-between moments with Audrey — not because she was standing still and smiling perfectly, but because she was very much herself. Those little flashes of personality always end up mattering just as much.

Artwork Choice:

Suzie chose an absolutely incredible collection for her home.

She ordered a 10 canvas collection along with a 35" hero canvas for her wall, which is going to make such a statement. For a big extended family photography session like this, canvas family photos work so beautifully because they let you enjoy the scale of the group and all the little connections within it.

She also chose four ice tiles, which are such a lovely option for smaller spaces, shelves, or gifts, and because she wanted all of the remaining images, she added an 8x8" 30-page album as well. It’s such a good way to keep a large family session together in one place, especially when there are so many important combinations and moments to include.

Wrap-Up:

This was such a special family photography session in Red Hills, and I’m so glad we were able to create these portraits while Abby was home and while the whole family could be together on the farm.

These are the kinds of sessions that remind you why family photos matter so much. Not because everything was perfect, but because it was real.

If you’ve been thinking about organising your own family photography in Launceston or Northern Tasmania, you’re always welcome to book a planning appointment and we can chat through what might work best for your family.