Nelson, Zul & Cayden

Zul had written to me to ask about family portraits before Christmas. That same week, Nelson wrote and said he wanted to surprise his wife with a portrait gift certificate for Christmas so could I put his wife off on booking a session. It was all and bit of a juggling act to prevent Zul from booking a session before the holidays and the fear was that if I was too busy, she might go elsewhere. But the plan worked and she was very surprised and touched by her hubbie's sweet gesture. I met the adorable family on a chilly day after the rains when most of the Freesias had withered, or I wonder if they never properly bloomed this year. Either way, the family were delightful and sweet little Cayden was just adorable, despite the lack of bursting blossoms.

Cayden spent the entire shoot being very suspicious of me. That doesn't often happen to me, and by the end of our time together, I had a complete complex, for none of my usual tricks worked with him. I am not sure if it was the fact that I held a camera in front of my face the whole time, or if he just thought my jokes were not at all funny, but I had to leave all the playing around to his parents this time. Luckily, he was enamoured with them so as long as I wasn't trying to get his attention, he was happy!

Zul had wanted something a little different for the shoot so we carted load of musical props and fun extras on the shoot, but I think Cayden was just that much too young and he wasn't into the instruments the way we were! He did love to push his cart though, so that was a highlight for him and he looks so delicious in his trendy hat and vest. And he was a trooper wearing his hat at all, which so many toddlers do not like.

Cayden loves all kinds of music and loves strumming on his small guitar now so we thought my son, Oslo's sweet little ukelele would be the perfect prop.

Thank you Nelson, Zul and Cayden for a sweet shoot capturing your family spending time together. Hopefully Cayden with find my jokes and silliness more amusing the next time I see him! xxx