Baby Harry, Molly, Brad & Elsie
I met Molly and Brad again in Ballarat to photograph their newest little addition, baby Harry — and it felt really special to be back with them.
Over the years, I’ve photographed quite a few important moments for their family. From their engagement, to their wedding, to Molly’s pregnancy with Elsie, and then Elsie as a newborn and a toddler.
Meeting Harry and seeing them all again as a family of four felt really meaningful. Harry was just the sweetest, and Elsie was incredibly gentle and caring with him. We spent about two and a half hours together, moving slowly and following Harry's rhythm rather than trying to fit everything into a set plan.
We started with some photos of Harry on my cosy beanbag. He then needed a feed, so we moved into the living room and captured a few quiet feeding moments there. After that, we took some more photos of him on the beanbag, followed by family photos together and sibling photos with Elsie. We moved back into full family moments again, and at one point invited Bonnie, their dog, to join in as well. Towards the end of the session, Harry fell asleep again, which gave us another opportunity to capture a few more simple, still portraits of him on the beanbag.
Most of the session took place in the two front rooms of the house, simply because that’s where the light was best — I’m always guided by light and how your family naturally uses the space. This is a typical approach I take with lifestyle newborn photography sessions at home. The sessions are flexible and led by your baby and your family, with gentle guidance when needed. It’s not about creating perfect setups, but about capturing how this time actually feels while keeping everything calm and manageable.
I usually bring along a few simple outfit options for the Baby. This time, Molly and Brad had already chosen what they wanted Harry to wear, so we kept it minimal and just added a pair of white bloomers at one point to cover Harry's nappy.
It’s always a privilege to be invited back to photograph another chapter for a family, and I’m so grateful I got to meet Harry and spend this time with this precious family.
I’ve photographed quite a few newborn sessions like this over the years, all a little different depending on the family, the home and the light — you can see more of those here.
If you’re looking for a newborn photographer in Ballarat, Geelong, or across the Bellarine Peninsula, and you’re drawn to natural, in-home newborn photography that feels relaxed and unforced, you can view available dates on my booking page.
Enjoy looking through the photos,
Hanna