This day was magic. The sunset couldn't have been more beautiful, and the walk that this family took through the fields as the sun went down felt like the perfect anchor for their family photography session at home in Sydney. As I photographed and filmed this family, I felt overwhelmed with respect and admiration for these parents. The patience they both had, and the connection they shared with their kids was just so incredibly inspiring to me. What I hope these boys see when they watch this film, is that life is good. They will always have each other to lean on. And their parents love them more than anything.

Making pizzas and playing at the beach with Sydney family photographer, Courtney Holmes

I spent so much time laughing with this family, it’s a miracle that I even got enough stable footage to use 🤣 This is the second film I’ve made for them, and each time I’ve been there with them it’s felt so comfortable and relaxed. The kids are both so smart and funny. The parents don’t take life too seriously, and are the kinds of people I could spend hours chatting to. What a joy it is to be able to work with families like this ❤️❤️❤️ I’m so incredibly lucky.

A family film and photos at the river with Hawkesbury Photographer, Courtney Holmes

Sometimes a family will come to me and ask if it’s ok to do their entire session outdoors. Of course the answer is yes, and with so many beautiful locations around the Hawkesbury we are spoiled for choice in terms of where to go! So we did this session at a spot where the parents used to go together back when they were dating. It’s the most beautiful location, and the kids loved exploring and skipping rocks.

A backyard family film with two babies on the way, with Sydney Photographer Courtney Holmes

My favourite parts of this film were the spray bottle on the trampoline, the gentle way Sarah would hold her children and play with their hair. The airplane rides on their Daddy’s feet (who also happens to be a pilot which makes this game extra special in my eyes). The tree swing and the game Daddy would play, playfully telling them to go away as they came back to him. Seeing Mum heavily pregnant with twins, and still carrying her youngest in her arms, providing patience and support even though she’s probably tired and exhausted. Sarah and Nick are inspirational parents to be around and I’m truly honoured each time I go to their house.

Three under five and a home full of love, with family filmmaker Courtney Holmes

When I first met Miriam and her husband during a Zoom call earlier this year, I knew I was going to fall in love with their family. These parents.... Oh my goodness. The love and patience they have for their children was so inspiring to witness - but even more so was the strength and bond of their marriage that I got to witness. It’s not overly obvious, it’s humble and kind. It’s a strength that comes from long days with three tiny children, from staying kind, and from being patient with each other. I could see tiny moments of their bond in between the chaos of three children and it made my heart feel so full for these girls that have such a beautiful home and life full of love thanks to their parents. This is what I wanted to show them in the film. The way their parents love them, but also the way they love each other. ❤️

A family of four at the Hotel Clermont in Atlanta, GA with Family Filmmaker Courtney Holmes

I shot this footage during my one day workshop after The Family Narrative in Atlanta back in March. And my goodness, I loved filming this family. The location of course was amazing, but the audio of the little girl singing was pure magic. Hope you love it as much as I do.

An afternoon in the country with a family in Dubbo, NSW with Family Filmmaker and Photographer, Courtney Holmes

When I make a film, my goal is not to tell a literal story of your day. It’s not about the things you do, or the places you go. It’s about the tiny micro moments that happen while you’re doing those things. As I sat in the back of the buggy riding around this family’s farm I was hyper aware even then, of looking for those micro moments. I could have focused on the things we were doing, but instead I was looking for the in between. The conversation about wheat and what it’s used for, and the fact that little Eddie has all this in his farmer’s book. The look on Bella’s face when she swings on the gate. Liv's life and experience as the third child who gets a used tissue pushed in her general direction - yet she smiles all the way through it. The way that Cameron kept an eye on Eddie as they rounded up the sheep. The look in Kylie’s eyes when she was with her beautiful horse. The significance of rain at the end of the film, in this drought stricken town. Everything I include in this film is a tiny, but hugely important moment, that makes this family who they are. And I’m in love with every second of it.

Family Film and Photos, At HomeCourtney HolmesAugust 16, 2020Comment

Just the three of them, with Sydney family filmmaker Courtney Holmes

When Jill asked me to come and make a film for her family, I was immediately nervous. She's already made so many amazing films of herself and her family, would I be able to do this justice? What could I create, that Jill couldn't create for herself? All I knew was she'd asked me to do this, I was on a mission to do the very best that I could.

While I edited this film, I selected clips from a gut feeling deep down inside. I could try to explain some of the choices, but really it all came down to how it made me feel when I was putting it together.

What I wanted to create was a feeling of nostalgia, of softness, of memory, of playfulness. Of LOVE. LOVE is what I wanted to pour out of this film the way it pours out of Jill towards her people.

I hope it does that. I hope it makes you remember your babies when they were this little - it does for me.

I hope it helps Jill and Sean see what amazing parents they are for Shae. And I hope one day, when Shae is older, maybe with a family of her own, she'll watch this and feel this love again. I hope she carries it with her always, and pulls it out whenever she wants to feel her parents love wrap around her.

Family Film and PhotosCourtney HolmesMay 27, 2020Comment

Baking and riding scooters to the park with Sydney Photographer Courtney Holmes

I feel so inspired by this family, and the life they’ve created together. There were so many moments in here that reminded me of my own childhood. The way my mother would tickle my back, and play with my hair as I laid in her lap just as Trish did with her children. The way my father would teach and show us things just as a Joel teaches his kids with basketball and music. I had a piano in my home growing up. I was the youngest of three kids.

I edited this a lot differently than I normally do. I wanted to bring a vintage feel to the footage. An imperfectness that exists in a home full of love. A feeling of melding my experience of childhood with this family’s unique experience of their daily life.

I hope I showed this kids how much their parents love them. And I hope I showed these parents how incredibly special and imperfectly beautiful their life is.

Family Film and Photos, At HomeCourtney HolmesMay 11, 2020Comment

The Massingham Family | Sydney, NSW

Family Film and Photos, At HomeCourtney HolmesJanuary 16, 2020Sydney Family Photographer, Hills District Family Photographer, Hawkesbury Family Photgrapher, family photography sydney, Family Films with Courtney Holmes, family videosComment

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