Capturing Childhood Joy:

The importance of Children’s Portraits.

In a world that's constantly buzzing with digital distractions & time seems to FLY by, (especially with kids!!) there's something truly magical about freezing a child's playful laughter, the spark in their eyes, or the connection with a sibling or parent.

As you know, they arent always going to want to sit in your lap! They grow & change… evolve!

As one of Brisbane's best family photographers, I've had the privilege of capturing countless amazing memories & I can't stress enough THE IMPORTANCE of documenting the journey of childhood… for the child & for the parent.

Here’s some points of why these moments captured and printed, matter for kids, both now and in the future:

• Self-Discovery:

• As kids grow older, these photos become a mirror to their past. They discover how their likes, interests, and quirks have evolved, helping them shape their identity and build self-esteem. It's an empowering experience!

• Emotional Comfort:

• Childhood photos serve as a comforting embrace during tough times. The sight of their younger, carefree selves can be a powerful reminder that they've conquered challenges before and can do it again.

• Stories of Life:

• Photographs capture not just faces but stories. Children love listening to tales of their past & photos are the perfect conversation starters for sharing family history.

• Bonding Tool:

• Family photography sessions are not just about the pictures. They're opportunities to create memories, laugh together, and strengthen the bonds that hold your family together… with a visual memory!

• Connection to Heritage:

• These photos give children a connection to their family's heritage and traditions. They learn about their roots and how they fit into the bigger picture.

• Creating a Legacy:

• When children become parents, they look to photos of their parents and them, really solidifying that the importance of capturing life’s moments for future generations.

• Unforgettable Moments:

• In the hustle and bustle of life, we can forget some of the most beautiful moments. With photos, they can always revisit the magic. That they are loved. 

So, my fellow Brisbane families, let us, as photographers, help you capture the essence of their joy, innocence & wonder in an way that you will be proud to print and show the world. Proud to pass down to future generations. In the grand tapestry of life, these photographs will be the threads that weave together a beautiful story for your children to treasure for years to come.

Benefits of having a shoot at HOME

Your home is a hidden gem of uniqueness to you, holding your unique story.

Images you cant replicate anywhere else. Relaxed & comfortable.

Your house becomes the canvas for your most stunning photographs. From comfort to personalisation, here are some benefits that come with bringing a pro photographer right to your doorstep………

• Comfort is Key

When you're in your own space, you're more at ease – & that shows in your photographs. Your family, relaxed & authentic. The confidence that comes from being in your comfort zone translates beautifully into your images. 

A relaxed environment, free of onlookers!

• Personalization Galore

Every corner of your home tells a story & what better backdrop for your photos than the spaces that hold your memories? Your favourite armchair, the sun-soaked kitchen, the cozy reading nook – these personal touches infuse your photographs with a genuine connection, giving images that are uniquely you, capturing your essence in every shot.

Being comfortable at home helps ‘you be you’ & shine in the images.

• A Slice of Life

Professional photography at home is like freezing moments from your daily life in time capsules. It's not just about capturing your smile; it's about the little details that make you who you are. Whether it's playing with your pet, or kids playing in their own cubby house, or sitting in your fav reading area, these candid slices of life tell your story in the most heartfelt way.

Kids at home, they can be more themselves.

• Wardrobe Wonderland

With your full wardrobe at arm's reach, we have the freedom to experiment with different outfits, styles & moods. Your home offers a plethora of choices that reflect your personality & help give diverse looks for your photoshoot.

Personal Branding Shoot at home.

• Stress-Free Environment

When you shoot at home, you sidestep the stress of commuting, weather uncertainties & unfamiliar settings. This translates into a relaxed, enjoyable experience, allowing you to focus on being yourself. 

“I love being able to provide a family portrait that not only shows a loving family, but allow gives the kids the gift of memories that includes their childhood house, the visual connection of where they grew up.”  

Renee is available for either Family Portraits at home, or Personal Branding shoots in your home from $145 in the Brisbane area. 

Couples Photography

Celebrate your love!

Finding your special someone is amazing! Celebrate & remember your love at this time of your life.

M+A Lightspace Inner City Brisbane

Tucked away in a little back street of Fortitude Valley is an amazing building, called Lightspace! 

M+A wanted their wedding to be all about great company, food and wine! They had just been through about 5 weddings in their family alone in the last 6 months & decided to ditch normal formalities & go with relaxing good times instead. We had about 5 mins of creative shooting time around the building with just the 2 of them, as they didnt want to be away from family & friends too long. 

White+White provided amazing styling & the feasting tables looked sooo inviting & warm. The building itself hosts high ceilings & amazing warehouse feeling architecture, with a unique warming cozy feeling to it. 

The food was a feast for the eyeballs! Then, celebrity chef Alistair McLeod delivered the back story behind where the food came from in his quirky, humorous way! 

Bumps: Pregnancy

So you are growing a human inside your body! Just wow! What an experience! Capturing your body and belly doesnt have to make you feel exposed or vunerable. I can work with you as to what you are comfortable with. You may or maybe want your partner there, you may not want any nudey shots, thats fine too! Here’s an example of a recent pregnancy shoot and some of the styles I can do for you.

S + A at Austinvilla Estate 2hr coverage

A beautiful day, a little steamy due to early Jan, but great winds come through at this stunning spot at Austinvilla Estate!

This couple wanted a simple, but elegant wedding. They chose a 2 hr coverage, rather than the whole day.

So for those looking at not having a photographer in their space for extended periods, or are on a budget, here’s an example of the end result of photography for under $1000. This is only a small section of 300 images, so there’s heaps more documentary, family and creative photos.

Scallywag Collection Shoots

So heres an example of the style of images & variety from a Scallywag Collection Shoot or a general children's shoot through Renee Brazel Photography.

Shoots generally go for around 45 mins. Its freeflowing & the aim is to keep it fun, fun, fun so the smiles are really real!

Album Design L+P: Powerhouse & Victoria Park Golf Club

Every album design is done individually, with the feel of the wedding & the couple in mind. No templates used here! Then after the initial design, we get together so together we can make any changes needed. The end result is high quality, classic, no maintenance, (especially not high maintenance .. no white gloves needed here) family heirloom that will be passed down through generations. 

Martine + Matt: Novotel Twin Waters Noosa

I thought I'd put up an example of a whole wedding. So as not to take hours to go through, this is still a selection, as normally a full coverage gives you between 450 and 600 images. This is a selection of each part of the day, from getting ready, documentary of guests arriving, the ceremony, documentary of congratulations, family & group photos, creative shoot with the bridal party, through to the start of the reception. 

What a fab day! I am blessed to be invited to hang out with cool people, in cool places! Novotel Twin Waters, a fab venue that looks after everything & a crack up funny (near wet your pants laughing!) celebrant, Lynette Maguire. And this bridal party were hilarious & fun the whole time!

Click on images to see larger. 

Top 10 Images 2015

Here's a collection of images from last year. It was hard getting them to 10! 

A shot from an old favorite spot near Brisbane, Shorncliffe Jetty. The perfect moment.. though her Mum wasn't impressed with getting her dress dirty.. until she saw the images! 

This couple booked me for my relaxed non posed approach, and took it one step further, with about 5 mins of just them for photos. With an amazing location in Newstead, Brisbane at Light Space, this provided high ceilings & amazing architecture. 

I am lucky to splash around in water for my job occasionally. Well, I was saturated after this shoot at Sunshine Beach in QLD. Fab couple and bridal party who weren't scared of getting wet, or having alot of fun!

Photographing 3 kids under 6 the morning after halloween was challenging! But in between the chaos, this beautiful moment between twins happened. For all of about 2 seconds... but thats all you need for the perfect keepsake image! Captured at their home. 

I love it when couples just relax into a shoot, allowing their personality to come through. I love how this image shows a different side to being in love... its the fun, happiness & ultimately the friendship!

Aghh, a personal artty one. Occasionally (and I should do it more!) I will have a play around and do some creative shots. This one is just at home, while cleaning up the backyard of dreaded leaves dropping in Autumn. It captures the feel of the season, colours too. And I normally don't go for pinks!

A totally fun couple! A slightly posed shot, ie... 'just go and stand over there' style... it was amazing it get an intimate moment from such a distance, especially considering for most of the shoot they were mucking around and laughing! At Twin Waters Resort, near Noosa.

There were so many strong shots from this shoot, but this has to be my fav. It happened to be a rainy day, so we worked in the studio instead of the planned location shoot, but it didn't hinder our collaborative efforts.

Being able to capture the magic of childhood is what got me into photography to begin with. Being able to act like a kid to encourage kids to get away from the "say cheese" that's been drummed into them. Photographed at their home, allows these two to feel comfortable and play games!

I just love the softness of this image. Light, bright and airy... well windy! Often these types of shots ended up being the couples favourite, the captured on the fly style. 

The Scallywag Collection

The Scallywag Collection is about capturing kids being kids through beautiful & evolking photography. We will photograph the essence of children's free spirit; playing in mud, climbing & being foot loose & fancy free! 

For just $50, we will photograph your child or children for the Scallywag Collection with the $50 being donated to Kids Helpline. In return, one of the images from your photography session will be included in a coffee table art book & exhibition to be published in 2016.

The book is visual collection to encourage kids to get back to nature & how much fun it can be to be playing & exploring outside. 

We will be photographing kids from different areas, from the Gold Coast to Tamworth, with shoots being either at your home, or on location, such as creeks, parks & beaches. 

Its also a great way to capture siblings, cousins or even best friends. Each nomination fee paid, allows one full page in the book, which can be filled with friends, alone or even with pets (for the integrity of the book, any child published in the book must be under the age of 13 years). Other requests for images at the shoot are also taken, such as whole families, grandparents etc. they just will be available for purchase, and not printed in the book. Images available from $39, with packages also available from $400)

We are wanting kids to photograph now, so please call 0411 432 491 or 07 3901 9989 to register your interest & find out more. 

Liz + Peter

Getting the most from Winter Photography

Winter is upon us again. As much as I love Summer for the freshness & freeness, Winter has its own charm for photos.

Heres some key tips to embrace Winter in your images: 

1. Use Texture. Covering yourself is a key part of keeping cosy in winter. Utilise fabrics, from scarves to hoodies. 

2. Light. Winter gives off some amazing light! Photographing in the golden hour is going to give you amazing lighting. In Winter, with the days being shorter, you won't need to wait till 8pm at night or be up at 5am to take advantage of it. The golden hour is just before the sun sets or just after the sun rises. Given its a great sunny day (which is 85% of the time in winter; another bonus!) nature will give you the finest lighting for free. 

3. The Elements. Using fallen leaves, stark/ bare wood, and the wind are great elements to play with.  

Heres a few of my shots that have captured that Winterness!