What a Year | Melbourne Family Photographer

Well, it’s been a year!

This week, I've been going through my 'The Year We Stayed Home' project images to get ready for the 'This Time Last Year' exhibition at @the_fac happening in a few months, and I've found myself feeling really emotional.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It was a year ago that our family made the decision that it was time to stay home. We pulled the kids from school, we made the last trip to the library, we did a big shop at the grocery and we said 'Hope to see you soon and stay safe!' to our family and friends, not knowing what the future held.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

A year of doing things we never thought we would. A year of finding ourselves grateful for things we never gave a second thought to. A year of being apart, yet coming together at the same time. A year of mostly staying home. A year of doing remote learning for the first time. A year without seeing live music. A year of too much screen time but being SO grateful for FaceTime & Zoom. A year of masks. A year of giving my family their haircuts. A year of rarely seeing family and friends. A year of hand washing and hand sanitiser. A year of little travel. A year of driveway drinks with the neighbours. A year of curfews and 5k travel restrictions. A year of online quiz nights. A year of no where to be. A year of loungewear, no make up and top knots. A year of watching press conferences for the latest numbers. A year of not playing sport. A year of rainbows. A year of not rushing around. A year of finishing Netflix. A year of experimenting in the kitchen. A year of wholeheartedly supporting local businesses. A year of family walks. A year of checking in regularly with those we love. A year of anxiety, frustration, longing and heartache. A year of gratitude for the small things. A year of closeness with our family.

It’s a really strange anniversary to have.

I know we all just want to put last year behind us and move on, but at the same time, I think it's important we remember. We remember the hard, but also the good.

I've been looking at image after image of the many families I was lucky enough to meet and photograph last year for my project and they are all FULL of love. I know it wasn’t always easy or all fun and games, but the images don’t lie. There are smiles, there is laughter, there are cuddles, there is togetherness. I don't want to forget any of that.

That is the power of the photograph. The power to stop time and take us back. The power to remind us how things were. The power to be our memories. The power to be our stories.♥️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

What a year it was.

Jenny is a natural light, lifestyle and documentary photographer and specialised newborn photographer, maternity photographer and family photographer. She services all areas of Victoria, including inner Melbourne suburbs such as Richmond, Northcote, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Malvern East, South Melbourne, Elwood, as well as outer south eastern subrubs, bayside areas such as Morntington, Sorrento and Red Hill. She also services the west of Melbourne and will travel to Geelong on request.