Family Photography Melbourne

Portraits of the people & pets that make your family uniquely yours

Family Photography Sessions

For every season, every chapter, every version of your family.

The photographs you will cherish most are the ones that show how your family felt in this current season.

A hand reaching for yours. A cheeky comment and laughter. The familiar way everyone fits together once they forget about the camera.

At Captured Hearts Photography, I create natural, heartfelt family portraits with gentle guidance and space for real moments to unfold.

So often, Mum is behind the camera, which means photographs of the whole family are surprisingly rare. Especially one that is worthy for the wall! A family session gives parents the opportunity to step into the frame, creating photographs that your children will grow up seeing on the walls of your home, and one day treasure themselves.

And because pets are family too, they’re always welcome. If your four-legged fur baby is just as much a member of your family, I’d love to include them too. You can learn more about my pet photography in Melbourne sessions here.

Family Portrait Sessions With Pets

Perfect for families whose pet is woven into daily life and deserves to be a part of your memories and portraits.

Perhaps your dog was your first baby. Maybe they have grown up beside your children, joined every family holiday or become the one everyone reaches for after a hard day.

Michelle has years of experience photographing children and animals together, helping create relaxed portraits without expecting perfect obedience or perfectly still children. Your pet will be photographed as part of the family, with space for the familiar interactions and the opportunity for everyone’s personality to shine.

Young Family Portrait Sessions

Ideal for families with toddlers and young children, and their wonderfully unpredictable personalities!

Young family photography is not about asking children to sit still and smile for the camera until everyone has had enough.

Michelle gently guides the session while allowing room for movement, play, cuddles and real interaction. The goal is to create polished photographs that still feel familiar, preserving the expressions, relationships and energy that belong to this chapter of family life.

It also means Mum gets to step out from behind the camera and become part of the memories too.

Family Portraits With Baby

For the new little person changing everything.

A new baby changes the rhythm of the whole household. Family portraits with your baby preserve more than tiny features. They capture how everyone fits around this new beginning.

Parents and siblings are gently guided throughout the session, with time allowed for feeding, settling, cuddling and whatever your baby needs next.

These sessions are ideal for families wanting natural portraits together, whether your baby is newly arrived or already beginning to reveal a very definite little personality.

Generational Family Photography

Perfect for extended families, milestone birthdays, reunions and families wanting grandparents included in the story.

It can be surprisingly difficult to find a photograph that includes everyone, especially as families grow, move and become busier.

An extended family photography session brings parents, children, grandparents and extended family members together, while also having the opportunity for portraits of smaller groups within the experience.

The result is a meaningful visual record of where everyone belongs, created to be enjoyed now and carried forward through the family.

Choose your setting

Studio or Outdoor Family Photography

Studio Family
Photography

Studio family photography offers a comfortable, controlled environment with consistent lighting and a clean, timeless finish.

It is a strong choice for smaller family groups, young babies, clients who prefer a quieter setting or anyone who prefers polished portraits that will sit beautifully within their home.

The studio allows the focus to remain on expressions, relationships and the people in front of the camera without distractions from the surroundings.

Outdoor Family Photography

Outdoor family photography gives children room to explore, pets space to settle in and the whole family a little more freedom to forget about the camera.

Set amongst the natural beauty of Melbourne and the Dandenong Ranges, these sessions are warm, relaxed and full of movement. Michelle will guide the location, timing and preparation so you can arrive ready to enjoy the experience. Sessions can also take place at your own property, offering truly sentimental portraits.

Artwork that brings love & joy into your home

Your favourite people, right where you can see them.

There is something special about walking through your home and seeing the people and pets you love looking back at you. On an ordinary morning, or after a particularly difficult day, the right photograph can make you stop, smile and remember what matters.

Michelle helps you select the portraits, sizes and artwork that feel right for your family and your space. You will not be left with just a photo gallery and another job to add to the list.

Your photographs are created to become part of your home, where they can bring joy every day and grow more meaningful with time.

Real Words From Real Clients

Here’s what some of our lovely clients have to say about their experience with Captured Hearts Photography

"Michelle was absolutely phenomenal with capturing our special little boy! She was attentive and transparent. She made us feel so comfortable. Her talent is second to none and that is represented in our forever perfect pictures that we get to cherish forever! Thank you so much! We'll be back for more family memories as our family grows!"

"We had such a great experience with Michelle, she made both my partner and myself feel so at ease and was able to coax smiles out of our tired and grumpy 4 month old. The final prints are gorgeous and excellent quality. Could not recommend her more highly for beautiful family memories."

"We had a fantastic experiencing working with Michelle for our family photoshoot! She was super friendly, easygoing, and made the whole process feel relaxed and fun - even with our chaotic cat in the mix. The shoot went smoothly from start to finish, and the final photos turned out absolutely perfect. My mum loved them, and so do we. Highly recommend Michelle to anyone looking for a talented and patient photographer!"

"If you’re looking for a photographer to capture special moments in your life I would highly recommend Michelle, she did such an amazing job with our photos! Michelle was so lovely to work with & made us all feel so comfortable! We absolutely love our photos & will cherish them forever!"

"Our photos are amazing! Michelle was able to capture some gorgeous photos that captured the personality of our children perfectly, despite some difficulty sitting still and many a brightly coloured tourist turning up in the background. She was great at providing advice on what to wear so the pictures turned out well and also listened to what we wanted both in terms of the style of photos but also in the selection so we could choose the best prints for our home and for others. Highly recommend!"

"I had never had professional photos done for our family before because with 4 littles the idea seemed too stressful but Michelle made it such an easy experience and actually managed to capture such beautiful photos despite the fact that not all the little ones were co-operating on the day. Her communication leading up to the shoot on what to expect, weather, timing and even help with what to wear was above and beyond what I expected. I am so happy we went with Captured hearts photography."

"Our family, including two dogs, had a wonderful experience in Michelle’s studio. She is a very patient and calm photographer which is exactly what you need with two dogs running wild! Our photos came out great and there are many affordable packages to choose between. Highly recommend!"

"Michelle was fantastic to deal with, very responsive to arranging a suitable date and time and understanding of my complicated life schedule. The day of the shoot was very relaxed, in spite of trying to wrangle a 3.5 year old, a cat and 3 chickens! She is extremely talented and her photographs are phenomenal. I will definitely be back in the future for more shoots."

The Process

Plan your session

We’ll chat about your family, choose the right location, answer your questions and help with everything from what to wear to the best time for little ones. By the time your session arrives, you’ll know exactly what to expect.

Enjoy the session

This is the fun part. I’ll gently guide you throughout the session while leaving plenty of room for natural moments to unfold. Whether we’re in the studio or outdoors, we’ll create photographs that feel relaxed, genuine and uniquely yours.

Make art you'll love

Around one to two weeks later, we’ll meet to view your photos. I’ll help you select your favourites and design artwork that suits your home, so your memories don’t end up tucked away on a hard drive but become part of your everyday life.

Meet your family photographer

Michelle has been behind a camera since she was fifteen, later studying photography and visual arts and spending more than ten years working as a camera assistant in the film industry.

Her relationship with family photography became more personal after her nephews arrived and deepened again when she became a mother herself. Watching her own children grow showed her how quickly the tiny details change and how often Mums are the ones behind the camera while remaining missing from the photographs.

Today, Michelle combines professional experience with an understanding of real family life. She is comfortable working with babies, energetic children, reluctant adults and pets with very different ideas about how a session should unfold.

Her approach is calm, natural and gently guided, with every photograph created not only to preserve a family chapter, but to become meaningful artwork within the home.

Real connection over perfect behaviour, every time.

FAQ

What if my children don't behave on the day?

This is probably the thing parents worry the most about! I have many processes in place to guarantee the best results possible.

Baby sessions are planned so bub arrives with a full belly. These sessions are very much about going with the flow and working with what your baby gives me on the day. It is not uncommon for babies to be unsettled, but please be assured that this is normal! With some patience and persistence we can still capture beautiful portraits during the in-between moments.

Toddlers and young children can sometimes be a challenge but I find the key to photographing them is making them feel comfortable. I keep the session relaxed and introduce games when needed. When they are having fun, it definitely produces the most natural smiles! I do advise parents to talk to their child about the photo shoot leading up to the day so they know what to expect, and offering a small reward at the end of the session works well!

My kids and pets won't stay still for photos!

I don’t want kids and pets to sit still, I want them to be themselves so I can capture their true personality! Although I always aim for one beautiful, traditional looking-at-camera portrait where everyone sits still, most of the session allows for movement, laughter and zoomies! This is when your true personalities shine and they are usually the portraits you will love most.

What if my dog can't be off lead?

Dogs can definitely stay on lead during a session. In fact, I recommend it unless you are super confident in your dog’s recall. We can tuck the lead away when possible, otherwise I can remove the lead in the edit. For dogs and pets that are very anxious, a studio session may be the best option. Upon enquiry, we can discuss your dog’s personality and what setting is best for them and your family.

Why is it best to photograph newborn babies under 2 weeks old?

It is ideal to photograph your baby within their first 2 weeks to give me the best opportunity to capture a great variety of deep sleeping portraits plus those gorgeous curly, womb-like poses. At around 3 weeks old, babies go through a growth spurt and become a lot more aware of their surroundings. This is also when they can start suffering from colic (wind & reflux), which makes it harder to settle them into a deep sleep. Baby acne also starts appearing around 3 weeks old and will last for about 2 weeks.

In saying this, I quite often have parents contact me once bub is born because it’s only then that they realise the importance of preserving this precious time! It is also common for parents to feel quite overwhelmed in those first couple of weeks, so they don’t even look into booking a photographer until bub is a few weeks old. If this is you – don’t stress! Every baby is different, and I believe that the perfect time to photograph your baby is when YOU are ready. Depending on how settled your baby is will depend on what poses are achievable, but in any case I can still capture beautiful photographs of your little one! For babies who have been born premature, it is likely they will stay settled for longer than 2 weeks old.

Please feel free to contact me to have a chat about your baby and I can advise you of what type of photos I can achieve for you. If you simply want to capture them while they are as small as possible, book in as soon as you can!

How much does it cost to have portraits taken by you?

For a standard session I only ask for a reservation fee of $225, in studio or outdoors.

I believe that clients can only decide on what purchases they would like to make upon seeing their photographs, so this is decided during your Ordering Session approximately 1-2 weeks after your photo shoot.

Most families invest between $800-$2900 which gives you 5-20 of your favourite photographs fully edited and in a combination of Wall Decor, Professional Prints or Digital Files. Payment Plans are also available.

I'm worried I will love too many photos, what if I can't afford them all?

I try my best to make the Ordering Session an easy and enjoyable process. After the photo session, I go through your photographs and carefully select 20-50 of the best. I present these to you in your Ordering Session where you decide what purchases you would like to make.

Most clients decide to select 10-20 of their favourites, and I’m there to help you with this process and work out what is the best option for you that also fits within your budget.

If we come to a decision that is slightly above your budget, you are welcome to take up a payment plan to help you.

What if I need to re-schedule my appointment?

For all photography sessions, you can re-schedule within 2 business days of your appointment without losing the session fee. Under unforeseen circumstances or when a family member becomes sick, we ask for you to please give notification ASAP, so we can re-schedule. Session fees being refunded or transferred for last-minute changes is at the discretion of the photographer and also based on availability.

Sunset sessions are weather-dependant and you will not lose your session fee if we need to re-schedule due to bad weather.

Bring the love home

Your loved ones deserve a place on the wall

Book your baby, family or pet photography session with Michelle and begin creating natural portraits and meaningful artwork that celebrate the people and relationships you love most.

Complete the booking form with a few details about your family, and Michelle will be in touch to guide you through what happens next.

Honest and Joyful Family Photography Melbourne That Feels Like You. At Captured Hearts Photography, we offer relaxed and meaningful melbourne family photography that focuses on real connection — not poses.

Whether you’re cuddling your newborn, chasing toddlers, or capturing a rare full-family moment, we help you turn those interactions into images that matter. Every session is guided with calm direction and deep respect for your unique family story. From laughter to quiet hugs, we’re here to preserve the moments that reflect your bond.

Our process for natural family photography melbourne is simple and stress-free. You choose the location — indoor or outdoor — and we’ll guide everything else. The result is a timeless gallery full of emotion and honesty. We’ve built a reputation for delivering professional family photography that feels authentic, personal, and deeply valued.

If you’re looking for family portrait photography that celebrates real life — welcome. You’re in the right place for family photography portraits in melbourne you’ll actually treasure.

Why Choose Captured Hearts Photography for Family Photography Melbourne?

When families search for family photography melbourne, they’re looking for someone they can trust — someone who sees beyond the frame and captures what really matters. With over 20 years of experience, Captured Hearts offers calm, natural, and consistent professional family photography that honours every dynamic.

You’ll receive full support from enquiry to gallery delivery in melbourne family photography. That means clear prep guides, location suggestions, and gentle in-session direction — so everyone feels at ease. Our unique approach lets families express themselves without pressure, with real interactions, soft light, and spacious timing.

Sessions can take place at trusted outdoor spots or in our quiet, private studio. Either way, this is melbourne photography for family designed to reflect your rhythm. We also offer family-aligned newborn photography, helping you build a full collection of connected moments across life stages.

Baby Photoshoots That Pair Perfectly With Family Photography Melbourne

The first year of a baby’s life is full of change — and it flies by fast. Our studio blends natural family photography melbourne with milestone-based baby sessions that help you preserve every stage. Whether it’s a newborn shoot or sibling photos, each session is calm, personal, and baby-led.

Shoots take place either in our cosy studio or at curated outdoor melbourne photography for family locations. We guide you through everything, from timing to styling to final product options. The result is a set of natural, heart-first images — not just of your baby, but of your family together.

Families at the Heart of Every Family Photography Melbourne Session

Every family is different — and that’s exactly what makes every session special. Our approach is built around comfort, trust, and genuine interaction. Hugs, laughter, chaos, calm — whatever your dynamic, we create a space for it to shine.

Outdoor sessions take place at scenic melbourne photography for family locations, while our indoor studio offers soft light and quiet comfort. Our ability to capture authentic family photography portraits in melbourne has made us a go-to for families who want more than just a photo — they want a memory.

Including Pets in Your Family Photography Melbourne Session

Pets are part of the family — and we love when they join the story. Our family photography melbourne sessions include pets of all kinds, bringing warmth, fun, and honesty to every frame. From loyal dogs to curious cats, we make sure your furry family members feel welcome and comfortable.

We offer pet-inclusive sessions both indoors and at safe, pet-friendly melbourne photography for family locations. Every session is flexible and paced for comfort — we never rush or force interaction. Families love how these sessions turn into timeless keepsakes, combining kids, parents, and pets in one emotional gallery.

With a focus on honesty and connection, our pet-friendly natural family photography melbourne delivers the kind of family portrait photography that includes everyone — no one left out, paws and all.