A woman and a toddler holding hands, walking across a lawn towards a clothesline in a sunny backyard, with a brick house in the background.

Yamba Documentary Session

Family Stories

A meeting of Kindred Spirits  I first crossed paths with Ellyn through a wonderful photography community we’re both members of. At some stage, she reached

A woman and a toddler holding hands, walking across a lawn towards a clothesline in a sunny backyard, with a brick house in the background.
Real moments. Real emotion. Real life.

A meeting of Kindred Spirits 

I first crossed paths with Ellyn through a wonderful photography community we’re both members of. At some stage, she reached out to me and said “If you’re ever in Yamba – I’d love for you to document my family.” The timing was perfect. We were planning a trip north & Yamba was high on the list of potential destinations. I’d spent some time in Yamba some 12 years ago and was keen to take my family back there, so it all fell easily into place.

Children playing inside a home visible through an open sliding glass door, with a brick exterior and a tiled roof.

Yamba is a place of such incredible natural beauty. I had distinct memories of this from my previous visit & again, it didn’t disappoint. Although the weather was less than ideal this time around (hello extra tropical cyclone & constant rain), there was something extra special about this trip – the meeting of kindred spirits.

I’ve been quite open on social media & in my writing about the difficulty I’ve had in finding my people, and how isolating that has been as a Mother. As it turns out, backing myself & starting this photography business has been such a blessing. My people may not be all geographically close, but I am slowly building my village & I’m so pleased to have crossed paths with Ellyn.

A mother holding a toddler in a home corridor, while another child runs ahead, all bathed in warm sunlight from a window at the end.
A roll of 35mm film on a bright yellow background.

Ellyn is a truly kind soul 

Before we’d even had a chance to meet face to face & knowing the wet weather likely meant we were going stir crazy in the van, Ellyn invited us to join her for the morning at her local playgroup. We were so warmly welcomed by both her & the other members, the dry place to play & friendly faces were so appreciated.

The next day, I dropped by Ellyn’s place for her 15 minute planning consult – and before we knew it, 2 hours had flown by as we chatted about photography, the joys & challenges of mothering & the importance of community. During our stay in Yamba, not only did our families spend an afternoon at the beach together & share a meal at the local tavern – Ellyn also offered us a warm, safe place to stay if the weather got too wild again. (Let’s just say if the roads weren’t flooded, we may have been inclined to pack up & leave after experiencing that extra tropical cyclone in the van!) The connections made & kindness shown were honestly the highlight of this trip.

Two toddlers sit at a dining table drinking from cups, with a woman visible in the background of a home kitchen.

I’m incredibly grateful to Ellyn for trusting me with documenting her family. These photographs are extra special, a tangible reminder for Ellyn & her family of the huge leap they took & the happiness they found in moving north. A beautiful, meaningful record of the time spent in their first home in Yamba, as they began to prepare to buy their very own slice of beautiful Yamba.

A joyful family moment in a bright bedroom: a woman and a toddler playing, with a man and another child lying on the bed.
A roll of 35mm film on a bright yellow background.
A small child walking down a narrow hallway towards a brightly lit room, holding onto a ribbon.
View through an open door of a person reclining on a bed in a well-lit room, reading a book; the scene outside shows a car parked near a building.
A young child with blonde hair runs joyfully in a living room towards a piano, with a framed family photograph and plants in the background.
A woman kneels while gardening in raised beds in a sunny backyard, with a fence and a house in the background.
A double exposure image showing a family with a toddler inside a home and a sunny backyard scene overlaid.
A toddler in a pink dress sits at an old piano, looking at a family photo above, while a woman with her back turned watches.
A woman leans against a brick wall near a window, looking down thoughtfully, with a house and air conditioning unit visible in the background.
A woman smiling at a young child playing a piano, viewed through a window reflecting clouds.
Young girl playing harmonica indoors near a glass door with natural light, wearing a brown top.
The Rowlands Family 2 scaled 1
Black and white photo of a kitchen counter with an espresso machine and a sign quoting hebrews 12:1-2 about perseverance and faith.
A toddler in a beige jumper smiling at the camera in a sunny kitchen, with an adult in the background.
A man in a robe sits on a couch, reading a book in a sunny, spacious living room with large plants and stylish decor.
A man and a child playfully interact in a sunlit living room with a sofa, a potted plant, and art on the walls.

Ellyn has already asked if I will come back to Yamba in the years ahead, to document her beautiful family at their new home. Of course, I’ve already agreed! Next time though, I’ll be booking my own family session with her and, if you’re reading this from, or visiting the Northern Rivers area – you should too. Ellyn’s beach sessions are stunning, you can check out her work here: Ellyn Grace Photography

As for me, I’m dreaming up lots more travel for 2023, so if you’re outside central west NSW & interested in a documentary session, let’s chat! You can contact me by clicking here

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