A Sunset Family Adventure at Tuckerberry Hill

Bellarine Peninsula Family Photography | Drysdale, Victoria


If you've seen some of my previous family sessions, you may know that family photographs with me happen without the pressure to stand still, look at the camera, or smile on command. And so it was this time - a family spending time together, exploring somewhere beautiful and letting the afternoon unfold. That's pretty much how my afternoon with Jasmine, Tyson, Colter and little Amaya at Tuckerberry Hill went.


An afternoon AT THE FARM

Tuckerberry Hill, tucked away in Drysdale on the Bellarine Peninsula, was such a beautiful setting for this family session.

With lemon trees, open paddocks, winding paths and beautiful old gum trees, there was so much for us to explore. Rather than staying in one spot, we wandered around the property, following the afternoon light and seeing what caught Colter's attention along the way.

And with a curious little boy leading the adventure, there was certainly no shortage of things to photograph!

Smiling toddler boy in a patterned cardigan, white shirt, tan pants and brown boots runs along a sunlit dirt path beside trees.
Smiling family walking along a sunlit dirt path through eucalyptus trees, with a young boy running ahead of his parents and sibling.

Lemons, little hands and family cuddles

We spent some time among the lemon trees, where Colter was particularly interested in the fruit. There was plenty of investigating, tasting and pulling funny faces, which made for some of my favourite photographs from the afternoon.

We spread out a blanket, gathered around a basket of lemons and enjoyed some quieter moments together in the orchard.

While Colter was busy exploring, Jasmine and Tyson had some lovely moments with Amaya, who was taking everything in from the comfort of their arms.

Nothing particularly complicated. Just the little interactions that make family photographs feel like your family.


A woman in a cream sweater holds a baby beside a child as they stand among lemon trees in a sunlit family orchard.
Smiling family of four picking ripe lemons from a sunlit lemon tree, with a toddler holding a wicker basket and a baby in mom's lap.
A smiling family of three gathers lemons in a sunlit orchard, with a father kneeling beside a wicker basket and a young child.
Bearded man with tattoos, young boy and a woman nursing her baby share a relaxed family picnic on a blanket in an orchard.
Family picnic outdoors in an orchard, with a bearded man holding a lemon, a boy eating fruit, and a smiling mother nursing her baby.
Laughing family of four enjoying a picnic on a blanket in an orchard, with a bearded dad, a young boy and a mom nursing her baby.
Bearded man in boots sits on a white blanket with a baby and a toddler beside a wicker basket under a lemon tree in golden sunlight.
A smiling family of three enjoys a picnic on a white blanket in a sunny lemon orchard, with wicker baskets full of fresh lemons.
Smiling mother in rain boots sits on a white blanket hugging a baby and young boy in cozy knit sweaters in a lemon orchard.
Smiling baby in a cream cable-knit cardigan sits on a white blanket on green grass beside a wicker picnic basket on a sunny day.
Young boy in a cream and brown patterned cardigan and tan pants walks along a rustic wooden fence holding a stick outdoors.

Following Colter's lead


From there, we wandered through the gate and along the tree-lined paths towards the open grassy fields. Colter was busy playing with his paper plane, running ahead and finding little things to explore along the way. We simply followed his lead, stopping for photographs whenever something caught our eye.

Family of four in neutral outdoor outfits gathers at a wooden ranch gate on a gravel path lined with tall pine trees.
Family of three walking hand in hand down a sunlit dirt path lined with tall trees and soft golden light.
Family of four walking hand in hand along a sunlit dirt path beneath tall eucalyptus trees during a relaxed outdoor portrait session.
Smiling family of four walking hand in hand along a sunlit dirt path lined with tall trees during an outdoor family photo session.
A smiling family of four walks hand in hand along a sunlit forest path, with a mother holding a baby and a bearded father leading a toddler.
Laughing little boy in a cream cardigan swings joyfully between two adults holding his hands while walking along an outdoor path.
Smiling toddler boy in a cozy sweater runs down a sunny wooded path as a mother in a white dress carries a baby and picnic basket.
Family of four plays outdoors in a sunlit grassy field, holding a large white cloth as two young children walk beside their parents.
A family of four holds a white blanket in a sunlit grassy field, with a mother carrying a baby and a toddler sitting in the grass.
Smiling bearded man crouching in a sunlit grassy field, laughing with a toddler in his arms while a paper plane flies overhead.

Wandering through the GRASS fields

As the sun began to set, we slowly made our way through the grass towards the beautiful old gum trees. The light was getting softer and warmer, and we took our time, capturing little moments of the family walking together, playing and enjoying the afternoon.

Young family of four with a baby and toddler gathers at a rustic farm gate in a grassy field during golden sunset light.
A smiling family of three walks across a green grassy field at golden hour, with a woman in black boots, a bearded man and a toddler.
A family of four in cream and white outfits plays together on a sunny grassy field with trees in the background.
Family of four enjoys a sunny day in a grassy field, with a young boy walking ahead as parents and a baby play together.
Smiling bearded man with tattoos holds a baby while a laughing woman hugs him in a sunlit grassy field at golden hour.
Family of four enjoying a golden hour walk on a grassy field, with a father holding a baby and a young boy and mother nearby.
Smiling couple in neutral outfits embrace and hold their baby in a sunlit grassy field during a golden hour family photo session.
Smiling couple embracing and kissing their baby in a sunlit grassy field at golden hour, a warm outdoor family portrait.
A smiling family of four embraces in a sunlit grassy field at golden hour, with parents holding a baby while a young boy hugs them.
A smiling bearded father and dark-haired mother hold their baby in a cream knit cardigan during a warm outdoor family photo session.

Making the most of the last light

We eventually found ourselves beneath magnificent old gum trees, with a long branch stretching out from its trunk. Naturally, Colter wanted to climb it! With Tyson helping him balance and Jasmine nearby with Amaya, we captured some of my favourite photographs of the afternoon. There was climbing, laughing, cuddling and plenty of movement, along with a few quieter family portraits in that gorgeous golden light.

A bearded man in a white shirt helps a young boy in a vest and tie climb a large gnarled gum tree in a sunny open field.
A bearded man in a white t-shirt smiles as a toddler in a patterned sweater stands on a log beneath eucalyptus trees in golden light.
Bearded man in a white t-shirt holds the hands of a toddler balancing on a large curved eucalyptus tree branch in golden sunlight.
Family of four playing on a large tree branch in an open field, with a father helping a toddler walk along it as the mother holds a baby.
Family portrait of a woman holding a baby on a low eucalyptus branch while a bearded man steadies a toddler at golden hour.
A bearded father and his young son sit on a large curved eucalyptus branch while a mother in black boots holds a baby nearby.
Family photo session under a large gum tree, with a man in a white shirt jumping off a fallen branch while a woman holds a baby.
Family of four enjoying an outdoor photo session among eucalyptus trees, with a baby seated on a fallen log and a toddler playing.
A bearded man in beige clothes holds a toddler's hand under large gum trees while a woman in boots holds a baby on a fallen log.
A young boy in a patterned knit sweater hugs a baby in a cream outfit while sitting on a log in a sunlit field.

One last wander through the lemon grove

We took our time getting back - one last wander back through the trees and through the lemon grove, with Colter still finding things to keep himself entertained along the way. There was some very enthusiastic mud walking, followed by a surprise tickle attack on Jasmine!


And just when we thought we were ready to leave, Colter remembered a very important rock we'd left near the lemon trees earlier. Of course he hadn't forgotten about it! So off Tyson went to retrieve it haha!


I think that's what I loved most about this afternoon. We had all these beautiful surroundings and the loveliest evening light, but it was the little things — a paper plane, tree climbing, tickle attacks and one very important rock — that made the whole adventure so wonderfully theirs.


I always love this last part of a session, when everyone has settled into being photographed and almost forgotten about the camera. There was no rush to squeeze in one more perfect family portrait. Just a few last photographs before we said our goodbyes and called it an afternoon.

Smiling baby in a cream knit cardigan and smocked dress sits on a soft blanket in a sunlit grassy field.
Smiling woman in a white dress and black rain boots holding a baby while walking across a grassy field at sunset.
Smiling woman with long brown hair in a cream knit cardigan holds a baby in a matching sweater on a sunny green grassy field.
A young family walks hand in hand through a grassy field beside a eucalyptus tree, carrying a wicker picnic basket on a soft, sunny day.
A family of three holds hands and walks with a picnic basket across a grassy field near plowed farmland and autumn trees at golden hour.
Family walking along a gravel path lined with tall eucalyptus and pine trees, with a toddler riding on his father's shoulders.
A smiling family of four walks along a gravel path lined with tall pine trees, with a child on the father's shoulders and a baby in the moth
Smiling family of four walking on a tree-lined dirt path, with a mother holding a baby and a father carrying a toddler on his shoulders.
Laughing family on a grassy path, with a bearded dad carrying a toddler on his shoulders and a basket of lemons while mom holds a baby.
Person in khaki pants and brown boots holds a woven wicker basket filled with fresh yellow lemons while standing on green grass.
Smiling woman in a white dress, cardigan and black rain boots holds a baby and a wicker picnic basket on a tree-lined dirt road.
Woman in a white dress, cardigan and black rain boots carries a baby and a wicker picnic basket along a tree-lined country dirt road.
A bearded man in a white t-shirt and khaki pants walks along a tree-lined dirt road beside a toddler in a cream sweater.
Family of four walks down a tree-lined dirt road, with a young boy ahead and parents carrying a baby and a wicker picnic basket.
Smiling couple embracing on a grassy lawn with eucalyptus trees behind, the woman in a white dress and black boots kicking up one leg.
Smiling young blond boy in a white long-sleeve shirt holds two small rocks while standing on a grassy field with trees behind him.
A smiling couple embraces in a grassy park with gum trees, as a bearded tattooed man kisses the forehead of a woman in a white dress.
A smiling family of three shares a warm embrace on a grassy lawn surrounded by tall eucalyptus trees during a golden outdoor photoshoot.
Smiling family of three posing outdoors in a grassy park with a bearded tattooed man, a woman, and a toddler held between them.
Smiling mother in a cream cardigan sits on a sunlit grassy lawn while breastfeeding her baby outdoors.

A Little More About Tuckerberry Hill

A huge thank you to Tuckerberry Hill for welcoming us onto their beautiful property. It was such a lovely place to explore, and I already can't wait to return with my own little one to pick some blueberries and strawberries!

Tuckerberry Hill is a working berry farm and relaxed wedding venue on the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula. During berry season (October to March weather dependent), families can visit Tuckerberry Hill to pick their own fresh berries, explore the farm and enjoy a simple day out together.

The farm is also home to Tuckerberry Hill Events a relaxed Bellarine wedding and event venue surrounded by established trees, open paddocks and country charm. Follow them on @tuckerberryhillberryfarm and @tuckerberryhillevents for updates.


A little peek behind the scenes

Wondering what a family photography session with me actually looks like?

Jasmine captured some behind-the-scenes footage throughout our afternoon together, so here's a little peek at all the wandering, playing and laughter that went into creating these photographs.



A few words from THE FAMILY


It's always lovely to hear how a session felt from the other side of the camera. Jasmine and Tyson were kind enough to share their experiences of our afternoon at Tuckerberry Hill, offering two perspectives (and a little BTS reel!) on what it was like to simply spend time together as a family while I captured the moments unfolding around them.



“I couldn't recommend Hanna more. She made our whole family feel so comfortable from the moment we arrived. With an energetic toddler and a baby who just wanted Mum, she was so patient and never rushed us. She let the kids explore, play and be themselves, and somehow captured all the beautiful little moments in between.
Nothing felt posed or forced, it just felt like an afternoon together as a family. If you're after photos that feel real and capture this season of life exactly as it is, Hanna is incredible.”

“Hanna was great from start to finish. Everything was easygoing. We knew exactly what to expect on the day. Family photos probably aren't something l'd volunteer for, but Hanna made the whole thing easy & enjoyable. With two young kids, things don't always go to plan, but Hanna just went with it, had a laugh with us & made everyone feel comfortable. We had a great afternoon as a family and got some awesome photos out of it.Would definitely recommend her, even to the dads who need a little convincing.”

Your own little family adventure

If you've been thinking about booking a family photography session around Geelong or the Bellarine Peninsula, but you're worried your children won't sit still or cooperate, please don't be.

They really don't need to!

I love photographing families just as they are — whether that means climbing trees, chasing paper planes, collecting rocks, or enjoying a quiet cuddle as the sun goes down.

If that sounds like your kind of family photography session, I'd love to hear from you.


Big thanks to Little Clothing Co for gifting the sweet knit that Colter is wearing to my client wardrobe! Check out more of their stunning pieces here.