Slow Mornings and Sandy Toes at Fingal Head
If you've been thinking about booking family photos but the idea of dragging everyone out of bed for sunrise feels... ambitious, you're not alone.
One of the questions I get asked most as a Gold Coast family photographer is when the best time of day is to book a session. People are often surprised when I tell them there isn't one answer.
Sunrise is beautiful. Sunset is beautiful. A cloudy afternoon can be beautiful. And so can an ordinary winter morning.
This session at Fingal Head is a good reminder of that. We met just after 8am on one of those crisp winter mornings where the beach feels almost like it's yours.
Fingal Head is one of my favourite places to photograph families. It's only a short drive from the southern Gold Coast, but it feels a world away. Between the headland, and the wide stretch of beach, there's plenty of space for families to explore without feeling like they're being watched by onlookers.
This little family arrived with their baby, rugged up for the cool morning air, and we simply wandered.
We walked, chatted, stopped to dip little toes in the ocean and let the session unfold naturally. There were sandy toes, cuddles that happened without me asking, and plenty of little moments that would have been missed if everyone was concentrating on where to stand or what to do with their hands.
One of my favourite things about winter is that the light stays softer for longer.
That means we don't have to meet at sunrise to make the most of it. An 8am session can be just as beautiful, which is often a much easier time for families with young kids.
Everyone's awake, breakfast is done, and you're not trying to get toddlers dressed in the dark before they've even had a chance to rub the sleep out of their eyes.
It just makes for a slower, more relaxed start, and I think that comes through in the photos.
Planning a family session?
If you're looking for a Gold Coast family photographer or you're visiting the area and wondering whether winter is a good time to book, I'd say absolutely.
Whether we meet at Fingal Head, Currumbin, Miami Beach or somewhere a little closer to home, we'll choose a time that works for your family rather than trying to force your family into a schedule that doesn't.
The beautiful photos usually come from that.
Whether you're local to the Tweed Coast, visiting from the Gold Coast, or holidaying nearby, I'd love to help you document this season exactly as it is.