Olivia, Daniel & Harrison — Extended Family Session at Trevallyn Reserve

One of my favourite things about family photography is seeing families come back as their stories continue to unfold.

Earlier this year, I photographed Olivia and Harrison alongside Olivia's mum and sister. Unfortunately Daniel wasn't able to make it that day as he was away fighting bushfires in Victoria. This time, though, everyone was together.

We met at Trevallyn Reserve near the Hoo Hoo Hut for an extended family photography session on a beautiful winter afternoon. With the sun dropping lower in the sky and the light becoming softer by the minute, it turned out to be the perfect setting for a relaxed evening with three generations of family.

Meet the Family:

This session brought together Olivia and Daniel with their son Harrison, Daniel's sister Piper and her partner Jared, and Daniel and Piper’s Mum Sherrie (or Nana) as well.

Extended family sessions are always a little different from immediate family sessions. There's more laughter, more combinations to photograph, and often a few different personalities all bringing their own energy to the afternoon.

Harrison was undoubtedly the star of the show. He was fascinated by every dog that walked past and kept a close eye on all the activity around him. For a little boy being asked to spend close to an hour having photos taken, he did an amazing job.

One of the things I love about extended family photography in Launceston is the opportunity to create images that don't often happen in everyday life.

We photographed everyone together, individual family groups, both couples, Sherrie with her children, and plenty of images featuring Harrison with the important people in his life.

The atmosphere throughout the session was easy and relaxed. There was no rushing, no pressure, and plenty of laughter along the way. Harrison happily explored, watched dogs passing by, and enjoyed all the attention from the adults around him.

By the end of the session he was starting to let us know he'd had enough, which is completely normal, but by then we'd already captured a wonderful variety of images that reflected this season of life for the family.

For me, the most meaningful part of this session was simply having everyone together. After Daniel missed the previous family session, it felt special to create photographs that included the whole family and documented these relationships as they are right now.

Some of my favourite images from this session were the photographs of Nana with her children. There is something incredibly special about creating photographs that span generations and tell a much bigger family story.

I also loved the images of Harrison with the different members of his family. Looking back years from now, those relationships will matter just as much as the portraits themselves.

And of course, any image featuring Harrison keeping watch for dogs in the distance immediately brings a smile to my face.

Artwork Choice:

One of the things I enjoy most about the viewing appointment is seeing which images resonate most strongly with each family member.

Pip chose two 4x6 IceTiles, one of her and Jarred and the other of her, Jarred and Harrison. They're perfect for displaying on a desk, shelf, or mantelpiece and don't require any wall space.

Olivia and Daniel selected a beautiful framed wall art pieces for their home: a Quintet framed in a black frame featuring a hero image of the family of 3, surrounded by 4 square portraits, one of Harrison by himself, one each of Olivia with Harrison and Daniel with Harrison and an image of the 3 of them together.

Nana chose an oak-framed eight-image collection featuring a mixture of family portraits across the generations. It was a lovely choice for a session that was all about family relationships and bringing everyone together.

Sessions like this are a wonderful reminder that family photographs aren't just about one moment in time. They're about the people who make up your world and the relationships that shape your family's story.

It was such a pleasure spending the afternoon with this family at Trevallyn Reserve and helping them create artwork that will be enjoyed across multiple homes for years to come.

If you've been thinking about organising your own family photography session or extended family photos around Launceston, I'd love to chat. The first step is simply coming into the studio for a planning appointment where we can talk through your family, your ideas, and what you'd love to create together.