Family Photographer Albury / What I’m Doing Differently

Family Photographer Albury

As a Family Photographer in Albury Wodonga, There was a time I couldn’t imagine not holding a camera. And then, almost overnight, I stopped.

I packed away my gear, closed the chapter on my wedding photography business.
Closed the chapter on my wedding photography business.
Sold the brand I’d poured everything into.
And disappeared from the work that once lit me up.

Not because I didn’t love photography… but because life asked for all of me.

When Everything Changed

Then COVID-19 hit & The world shut down. But mine shut down much longer and ran much deeper and would go on to humble me and teach me so many things, but the biggest lesson of all was learning what really mattered, what to hold onto and what to let go of!

My entire values system as a photographer has always been about moments and connection with family, and here I was not living that!

I was showing up for everyone else’s memories… and neglecting my own.

So I made the hardest decision & I stepped back.

Choosing My Family First

During that difficult season of change
My marriage ended. I learned lessons from this season – what will be yours will always be and to let go of the control of what others decide~ Huge lesson for me!

Then, solo parenting with no parental visits from the other thats when I really leaned into giving my children everything I had! I was it!

If I couldn’t show up for others and hold them if I couldn’t show up for my own – in this season I felt my weakest but looking back I was so fucking strong in letting go what I loved for me to be with them!

Again, everything I valued!

Raising a child with special needs on my own was a lotttt.

When Life Said “Start Over” Again

And when I thought finally it’s time to start again, & when I had the strength to come back in 2022 in the middle of trying to find my feet again, my entire social media presence was hacked. To this day, I can’t log into my social accounts. I had to begin again – The business I’d been slowly rebuilding… gone, just like that.

It turned my universe upside down. I literally balled my eyes out for 3 months~

I questioned everything including whether this was even my soul’s purpose anymore.

I rebuilt again, slower this time. Stronger. It shows through my work now – I don’t take images I take moments and connections that can’t be instructed or “posed”! My clients adore this work and come to me for this!

And now I coach other photographers to do the same.
To build businesses rooted in resilience, clarity, and life-first strategy.
(If you’re curious about that work, you can explore it) HERE

These experiences stretched me. Grounded me.
And changed how I see everything.

What I Saw While I Was Gone

The truth is, I never really stopped seeing. I just saw differently.

The kind of moments that don’t always get posted.
The kind of love that doesn’t ask for attention, but deserves to be witnessed.

And that became the anchor for my return.

Why I Came Back and Why I’m Doing It Differently Now

I didn’t come back to photography to chase bookings or compete with the old version of myself.

I came back because I finally knew the kind of stories I wanted to tell. The kind of people I wanted to hold space for.

Heartfully Captured is not a rebrand. It’s a return to photography as witnessing, not posing and why I picked up a camera in the first place..

I no longer shoot big weddings. That’s not where my soul sits.
Instead, I photograph:

• Real families
• Everyday motherhood
• Quiet, wild love stories
• “Just us” proposals and elopements
• Raw, sacred connection

(And yes — I still live for a surprise proposal!) natural family photos , motherhood, and love stories that feel like real life, not a styled Pinterest board version of it. Theres so many other photographers for that!

Work With Me If…

You don’t want perfect.
You want present.

Work with me if you’re the kind of person who –
Wants photos that feel like you, not just a pose
Loves natural light, messy cuddles and barefoot love
ARE raising a blended family or walking through a tender season
ARE planning a “just us” wedding, proposal, or elopement
Wants to feel seen more than styled – and you want to feel your images and not just see them!

Here’s What You Can Expect From Me Now

I’m based in Albury, working across Wodonga, Beechworth, Yackandandah and the North East VIC region. And of course, on location of your request and destination elopements!

My work is exclusively for those who know the real moments are what matters most to them & I only take on a few sessions per month so I can show up fully, not just with my camera, but with my heart. My style is calm, intuitive and honest. My sessions are naturally guided, unforced, and emotionally honest led by you.

And after a long journey of infertility, with 13 rounds of IVF, I have ventured away from the newborns I am so well known for at Umbilical Love Photography and have built heartfully captured to specialise in shooting and documenting more Family & Families and a few Intimate Love Stories here and there! (I’m not taking on many of those). But god I love me a good surprise proposal!

I’m not for everyone, and I’m totally ok and down for that~!

But if you know that I AM for you & if you FEEL like the kind of photography and vibe you’ve been searching for, then I’d love to talk. I’m all about getting to know you and your story!

Here’s how we can work together!~
Explore my current session offerings – for now, I only have 2, they will expand as I do

And if you know you’re ready to have these moments captured and not just see but feel this time, I’d love to chat with you!

Limited sessions available! Lets connect!
[Enquire now]