Family Photography Melbourne

Casual, natural, location-based family photography with zero "say cheese" energy. Relaxed outdoor or in-home sessions where the kids run around, the dog gets a look-in, and the photos capture how your family actually is, not how a stiff studio backdrop wants you to be. Based in Beaumaris, covering Bayside Melbourne and beyond.

Yes, that's the whole point of Photobat. Sessions happen on location (your home, the beach, a forest, a city laneway) with no awkward poses, no fake smiles and no studio backdrops. Just your family being yourselves while I capture the real moments.

Three things. One: location-based, not studio. Two: I'm in my mid-20s of photographing families and have learned to pull genuine reactions out of even the most camera-shy person. Three: no cheese. No forced smiles, no "everybody say cheese", no awkward group poses. Just real, fun, often a bit weird moments.

Yes, exclusively. Everything is shot in the moment as your family interacts naturally. I'll suggest activities or prompts to get things moving but you'll never be told to stand still and smile. The result is photos that feel like your family, not a Pixie Photo session from the 90s.

Quirky families are my favourite kind. Bring your weird, your loud, your matching dinosaur onesies, your superhero capes, your dog who insists on being held. The more your family leans into who you actually are, the better the photos get.

Same here, can't stand them. I never ask anyone to "say cheese" or "smile for the camera". Instead I keep things playful, throw in bad jokes, suggest activities and let real expressions happen on their own. The result is laughter, eye-rolls and genuine looks, not the rictus grin of a forced smile.

Absolutely, those are the most fun ones. Whether it's a movie reference, all dressed in your favourite character, eating sushi on a train, throwing paint or formal-wear on a rooftop, we can design a session around whatever you're into. I love turning slightly mad ideas into proper family artwork.

Yes, that's essentially the house style. Most photos are made while your family is doing rather than posing: playing, walking, hugging, laughing, telling each other off. There are usually a few quick group shots in there too, but the heart of the session is real moments captured as they happen.

Mostly I'm a location-based photographer (anti-cheesy-studio is kind of my brand), but yes, I do occasionally run studio sessions for clients who'd rather stay indoors. Even then the style stays fun and natural: no awkward poses, no fake backdrops, no "tilt your head this way" energy. Just a relaxed indoor version of the same approach.

Most clients are camera-shy at the start, and most end up genuinely enjoying it. The session is built around having a chat, having a laugh and getting comfortable. There's no studio glare, no rigid poses, no awkward direction. By 15 minutes in, you've usually forgotten the camera is even there.

Yes, the reluctant ones are usually my favourite challenge. I'll never force it. I work around them, keep things playful, often get them involved in throwing the kids around or playing with the dog so they're distracted from the camera. The keepers usually come from those moments.

By not asking you to pose for them. Stiff photos come from being told to stand still and look at the camera. I do the opposite: keep you moving, keep you interacting with each other, ask the kids ridiculous questions, tell bad jokes. The expressions that come out are the real ones, not the held-breath smile.

Good, that's actually easier to work with. Sit-still kids are usually pretending. Active kids give me real reactions, real laughs and real movement. The whole session is built around them being kids, not little statues. Bring the chaos.

Yes, please bring them. Dogs are family. I also run a dedicated dog and child portrait series called Barkology that raises funds for The Kids' Cancer Project, so I know my way around a wagging tail.

Yes, often. Sessions are flexible by design: no studio lights, no flash, no rigid posing, no time pressure. We pick a location that suits the child, allow breaks whenever needed and follow their pace. Plenty of my favourite sessions have been with neurodivergent kids who hated the idea of "a photo shoot" and ended up loving the day.

Yes, and I actively encourage it. Generational sessions (kids, parents, grandparents, sometimes great-grandparents) are some of the most meaningful work I do. Too many enquiries start with "we need an urgent session because someone is sick". Don't wait until then. Get everyone together while you can.

A standard Photobat session starts at $275, which includes a 45 to 60 minute session on location plus $100 credit towards your final artwork. Wall art, albums and digital collections are priced separately and chosen at a viewing session after your shoot. Payment plans are available so you can spread the cost.

Most sessions run 45 to 60 minutes. That's deliberately unhurried so the kids settle in, the camera-shy ones forget the camera, and we have time to capture real moments rather than rushing to a tick-box of poses.

On location, not in a studio. Most popular choices are your home, somewhere in nature (Bayside beaches, parks, bushland) or an urban spot (city laneways, industrial walls, rooftops). We choose somewhere that means something to your family, or I suggest from a long list of favourite Bayside and Melbourne locations.

Wear what you feel like yourself in. Soft, complementary colours work best on camera, avoiding big logos and busy patterns that fight the photo. Once you book, I send through a styling guide with examples so you don't have to guess. And if a kid insists on their dinosaur costume, that's a yes from me.

Based in Beaumaris, I cover all of Bayside Melbourne (Brighton, Sandringham, Hampton, Black Rock, Mentone, Mordialloc, Cheltenham, Hampton East) plus the wider Melbourne metro area. Happy to travel further afield by arrangement.

Plenty. Smaller framed prints in sets, beautifully bound albums, gift-sized prints for grandparents, digital collections and combinations of all of the above. The viewing session after your shoot is where we work out what suits your home and your taste. No giant wall art required.

Yes, digital-only collections are available. There are different sizes and pricing depending on how many images you want. Most clients end up mixing a smaller print or album with their digitals because the printed work is genuinely beautiful, but if you'd rather go pure digital, that option is on the table from the start.