Like many expectant mums – myself included – Bec hadn’t given any consideration to having a maternity photoshoot. It was only when her good friend Tegan spoke to her about newborn photos that talk then turned to maybe capturing her pregnancy as well. I am so thankful for Tegan, in fact I think many of us could use one of her.
When I spoke to Bec she pinpointed that she loved the ferns of the Dandenongs and we initially thought we might photograph her session in the national park. Her and her partner Ben then decided they would like to also include their dog Oscar so that ruled that out. I suggested Alfred Nicholas Gardens at Sherbrooke as an alternative as it is dog friendly and has ferns. I also have a license from Parks Victoria which allows me access to photograph at otherwise restricted locations like the gardens. Bec and Ben went with this idea and I am so glad they did.
One of the reasons I love Alfred Nicholas Gardens as a photoshoot location is that it provides so much variety within a relatively small space so lots of walking is not required. There is the iconic boathouse, the bridges and the ornamental lake which allows for beautiful shots incorporating reflections. There are the flowers, rock stone walls and towering gums, all coming together to create a truly epic landscape.
Bec, Ben, baby bump and Oscar had a beautiful session midweek in September, just before dusk. We had the gardens almost entirely to ourselves. The blossoms and magnolias were flowering and we made the most of this. What’s more, the islands in the ornamental lake had just reopened to the public after being closed for the winter. These are just some of the images we created to capture this moment in time before Baby O’Neill arrives.
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