Have you ever read a story or blog that catapults you right into the middle of the moment that is being retold? The sights, the smells, the personalities, the story as it unfolds. It is always fun creating image filled stories and adventures to draw people into your experiences, so they can really feel what you were feeling, with gorgeous visual snippets of a moment in time to connect you with the words. Quite often I will take my family or just the kids to a location that has caught my eye for a photography session or that someone has asked me investigate.

These afternoons are my favourite, as I have unknowing subjects in which to compose various shots to carry in my head to the next session, as well as creating a fun filled adventure to a place we have yet to explore as a family.

The creation of my website led me to this gorgeous beach in Ballina where I thought I could capture some lovely images of my own family to add to the website, to put a face to a name but more importantly to give context to the person you are entrusting with your own special memories.

So this day, we got dressed up, as is the girls favourite part, pouring for hours over outfits and different shades of lip gloss, and set off to create some magic…. or so I thought!

Have you ever dreamt up a relaxing sun-soaked afternoon with your family at the beach in your mind before arriving there for quite the opposite, chaotic, fun-filled, gallivanting, adventure to unfold? With tripod in hand we landed on the beach, but with such an amazing natural playground set before them, the interest really wasn’t on a family portrait, but collecting shells, running in the shallow waves and investigating under rocks and behind grasses. With a final tweak of the tripod we called everyone in for the shot, but what we didn’t realise was that our three year old had other ideas! Without an afternoon sleep under his belt, he launched into the ‘mischievous little brother’ role with perfection, throwing sand, sitting just far enough away from the rest of the family to be out of the shot and bringing in all sorts of ‘sea weedy props’ to waggle at his sisters with glee!

Yet amongst this, I sat back and watched and took in the beautiful connection and love our children have for their environment and for us as their parents. They wanted us to see their treasures and watch their tricks and triumphs along the beach, every now and then leaving their beloved quest for a quiet snuggle or to hold my leg or my hand for a while. Just simply to be loved and validated.

What I ended up with at the end of the afternoon was a true surprise. Just in being together and enjoying each other’s company, and our beautiful surroundings they “filled my cup” in so many ways. I left feeling lucky to be a part of this ‘secret club’ that only we truly understand, because we live it together, we share the same memories, and we grow closer together with every adventure.

So this mother’s day, I unknowingly gave myself the best present ever, a gorgeous set of memories and images of my beautiful little family that I can hold and treasure for years to come. With me in the centre of it all, instead of watching and laughing from behind the camera.

So what will you do for your special day this year, when everyone stops to celebrate you and the amazingly multifunctional and beloved job you do for everyone else? Maybe as mother’s all we truly need to do is stand still for this unique moment in time and drink it all in.