‘You arrived when the yellow leaves were falling. Tiny beams of yellow light floated softly from tired branches, carpeting the path your parents would walk to bring you gently home. It’s a quiet time, when the leaves fall. A reflective, and a still. And now it will be known as the time they met you - their own happy little star. Fallen from the skies like a tiny yawn, Landing safely in their arms.’

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay shares a short poem, pertaining to the beauty of an autumn born baby.

‘Fresh 48 Story - A session documenting those first few hours of a newborn's life in the world. Freshie sessions takes place within the first 24-48 hours of your baby's life, and are a perfect way to ensure you remember that first day forever.’

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay showcases a Fresh 48 Story Session, captured at St John of God Geelong Hospital.

‘Whether it be baby one or number three, the long standing tradition of gathering with well wishes, wisdom and an assortment of miscellaneous baby goods is a beautiful way to arm new mamas on their journey into motherhood. When the gorgeous day of kindred connection and pastel patterned bunting comes to a close, pregnant women the country over are left with a belly full of cake and a gift table piled high with lotions, onesies, cloth nappies and an assortment of either brightly coloured or wooden infant paraphernalia (depending where you sit on the scale of one to Montessori).’

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay introduces the idea of gifting expectant mothers a photo session, rather than baby goods.

'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.

'On the day I met my daughter, the axis of my entire world shifted. Here was this tiny baby - this completely perfect, breathlessly beautiful little girl. And for a little while, she was mine to keep.'

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay describes the way having photographs taken of the milestone that is welcoming new life is just one more way to show your new addition just how valuable and important they truly are.

'As a family photographer who specialises in birth and newborns, I have the extreme privilege of meeting babies when they’re at their very beginnings. But babies don’t always arrive this way - on time, well baked and ready for the world. Sometimes they come early, all too eager to meet the family who already love them so fiercely.'

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay announces a passion project for 2018 - gifting a newborn session to a family who have birthed a preemie baby.

'In the name of documenting a significant and life changing piece of your family's story, let’s catch those memories as soon as possible! : ) Whether this is your first or final babe (or perhaps one in between!), those first few days of bring home baby will be exciting, formative and incomparable, as well as amongst the most fleeting of eras in your long life.'

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay explains the importance and beauty of catching the memories of the first week home with a new baby.

'As in life, birth is an unpredictable business - you’re not always dealt what you were expecting, that for which you may have planned. Yet when this mama learned she was best to birth in hospital and forego her delivery at The Geelong Birth House, she breathed through it. '

In this piece, Geelong Photographer Michelle McKay shares the courageous and endlessly beautiful birth of a sweet baby girl.

'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. 

'Home. It’s so much more than a place. It’s a time capsule.'

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay talks about the importance of home and the reason photographs in the home are so important over time.

'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.