Whangamata family portraits
You get the best of both worlds when you head to Opoutere for family portraits – a beautiful pine forest and a wide stretch of white sand beach just under a 15-minute walk away from the carpark. If you’re looking for a location for family portraits near Whangamata, I challenge you to find a better spot to capture a little bit of everything that makes the Coromandel so special.
This beautiful family session was all about spending time together, exploring, playing and simply enjoying being outdoors. With two gorgeous little girls and their beautiful parents, there was plenty of laughter from the very beginning. It was one of those afternoons where nobody needed to rush anywhere.
We started among the tall pine trees, making the most of the soft afternoon light. The girls were free to explore and play, and this is exactly how I love to photograph families. Rather than asking children to sit still, smile and look at the camera, I prefer to follow their lead and gently guide the session around what they naturally enjoy doing.
Opoutere – the best of two worlds in one location!
We made our way through the forest towards the beach. The timing was perfect, with the sun beginning to soften and the beach almost completely to ourselves. The girls had the best time running along the sand, playing with their parents and enjoying the freedom of having the whole beach to explore.
And, of course, we couldn’t finish a beach session without getting in the water!
Shoes came off, clothes got wet and everyone embraced it. Watching the girls splash around with their parents was such a lovely way to finish the afternoon. Sometimes the photographs that happen at the very end of a family session are the ones that become your favourites. This is when everyone is relaxed, stopped worrying about looking perfect and is simply having fun together.
And then came the unexpected highlight on the walk back: berry picking!
The girls discovered berries along the way and, naturally, this became an important part of the adventure. There was something wonderfully simple about ending the session like this.
For me, this is what family photography is really about. Not perfect poses or everyone looking at the camera at exactly the same time, but photographs that bring you right back to how it felt to be together. The cuddles, the laughter, the muddy feet, the salty hair, the little adventures and the things your children were completely fascinated by that day.
If you’re looking for Whangamata family portraits, Opoutere is definitely a location worth considering. With its beautiful pine forest, white sand beach and plenty of space for children to explore, it gives so much variety without making the session feel overly structured.
And the best part? You get to spend an afternoon having fun together! And, I’ll be there to photograph it as it unfolds.
Keen to explore a different photo session in Whangamata? Click here! Or, get in touch to plan yours – I cannot wait to hear from you!
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