Family Photography
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A family photography photoshoot with our studio is all about celebrating the people you love the most. Because most people only have their professional family portraits taken every few years, many of our clients bring their extended families like their parents and siblings with their partners and children. We will do as many combinations as you like to capture all the different connections and relationships everyone has with another.
The stories, memories and love each family member has for others is the glue that connects. The love, connection and warmth you all feel will be captured forever and become a treasured family heirloom for generations to come.
Your Family Has a Story to Tell
The essence of your compelling story is transformation and that’s exactly what your family members will do over time – they’ll transform. Your family today is not the same as five years ago and in another five years, well… who knows? A birth? A passing? A marriage? Each brings with it a new chapter in the narrative of your family and each is a reason to recommit to the bonds that strengthen the relationships.
Your family portraits will keep the story of your family alive. They’ll show the evolution and progress of each member and serve as an emotive reminder of how the past leads to now… and beyond.
When did you last have your family portraits taken?
Jude is a warm, skilful professional who understands how to relax her subjects, to understand what is needed in a session or assignment and how to best capture the essence of those she photographs.
She is able to work with small, large and complex groups (and even animals), and (importantly) understands that to capture the best images, her subjects require her rapport and empathy. When bringing our extended family for a session she was able to accommodate a range of diverse needs and help everyone be comfortable and have a positive experience. Not only that, but the photographs were perfect too.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend The Melbourne Portrait Studio and Jude’s services. Thanks for making our session a pleasure and a success.
MEET JUDE!
PORTRAIT ARTIST, AUTHOR, STUDIO OWNER, MUM
I am a full-time portrait photographer working from my studio in Altona, Melbourne’s west. I have over 15 years’ experience telling stories through photography, translating those experiences into gallery-style artwork, and have established my book imprint and art brand, Van Jude. I originate from The Netherlands, where I also had a thriving photography studio.
My favourite part of the day is spending time with my two beautiful boys, friends and snuggling with our cats. The beach and smelling the salty air makes my heart sing.
To me, there is nothing more rewarding than making my clients feel as gorgeous as they really are. I look forward to capturing your unique story.
Ready? Let’s do this!
In the media
WE'VE BEEN FEATURED BY ALL THESE AMAZING COMPANIES
Check our media page for interviews, media mentions, author talks and exhibitions
Our Portrait Studio
Our portrait studio is light, inviting, and will make you feel at ease. We have many beautiful collections of artwork on display, to help you imagine how your own collection will come to life in your home.
Recently we moved from a large commercial studio into our current luxurious and cosy home studio in Altona, Melbourne. The move was made for our clients and their fur babies; to capture portraits in a more welcoming and relaxed environment.
Our clients travel to us from all over Australia because of our personalised approach to understanding the unique story and personalities behind the portraits, which leads to stunning gallery style artwork.
There is ample free parking.
I cannot recommend ‘The Melbourne Portrait Studio’ enough. Jude is so lovely and welcoming!
My mum and I felt comfortable and had so much fun getting our photos taken. A lovey food platter and a cinema viewing of all the images was so heart warming.
The hardest thing was chosing which photos we liked the best! Our portrait arrived today and I cannot hide my excitement that my mum and I now have a very special piece of artwork we can treasure forever!
READY TO TELL YOUR STORY?
We would love to discover your story, tell you all about a photographic experience with our studio and answer any questions you may have.
CONTACT JUDE
PHOTOGRAPHER, AUTHOR, STUDIO OWNER
PHONE: 1300 THESTUDIO (1300 843 788)
MOBILE: 0457 043 007
EMAIL: info@themelbourneportraitstudio.com
STUDIO ADDRESS: 8A Charles Rd, Altona, Victoria 3018
OUR PROCESS
In 3 Easy Steps
1. Phone Consultation
We start by getting to know you over the phone.
This will give us a chance to get to know you better, answer any questions you might have, and plan out your dream session.
2. Guided Photoshoot
Ready to unleash your inner goddess?
Get ready to be pampered and styled by our in-house makeup artist. When it’s time for your shoot, I’ll guide you through every posture and pose.
3. Reveal & Ordering
At your reveal session...
You’ll get to enjoy a fully guided cinematic presentation of your portraits, and order the ones you love! Together we'll design artwork that brings life to your home.
Call us for a complimentary consultation
The Experience
At The Melbourne Portrait Studio, we focus entirely on you and your loved ones, ensuring that your experience is personalised and memorable.
Through conversations, we will delve into what is most important to you, learn more about your individual personalities, and find the depth of emotion and admiration that you have for one another. Our goal is to capture your stories in meaningful portraits; making your portraits as unique as you are.
We cannot wait to learn your story, and share this experience with you!
Jude is THE best photographer, hands down bar none!!
She is very professional, highly technically skilled and just really fantastic.
She knows her profession inside and out, she understands her clients and has super creative artist ideas. Her photos are exquisite and outstanding and she is a real entrepreneur.
I highly recommend her for any photos you want taken, don’t look further than Jude. She is the best!
Sport Jerseys
Many clients love bringing extra outfits, jerseys and props from their favourite teams to create a very unique portrait.
FAQ FAMILY Photoshoot
I want to book a shoot, but I am so nervous.
Everyone is nervous and that is totally fine. We are there for you and guiding you every step of the way. You will have a great time and when you see your gorgeous images, it will totally be worth it!
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO POSE, WILL YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO?
We will absolutely tell you how to pose and where to look. All you have to do is show up and have fun!
What if I feel insecure about my body?
This is a very natural and normal feeling that most of us have. I’ve been there and completely understand how you feel.
We’ll have a chat about it and I promise you that it is my number one priority as a professional photographer to make you feel and look your best during our time together. I know many ways to hide unflattering things with the right posing and lighting. We will discuss everything beforehand and I can pose you in specific ways to hide these things in a flattering manner and always remember: we are masters in post-processing 🙂
This is also exactly the reason why having portraits of yourself looking amazing is so important. It really boosts your self-love. I know many ways to hide unflattering things with the right posing and lighting. So please trust me when I say you will look gorgeous in ALL your photographs!
DO YOUR CLIENTS DO THEIR OWN HAIR AND MAKEUP?
For our family photoshoots a lot of clients do their own hair and makeup, however, hiring someone to do your hair and makeup for your shoot is a wonderful way to pamper yourself so that you don’t have to worry about it. We have a fabulous in-house hair and makeup artist so let us know on time if you would like to book her.
What do I wear for my family photoshoot?
During our conversations, we will be planning the look and feel of your session and portraits. We invite you to bring different outfits that reflect your different personalities. We love to hear about any ideas that you may have too.
Do you have any other tips to prepare for the session?
It is important to select a day for your photo shoot where you have nothing else planned. Having to rush between events causes stress which can show in the final images. Have lots of time to prepare and get plenty of rest. Stay hydrated and have a light snack before the session to keep your energy levels up. We will take care of the rest!
Can I suggest ideas and bring props?
Yes of course! This is your unique family photography session and you are more than welcome to send me anything that inspires you. Some clients like to create a Pinterest board with ideas which we can discuss beforehand. You can bring any items that are personal to your family and will help tell your story. For example, many families bring their favourite sports jerseys or an instrument.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MY SESSION?
As soon as we’ve finished your family photoshoot, I’ll start preparing the reveal. In the meantime, you can go for a walk, lunch or rest in the studio. About 45 minutes later, you’ll experience a fully guided cinematic presentation of your best portraits and together we will design artwork that brings life to your home.
Together Apart;
Life in Lockdown
When COVID-19 hit Melbourne harder than a runaway tram, our lives changed – literally overnight. Together Apart gives a rare glimpse into life in lockdown, beautifully capturing the isolation, frustration, hope, humour and human need for togetherness that quickly became part of our daily lives.
What started as a conversation over the back fence to break the solitude of lockdown has grown into a friendship and a partnership between me and my next-door neighbour, travel writer and journalist Belinda Jackson.
Photographed, written and printed in Melbourne, Together Apart is our black-and-white coffee table book featuring 60 portraits of people in our neighbourhood.
To get a hold of your copy, visit our book’s website.
If you’re from the media, please get in touch for extracts, press releases or images. Belle and I are also available for interview and author talks.