My pop turned 94 this week, and I went to visit with him in the home of my mother’s childhood - a place that continues to vibrate with many of my own earliest memories.

To sit again in these rooms brought back pieces of myself I’d forgotten to miss. It was like opening a time capsule, and being met with the many precious relics I’d once carefully tucked inside.

“You’re busy growing a baby and you’re getting excited about those first week photos. But the big decision is looming - it’s time to decide whether to invite a photographer to come to your home once your little one arrives.”

In this piece, Geelong newborn photographer Michelle McKay answers all the questions you never knew you had about in-home newborn photography, including the big one - is in-home photography for everyone..?

‘When I was small, my dad took photographs. I guess you could call him an original family documentarian; he didn’t just take photos of clean kids siting neatly on the porch, or in front of the church before Sunday School. He took photographs of everything. My toddler brother in his high chair, eating Vegemite toast. Me and my sister picking mandarins off the fruit tree in the backyard, or shelling peas at the picnic table with mum. The washing line, heavy with tiny pastel singlets and cloth nappies on washing day, stark whites flapping lazily in the sunny breeze.’

In this piece, Geelong and Melbourne photographer Michelle McKay explores the true value of unposed photography and the way its value only grows over time.

‘Catching memories is my life's work, matched only by two things - an apparent compulsion to help and encourage others to see and be present in their own #beautifulordinary lives, and a soul-deep conviction that printing and displaying candid photographs is a keystone for happiness, identity and belonging.’

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay announces she’s giving away a Fiji Instax, and explains how to enter.

‘I hear it a lot.‘We cannot wait to book an outdoor session with you, just as soon as the weather warms up!’ ‘Just as soon as summer arrives we’ll be booking a beach story for sure!’ In fact, I’ve already started booking beach summer story sessions. After all, the beach and the summer go together like peas and carrots. Right? But. Folks. Winter at the beach is it’s own type of magical, in a way that cannot be overstated.’

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay stresses the beauty of beach sessions during the winter time.

‘When I was a child and the weather was fine, sometimes we’d drive into the mountains. To me it was a magical place. The shadow of the mountain stretched across the land, resting against the surrounding fields like a cool sheet. From the second we left the sealed road and hit the tree line it was like we’d entered and enchanted space. Somehow it felt sacred.’

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay introduces the idea of a family story session in the woods, and the magic that can result.

'When I began printing and displaying my family’s photographs, it was for no other reasons than that seeing my children and our beautiful ordinary life on our walls made me crazily, dizzily happy. But when I saw the impact it had on my daughter to see herself large as life in the hallway, in the bedroom and above the kitchen bench, I was hooked.'

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay talks about selecting wall art that is not only a beautiful representation of your family, but that is also artistic.

'Nothing before or after compares to those first few hours after bringing a baby into the world.'

In this piece, Geelong Photographer Michelle McKay talks about the beauty and importance of having that first 48 hours with a new baby documented. 

'I'm pleased to announce I have a super special offer for friends and fans of Zoe George and The Subtle Mummy. If you’re a resident of Geelong or Melbourne and you secure a Storytelling Session for your family for any time between now and December of 2018, you can enjoy and Storytelling Session for the super special price of $599.'

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay announces a special promotion for readers and followers of Zoe George and The Subtle Mummy.

'As a storytelling photographer my most dearest desire is to be a memory catcher. I want to come to your home and I want to hang with you while your children play, giggle, pout, and squabble. I want to be there to witness their idle wonder at the world and the way things work, to see their curiosity, their sense of adventure, and their sweetness.'

In this piece, Geelong Photographer Michelle McKay answers the frequently asked question - will you take my family's portrait?

'I have hazy memories of bringing home my newborns. Both times we were sleep deprived, shell-shocked and surviving on a random combination of coffee, cereal, (painkillers!) and frozen dinners. Truth be told, I was too tired to think about newborn photographs and being a photographer I figured I’d take them myself (right after my next nap…).'

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay talks about the many benefits of having a memory catcher come to your home to take photographs when you bring home a new baby.

'Monday is our adventure day. The greater Geelong region is overflowing with fun little family friendly parks, playgrounds and spaces, and as relative newcomers to the area, we're busy discovering them all.'

In this piece, Geelong Photographer Michelle McKay visits the Geelong Playspace in East Geelong.