THE BALDWIN FAMILY AT TAITUA ARBORETUM
I’ve been photographing Samantha and Luke for years now, starting with their wedding and coming back for family sessions as the family has grown. This time, there was a new addition to meet.
Baby Elva is twelve weeks old. This was supposed to be a newborn session at home but life got in the way, so we pushed it out and turned it into a family session at Taitua Arboretum instead. Honestly, I think it worked out great this way. Elva was more alert, the girls could run around, and we had that beautiful autumn light coming through the trees.
Aubree is twelve now and Esther is eight, and they were both incredible in front of the camera. Natural, enthusiastic, completely at ease. You can tell they’ve done this before. They both adore their baby sister and some of my favourite shots from the session are the two of them holding Elva on the blanket, these quiet little moments between siblings that you just can’t manufacture.
We started on the gravel paths through the arboretum for some walking and standing shots, then moved into a leafy spot with beautiful dappled light where we could spread out and work through different groupings. While I was shooting one combination, the others would be nearby playing, which is exactly how I like it. Nobody is standing around waiting and getting bored.
Elva started getting a bit unsettled just as we were setting up for a family shot on the blanket, so we shifted gears. I took Luke and the older girls for some photos while Sam fed the baby, and we got some really tender feeding shots. It’s such a normal part of life with a newborn and I love that Sam wanted it captured.
At one point, I looked up from photographing the others and Esther had climbed a tree. That’s the thing about family sessions with kids this age. You give them a bit of space, and they’ll give you something you never would have thought to ask for.
The detail shots from this one are special. Tiny hands gripping a knitted cardigan, fingers wrapped around mum’s. Those are the things that change so fast you barely notice until they’re gone.
This family is a big part of why I love what I do. Watching them grow, coming back each time there’s a new chapter, and getting to document it all. That’s the whole point.
— Tony
