A Golden Hour Family Photoshoot at Yarramundi Reserve, Hawkesbury
Yarramundi Reserve is one of those locations that changes completely depending on the light, the season and even where you wander.
This family had recently moved to Sydney, so part of the fun of their session was getting to explore somewhere completely new to them. Yarramundi is a pretty lovely introduction to this part of Sydney — huge gum trees, long grass, open space and the river winding through it all.
We started amongst the trees while the sun was still warm and golden, then slowly made our way towards the river as the light disappeared.
And honestly, the last part of the session ended up being my favourite.
The water became completely still, the colours softened, and we had these beautiful reflections across the river as sunset turned into dusk. It was such a good reminder that sometimes the best photographs happen after the obvious golden light has gone.
Family photography at Yarramundi Reserve
There’s a reason I keep coming back to Yarramundi Reserve for family photography.
There’s plenty of room for kids to move, run and explore without me constantly trying to bring them back to a particular spot. We can walk through the grass, use the gum trees and open spaces, head down towards the water and end up with quite a bit of variety without ever really leaving the reserve.
It also means a Yarramundi family photoshoot doesn’t have to feel like an hour of posing for photographs.
I’ll give you direction when you need it, but I’m not interested in spending the whole session lining everyone up and asking kids to smile at me.
Kids can be kids. You can pick them up, chase them, cuddle them, wander off together or just see what happens.
I’m there to make it look beautiful without taking all the life out of it.
Golden hour into dusk
Most of my outdoor family photography in the Hawkesbury is planned around sunset, but golden hour is really only one part of it.
Earlier in this session we had that beautiful warm light coming through the trees. As the sun dropped lower, everything became softer and quieter, and by the time we reached the river the water was almost perfectly still.
That gave us the most beautiful reflections.
It’s a completely different look from the warm, backlit photographs earlier in the evening, and I love being able to give families both within the same session.
For me, that’s part of the appeal of sunset family photography at Yarramundi. We don’t necessarily stop because the sun has disappeared. Sometimes dusk gives us something even better.
A relaxed family session somewhere new
Because this family had only recently moved to Sydney, I loved that their Yarramundi family photo session also became a chance to discover a little pocket of their new home.
There’s something really nice about that.
Family photos don’t necessarily need to happen somewhere you’ve been going for years for the location to become meaningful. Sometimes the photographs themselves become part of the memory of discovering somewhere for the first time.
And Yarramundi is a pretty good place to do that.
We wandered rather than staying in one little area, letting the kids explore while I photographed what happened along the way. There was still direction from me — there always is — but enough room for everyone to actually interact rather than constantly worrying about where to stand or what to do with their hands.
That’s the kind of natural family photography I love.
Beautiful, considered photographs that make you feel — while holding onto what’s real.
Not every photograph needs everyone looking at the camera. Sometimes it’s the way your child reaches for you, the ridiculous laugh, the little hand around your neck or the quiet moment when nobody is really paying attention to me that ends up meaning the most.
Summer family photos by the river
Yarramundi is particularly beautiful through the warmer months.
You get the long grass, huge gum trees, warm evening light and the river all in one location. Then, once the sun disappears, the water can take on these soft blues, pinks and muted dusk tones that are completely different from the earlier part of the session.
It feels a little wild and imperfect, which is probably why I like it so much.
For families looking for outdoor family photography in the Hawkesbury, it’s also a lovely alternative to the beach. You still get water and beautiful sunset light, but surrounded by a very different Australian landscape.
And for riverside family photography in Sydney, I think Yarramundi is a bit special. The still water and reflections can give you something you simply don't get from a beach session.
Yarramundi sunset family photography
I photograph family sessions at Yarramundi Reserve throughout the year, with sessions timed around the evening light rather than a fixed start time.
Summer sunset sessions are particularly beautiful, but my availability is strictly limited — especially once Sydney sunsets start getting later.
If you’ve been looking for a Yarramundi family photographer and this feels like the kind of family photos you want, you’re very welcome to get in touch.
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