When you think of a pregnancy shoot with a twist…
I don’t think jumping into a river fully clothed is the first thing that comes to mind.
But that’s exactly what happened with Hélène and Nath. And I’m ecstatic about the results.
I had the incredible opportunity of documenting their wedding in Laval, France, in 2016. Now living in France, they had come back to Oz to visit friends and family — and it was the perfect time to document Hélène’s gorgeous baby bump.
They wanted their session to wind through the Warrandyte bushland. It was where Nath had taken Hélène on their first date. He wooed her by clapping his hands — not a very impressive trick, unless a mob of kangaroos instantly raises their heads out of the tall grass. It was the first time Hélène had ever seen a live kangaroo.
Their Loved Up portrait session fell on a hot day. They walked through the bush, enjoyed a picnic, and then the cool water of the river became too enticing to ignore.
They entered fully clothed.
What followed was pure joy — unplanned, unscripted, and completely them. That’s what I love most about documentary portrait sessions. You can’t manufacture a moment like that. You just have to be present enough to catch it.
This is exactly why I encourage couples to choose locations that mean something to them. When you’re somewhere that holds a real memory, you stop performing for the camera. You just exist in it. And that’s when the real magic happens.
If you LOVE THIS… Check out Helene & Nath’s wedding in Laval, France
Snap shot of more of my work