family photoshoot information

Hi and thanks for booking your Family photography package with me!

My name is Dave Gleeson, I'll be your photographer and I'm looking forward to meeting you soon!

If you are not already familiar with my photography style, feel free to have a look around this website or view my sample family gallery . My style is very candid, casual, natural and unstaged, so hopefully that's the style you want!

Family photo sessions on the Sunshine Coast are relaxed, fun and designed to feel easy. whether you're visiting for a holiday or you’re a local family wanting updated photos, I’ll guide you every step of the way.

A Relaxed, Enjoyable Experience

Sessions run between 30–60 minutes depending on your package and group size. No stiff posing. No awkward “say cheese”. I encourage natural interactions — laughing, cuddling, playing. If little ones are involved, we keep it fun and active. If teens or adults need a little direction, I’ll guide you gently to look your best while still feeling like yourselves.

My Goal?

The highest number of genuine, beautiful moments for you to choose from.

Locations

The Sunshine Coast is stunning — and yes, can sometimes be busy. I’ll recommend the best locations based on: Weather conditions , crowd levels, your family dynamic and the vibe you’re after.

Beachy sunset? Greenery? Space for kids to run? Quiet hidden gems? I’ve got you covered

Best Time of Day?

Golden hour (the hour before sunset) usually gives the most flattering, dreamy golden light. Sunrise is also beautiful and quieter. But I understand families don’t always operate on perfect lighting schedules — so we’ll work around whatever timing suits you best.

Weather Backup Plan

As a subtropical destination, Sunshine Coast weather can be unpredictable . When you book, I monitor conditions closely and stay in contact. If you're holidaying here, I recommend scheduling your session toward the start of your stay so we have flexibility if needed. You won’t be left guessing — I’ll guide you through it.

After Your Session

Within just a few days, you’ll receive a link to your private online gallery showcasing all the best images from your shoot. From there you can:

Select your included digital images

Upgrade your package or purchase additional images

Order professional-quality printed products

Everything is simple and delivered digitally.

What does your package include?

Your photography package includes a huge amount of my time with planning and preparations, the photoshoot itself, uploading, culling, editing, gallery creation, photo delivery and arranging print products. so, even though the shoot only takes an hour or so, there are many more hours involved in delivering an amazing experience for you.

Your pre-booked package includes all my time at your photoshoot along with a specific number of digital photos included. this information would have been provided when you booked your package and also in the first email that I sent you. if you want to add any extra time or photos to your package, just let me know.

A few days after your photoshoot I will provide you with your own online photo gallery which will contain all the best photos that I have captured for you. this gallery is where you can view, choose and download all your photos. your gallery can also be shared with friends and family so that they can see your photos too (if required).

Your photo gallery will remain live for 3 months and your images are archived on my server for 6 months

Pro Tip: It’s more cost-effective to choose a larger package upfront than to add extra images later.

online photo gallery samples - cover and shop pages

Preparing younger kids for your photoshoot

I'm a parent, I've been a sports coach, have spent lots of time around children and have done hundreds of family shoots over the years where kids were involved, so I know that, as much as you love them, sometimes your beautiful little cherubs can be absolute nightmares!!

Rest assured, I've seen it all..... toddler meltdowns, screaming 3 year olds, lots of tears, shy kids, those who want to run away and much much more! It happens and I understand that parents can often get stressed about their kids 'acting up' or 'not behaving'.

My suggestion is just to relax!!! I'm not going to be offended and generally those 'meltdown moments' pass pretty quickly and Mum and Dad are the ones who end up stressed, whereas the kids are quick to move on. I'll be keeping the shoot fun and engaging for everyone to ensure a great experience, so, if you have young ones around there will be lots of games, chasing, running, jumping and basically fun stuff that keeps the little ones active, and not worrying about the guy with the camera.

Attitude is also contagious, so let the kids know in advance that the shoot is going to be a lot of fun! Kids bring lots of energy and fun so I always encourage parents to simply 'let them be kids' as this is where the most genuine images happen. I'll also have a chat to you all before the shoot, and the kids can make some of the decisions so that they feel like they are part of the process

if younger kids have a special toy, ball, doll or other item that you think will help them relax while they are there feel free to let them bring it along. And perhaps plan a surprise or a special reward after the session, like an ice cream or a swim so that they look forward to the entire experience.

Get your partner (or older kids) invested in the process too!

The youngsters aren't always the only ones that can drag their feet for family photos. ensure that your partner, spouse, or teenage kids are all aware of the upcoming shoot and have enough time to prepare. If your partner or kids are reluctant or 'just not into it', tell them why these photos are important to you as they're more likely to cherish it and go with the flow if they realise it's about creating and preserving memories for all of you for the future..

Good planning leads to good outcomes

You're potentially spending a lot of money for these photos, so make a little effort! You don't have to look like you're going to a wedding, but by wearing nice clothes and being well groomed the results will be so much better! Even though that pair of old, ripped footy shorts are probably super-comfy, this is not the time or place for them!

Your choice of outfits is entirely up to you, however when everyone is wearing complimentary natural colours it tends to work best. Think tan, khaki or navy coloured shorts and white or light coloured shirts for the men and lightweight beach dresses or a skirt / lightweight pants and light top combo for the girls. If your shoot is on the beach, shoes are not required as we will probably end up at the waters edge at some stage.

Don’t be afraid to reach out for advice as far as clothing selection based on your photoshoot location, time of day etc as different backdrops and lighting will impact the outcome.

Plan your day so that your family arrives fresh and feeling good. work around your kids nap times, and ensure that everyone has enough energy for at least an hour on location. Bring snacks and drinks for the little ones (and big ones) if required. And, please try to all arrive on time so that your photographer has sufficient time to capture a good range of photos and isn't spending the first half hour waiting around for someone.

weather

as most of my family photoshoots are outdoors, and we are based in sub tropical queensland, weather is always a factor. summers can be hot and humid and rain can happen at any time of year.

in the lead up to your family shoot I will be keeping an eye on weather conditions and if things look like they're going to be particularly ugly, we can revise the times if required. however I have no control over mother nature, and no formal weatherman training, so can't predict everything. sometimes, if your time is limited, we may just have to do our best with whatever the weather throws at us. please note that I can't / won't shoot in heavy rain as I don't want my $25K in camera gear getting trashed, so if it is raining heavily we will need to re-shoot at an alternative time.

time of day will also impact the look of your final photos with early morning and late afternoons being the prime time for softer flattering or golden light and more pastel tones whereas from mid morning till mid afternooon, the light is bright, and harsh - which pops the colours but can also affect kids and those with sensitive eyes finding it hard not to squint.

again, have a think about what sort of look you want before booking your time and if you need advice, in order to get the result you want, just let me know

print your memories!

even though we live in a digital age, that doesn't mean that you need to settle for viewing your photos on a tiny phone screen or on a computer (where, let's face it, they'll soon get forgotten). professional print is unique, timeless and still the best way to truly appreciate your favourite family memories.

quality prints will soon become talking points in your home, and with our lifetime guarantee, will still be proudly hanging on your walls well into the future. so, if budget permits please consider ordering a print or 2.

your gallery includes a built in print shop, where you can view all options and order your favourite prints at your leisure. more information on our full range of printed products, can be found on this page