Biggest sale of the year 2024

Have your family photos taken by one of Australia’s most awarded and experienced family portrait photographers. Choose from outdoors, studio and at home sessions. Enjoy a full service experience including a guided purchasing appointment with a stunning range of heirloom prints, artwork and the convenience of digital files too.

SALE RUNS 9AM FRIDAY 29TH NOVEMBER TO MIDNIGHT MONDAY 2ND DECEMBER.

All items have a limited number and may sell out prior to advertised dates. Prices are as listed (no codes or coupons needed). T&C apply (please read before purchase).Ā 

SHOP GIFT CERTIFICATES - ON SALE NOW

  • These specials cannot be used by familiesĀ withĀ a current booking (unless the special will be used for another future booking).Ā 
  • Please click on the item to check that it’s available and read terms & conditions before adding to cart and purchasing.Ā Ā 

ABOUT US

The Heartstory family photography experience

Jeremy Byrnes and Katie Kolenberg (the owners and principal photographers at Heartstory, est. 2009) are award winning family portrait specialists and two of the most experienced family photographers in the region.Ā 

The Heartstory team (which includes Jeremy, Katie and associate photographer Ayu) shoots on location around Canberra, and in their beautiful Belconnen studio. They are known for how they connect with children and babies, their fun approach to families, their use of the natural environment and our creative vision. They provide personal, customised service and unique heirloom products, for every taste and budget.

1. The consultation

Over the phone. We get to know you, find out your hopes and wishes for your photos, and discuss things like location and styling.

2. The session

On location, in studio or at your home/property. You have an absolute blast being photographed by us and we capture all the magic.

3. The purchasing appointment

At our studio in Belconnen. You come for a personal appointment. Your decision-making game is strong. We create beautiful artwork for you to keep forever.

Pricing & products

We want you to feel safe and looked after during your experience with us, therefore we take full liability for the creation of your portrait collection. No decisions, commitment or payment is required from you until your purchasing appointment. And, if you donā€™t love your photos, you donā€™t have to buy any! There is no pressure; our ordering experience is designed to be personal and fun. Your satisfaction is our priority. 

We believe that professional portraits deserve pride of place in your home, so we have spent many years perfecting our product range to suit modern tastes, lifestyles and budgets. You can choose from prints, wall art, and albums, and digital files can be included in your order too!

Your gift certificate comes with an order credit of either $200 or $2000, depending on which offer you purchase. This can be used towards any of our products. 

Most families invest $800 ā€“ $3000 on their portrait collection. Payment plans are available.

You can get more information via our pricing and products page.

OUTDOORS SESSIONS

We photograph all over Canberra (we have different favourite locations in different seasons), taking advantage of our beautiful city and it’s environmental features. Sessions are available morning and afternoon/evening on most weekends and some weekdays. We are usually booked out 1-2 months in advance.

STUDIO SESSIONS

Studio sessions are available on weekdays and weekends at times that suit your little ones routines. We recommend the studio for newborns and babies under one or for families with cuddly children under 16. We use natural light only, and our studio space is nature inspired, light and airy and a bit boho. We encourage relaxed clothing, like our approach!

AT HOME & RURAL SESSIONS

At home and rural sessions have limited availability due to the additional travel time. But we LOVE them! Rural sessions can include your farm animals and all your favourite scenery. At home sessions are personal, intimate and unique.Ā 

OUR CREATIVE STYLE

We care a lot about emotion, personality and capturing you ‘in the moment’. We direct youĀ duringĀ your session, but we don’t really ‘pose’ you. We want you toĀ look real! We also capture in between moments, environmental scenes and a lot of candid fun. We always take our cues from the smallest people in the family, and we work quite quickly to create a rich and diverse collection of images for you toĀ choose from.Ā 

Most families say ‘I knew they’d be good, but I didn’t think they’d beĀ thisĀ good.’

TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE

  1. Sale runs from 9am, Friday 29th November 2024 to midnight Monday 2nd December 2024, or until sold out.
  2. Sale items are sold online and delivered/picked up as printed gift certificates.
  3. All gift certificates include our standard session fee ($200) and specified credit towards your order.
  4. Only one sale item can be used per family.
  5. Cannot be used byĀ familiesĀ who already have a session booked with Heartstory.Ā 
  6. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other gift certificate, promotion, discount or special offer.
  7. Cannot be used for a special project such as Canberra at Home, as these projects come with their own specials and discounts.
  8. Gift certificates must be used by 30/11/2025 (3 year expiry does not apply due to discount offered).
  9. All sales are final and no refunds will be given. If you bought a gift certificate and you are unable to use it yourself for any reason, you may pass it on to another family. Terms & conditions of sale and usage will also be transferred.Ā 
  10. Gift certificates may only be used for the exact items outlined on the card and not transferred to, or combined with any other package or promotion. Gift certificates are not redeemable for cash.
  11. Gift certificates must beĀ registered beforeĀ use and used byĀ the expiry date on the certificate.
  12. As a gift certificate holder, you do not need to pay any up front fees when you book your session, however you are still subject to strict cancellation policies for portrait sessions and purchasing appointments, and non-compliance can result in loss of gift certificate value.
  13. By booking a portrait session with Heartstory, you acknowledge on behalf of all participants, that Heartstory retain the copyright to all images created (this does not include consent for us to use your images for marketing, that is something you may decide on after you view your photos.)
  14. Full gift certificate terms & conditions can be found here: Gift Certificate Terms & Conditions

Limited Edition River Sessions

booking now...

CelebrateĀ your wonderful family with a playful & unique photography session this summer!Ā 

If you’re an outdoorsy family and your kids love water-play, this could be the unique session experience you’ve been waiting for! River sessions are fun, organic and result in stunning environmental images of your family having the best fun ever!Ā 

When you book an exclusive limited edition River Session, you’ll enjoy:

  • Our full service photography experience with your session photographed by Australian Family Photographer of the Year, Jeremy Byrnes.
  • A guided purchasing appointment with a stunning range of heirloom prints, artwork and the convenience of digital files too.
  • Save 30% when you take advantage of this offer! Specific package inclusions detailed on the booking page.

Prepare to get wet and create nostalgia to keep!Ā 

Families of Spring image

What's included

  • Your signature river session with Jeremy (Chief of Water Fun and co-owner of Heartstory) (value $200)
  • An 8×10 matted print in a recycled timber frame (value $295)
  • $800 credit towards prints, files and other photographic products
  • Total value $1295

TOTAL PACKAGE PRICE:Ā $850

How to book your River Session

  • Sessions areĀ available on specific dates from December 2024 to early March 2025.Ā 
  • Book your session via our online calendar by clicking on the booking button below.Ā 
  • Package must be paid in full at time of booking (by card or direct deposit).Ā 
  • This offer is limited to the number of sessions available. Once booked out, no further sessions are available.
  • Please check the T&Cs before booking.Ā 

(Booking system will open on a new page.)Ā 

2020 0084

The Heartstory family portrait experience

Jeremy Byrnes and Katie Kolenberg (the owners and principal photographers at Heartstory, est. 2009) are award winning family portrait specialists and two of the most experienced family photographers in the region.Ā 

The Heartstory team shoots on location around Canberra, and in their beautiful Belconnen studio. They are known for how they connect with little ones, their fun approach to families, their use of the natural environment and their creative vision. They provide personal, customised service and unique heirloom productsĀ for every taste and budget.

River sessions are photographed exclusively by Jeremy, principle photographer and co-owner of Heartstory. They are designed to bring you a signature Heartstory collection which includes a diverse variety of images with an emphasis on the environment, the element of water and a playful vibe. We recommend wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting wet. Usually river sessions start dry and get wetter and more playful as they go. Dogs are welcome!Ā 

We recommend these sessions are best for families with kids over 2 years old.Ā 

1. The consultation

Over the phone. We get to know you, find out your hopes and wishes for your photos, and discuss things like location and styling. We don't require a phone consult for this package unless you're a brand new Heartstory family.

2. The session

On location, at one of Canberra's magical river locations. Prepare to get wet (in your clothes) and have the best fun ever. Pets welcome. Jeremy has a number of fave locations up his sleeve and will choose them based on the weather and season.

3. The purchasing appointment

At our studio in Belconnen. You come for a personal appointment. Your decision-making game is strong. We create beautiful artwork for you to keep forever.

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What to expect

Expect to be taken care of.
Expect to have fun and feel good.
Expect to fall in love with your photos.
Expect to wonder why you haven’t done this sooner!

Pricing & Products

We want you to feel safe and looked after during your experience with us, therefore we take full liability for the creation of your portrait collection. Aside from your commitment to this limited offer package, no decisions, commitment or payment is required from you until your purchasing appointment. And, if you donā€™t love your photos, you donā€™t have to spend any additional funds! There is no pressure; our ordering experience is designed to be personal and fun. Your satisfaction is our priority.Ā 

We believe that professional portraits deserve pride of place in your home, so we have spent many years perfecting our product range to suit modern tastes, lifestyles and budgets.Ā You can choose from prints, wall art, and albums, and digital files can be included in your order too!

Most families invest $800 ā€“ $3000 on their portrait collection. Payment plans are available.

You can get more information via our pricing and products page.

Please note, you may need to spend additional funds on top of this package to buy the prints and products of your choice.

Terms & conditions of sale

  1. The river session package outlined on this page is subject toĀ availability and must be booked online.Ā 
  2. The package includes our standard session fee ($200), an 8×10″ mattedĀ print in a recycled timber frame ($295), and $800 credit towards your order. It represents a total value of $1295Ā andĀ is on sale for $850. You mayĀ purchase additional prints, files and other products at your purchasing appointment.Ā 
  3. Only one sale package can be used per family
  4. Cannot be used byĀ familiesĀ who already have a session booked with Heartstory.Ā 
  5. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other gift certificate, promotion, discount or special offer.
  6. River session packages must be used on the dates available viaĀ the online booking calendar.Ā All sales are final and no refunds will be given. If extenuating circumstances prevent you from taking your session at the booked time (such as serious illness and no availability to postpone to another river session date), you will be able to use the package towards a regular Heartstory session (studio or outdoors) up until 30 June 2025.Ā 
  7. Your booking is subject to cancellation policies for sessions and purchasing appointments, and non-compliance can result in fees.
  8. By booking a portrait session with Heartstory, you acknowledge on behalf of all participants, that Heartstory retain the copyright to all images created (this does not include consent for us to use your images for marketing, that is something you may decide on after you view your photos.

Vote in Families of the Season: Spring

Welcome to the SPRING edition of Families of the Season!

Get ready to meet the gorgeous families we photographed last SPRING…

AND VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE FAMILY!

Ā 

The family who gets the most votes will win $1000 Heartstory credit towards new artwork** from their last shoot or their next shoot shoot PLUS bragging rights for becoming the Heartstory Family of Spring.Ā 

And by voting, you get the chance to win a $400 Heartstory Family Portrait Experience for your family, so you can have awesome photos like this.

Please note, the families featured in Families of the Season all gave us permission to share their images, so it doesn’t includeĀ allĀ the families we photographed last spring,Ā becauseĀ having your images displayed publicly is always your choice.Ā 

how to vote

1. Scroll down to view the gallery of family photos

2. Find your fave family & make a note of their number (the number appears when you hover over the thumbnail or click to enlarge

3. Fill out the voting form below the gallery

What you can win

There are prizes for the voters + for the families in the photos

FOR THE VOTERS

Ten lucky voters will win a Heartstory Family Photography Experience worth $400. This includes a studio or outdoors session and $200 credit towards photographic artwork. 

These will be selected randomly from all entries once voting is closed.

FOR THE FAMILIES IN THE PHOTOS

The Heartstory Family of SpringĀ (the one with the most votes when voting closes) will receive $1000 of Heartstory credit towards new artwork from their last session or their next session.

Ā 

Ā 

PLEASE NOTE: VOTING IS OPEN TO EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF 18, 
BUT YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ONCE PER HOUSEHOLD

Fill out the form to vote

By entering, you agree to the T&C at the bottom of the page (please read). And don’t forget, you can only enter once!

Voting Terms & Conditions

  1. Only one entry per family/IP address will be accepted.
  2. Voters must be over the age of 18.
  3. Voting closes at midnight Wednesday November 13th 2024.
  4. The winner will be determined by the most votes and will be notified by phone on Thursday November 14th 2024 and announced on social media.
  5. **The $1000 prize for the winner may be used towards new artwork from their most recent shoot, or their next shoot (to be used within 12 months).
  6. 10 voters will be randomly chosen to receive a Heartstory Family Portrait Experience of their own in the form of a $400 prize. These winners will be notified by SMS by Friday November 15th 2024. The $400 prize is for a Heartstory Portrait Experience (worth $200) and $200 credit towards your order of prints, products & digital files.
  7. Prizes may not be substituted for any other product or serviceĀ (such as a wedding photography package) or used in conjunction with any other promotion, gift certificate or discount, and are not redeemable for cash. They also cannot be used towards a special project like Canberra Kids or others that we may run this year.
  8. $400 prizes must be used by 31st March 2025 with no extensions possible unless there are extenuating circumstances.Ā 
  9. By entering this competition, you agree to be added to our mailing list to be kept in the loop with cool stuff like this. We promise to never spam you, and of course, you can opt out/unsubscribe any time.
  10. Please note that scammers are everywhere so beware of any messages you receive on Meta platforms of pages that may be impersonating us. We will never ask for credit card details and you will only hear from us via email or SMS (unless we are replying to your message on Instagram of Facebook).Ā 
  11. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Meta. You are providing your information to Heartstory and not to Meta. By participating in this promotion you agree to a complete release of Meta from any claims. Participation in this promotion is subject to the terms & conditions outlined.

Capturing Life’s Most Precious Moments

A Special Maternity | Newborn Studio Photography Offer

There’s something magical about documenting the journey of motherhood ā€“ from the gentle curves of an expectant mother to the delicate features of a newborn. That’s why we created our $150 special studio offer, to capture two of life’s most beautiful chapters: your maternity journey and your baby’s first days.

Katie, our resident baby whisperer, will make you both feel comfortable and cared for during these intimate sessions. Gently directing your movement, always guided by your little one, so your natural connection shines through. With no uncomfortable posing, and plenty of time for bub to feed.

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A Haven for Your Memories

Our light-filled studio, styled with soft organic props and a stunning floral feature wall provide a sanctuary for both sessions, and our beautiful mumma wardrobe of dresses featuring beloved brands like Spell, and Tree of Life, add to the magic of your whole experience.

The perfect timing

We’ve carefully designed this experience around you and your baby’s needs. Maternity sessions are best captured between 32-36 weeks, while newborn sessions take place during those precious first 10-28 days. Each 90-minute session provides ample time for feeding breaks and ensuring your little one remains comfortable throughout.

Your partner and the whole family are also welcome to the sessions.

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Exceptional value

For just $150 ($595 value) this limited time offer includes:

  • a personalised phone consult
  • a tender maternity photo session
  • an intimate newborn photo session
  • access to our designer wardrobe
  • personal image selection appointment
  • 8×10″ framed print or $295 print credit

Your final collections will feature over 20 carefully curated maternity images and 50 or more newborn photographs, ensuring every beautiful detail is captured.

More than just photos

Prior to the sessions, weā€™ll take time to plan your perfect shoot – together – so you can share your vision, and preferred schedule, to ensure every moment is captured exactly as you envision.

wegrzyn150 edit

The ultimate experience

To ensure that nothing is missed in your baby’s early days, also consider our Studio Special Offer for families with babies, featuring a newborn, tummy time, and first birthday photo session package deal. Just be aware, that this offer can’t be combined with our Maternity | Newborn offer.

Offer ends February 2025

These precious days are fleeting so let us help you freeze time with our photographic time capsule. Contact us by 28 February 2025 to book your special photography experience that will be treasured for a lifetime.

Find out more

Explore our website to find out more about our:

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Magpie season at Heartstory Photography

From swooping to shooting: our magpie muse

Magpie season isn’t something most people think is worth celebrating, but it gives us the perfect excuse to share a bit about how we run our business. Because as it happens, a magpie is now the centrepiece of our recent brand makeover.

“Why the magpie?” you might ask. Well, it wasn’t our initial plan, but it turned out to be a lucky coincidence that fits us perfectly.

A brand refresh is a revealing exercise. It requires you to think about your business values and articulate what you want to deliver, as well as what you want your clients to feel about your products and service.

When our designer Laura asked, “What drives our business and makes us unique?” our response was:

Unbeknown to Laura, magpies were my favourite bird, despite growing up being swooped by them like most Aussie kids. Their melodic warble always takes me back to childhood ā€“ it’s so nostalgic and comforting.

We love the playfulness and sociability of these community-oriented birds ā€“ qualities we strive to emulate in our business. They’re family-oriented,Ā  matingĀ  for life and fiercely protecting their young. They’re also inquisitive and incredibly intelligent. Sound familiar? That’s because we’re family-obsessed too, especially when it comes to preserving your family memories, and we’re always using our smarts to capture the perfect shot.

Fun fact

Magpies can recognise faces and remember them forever! That’s so cool, and it’s also the perfect tie-in to what we do as photographers. And like them, we love being amongst the trees ā€“ it’s our ‘happy place.’ Nature helps us feel calm and joyful, which is why we enjoy outdoor shoots. Canberra is also blessed with a seamless blend of nature and suburbs, and seasons that always provide stunning backdrops for us to work with.

Speaking of outdoor shoots, we regularly interact with a family of friendly magpies during sessions at the Pinnacle. They often join us and end up in shot, like the charming fellow below captured by Jeremy.

Magpie at the Pinnacles

Given that we’re in the thick of swooping season (July to November), we thought you’d appreciate these tips on dealing with territorial magpies:

The more adventurous however, might prefer conversing with the songbird, or strapping on some holographic anti-swooping tape!

While we can’t claim to match the magpie’s impressive vocal range (or swooping skills), we’re delighted that our new logo celebrates their playful spirit while representing our approach to business. So, if you’re ever looking for some fun, intelligent, and family-loving photographers to take your next portrait, get in touch with us. We’d love to help create some lasting memories for you and your loved ones.

Who knew magpies could be so on-brand! šŸŽµšŸ“ø

The Wise Project

WISE

honouring the stories of our elders

A photography project proudly brought to you by

heartstory logo inline black rgb

our mission is to capture the wisdom and character of our elder generation in stunning portrait photographs and to share their stories with you in a special exhibition in mid 2025, at The front in Lyneham.Ā 

What is Wise?

Wise is a photography project about our elders – our parents, grandparents, friends and mentors – to honour their stories and their wisdom.Ā 

The project will culiminate in an exhibition at The Front Lyneham featuring 50 elders, photographed by Heartstoryā€™s Jeremy Byrnes (a national award winning portrait photographer who holds the Australian title of Family Photographer of the Year in 2023 and ACT Professional Photographer of the Year in 2018).

Interested families apply to be considered for the project and successful applicants will have a portrait photography session and be featured in the project and exhibition.Ā Ā 

This project provides a rare and special opportunity for families to have beautiful portraits that celebrate our elder generation, to celebrate their achievements, their story and their legacy.

Scroll down for more detailed information about cost, inclusions & availability.Ā 

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE! Once weā€™ve filled our allocation we will close applications.Ā 

Apply for a place in Wise

How does it work?

We are looking for couples and individuals from retirement age and up who like the idea of telling their story and having their portrait taken. You can apply for your parents/grandparents to be in Wise (make sure you ask them first!) and you can take advantage of the opportunity and join in too and/or bring the grandchildren!

Sessions can take place at the Heartstory studio or at the elder’s home/dwelling.Ā 

  • A portrait session available to book on weekdays and weekends at various times from now until the end of 2024 (early 2025 dates available soon). (value $200-$300)
  • A featured portrait in the Wise exhibition and inclusion in a video about the project. (value $100)
  • A personal purchasing appointment after your portrait session to review and order your favourite images (should you wish to do so) with $200 credit to put towards your order. (value $200)
  • Take home a signed photographic exhibition print to keep after the exhibition is over (format & size TBC). (value $500+)
  • $100 (value $1000+, as described above)

Full transparency: participation fees are kept low to cover only the administrative, design & printing costs to run this project.Ā 

The photos taken on the session are not included. At your purchasing appointment you will see a the whole collection of photos from your session with us and you can purchase prints, artwork, albums and digital files if you wish to. We highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity and investing in your very own heirloom artwork by one of Australia’s best portrait photographers! It adds another layer of depth and meaning to your home, and of course, your patronage helps our business give back to the community through projects like this andĀ keeps our small business running. Find out more about our pricing and products here.Ā 

Fill out the application form on this page, and we will be in touch to book your session. Your acceptance will be determined by a number of factors including diversity of ages, backgrounds and gender.Ā 

Our products and studio

What to expect

Your photographer is Jeremy Byrnes, one of the most experienced and awarded photographers in the Canberra region. Jeremy won the 2018 ACT Professional Photographer of the Year award and the 2023 Australian Family Photographer of the Year award. 

He is a parent to two boys and has been shooting professionally for nearly 30 years. Although Jeremy is known as a little kid magnet, he is a people-person through and through and you’ll often find him chatting with the elders at weddings. One of his favourite types of shoots is multi-generational or extended family sessions, so he really is the perfect portrait photographer for this project and we wouldn’t be surprised if you invite him over for dinner. 

Aside from photography, Jeremy has a passion for vintage cameras, vinyl records, mid century architecture and if his wife can’t find him, he’s usually on the street chatting to the neighbours. He’s also a member of the Canberra woodworking guild. 

heartstory photography jeremy byrnes family photographer homepage

How the session will work

Sessions can take place at our studio in Belconnen Town Centre or at the participant's home/dwelling. Sessions will go for about an hour, leaving plenty of time for a variety of different photos and a short recorded interview. We will also have time to take additional portraits with children, grandchildren or other important family members and while these won't be included in the exhibition, this is a rare and special opportunity to show your loved ones how important they are with photos that will last forever.

How to prepare

We donā€™t require your home to look perfect or like itā€™s out of a magazine, however, we do suggest tidying up and removing any major clutter. We also want you to dress as yourselves as you can be. If this is dressed up because that suits your lifestyle and your aesthetic, we encourage that. If itā€™s super casual, we also encourage that. There are no rules. But we encourage thoughtfulness and intention. Those accepted into the project will be provided with preparatory information prior to their session.

Including other family members in your Wise portrait session

This is is what you could expect if you invite other members of your family to be a part of your photography experience. 

Some of our previous special projects

A few important things to note

  1. Participants in WiseĀ must be willing to give us permission to display photographs of you and your family in print and online, as part of your involvement in this project. This will include the use of names (there are various options as to how we do this). We are also hoping we can create a book to accompany the exhibition, showcasing the selected photographs and stories, although this will be subject to a few factors yet to be determined. Please discuss this with us if you have any concerns.
  2. The Wise participation fee of $100 per family is due in full to confirm your booking and is non-refundable.
  3. We aim to complete 50 Wise sessions by approximately February 2025 and the exhibition has been booked for June 2025. Participating families will be kept informed of progress as we move through the project.
  4. Your booking will be subject to terms and conditions and other policies, which you can review during the booking process.

Our story in 2 minutes

Canberra's leading family portrait photography studio est. 2009

Vote for the cover of Canberra Kids

We have photographed 56 fantastic Canberra kids who will feature in our latest Canberra Kids book, and they are the most incredible group of diverse, interesting, talented, clever and creative humans!

But now it’s time need to choose whichĀ fantastic Canberra kid/s will star on the front cover, and…

We need your help!Ā 

Vote for yourĀ favourite cover photo and the kid/s withĀ the most votes will star on the COVER of our amazing book!

Plus, for taking the time to vote forĀ yourĀ favourite cover,Ā youĀ could win a $400 Heartstory Family Photography Experience for your own family! How cool is that?!Ā 

How to vote

Review the covers designs* in the slideshow below, make a note ofĀ the name/number you want to vote for, and then scroll down to complete the voting form!

Voting is open to everyone over the age of 18, but you can only vote once!

Please note, some families have 1 child in the book, others have 2 or 3. In the interest of fairness (because no-one likes squabbling over who’s piece of cake is bigger), we have designed sample covers featuring the kids from each family as a collection, rather than the individual kids.Ā 

*these are sample designs only. Once we have the winning kids locked in, we’ll design the perfect cover!Ā 

Fill out the form to enter & vote

By entering, you agree to the T&C at the bottom of the page (please read).Ā 

Don’t forget, you can only enter once!

Voting Terms & Conditions

  1. Only one entry per family/IP address will be accepted.Ā 
  2. Entrants must be over the age of 18.
  3. Entries close at midnight Tuesday August 27th, 2024.
  4. The winning family of the cover competition will be notified by phone on Wednesday August 28th, 2024, and announced on social media. The kids from the winning family will star on the cover of our latest Canberra Kids book and will receive an additional signed copy of the book.Ā 
  5. A small selection of voters will be chosen to receive a Heartstory Portrait Experience of their own. These winners will be notified by SMS no later than Friday August 30th, 2024. The $400 prize is for an outdoors or studio Heartstory Family Photography Experience (worth $200), and $200 credit towards photographic artwork. Prize packages must be used by 23 December 2024.Ā 
  6. Prizes may not be substituted for any other product or serviceĀ (such as a wedding photography package) or used in conjunction with any other promotion, gift certificate or discount, and are not redeemable for cash.
  7. By entering this competition, you agree to be added to our mailing list to be kept in the loop with cool stuff like this. We promise to never spam you, and of course, you can unsubscribe any time.
  8. Please note that scammers are everywhere so beware of any messages you receive on Meta platforms of pages that may be impersonating us. We will never ask for credit card details and you will only hear from us via email or SMS (unless we are replying to your message on Instagram of Facebook).Ā 
  9. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Meta. You are providing your information to Heartstory and not to Meta. By participating in this promotion you agree to a complete release of Meta from any claims. Participation in this promotion is subject to the terms & conditions outlined.

Vote in Families of the Season: Winter

Welcome to the WINTER edition of Families of the Season!

Get ready to meet the gorgeous families we photographed last winter…

AND VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE FAMILY!

Ā 

The family who gets the most votes will win $1000 Heartstory credit towards new artwork** from their last shoot or their next shoot shoot PLUS bragging rights for becoming the Heartstory Family of Winter.Ā 

And by voting, you get the chance to win a $400 Heartstory Family Portrait Experience for your family, so you can have awesome photos like this.

Please note, the families featured in Families of the Season all gave us permission to share their images, so it doesn’t includeĀ allĀ the families we photographed last winter.

how to vote

1. Scroll down to view the gallery of family photos

2. Find your fave family & make a note of their number (the number appears when you hover over the thumbnail or click to enlarge

3. Fill out the voting form below the gallery

What you can win

There are prizes for the voters + for the families in the photos

FOR THE VOTERS

Ten lucky voters will win a Heartstory Family Photography Experience worth $400. This includes a studio or outdoors session and $200 credit towards photographic artwork. 

These will be selected randomly from all entries once voting is closed.

FOR THE FAMILIES IN THE PHOTOS

The Heartstory Family of WinterĀ (the one with the most votes when voting closes) will receive $1000 of Heartstory credit towards new artwork from their last session or their next session.

Ā 

Ā 

PLEASE NOTE: VOTING IS OPEN TO EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF 18, 
BUT YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ONCE PER HOUSEHOLD

Fill out the form to vote

By entering, you agree to the T&C at the bottom of the page (please read). And don’t forget, you can only enter once!

Voting Terms & Conditions

  1. Only one entry per family/IP address will be accepted.
  2. Voters must be over the age of 18.
  3. Voting closes at midnight Wednesday July 31st 2024.
  4. The winner will be determined by the most votes and will be notified by phone on Thursday March 21st 2024 and announced on social media.
  5. **The $1000 prize for the winner may be used towards new artwork from their most recent shoot, or their next shoot (to be used within 12 months).
  6. 10 voters will be randomly chosen to receive a Heartstory Family Portrait Experience of their own in the form of a $400 prize. These winners will be notified by SMS on Friday August 2nd 2024. The $400 prize is for a Heartstory Portrait Experience (worth $200) and $200 credit towards your order of prints, products & digital files.
  7. Prizes may not be substituted for any other product or serviceĀ (such as a wedding photography package) or used in conjunction with any other promotion, gift certificate or discount, and are not redeemable for cash. They also cannot be used towards a special project like Canberra Kids or others that we may run this year.
  8. $400 prizes must be used by 21st December 2024 with no extensions possible unless there are extenuating circumstances.Ā 
  9. By entering this competition, you agree to be added to our mailing list to be kept in the loop with cool stuff like this. We promise to never spam you, and of course, you can opt out/unsubscribe any time.
  10. Please note that scammers are everywhere so beware of any messages you receive on Meta platforms of pages that may be impersonating us. We will never ask for credit card details and you will only hear from us via email or SMS (unless we are replying to your message on Instagram of Facebook).Ā 
  11. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Meta. You are providing your information to Heartstory and not to Meta. By participating in this promotion you agree to a complete release of Meta from any claims. Participation in this promotion is subject to the terms & conditions outlined.

Vote in Families of the Season: Autumn

Welcome to the AUTUMN edition of ‘FAMILIES OF THE SEASON’!

Get ready to meet the gorgeous families we photographed last autumn…

(please note, these families all gave us permission to share their images, so it doesn’t include all the families we photographed last autumn)

You’re invited to vote for your favourite family!Ā 

The family who gets the most votes will win $1000 Heartstory credit towards new artwork** from their last shoot or their next shoot shoot PLUS bragging rights for becoming the Heartstory Family of Autumn.Ā 

And by voting, you get the chance to win a $400 Heartstory Family Portrait Experience for your family, so you can have awesome photos like this!Ā 

HOW To vote:

1. Scroll down to view the gallery

2. Find your fave family & make a note of what number they are

3. Fill out the voting form below

What you can win

There are prizes for the voters + for the families in the photos

For the voters:

Twenty lucky voters will win a Heartstory Family Photography Experience worth $400. This includes a studio or outdoors session and $200 credit towards photographic artwork.Ā 

These will be selected randomly from all entries once voting is closed.

Ā 

For the families in the photos:

The Heartstory Family of Autumn (the one with the most votes when the voting period closes):Ā this family will receive $1000 credit towards new artwork from their last session or their next session, to be used in the next 12 months.Ā 

PLEASE NOTE: VOTING IS OPEN TO EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF 18, 
BUT YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ONCE PER HOUSEHOLD

GET VOTING!

1. Review all our families of autumn belowĀ 

2. Make a note of the number you want to vote forĀ 
(it appears when you hover over the image & it’s also below the photo when you scroll through)

3. Scroll down & fill out the form to enter your vote!

Fill out the form to vote

By entering, you agree to the T&C at the bottom of the page (please read). And don’t forget, you can only enter once!

Voting Terms & Conditions

  1. Only one entry per family/IP address will be accepted.
  2. Voters must be over the age of 18.
  3. Voting closes at midnight Wednesday March 20th 2024.
  4. The winner will be determined by the most votes and will be notified by phone on Thursday March 21st 2024 and announced on social media.
  5. **The $1000 prize for the winner may be used towards new artwork from their most recent shoot, or their next shoot (to be used within 12 months).
  6. 20 voters will be randomly chosen to receive a Heartstory Family Portrait Experience of their own in the form of a $400 prize. These winners will be notified by SMS on Friday March 22nd 2024. The $400 prize is for a Heartstory Portrait Experience (worth $200) and $200 credit towards your order of prints, products & digital files.
  7. Prizes may not be substituted for any other product or serviceĀ (such as a wedding photography package) or used in conjunction with any other promotion, gift certificate or discount, and are not redeemable for cash. They also cannot be used towards a special project like Canberra Kids or others that we may run this year.
  8. $400 prizes must be used by end of September 2024 with no extensions possible unless there are extenuating circumstances.Ā 
  9. By entering this competition, you agree to be added to our mailing list to be kept in the loop with cool stuff like this. We promise to never spam you, and of course, you can opt out/unsubscribe any time.
  10. Please note that scammers are everywhere so beware of any messages you receive on Meta platforms of pages that may be impersonating us. We will never ask for credit card details and you will only hear from us via email or SMS (unless we are replying to your message on Instagram of Facebook).Ā 
  11. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Meta. You are providing your information to Heartstory and not to Meta. By participating in this promotion you agree to a complete release of Meta from any claims. Participation in this promotion is subject to the terms & conditions outlined.

Vote: Heartstory Photo of the Year

2024poycollage

Welcome to our annual Photo of the Year!

As creatives, we are always learning, challenging ourselves and getting creative with our tools. Every year we look critically at our work to see if there are areas we can improve on, and to identify what we consider our BEST work to see if we might be able to enter it in any of our industry photography competitions and also to refresh our visual presence online and in print with our most favourite photos!

Part of this process is SHARING and getting feedback from YOU – our audience – about what YOU love! Ā 

We have compiled our top ~100 favourite photos from 2023 and we want you to vote for the one you like the most!

How we chose the photos

We took approximately 220,000 frames in 2023 over 300+ photography sessions. (That’s not counting our personal ones of our own family!) So narrowing it down to this selection was not an easy thing to do!Ā 

We used a few simple principles to choose – the same principles we use as judges in professional photography awards and competitions:

  • Impact – emotional and visual
  • Storytelling/narrative strength
  • Technical attributes (use of light, colour, composition)
  • X factor

We tried to remain objective, because sometimes the way you might feel about your own photos is influenced by how much fun you had taking them! So our final selection has nothing to do with how well we connected with our clients, what they thought and purchased, or what our most memorable sessions of the year were.Ā 

What you can win

There are prizes for everyone:
for the voters, and for the stars of the photos
(who are all families who hired us to take their portraits in 2023).

For the voters:

One lucky voter will win a Heartstory Family Photography Experience worth $2000. This includes a studio or outdoors session and a photographic artwork package (made up of your choice of wall art or album and prints with digital files) worth up to $1800.Ā 

Twenty three (23) lucky voters will win a Heartstory Family Photography Experience worth $400. This includes a studio or outdoors session and $200 credit towards photographic artwork.Ā 

These will be drawn randomly.

Ā 

For the stars of the photos:

Photo of the Year (the one with the most votes when the voting period closes): this family will receive a 12×18″ framed fine art print of the photo (or $795 credit for artwork from their most recent session if they already bought this photo). 

2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place: these families will receive an 8×10″ framed print of the photo (or an alternative photo from their most recent session if they already bought this photo). 

We will also be giving some starring visual space to the top 5 photos on our website, socials and marketing collateral (provided we have permission to do so from the subjects, of course) depending on where they might work best! 

Voting is open to everyone over the age of 18, but you can only vote once per household/IP address.

Ā GET VOTING!

  1. Review our top photos of 2023 below
  2. Make a note of the number you want to vote forĀ (it appears when you hover over the image & in the name below the photo when you scroll through)
  3. Scroll down to place your vote!

Fill out the form to enter & vote

By submitting your vote, you agree to the T&C at the bottom of the page (please read).
And don’t forget, you can only enter once!

Voting Terms & Conditions

    1. Only one entry per family/IP address will be accepted.
    2. Entrants must be over the age of 18.
    3. Voting closes at midnight, Wednesday February 7th, 2024.
    4. The top five images with the most votes will be announced on social media on Friday February 9th, 2024, and the families in those photos will be contacted personally.
    5. One lucky voter will be randomly selected to win a Heartstory Family Portrait Experience worth $2000 and a further twenty three (23) voters will be randomly selected to receive a $400 Heartstory Portrait Experience. These winners will be notified by phone or SMS by Friday February 9th.
    6. The $2000 prize is for an outdoors or studio Heartstory Family Photography Experience (worth $200), and $1800 credit towards photographic artwork.
    7. The $400 prize is for an outdoors or studio Heartstory Family Photography Experience (worth $200), and $200 credit towards photographic artwork.
    8. All prizes must be used by end of June 2024 with no extensions possible unless there are extenuating circumstances.
    9. Prizes may not be substituted for any other product or serviceĀ (such as a wedding photography package) or used in conjunction with any other promotion, gift certificate or discount, and are not redeemable for cash. They also cannot be used towards a special project like Babies in Bonnets or others that we may run this year.
    10. By entering this competition, you agree to be added to our mailing list to be kept in the loop with cool stuff like this. We promise not to spam you, and of course, you can unsubscribe any time.
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