Maternity, Newborn + Family photography

photography for the moments you never want to forget

Each photograph is a love letter to this season of your life, thoughtfully composed and deeply felt.

My approach is gentle and unhurried, blending an editorial eye with a natural warmth and an instinct for the moments that happen in between. The quiet cuddles, the little hands, the laughter, the beautiful chaos.

The result is imagery that feels timeless, intimate and entirely yours.

[All photographs featured on this website are shared with the permission of the families photographed]

capturing The art of motherhood

maternity, NEWBORN + FAMILY photography

These early days have a way of passing before you're quite ready for them to.

The weight of a newborn curled against your chest. A tiny hand reaching for yours. The sleepy mornings, the afternoon light, the way your child fits perfectly into your arms.

These are the moments that can feel so ordinary now, yet become the ones you long to remember.

My role is to gently preserve them as they are, with all their tenderness, beauty and imperfection. To notice the moments you might otherwise miss, and turn them into photographs you can return to for years to come.

choose your experience

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.

love stories

MOWBRAy FAMILY / View
BRIGHTWELL FAMILY / View
BRITTON FAMILY / View

Your story, Told with quiet Intention

This season of your life deserves more than a record. It deserves to be felt.

From our first conversation to the moment you open your finished gallery, every part of the experience is considered with care. My approach is relaxed and personal, giving you space to simply be together while I quietly observe and document what unfolds.

Whether you're expecting your first baby, welcoming a newborn or wanting to capture your family exactly as they are right now, your session is an opportunity to slow down and be present with the people you love most.

I'll take care of the rest.

let’s begin here

Tell me a little about your family, where you’re at in this season of life and what you’d love to remember.

I read every enquiry personally and will be in touch within two business days with more about the experience, availability and next steps.

  • "beautiful, lifelong memories"

    “We’re absolutely blown away with our photos and would highly recommend Alex to anyone looking to capture beautiful, lifelong memories of their family.
    Her patience, professionalism and calming nature made our experience extremely pleasant, given our 3 and 1 year old’s aren’t the easiest customers to work with!
    Thank you again, Alex.”

    — Zacc M Sydney

  • "The photographs are absolutely stunning"

    “A huge thank you to Al for capturing our family so perfectly. The photographs are absolutely stunning! Al was incredibly easy to work with, flexible with our schedule to ensure we had the best morning light, and remarkably patient with our two high-energy kids. We can’t recommend her highly enough!”

    — Isabelle & Nate B, Sydney

  • “The shots were absolutely stunning”

    “Al was so wonderful! She had a beautiful energy that made us feel instantly at ease in front of the camera. The shots were absolutely stunning and captured our little boy perfectly.”

    — Monique G, Sydney

  • "We love the photos"

    “Thanks Al - we love the photos and Al was amazing at capturing these photos even with the chaos of a toddler and family dog and making the whole experience enjoyable.”

    — Ollie & Lucy B, Sydney

  • "The photographs are beautiful"

    “Everything about our experience with Al was perfect. We have nothing to fault - the photographs are beautiful and her patience with our large family was remarkable. Definitely recommend booking Al for your next photoshoot!”

    — Kiara S, Sydney

  • "A pleasure to work with"

    “Alex did an amazing job and captured our special moments. A pleasure to work with and would highly recommend!”

    — Jason L, Sydney

  • "a brilliant experience"

    “We had a brilliant experience with Al on a recent family beach shoot. I thought it was going to be mission impossible to get just one good photo of our family and she managed to capture at least 50 that I absolutely love. I would highly recommend anyone to use Al to capture some special snaps.”

    — Lydia F, Sydney

  • "very professional, friendly and super patient"

    “We had a family photoshoot at the beach with Al a few weeks ago and she was amazing! Al was very professional, friendly and super patient. My kids were going wild and I didn’t think she would have captured much but she did and the photos turned out absolutely beautiful. I love her artistic side. I strongly recommend Al!”

    — Thuy F, Sydney

  • "patient, calming and made us all feel completely comfortable"

    “Alex did an incredible job at capturing our little family. She was patient, calming and made us all feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. The images are so natural which is exactly what we wanted - we will cherish them for a lifetime! Thank you Alex”

    — Monique H, Sydney

  • "easy to work with in the lead up to our shoot and post-shoot"

    “Al McTavish was a delight to work with and we loved how our photos turned out. She was so good with our baby and helped my husband and I feel at ease during our shoot. She helped us capture some beautiful memories for our family. Al was really easy to work with in the lead up to our shoot and post-shoot when selecting our final photos. We'll definitely work with Al McTavish Photography again.”

    — Lauren J, Sydney

  • "The shots are stunning"

    “Al is amazing! Such a relaxing experience capturing first family photos and the shots are stunning. Highly recommend!”

    — Louisa G, Sydney

  • "stunning pictures"

    “Al was excellent. We arranged a family photoshoot with my 2 year old, newborn and dog and my brief was natural and fun. We Spent 1.5 hours with Al and I was worried we wouldn’t get anything good… my 2 year old was not interested and my newborn was very unsettled but Al was such a pro! She coaxed my toddler into pictures and went with the flow and worked around me feeding. The end result was stunning pictures and I have no idea how she did it. I would definitely use her again.”

    — Joanna H, Sydney

  • "sweet, innocent moments"

    “Alex's work is incredible. She captures sweet, innocent moments and makes the whole process incredibly enjoyable. Working quickly to ensure the baby is not over-tired and having fun capturing beautiful images. Al was accommodating and flexible, shooting in our house to make us and our baby comfortable. The galleries we were sent through were beautiful, finely edited (while not being overproduced), showcasing a large selection of different images, and delivered within 48 hrs! Strongly recommend her work and services to anyone looking for beautiful family and baby images - you will not regret it!”

    — Grace H, Sydney

let's connect

begin 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