the way i see the world
I’ve always been drawn to beauty. To beautiful light, considered details, movement and the little moments that often go unnoticed.
My background in design shaped my eye, but motherhood gave it a deeper meaning. I’m now a mum to two beautiful boys, living on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and it’s our everyday life together that inspires so much of what I photograph.
Our days are filled with beach mornings, afternoons spent outside, bare feet on the lawn, footballs kicked across the grass and children running between our house and the neighbours. And when the evening allows, we watch the sunset from our backyard overlooking Narrabeen Lagoon.
It’s in these ordinary moments that I find so much beauty.
The softness of a newborn in your arms. The way a toddler reaches for you without thinking. The chaos of family life, the quiet in between, and the feeling of being completely immersed in the people you love most.
I think this is why I photograph families the way I do. I know how quickly these seasons pass, and how easy it is to be so immersed in them that you don't always see the beauty while you're living it.
My photographs are natural, intimate and quietly considered. Beautiful without feeling overly posed, and true to the people within them.
Because these days don't last forever.
But you can keep how they felt.
my philosophy
01
CONNECTIONThe moments I love most aren't necessarily the ones where everyone is looking at the camera. They're the way your baby settles into your arms, the way siblings make each other laugh, or the small gesture between two people who know each other completely.
I want your photographs to hold onto that connection.
02
beautyBeautiful photographs don't need to feel overly posed or perfect.
I'm drawn to natural light, thoughtful composition, movement and the details that make an image feel timeless. My background in design has shaped the way I see, but it is real life that gives the photographs their meaning.
03
presenceThe best photographs often happen when you stop trying to create them.
My sessions are relaxed and unhurried, with gentle direction when you need it and plenty of space for things to unfold naturally. My hope is that, for a little while, you can forget about the camera and simply be together.
the roots of al mctavish photographywhere it all began
Photography became a way of holding onto the things I knew were passing too quickly.
After studying design and spending years immersed in fashion, visual storytelling and creative work, becoming a mum shifted my perspective. Suddenly, the moments I wanted to remember most weren't the big ones. They were the everyday ones. The sleepy cuddles, sandy feet, messy mornings, little hands reaching for mine and the feeling of watching my children grow right in front of me.
Living on Sydney's Northern Beaches with my two boys and husband, I'm surrounded by the kind of moments I now photograph for other families. The beach after breakfast, afternoons outside, children running barefoot through the backyard and golden evenings overlooking Narrabeen Lagoon.
Al McTavish Photography grew from that love of noticing. Of slowing down long enough to see what is already there, and creating photographs that allow you to return to it.
What began with my own family has become a way of documenting these fleeting seasons for others.
let's connectbegin your story
If my work has moved you, or you can picture your own family within these frames, I'd love to hear from you.
Tell me a little about your family and the season you're in. Your due date, your children's ages, the kind of session you have in mind, or simply what brought you here.
I read every enquiry personally and will be in touch within two business days.
Al x