family portrait photography

Winter portrait sessions // Canberra family portrait photography

Massive thumbs up to all the families who’ve braved the cold (and sometimes frost!) for us to capture some beautiful family photographs. This winter has been particularly cold and unfortunately resulted in quite a few cancelled sessions, but we’ve also had some classic Canberra winter days; still, sunny with the most incredibly soft winter light.

Enjoy this snapshot of the last two months of Heartstory portrait sessions… and thank you to the families who have given us permission to share their images with you.

Award winning Australian Family Photographer

The power of your family photographic story // Canberra family portrait photography

Heartstory will be 6 years old in a couple of months, and one of the things I’m most proud of is the number of long term relationships I’ve built with families over this period. We have many families on our books who have chosen to come back to us every year to continue expanding the beautiful photographic story of their family life. I cherish their loyalty and investment more than anything, because without them Heartstory wouldn’t be where it is today.

I’d like to showcase one such family’s story. I first met this family in 2012, and we’ve done each of their portrait sessions in their home, so there is a beautiful consistency to their images, despite each session capturing very different dynamics. Since I met them, their oldest has started big school, and their youngest is no longer the youngest! Now they are a family of 6, and it’s just such a special and heartwarming thing to see a selection of all their portrait sessions together in once place, so I really hope you enjoy this as much as we do.

“Katie and Jeremy have captured some beautiful moments of our family of 6. They approach the difficult task of herding 4 young children head-on and with a sense of humour. We choose to get our portraits done by Heartstory each year. It is surprising how fast a year can pass you by. Before you know it, it is time to get photos done again. Katie and Jeremy know our family, know our style, and know what works. The results are outstanding and will be hanging on our walls for years to come.” ~ Anna & David

We would love to be your family photographers of choice, and to have the opportunity to continue capturing your family as your children grow up. We would love you to become addicted to the feeling of celebrating what matters most; a feeling that being photographed can help create. We want your family history proudly hanging on your walls, constantly reminding you of beautiful moments from your past. And we want you to share your experience with your friends because you just can’t keep your mouths shut about how good it made you feel. We hope that this collection of images shows you how significant family photography can be.

MAY 2012

Canberra Family Portrait Photography

MARCH 2013

Canberra family portraits by Heartstory Photography
award winning Canberra family photography by Heartstory

NOVEMBER 2013

Maternity portrait photography by Heartstory, Canberra

JANUARY 2014

Family portrait photography by Heartstory, Canberra

Canberra family photography

DECEMBER 2014

Heartstory family photography, Canberra, Australia

Canberra family portrait photography

Highlights of 2014 // Canberra and Sydney portrait & wedding photography

2014 was a massive year for us. We merged two businesses, moved into a house where we could open a studio space for newborn & baby photography, photographed 21 weddings and close to 150 family portrait sessions, and somehow managed to fit in time for some travel. Putting together a selection of our favourite images was a massive effort, but very satisfying, and definitely worth sharing. So grab yourself a cuppa (or a thermos), forgive our over-indulgence, and enjoy our highlights of 2014.

Canberra professional baby portrait photography
Canberra newborn portrait photography Award winning family photographer, Canberra and Sydney Award winning Australian family portrait photographer Award winning Australian couples and beloved photographer Canberra and Sydney couple and beloved portrait photography NYC couple and beloved portrait photography Canberra and Sydney maternity portrait photography Award winning Canberra and Sydney wedding photographer Heartstory Portrait Photography Canberra 2014

Celebrate your family // Award winning Canberra family portrait photography

A family portrait photography session should be a celebration. The resulting images should authentically capture the character and personalities of the most important people in your life. They should radiate the beauty you see in the people you love most in the world. They should encapsulate the connections between your family members, and the unique relationships that bind you all together. You should look at your images and feel strength and pride, and like you can do anything with these amazing people by your side.

Life is often challenging, and far too busy, and we all know the feeling of days and weeks and months that get lost in an endless cycle of things that must be done. We all know how easy it is to forget to just stop and take stock. And when we do, it’s usually quite an amazing feeling. Ignore the to-do list, step outside, feel the sunshine, let the kids run amok, relish the moment of just being, and being with the ones you love. That’s what we want your portrait session to feel like.

Beautiful portraits of your family can be life-enriching. In this busy world where we’re overwhelmed with options and bombarded with stimulus, where we often feel like we can’t do what we really want to do, we need to be reminded all the time of what’s most important. We take the opportunity to help you do this very seriously, but with much joy. Our wish is for the images on your wall to always remind you – especially when you need it the most – how amazing you are, and what really matters most of all.

Heartstory Canberra family portrait photography

The ideal family portrait session // Canberra family portrait photographer

It’s true that every family portrait photography session we do is different. It depends on you, your personalities, the location, the light, the colour, the season, the weather and other things too. But, there are certain things you can reliably expect from us, things you can count on us to do for you, and I thought this session was a perfect illustration of these things.

We will make it fun. We want you to look natural and happy in your photos, and we know you want that too. We will take the time to make sure you’re comfortable and enjoying the experience. We work hard and we run a tight ship, but we’re not particularly business-like on a shoot. We want it to feel like a celebration!

We will make your kids feel special. We love little people; we think they’re funny and adorable and we love their shameless self expression. We don’t mind if they’re boisterous, precocious or won’t do what they’re told. We also don’t mind if they’re shy and take a while to warm up. We’re good at cracking the ‘fake smile’ habit and we’re very experienced in capturing a beautiful expression that only lasts for a second. We want them to like us, and to enjoy the experience of being photographed because that means we can get the absolute best out of them. If they ask you on the way home when they can play with us again, we’ve done our job well.

We will capture everything you want captured. That means family group photos; classic, looking-at-the-camera shots, as well as playful, candid ones. It means photos of your kids together; both smiling nicely, and candid, action shots. There will be photos of the kids individually, both full length and close up, all showing lots of personality. We will even aim to capture things you didn’t know you wanted, like you and your partner together (because chances are, that hasn’t happened in long time), your kids being completely ridiculous, or engaging in a favourite activity (like these boys did during their session).

We will make sure you look good. We will have probably discussed clothing with you beforehand, but during the shoot we keep our eyes out and adjust you or your kids if we think we can make your images look better. It’s perfectly normal to look at yourself first when you’re viewing your photos, and to automatically dislike any photo where you’re not looking your best. We aim to minimise that feeling as much as possible! We think everyone looks their best when they’re happy, but a bit of extra care with angles and positioning can make all the difference, and we do just that.

Enjoy the photos…

Canberra family portrait photography

About being yourself // Canberra and Sydney portrait photographer

If I had to pick one thing I’ve learnt in my time photographing children, it’s that kids don’t know how to be anyone but who they are. Mostly, they’re not afraid of being photographed. Mostly, what you see is what you get, and it pours out of them. Sometimes, what pours out is not always their ‘best’; they are kids after all, but guaranteed it’s always unashamedly real. As a teller of stories, nothing makes me happier than seeing kids truly shine in front of my camera, because generally, parents want their children captured at their best. But in order for that to be possible, children need to be happy, relaxed, comfortable, to know they have permission to play, and a little bit of control over what’s happening.

So here is a helpful rundown for parents, when preparing your family for a portrait shoot with us…

School aged kids are very good at ‘fake smiles’, because somewhere along the line, they learn that when adults pull out a camera, they need to do what they’re told, and mostly that means: smile, stand up straight, take your hand out of your mouth, wipe your nose, stop making that silly face. We don’t entirely agree with this! We want the experience of being photographed to be fun. We want children and adults alike to feel like photography is a celebration, and that who you are is worth it! Of course it’s helpful to us when children are well behaved, but we have our own ways of ‘directing’ them so that they still feel a sense of independence and enjoy the process. During a portrait shoot, we may capture a whole range of different emotions, including silly faces, cranky faces, and overly enthusiastic behaviour, but we find that by encouraging kids to be themselves we can connect with them in a special way, and that allows us to capture them at their most gorgeous, lovely, unique best. Parents, make sure your kids are dressed in a way you like, wearing their hair the way you would like to remember them at this age, but don’t worry about their behaviour. Just focus on having a good time. Allow yourselves to get lost in the moment, just like they do, and the connection you have as a family will be radiant, and preserved forever in the images we create for you.

These images are from a session from last year in one of my favourite locations, and a perfect example of what I’m talking about. Enjoy!

Canberra child and family photographer

This time, right now // Award winning Canberra family portrait photographer

Most families have professional portraits taken when their kids are little. Some do it once or twice, some come back for more every year… but usually, at some point, it stops. Why? Maybe because teenagers aren’t as cute as kids, and they can object! Perhaps life is just too busy and there’s not as much time together as a family. And then all of a sudden, they’ve left home…

It was wonderful to photograph this family. They haven’t had portraits done for many, many years, and they see the value in capturing this time. This time, right now, is always the right time. This time, right now, doesn’t last. This time, right now is just as beautiful and special and important as the day you got married, the day you became a parent, and the day your first child started school.

Apparently smart phones are becoming one of the biggest problems of our time because they’re stopping us from living in this time, right now. I believe that’s because we’re too busy, too tired, too stuck in a cycle where nothing changes, and we’re all desperately seeking something more. We want more meaning, more thrills, more substance, and so we distract ourselves from this time, right now, hoping to find it.

Here’s the thing. We’re focusing on the wrong stuff. This time, right now is more. This time, right now is all you need. Putting things off until tomorrow, next month or next year is too risky. All we ever have is this time, right now.

As a portrait photographer, I witness a lot of families and couples honouring, enjoying and celebrating this time, right now. It’s a very beautiful thing.

Heartstory Canberra family portrait photography

Thank you: Love Autumn 2013 // Canberra portrait photographer

Love Autumn was an awesome success again this year. Strangely, this is the first blog post I’ve put together of the many mini portrait sessions I held in May! (I’m so behind in my blogging and have so many beautiful things to share with you over the next couple of months.)

Anyway, this is a good opportunity to say thank you to all the families who booked in this autumn. Almost all of you were past and current clients, and I value your continued loyalty so, so, so much. It’s so wonderful to capture families as they grow. I also loved meeting those of you who came to me for the first time, and I’m excited to have you in my little ‘family’ of amazing people I get to spend time with.

This year I shot in some new locations – Canberra always has something stunning to offer, and it’s a little bit different every year. I feel so lucky to be a photographer in this gorgeous, colourful city of parks and reserves.

Enjoy!

Heartstory Canberra family and children's photographer

Love Autumn mini portrait sessions 2012 // Canberra family photographer

My favourite time of year has arrived, and I’m excited to launch my hugely popular Love Autumn Mini Sessions, taking place at beautiful outdoors locations in Canberra’s most spectacular season. A mini session package is $390 (valued at over $600), and sessions are available morning and afternoon from 19 April – 12 May inclusive.

Heartstory portrait photography by Katie Kolenberg // Love Autumn 2012

Never heard of a mini session?

It’s a quick and easy way of getting some beautiful professional photographs of your babies, children and/or yourselves without the time and expense of a full family portrait session. These sessions are short, sweet and amazing value for money. They are a perfect way for current clients to update their photo walls and albums, and for new clients to get a taste of what Heartstory is all about, and all at the most beautiful time of year. Session dates also co-incide perfectly with Mothers’ Day and would make a perfect gift.

Your $390 mini session package includes

45 minute on location photo session with Katie, for up to four people
a private online gallery with 15-20 fully edited Heartstory signature images to choose from
two matted 5×7″ gift prints
one 12×18″ wall print
high resolution digital files to accompany each print
10% off everything else you order, and
your complete Digital Collection (high resolution files) is available for a very special price of $690, and includes a boxed set of 5×7.5” prints of each image in your gallery.

Want to book?

Email or call Katie immediately! Ph 0402 091 949 or email katie@heartstoryphotography.com.au. These sessions book out very fast, and there are a limited number available, so don’t delay.

Terms & conditions

Your full payment is required immediately upon booking, to confirm your session spot.
Fees are transferrable to another date due to bad weather or illness. In the case of a complete cancellation with less than two weeks notice, and no intention to reschedule, an administrative fee of $100 will be deducted from the refund.
If you have more than four people in your family, you can still book a mini session, however it will be $50 per extra family member, your session will run a little longer and you will have more images to choose from.
If you have a newborn in the family, you are still welcome to book a mini session, but please bear in mind that Katie will not be able to devote the same care and time to photographing your newborn as she would in an exclusive ‘in-home’ newborn session.
High resolution digital files are included as part of the package, however please note these files correspond with the images you order in print (ie, your 5×7″ matted gift prints and 12×18″ wall print). Any extra prints you order will also come with the high resolution digital file.
Your complete Digital Collection, available for separate purchase, includes web resolution (for sharing online) and high resolution images (for printing) and a boxed set of 5×7.5″ prints.
Love Autumn sessions take place at a selection of outdoors locations that look particularly beautiful in autumn. Families will be notified of locations about a week prior to sessions. Locations are generally around the Belconnen area and the inner south.
Due to the unpredictable weather patterns weíve been having lately, Katie is running Love Autumn sessions differently this year, ie, on various dates over a 3 week period, rather than across 2 single days. The aim is to spread them out so that if rain interferes, it will be easier to reschedule. If your session needs to be rescheduled due to bad weather, Katie will do her best to give you a new timeslot while the leaves are still falling and looking their best, however this cannot be guaranteed.
Please refer to your Heartstory Portrait Agreement for other details about copyright, payment, ordering etc.

Australian Professional Photography Awards 2011 // Canberra portrait photographer

I am fresh back from a whirlwind, super-fun three days in Sydney at the PMA Imaging Expo and the AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPAs). For many photographers, the APPAs and the PMA expo is a not-to-be-missed annual event; an awesomely fun trip away with friends, the chance to meet loads of new people working in the same industry, an endless sea of inspiration and possibilities, an opportunity to talk to the vendors and suppliers who support our industry, a place to research, try and purchase new equipment and other important things, and the honour of watching the judging of thousands of images created by photographers around the country.

I was SO happy to be there with a gorgeous, talented and uber-supportive bunch of photographer-friends, most of whom received AMAZING results during the APPA judging. It was exciting, thrilling and inspirational watching prints being judged that belonged to some of my closest friends, and also those belonging to the many amazing photographers who lead our industry and inspire the hell out of the rest of us (not to mention, nerve-wracking, emotional and exhausting waiting and listening to my own prints being judged!).

I was utterly thrilled to receive 3 out of 3; two silvers and one silver distinction, with a score of 88 (my first ever print in that score range!). The judges were very divided on my first two images (below), and although I had two judges on each panel score in the silver distinction range (85-89), the other judges disagreed, so they remained at silver. Of course, it’s wonderful listening to your print being fought for, but disheartening when it’s criticised! (We all pour our hearts and souls into our work and so sometimes entering the awards can feel a bit like voluntarily standing on stage in your birthday suit!) There are many factors that make up an award winning image and many factors that judges use to determine scores. It’s a fascinating process to watch and be a part of, and I would encourage any and every photographer, enthusiast or professional, who has never been or seen it, to come along next year. The judging is open to the public at both the state and national awards, and you can stay posted on dates and times via the AIPP website.

So, I made a complete fool of myself during the judging of the last print by bursting into tears of joy and gratefulness! I was so fortunate to have Jesh De Rox on the panel at the time it came up. Jesh saw something in this image (below) that not all the judges on the panel saw at first, and he argued passionately for it. When the re-score came up I nearly fell off my chair – the scores were 89, 89, 88, 88 and 88. I had one wish this year for APPAs, and that was to outdo last year’s results. This cinched the deal and I just couldn’t be happier!

The APPAs are held each June, and are national, but before the APPAs come around, every state holds their own AIPP print awards – it’s a great opportunity to put some work out there and see how it goes, without the stress and pressure of the nationals. So back in March, I entered several images in the ACT/NSW AIPP Print Awards, and was stoked to receive 5 silver awards. I didn’t post my winning images at the time, as I wanted to wait until after the APPAs. So here are the remaining two award images from the state awards which I didn’t enter in APPAs.