The Petty Family — In-Home Family Session in Riverside
There is something really special about photographing a family year after year, especially when the session takes place in the same home each time. I have photographed Amy, Regan, and their sweet boy Atticus since he was a newborn, and this most recent session was just after his second birthday.
This in-home family photography session took place at their home in Riverside, on a Saturday morning in January. They always choose January, and always in front of those beautiful big lounge room windows where the morning sun pours in and the river sits quietly in the background. It is such a gorgeous space to photograph in, and over the years it has changed alongside their family too.
Meet the Family:
Amy and Regan are the kind of clients I absolutely love working with — warm, easy to be around, and deeply committed to documenting their family as they grow. Their little boy Atticus is now two, and this was the family’s third session with me.
He was chatty in that very toddler way where there is a lot to say, even if not all of it is entirely clear yet. He was cautious when I first arrived, which is very normal at this age, but once he warmed up he was all in. He wanted to show me his toys, including his Bluey toys, and he brought such a playful energy to the whole session.
And of course, Ronnie the dog was there too. Ronnie has been part of all of their sessions over the years and, honestly, he is a bit of a natural in front of the camera.
The Session Story:
One of the things I love most about family photos at home is how much they reflect real life. When I first photographed this family, their lounge room felt very much like a grown-up space. Over time, as Atticus has grown, it has slowly become a little more playful too — still beautiful and tidy, but now with toys, a play couch, and all the small signs of family life with a toddler. That shift felt really meaningful to capture.
As with all family photos with toddlers, I let the session unfold around the child rather than expecting the child to mould themselves to the session. Atticus was shy to begin with, so I spent the first 10 or 15 minutes sitting on the floor with him, camera in hand, taking the occasional photo and showing him the back of the camera so he could start to feel comfortable. Once he realised I was not too scary, everything flowed from there.
From there I guided them gently through a mix of family images, each parent with Atticus, and some lovely relaxed moments all together. Ronnie was naturally part of it all, hovering nearby for pats and happily joining in when needed.
Favourite Images:
There were so many beautiful moments in this session, but a few really stood out.
One of my favourites was Atticus showing me his Bluey toy — such a simple little moment, but exactly the kind of thing that says so much about this stage of life. I also loved the family image with Ronnie on the couch, which feels so true to them.
Their large ice tile was a close-up portrait of Amy, Regan, and Atticus all cheek to cheek, squishing in close together. It is the kind of image that feels full of love without trying too hard.
I also loved that we were able to include Atticus’s grandma in a few images. She lives downstairs and is such a big part of his everyday life, so it felt really special to capture that connection too.
Artwork Choice:
At their viewing appointment, the Pettys chose another beautiful collection of ice tiles to add to the ones they already have throughout their home. They have collected these across previous sessions, and I love that this has become part of how they document family life over time.
This time they chose one large ice tile of the three of them together, two medium ice tiles — including the family portrait with Ronnie and the image of Atticus with his Bluey toy — three smaller tiles featuring Amy and Atticus, Regan and Atticus, and Atticus on his own, plus a mini tile of Atticus with his grandma.
It is such a lovely example of printed family photos for home not needing to be one big formal piece on a wall. These smaller pieces are scattered throughout their house, on bedside tables, in the lounge room, and even at work, becoming part of their daily life rather than something tucked away.
A few days ago, Amy sent me a message saying they had spent a large portion of the evening admiring the photographs already on display in their home. That meant a lot.
Sessions like this are such a good reminder of why yearly family photos matter. Not because every year needs to be wildly different, but because the small changes add up. The way a home shifts. The toys that matter right now. The stage your child is in. The way everyone fits together at this exact point in time.
If you have been thinking about updating your own family photos in Launceston or Northern Tasmania, you are always welcome to get in touch. I would love to help you plan a session that feels relaxed, natural, and true to your family.
