Storytelling With Your Child | Melbourne Family Photographer

capturing the pure innocence and joyful spirit of children

At Emma Pender Photography, we understand the profound significance of capturing the enduring essence of true love for your children. Our goal is to freeze those fleeting moments that define your unique family story, creating timeless photographs that will serve as a cherished heirloom narrating your journey for generations to come.

Through our lens, we aim to encapsulate the deep bonds and emotions that form the foundation of your family's love. Whether it's a shared glance, a warm embrace, or a playful moment, we strive to immortalize these connections in images that will stand the test of time.

By entrusting us to document your family's love, you are investing in a legacy that will be treasured by your children and their children after them. Let us help you create a visual narrative of love, joy, and togetherness—captured in photographs that transcend time and speak volumes without words.

As a parent, there are moments when time seems to slip by too quickly. Those fleeting seconds when you wish you could hit pause and soak in the beauty of your children as they laugh, play, and grow right before your eyes. It's in these instances of stillness that the weight of your life's journey settles upon you, and you find yourself reflecting on the path that has brought you to this point.

Every smile, every hug, every shared experience becomes a treasure to hold onto tightly. The chaos of daily life fades into the background, and all that matters is the love and connection you have with your little ones. These moments of pause are the ones that etch themselves into your memory, serving as a reminder of what truly matters in life.

So, as you gaze upon your beautiful kids, feeling the warmth of their presence envelop you, take a mental snapshot to cherish. Let time stand still for just a moment longer, savoring the purity and innocence that radiates from them. For in these simple moments of togetherness, you'll find the true essence of happiness and fulfillment.

Emma Pender is a Newborn & Maternity Photographer based in Melbourne, Australia

©2024 Emma Pender Photography

Melbourne Newborn Photographer | Emma Pender Photography

The First FEW Weeks with your newborn baby

During those initial weeks with your newborn, you navigate the delicate balance of sleep deprivation, fluctuating emotions and unfathomable love for your baby. The essence of motherhood is a magical journey filled with precious moments shared with your partner and little one. Bringing a baby into the family also strengthens the connection you have with your partner as you navigate the joys and challenges of raising a family together.

True love and joy overflow in every corner of your new life as a parent, bringing with it a sense of fulfillment and profound happiness that knows no bounds.

The sweet smell of a newborn baby is a delicate mixture of innocence and purity. It evokes feelings of warmth and tenderness, drawing loved ones closer to breathe in this precious aroma. This scent is a reminder of new beginnings and the miracle of life unfolding before us. The sweet smell of a newborn baby is a gift that fills the heart with love and gratitude, imprinting memories that last a lifetime.

The sweetest baby in the studio | Emma Pender Photography | Melbourne newborn photographer

Baby Adaline | Melbourne newborn PHOTOGRAPHER

Baby Adaline and her lovely parents Holly and Matt made the big trip across to Melbourne from western Victoria for her newborn session. It really is amazing and so appreciated that clients are happy to travel such long distances so that we can capture these gorgeous moments for them. Holly and Matt decided to go with the platinum package for their newborn session, which enabled them to receive beautiful photos of Adaline alone in props and also timeless photos as a family in our boho setting.

Little bundle of joy | Emma Pender Photography

Newborn session in the studio with baby Pia

There is a profound and indescribable love that washes over you when you hold your first newborn baby girl in your arms. It's a love that transcends words and surpasses anything you've ever felt before. As you gaze into her tiny face, you're overcome with a sense of wonder and awe at the miracle of life. Every touch, every precious moment spent with her fills your heart to the brim with pure, unconditional love. In that instant, you know that this little bundle of joy will forever hold a special place in your heart.

Last week, Emma Pender Photography had the privilege of documenting an incredibly meaningful newborn photography session with baby Pia and her parents. The atmosphere in the studio was filled with an overwhelming sense of love and happiness, resulting in a truly unforgettable experience. As Pia peacefully dozed, we carefully captured her delicate features and tiny fingers, preserving timeless memories that her family will hold dear for years to come. Pia's mother exuded a captivating radiance, exemplifying the pure splendor of motherhood and the unbreakable bond between mother and child. The studio session was brimming with tender moments, delicately capturing the essence of genuine love and the remarkable journey of motherhood. Each image from the session beautifully encapsulated the emotions and profound connection between Pia and her mother, ensuring that these precious moments will be cherished for a lifetime. We at Emma Pender Photography feel deeply honored to have played a part in this heartfelt and beautiful newborn session, and we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to continue capturing such precious moments for families.

Beautiful Ellie and Lily | Melbourne Newborn Photographer

Motherhood Session in the studio | Emma Pender Photography

Your trusted local Newborn & Maternity photographer | Emma Pender Photography

Why is important book a maternity or newborn session?

Are you in search of a highly regarded local newborn photographer who possesses the ability to capture the exceptional essence of this cherished period in your life? With a unique and timeless approach, Emma Pender specializes in conducting newborn and maternity photography sessions in Melbourne that impeccably encapsulate the transitory moments of new life and the anticipation of joy. Our remarkable portfolio stands as a testament to her artistic flair and her knack for crafting images that resound with sentiment and genuineness. Each session is tailored to offer a personalized encounter, honoring the distinctive narrative of every family. Thus, if you are prepared to perpetuate the grace and purity of your newborn or the effulgent radiance of your pregnancy. Photographs are the one way that enable us to capture a moment in our busy and fast paced lives. Our families are constantly growing and changing, so ever gradual that you don’t realize until you look back at older photos. This is even more true when considering maternity and newborn photographs. These moments in our lives are incredibly short and emotional and need to be captured. We might not be able to go back in time to cuddle our squishy newborn, but we'll have our photos to look back on nostalgically.

When considering hiring a professional photographer, the most important aspect is to choose someone that takes photos that you love and someone you feel like you can be comfortable around. This is what we personally love doing - capturing photos that you'll love and treasure for years to come! We still get a buzz when we receive beautiful feedback from clients about how special the photos mean to them.

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When to do a newborn session | Emma Pender Photography

Why are newborn sessions recommended in the first 2 weeks?

I have so many enquiries from parents hoping to do a newborn session with their 8 week old baby so I thought I'd do a little blog on why we highly recommend doing the session in the first 14 days after birth. 
This is because mothers pass on a hormone called melatonin to their babies, but it declines around week three. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate sleep, therefore if a baby has more melatonin then they are more likely to sleep deeply during the session, which is essential for a lot of poses. For safety reasons, we don't like posing babies awake in buckets for example, as they need to be relaxed and moving around.
As it is such a short time frame after birth, I'd recommend booking in your newborn photographer prior to giving birth. This will be one less thing that you need to think about when you are sleep deprived with a newborn :)
If your baby is over 2 weeks of age already, please still get in contact as we still have had successful sessions til 4 weeks of age. For babies over 4 weeks of age, we recommend a more unposed session in our studio.

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What to expect at a maternity session? | Emma Pender Photography

What to expect at a maternity session?

Maternity sessions will me are aimed to be enjoyable, relaxed, with no stress what so ever! I don’t expect anyone to know what do in front of the camera and not everyone enjoys having their photo taken. But I’m there to help ease you through each step.

Are children and partners included in the session?

Yes definitely!! I thoroughly encourage that they are in the photos so that when baby is old enough, they’ll be able to see this special moment before they entered the world.

When should you do the session?
I recommend doing the session at around 30-34 weeks of pregnancy, while your tummy is nice and round, but before it becomes more painful and tiring, closer to your due date.

Maternity sessions are held every day of the week, towards sunset time, at a quiet location in Sunbury or Macedon Ranges.

Melbourne Family Photography | Family Portraits | Emma Pender Photography

Introducing Family Sessions and Mummy n Me sessions

After doing so many maternity sessions out in the beautiful hills around Sunbury, we decided to start offering Family and Mummy n Me sessions to our repertoire.
Lets be honest, we all worry about how our children are going to behave during a photoshoot! That’s why we aim to photograph more natural shots and capture their personality, rather than posing them.
Here’s a couple of tips though that can help get the best photos of your little ones :)

Plan on doing something enjoyable after the session

As a reward, it can be a good idea to plan on doing something enjoyable after the session such as going to the playground, getting pizza or ice cream. Something that will will look forward to after the session has finished.

Let them shine

Children feed of our energy so it’s best to try to be as positive as possible prior and during the session. Let them relax and show their natural personality, while we capture the moment. Letting children be themselves, will keep them engaged for longer during the session.

Talk to them aboutt what to expect

Children will do best if they know what to expect. Talking to them about how they are going to meet with a photographer at a park, how long it will take, how important it is to have photos of the family all together, will help your child be in the right mindset.