About PAULA ANDREWS
MELBOURNE MATERNITY + NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK WITH ME
Let’s be honest—being photographed feels awkward!
You might love the idea of having beautiful maternity or newborn photographs, while feeling far less enthusiastic about actually being in them. Stepping into a photography studio towards the end of pregnancy, or during those early, bleary-eyed postpartum days, can feel daunting for many new parents.
You’re exhausted, your body has changed, and you’re likely feeling self-conscious and camera-shy. I want you to feel confident, relaxed, and cared for every step of the way, which is why I’ve designed every detail of my Thornbury studio experience to take the pressure completely off you.
I’ll guide you into flattering poses throughout the session, use flattering lighting and angles, and help with what to wear. My calm, patient approach allows plenty of time for feeding, cuddles, settling and breaks during your newborn session.
For many families, visiting my Thornbury newborn photography studio is one of the first times you’ve packed the nappy bag, strapped your tiny new baby into the car and ventured properly out of the house.
Once you arrive, you get to stop.
I have more than 17 years of hands-on experience photographing, settling and posing newborn babies. You can simply settle into the couch with a hot coffee, yes, hot, remember those? Watch everything I’m doing or even drift off for a while if you like, until we need you in the photos – I won’t be offended!
17 Years Experience
PHOTOGRAPHING BUMPS + BABIES
Before establishing my Melbourne studio, my life was dedicated to working with children across the globe. I spent six incredible years living in Japan, teaching children and training teachers, followed by years living in London, nannying and teaching primary students.
Over 17 years ago, I brought all those skills – a deep understanding of children, patience, communication, and adaptability – together to launch Paula Andrews Photography.
Whether I’m guiding a camera-shy mum through her maternity photoshoot or settling a newborn or trying to convince a toddler that giving their little baby brother or sister one more kiss is a great idea, I want your session to feel relaxed from beginning to end.
What if my baby won’t settle?
YOUR BABY DOESN’T NEED TO PERFORM FOR MY CAMERA
Babies cry.
Babies get hungry, often.
Babies need cuddles.
Some fall asleep easily.
Others arrive at the studio with entirely different plans.
After 17 years of photographing newborns, I’m used to all of it.
Your newborn session will be baby-led, I’ll follow your baby’s cues and stop whenever they need feeding, settling, changing or cuddles.
There is no expectation that your baby needs to sleep on cue or behave in a particular way for us to create beautiful photographs.
Over the years, I’ve photographed babies who didn’t sleep, toddlers who wanted nothing to do with my plans, nervous new parents, camera-shy dads, and mums who’ve walked in telling me they’ve hated every photograph ever taken of them.
None of it worries me.
Not comfortable in front of the camera?
I’LL DIRECT YOU THROUGH YOUR SESSION
When it comes time for you to be in the photos, rest assured, I know most of us are NOT comfortable in front of a camera at the best of times. But here, we’re also adding in the fact that you’re coming to see me either when you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy or in your very early postpartum days – when you don’t feel like yourself in your changing body, you’re tireder than you’ve ever been, and feeling like a bit of a hot mess.
Don’t panic, though – I’VE GOT YOU.
Unsure how to pose?
Never know what to do with your hands?
IT’S MY JOB TO DIRECT YOU
You don’t need to know how to be in front of the camera – it’s my job to guide you.
You’ll never be left wondering how to stand, where to look or what you’re supposed to do with your hands.
I’ll guide you into poses that flatter, remove chins that aren’t usually there and show off your beauty as I look for those natural smiles, split-second glances and little moments of love between you.
Worried about including your toddler or dog?
THEY DON’T NEED TO BE PERFECTLY BEHAVED
Your older children and dogs don’t need to be perfectly behaved either.
I’ve spent years working with babies and children. I’m used to toddlers who need time to warm up, need a break or decide they have a completely different plan for the session.
I’ll work around their personalities rather than expecting your children to suddenly behave like seasoned models because there’s a camera in the room.
Dogs are welcome, too – a few treats will literally have them eating out of my hands.
Think your partner will hate having photos taken?
THEY WON’T BE THE FIRST
Partners are always encouraged to be part of maternity and newborn sessions, even when being photographed is firmly outside their comfort zone. These photographs aren’t only about your bump or your baby. They’re also about the two of you, your relationship, and the person you’re waiting to meet.
If your partner hates being photographed, I’ll give them plenty of direction and keep things relaxed. And I promise I won’t ask either of you to “say cheese” or “make love to the camera.”
I tend to waffle away throughout my sessions to help put you at ease. I do have to warn you, I may whip out some of the corniest jokes you’ve heard since your last visit with your Dad, but they’re intentional.
Somewhere between talking, laughing, settling babies and forgetting why you were nervous about being photographed in the first place, you’ll stop thinking about the camera.
That’s usually when I find the photograph I was waiting for.
I’ve yet to photograph a supermodel, but I’ll make you feel like one.
Hi, I’m Paula
THE PERSON, BEHIND THE LENS
My path into maternity and newborn photography is a little different from the story you may have heard from other photographers. I didn’t discover newborn photography after having a baby of my own – my own path to motherhood didn’t unfold at all as I once expected it would.
That experience changed the way I see the families who step in front of my camera. I know your photographs may represent far more than a beautiful image of a growing bump or a new baby.
For some families, they may tell the story of months or years of endless waiting and quiet hope behind those two lines on a pregnancy test.
Sometimes there was IVF.
Sometimes there was unimaginable loss.
Sometimes there was uncertainty, grief, and a road to parenthood that looked nothing like the one originally imagined.
Sometimes pregnancy arrived easily
And sometimes…there was just that one Tinder date!
Every family’s story is different, and you never owe me an explanation for yours. I feel privileged to photograph the quiet anticipation of pregnancy, the first days with your newborn and all the beautiful milestones that follow.
When you enter my Thornbury studio, you aren’t just getting a photographer – you’re stepping into a warm, patient space run by someone who understands how precious and personal every single detail is.
Over the past 17 years, I’ve photographed hundreds of growing bumps, tiny newborns and families from across Melbourne. I’ve learned that you don’t need elaborate sets, dozens of props or whatever happens to be trending on social media this year to create photographs you’ll still love decades from now.
The photographs that matter are often found in the smallest details captured just weeks apart that mark this extraordinary change in your life captured just a few weeks apart, marking an extraordinary change in your life – the curve of a much-wanted bump, the wispy newborn hair, milk lips, tiny fingers wrapped around yours, and the way your partner looks at you while you’re holding your baby.
I know how easily something you waited so long for becomes part of everyday life… my job is to make sure you have photographs to remember what it felt like at the very beginning.
CHECK OUT MY PORTFOLIO
RANDOM TIDBITS ABOUT ME
The Kiwi Connection: I’m a proud New Zealander living in Melbourne’s inner north with my lovely Irish partner, who’s my biggest cheerleader (until the All Blacks meet the Irish on the rugby field and we become fierce rivals).
My Happy Place: Good food and wine, a day out in nature, or slip slop slapping on a beach are all things besides photography and travel that put me in my happy place 🙂
WANT TO
CHAT?
Whether you are expecting your long-awaited first baby or welcoming another little person into your family, I’d be honoured to photograph this chapter for you.
The easiest way to get started is over a call. I’d love to chat – give me a call on
📞 0416 224 152
If a call doesn’t suit right now, you’re welcome to fill out my contact form, and I’ll get back to you.