Welsh Family: Narrabri Family Photography

What’s better than a cherry on top? A chook perhaps? UM, YES?! Definitely a chook! 😂

I knew this would be a great shoot as soon as I talked to Claire over the phone, when the session was first booked in. There was that comfortable ‘lets do this’ vibe that I suspected would extend to the whole family. That first time, she told me a little bit about them. Her husband’s work had brought them to the area. She was finishing off a PhD thesis (talk about brainy!) They had two sons on the brink of their teen years who loved being outdoors best. One of these was about to go to boarding school and wanted to take a family photo with him. Memories of my own brothers at that age and their endless energy came back like a flash-flood. As did a wave of excitement about what a delightful challenge this would be – making a photo-shoot not smell like a chore for active lads and still be all that parents hope for.

Finding the family’s home was easier than I thought. I didn’t get lost this time. (Win!) At first, the wheat field and mountain backdrop grabbed my attention. But then I looked towards sun. It wasn’t going to work. Or at least, that background wasn’t going to. Not unless I wanted everyone squinty and bleary-eyed from smiling into the blazing light.

So after heading indoors and meeting the family with the littler lad announcing that I could call him ‘Chew’ and making a playful jab at big brother, Chw and I headed out to location scout. We picked one spot and he drew an X in the dirt with his toes. Soon he was telling me about the dogs. Just then a chook meandered past. “Chw,” I suddenly interjected, “are they friendly?!” I quickly explained what I had in mind. And if you thought I was thrilled with the idea, you should have seen him when we got to that part of the photoshoot. “Let me tell, let me tell!!” he begged and ran off to grab Bobby before I could hardly finish explaining. Amazingly, she turned out to be the perfect model and didn’t even leave any ‘gifts’ before daintily flying off her most unforeseen perch to date. And we got the most delightful family photo ever, don’t you think?

We also captured something else wonderful. Loads of laughter, new meaningful family memories AND the mountain background, thanks to a little miracle of clouds over that beaming sun.

Now one question, for you, Patrick. Which photo will you take to boarding school?