Teddy & Me - a photography book project by Heartstory
What is Teddy & Me?
Teddy & Me is a unique new photography project run by Heartstory (one of Australia’s most awarded and experienced family portrait studios) for families with children aged 4-13 years old.
The only requirement is that your child has a much loved (and hopefully well worn) favourite toy and is happy to be photographed holding and cuddling it/him/her!
This project is an amazing opportunity to have stunning artistic portraits of your child/children. And if you would like to include the whole family in the experience, you can do that too!
When we have completed all the sessions, we will design and publish a beautiful hard cover coffee table book called Teddy & Me featuring our favourite photo of each child alongside a sweet story about their toys, which will be a treasured keepsake for all the families in the project.
Scroll down for more detailed information about session types, costs, inclusions, availability and other specifics.
BOOKINGS CLOSE THIS FRIDAY 12/2/21
Apply for a spot
Cost & what’s included
Where
Sessions will take place at Heartstory’s natural light studio, Suite 104, Loop Earth Building, 17 Market Street, Belconnen, ACT 2617.
Session types
You can choose from two session types: Teddy & Me Mini and Teddy & Me + full Heartstory Experience.
Teddy & Me Mini
- A 15-20 minute mini session per child, for children only. (value $100)
- We will capture photos with and without their favourite toy.
- Available on select weekdays only (until end Feb 2021).
- A double page spread in the Teddy & Me book featuring our favourite photo of your child with their teddy/toy and a story about them. (value $100)
- A copy of the Teddy & Me book, to be designed and published at the conclusion of all the sessions and ready in late March / early April 2021. If you want to see some of the other books we’ve produced, visit our online store. (value $75)
- An 8×10″ print of your choice, archivally matted and framed in a recycled timber Mulbury frame (see slideshow below for visuals). (value $250)
- Immediately after your mini session you can view your photos, choose which photo will go in your framed 8×10″ and what colour frame you want. You will also have exclusive upgrade options such as upsizing your frame, and adding on digital files, extra prints or additional copies of the Teddy & Me book should you wish to. You will have a collection of 10-15 photos to choose from.
Cost: $350 per child
(total value $525)
Teddy & Me + full Heartstory Experience
- A full Heartstory portrait session (approx one hour) for the whole family to enjoy. (value $200)
- First we will photograph the Teddy & Me portraits, and then we can add on family photos, sibling photos, individual portraits, or whatever your heart desires! There is no extra charge for this!
- Available on weekdays and weekends (until end Feb 2021).
- A double page spread in the Teddy & Me book featuring our favourite photo of your child with their teddy/toy and a story about them. (value $100)
- A copy of the Teddy & Me book (to be designed and published at the conclusion of all the sessions and ready in late March / early April 2021). If you want to see some of the other books we’ve produced, visit our online store. (value $75)
- An 8×10″ print of your choice, archivally matted and framed in a recycled timber Mulbury frame (see slideshow below for visuals). This product can later be traded for credit towards a different product if you wish. (value $250)
- A personal purchasing appointment 1-2 weeks after your portrait session. You will have access to exclusive Teddy & Me upgrades as well as all our regular artwork packages. You will have a collection 50+ photos to choose from (including the Teddy & Me portraits).
- If you are considering this option, we recommend budgeting for around $1000 to get good value from your experience with us. See our pricing & products to find out more.
Cost: $350 per child participating in Teddy & Me
(total value $625)
If you are unsure about which session type to choose, first ask yourself “would I like to use this opportunity to update my family photos?” Also consider that if you have other children who aren’t suitable for this project, you can still include them and get matching photos of all of them (or beautiful photos of them together), even if only one of them is in the Teddy & Me book. We always find that families never regret the photos they have taken, only the ones they didn’t! The benefit of booking the full experience is that you can decide later what you want to get, based on how you feel about the photos afterwards. At the bottom of this page, you’ll see a gallery of recent family photos captured in the studio.
What if I have multiple children?
You can book either session type if you have multiple children. Katie will take photos of your children together regardless of session type. This will not cost extra and it’s up to you whether you want to purchase them!
Case study 1: You have 3 kids and the youngest is 6. She is attached to a beloved toy but the other 2 aren’t into their toys anymore. You apply for a spot for her and choose Teddy & Me + the full Heartstory Experience. You pay $350 for her Teddy & Me package and you get a complimentary family session as part of your experience. The family session includes family photos, sibling photos, individual portraits of all the kids, and of course your youngest has her special Teddy & Me portraits done too. You choose to purchase a combination of prints, frames and digital files from your session and you decide to use the $250 from the Teddy & Me package towards your overall order rather than getting the framed 8×10″ Teddy & Me print of your youngest. However, you will still receive a copy of the Teddy & Me book when it’s published, featuring a double page spread of your youngest daughter.
Case study 2: You have two kids and they’re both really into their respective toys. You had family photos taken not so long ago, so you don’t want to update them right now, but you love the idea of the project and want your kids in it. You apply for Teddy & Me Mini. You pay $350 x 2 for both of them to have a place. You book two consecutive spots. Katie takes their individual photos as well as some of them together. You choose your favourite photo of each of them for the framed print that is part of the package. You also decide to add on a couple of extra images using our exclusive upgrades. You receive 2 copies of the book when it’s published, featuring a double page spread of each of your children.
If you want more clarification on these options, or what might suit you, send an SMS to 0418 863 488 saying ‘Teddy & Me info’ and we will help you out.
All the photos taken on the session are not included. Only what’s listed above is included in the package. However, if you wish to, you can purchase additional prints, artwork and digital files after your session as described above.
How to book a spot
Fill out the application form on this page, and we will be in touch to book your session. If you choose the Teddy & Me Mini option, you will be able to book online after we’ve checked your application.
What to expect
For ages 4-8
Your child loves to be themselves. That’s all they know! They love it when you enter their world and that’s what Katie loves doing as a photographer because it’s the best way of capturing their true nature. However, children in this age range can also be still and follow direction really well, and they are less likely to be self conscious than older kids.
This project gives you the opportunity to have beautiful photos of both these aspects of your child. Katie knows how to quickly build rapport with children so they trust what she’s doing and feel comfortable with the process.
For ages 9-13
Your child is on the brink of a whole new chapter. They’re changing before your eyes every day. Sometimes you see them as the cuddly little sweetheart they used to be, who you could scoop up and sit on your lap. Sometimes you see them as the young adult they’re becoming. It’s both unnerving and beautiful.
This project can capture both those things. Katie finds when older children are engaged with their childhood and encouraged to do so, they will show their true nature. That’s how she captures sweet giggles and grins and keep tweens looking like kids. She also finds that when she takes the role of director, poses children more, and ask them to engage with her and the camera, she can capture who they want to be and who they’re becoming. The resulting images can be breathtakingly powerful.
Please note: these age ranges are not exclusive. Some 8 year olds are more like tweens and some 13 year olds are so grown up they’re well and truly past this project. The ages are here as a guide for you. However, please don’t apply with children under the age of 4. We have chosen this age as we need for children involved to be able to follow instructions and have a good understanding of what’s happening both prior to and during the session.
A few important things to note
- You will need to choose whether you want the mini version or the full Heartstory experience at the time of booking and you will not be able to change this later. Scroll down to see some recent photos captured by Katie in our studio.
- Because this book will be published, you must be willing to give us permission to display your photographs in print and online, as part of your involvement in this project. This will include the use of first names in the book. Please discuss this with us if you have any concerns.
- A $100 non-refundable deposit will be required to confirm your booking. The remainder of the package ($250) will be due 3 weeks prior to your session. If you are booking a date and time within 3 weeks, we will request the balance as soon as the deposit is processed.
- We are aiming to complete 40 Teddy & Me sessions between October 2020 and February 2021. We will design the book and send it to print in March and we hope to have it back and ready for distribution by late March/early April. These dates will be confirmed when all sessions are complete.
- Your booking will be subject to terms and conditions and other policies, which you will have access to review during the booking process.
