My Favourite Photograph | Melbourne Family Photographer

I’ve taken tens of thousands of photographs over the years, and every once in a while someone asks me which one is my favourite, which is kind of like asking a mother which child is her favourite! It's impossible to only have one favourite and it's always changing, so my answer is, it depends on the day. 

And right now, it’s this one:

I don’t love it because it’s the best photograph I’ve ever taken, I love it because it has a lot of meaning for me. 

I recently made my way editing through my personal photos from our road trip through Tasmania. Personal editing always takes a backseat to client work so going through the images now has been a really fun way to relive our trip.

I discovered so many photos that I love! Beautiful landscapes, gorgeous sunsets, amazing light, wonderful moments and some technically really great images.

But then there is this one. And it just makes me smile. 

Would it win an award? No. Would anyone else look it and say 'Wow' or even give it a second look? No. 

But for me, it takes me right back to that moment in time.

It was our last day in our camper van and it rained. We had plans to go to an island to explore on foot, but with nothing on it besides some animals, exploring in the wet with 3 children and no place for refuge didn't seem like the brightest idea.

So we did what you do when your road tripping with no real agenda. We hit up Google! We found a farmer who let campers use his vacant land with views of the ocean and a winery within walking distance. It was a few hours drive away, but with good reviews and not much else to do in the rain, we took a chance on it and off we went.

What we found was a hidden gem in the middle of nowhere with views to die for, animals all around us and no one else in sight. The rain even gave us a little reprieve to walk to the most wonderful little winery to enjoy a tasting amongst the vines.

This image was taken on our walk back to our campsite. When I look at it, I see the kids' laughter, I see the dirt road we explored and slept next to, I see the winery in the distance, the rain clouds above, the bottle of wine we enjoyed on our last evening. I see all the fun we had on our little adventure that we couldn't have planned better if we tried! I'm instantly taken straight back to that moment and I smile.

And isn’t that what a photograph is meant to do? Takes a moment in time, and holds it suspended forever?

The exact photograph will change day to day, but my favourite photograph is always the one that takes me back to a time I miss. It’s not about the technical details, or the light, or the composition (although those things certainly help the photograph’s strength). Instead, it’s about the moment, the memory, the emotion.

I’m very aware that my work holds meaning for families long after our session has finished and the prints are delivered. You may be the one who hires me, but ultimately it’s your future self, and your grown-up children, who I work for. And I will do my very best to create photographs for them, and you, that will become your favourite.

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.