When Sessions Don't Go to Plan (And Why That's Actually Perfect)

A Darook Park sibling session that started with silence and ended with pure magic

"He Fell Asleep in the Car"

When I got the text from Noah's mum, I smiled.

"He fell asleep in the car on the way here."

Because here's what I know after photographing hundreds of Sutherland Shire kids:

A car nap means one thing: we're in for a slow start. And I know exactly how to play it.

No panic. No stress. Just patience, play, and a whole lot of trust in my process.

Meet Noah. Four years old. Fresh from a car nap. And absolutely NOT impressed with our beach session plans.

Challenge accepted. 😊

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I Always Back Myself to Win Them Over

Here's the thing about photographing real kids: sometimes they're not into it at first.

And that's completely okay.

Because I always back myself to win them over.

Not through bribery. Not through forcing smiles. But through patience, play, and zero pressure.

Noah? He took 35 minutes to warm up. Thirty-five whole minutes of not smiling, not engaging, definitely not wanting anything to do with photos.

And you know what? We had all the time in the world.

How We Turned It Around

Step 1: Start with Something Familiar

Before we even touched the camera, we played Connect 4 as a family. Just a simple game. Getting everyone relaxed. No pressure.

Mum and Dad didn't want to be in many photos (sound familiar, hiding parents?), but I snuck in a few shots at the beginning. Because one day, Tessa and Noah will want to see them in these memories too.

Step 2: Work With What We've Got

Noah wasn't ready? Perfect. We let him warm up at his own pace.

Meanwhile, Tessa (10 years old and an absolute natural in front of the camera!) was READY. So we started with her. Solo shots. Let her shine. She even had a couple of specific shots in mind that she was excited about!

Zero pressure. Zero expectations. NO rush.

This is what I do. This is how I work.

Step 3: Meet Them Where They Are

I'm a big kid at heart. Always have been. And that's my secret weapon.

I don't need kids to "behave" or "cooperate" or sit still. I just need them to play. To explore. To be exactly who they are.

So when Noah finally started to thaw? We ran with it. Literally.

When the Magic Happened

Once Noah warmed up (all 35 minutes later, but who's counting?), everything shifted.

Suddenly, this was FUN.

We ran. Full-speed sprints down the beach, sand flying everywhere.

We splashed. Water up to their knees, shoes soaked, zero cares given.

We explored. The rocks at Darook Park became a jungle gym, an adventure, a discovery.

We walked. Hand in hand down the beach, big sister and little brother, the way they do a hundred times at home but rarely get captured.

Then we raced. Back to me, back to the camera, laughing the whole way.

And seeing that joy, that pure childhood magic reflected in the images?

That's EVERYTHING.

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The Sister Who Stole My Heart

Can we talk about Tessa for a second?

This girl LOVES the camera. Knows her angles. Has creative ideas. Gets genuinely excited about the process.

But more than that? She loves her little brother SO much.

The way she held his hand when he was unsure.The way she encouraged him to jump off the rocks with her.The way she looked at him when he finally started having fun.

That's the stuff you can't pose. That's the magic you can't manufacture.

When I delivered the gallery, Tessa was so excited to see the shots she'd envisioned come to life. That enthusiasm? That's what makes this job so incredibly rewarding.

The Wardrobe Disaster (That Became a Lesson)

Plot twist: By the end of the session, both kids were SOAKED.

Shoes soggy. Clothes drenched. Sand everywhere. Pure joy radiating from every pore.

Mum had to do a dash home to grab spare clothes because they were heading to dinner and, well, restaurant dress codes don't typically include "eau de seawater and sand."

Pro tip: ALWAYS pack a change of clothes for beach sessions!

(You're welcome, future families. Learn from our delightfully soggy adventure.)

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What This Session Reminded Me

I've said it before and I'll say it forever:

Real kids having real fun create the most beautiful photos.

Not the forced smiles.Not the stiff poses.Not the "everyone look at the camera and say cheese!"

But the running, splashing, exploring, hand-holding, racing, laughing moments.

That's what you'll print. That's what you'll frame. That's what you'll cry over in 20 years.

To the Parents Worried Their Kids "Won't Cooperate"

I hear this concern constantly:

"My kids won't sit still.""They don't listen.""They're too wild.""What if they don't want to do photos?"

My response?

Good. Let them be wild. Let them be themselves. That's exactly what I want.

Because here's my promise:

I will always back myself to win them over.

It might take 5 minutes. It might take 35. But by the end?

They won't want to leave.

Just ask Noah. The kid who started out NOT impressed and ended up splashing, running, and racing with the biggest smile on his face.

That's what I do. That's how I work.

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The Images That Tell the Story

The final gallery for Tessa and Noah's family included:

✨ The tentative beginning (Noah's unsure little face - so precious!)

✨ Tessa's confident, camera-ready shots (natural!)

✨ The moment Noah finally smiled (victory!)

✨ Siblings holding hands walking down the beach (frame this one!)

✨ The running, splashing, exploring chaos (pure childhood!)

✨ Racing back to me, both laughing (perfect finale!)

✨ And yes, those sneaky family shots at the start (future treasures!)

Every image tells part of their story. The real, unfiltered, beautifully imperfect story of siblings who love each other fiercely.

What I Want You to Know

If you're hesitating to book because you're worried about your kids...

Don't.

I'm a big kid myself. I LOVE playing with children. I LOVE seeing their personalities shine. I LOVE capturing the real them - even when "real them" means taking 35 minutes to warm up.

Because I know exactly how to play it.

Patience. Play. Zero pressure. All the time in the world.

And by the end? Magic. Every single time.

Ready to Capture Your Family's Real Story?

Darook Park sessions (and all over the Sutherland Shire!):

• Zero pressure, zero rush, all the patience

• Let kids be kids (wild, messy, beautifully real!)

• I always back myself to win them over

• Pro tip: Pack those spare clothes! 😉

📸 Sutherland Shire family photographer💕 Real kids • Real connections • Real magic🎮 Big kid at heart who makes sessions FUN

Sessions from $500 | Darook Park, Cronulla, Royal National ParkPayment plans available | Free upgrade offer until June 2026

P.S. To Tessa and Noah's mum: Thank you for trusting my process. Even when Noah wasn't feeling it at first, I knew we'd get there. And we did. 💕