Best Family Photography in Hobart
Whether you want a relaxed studio portrait, candid photos at home, or a session out among Hobart's beaches and bushland, the right photographer makes the whole experience easy and fun. This guide walks you through what a family photography session involves, what to budget, and how to choose someone whose style suits your family. We feature a range of highly rated Hobart and Tasmanian photographers to help you get started.
1. Zanzo Portraits
Hobart, TAS
Zanzo Portraits is a Hobart studio at 179 Liverpool St specialising in babies, children (little kids and big kids), family, and pet photography, plus underwater sessions (ZUPE) and commercial headshots. Dean Mansbridge, AIPP Master Photographer, has photographed over 2000 families and won 100+ local, national, and international awards.
2. Photographique Studio
Launceston, TAS
Photographique Studio is a boutique portrait photography studio in Launceston, Tasmania, specialising in magazine-style portraits for everyday people. They offer studio-based sessions including individual portraits, glamour, maternity, family, couples, headshots, and modelling portfolios, with a focus on empowerment and fine art photography.
3. Rose Jarman Photography
Collinsvale, TAS
Rose Jarman Photography, based in Collinsvale/southern Tasmania, offers newborn, maternity, and family photography across Southern Tasmania. Specialising in on-location sessions at beaches, fields, and forests, plus underwater pregnancy sessions in a private pool. Rose is also a qualified midwife with 13 years' experience, bringing a calm, natural, and relaxed approach to all sessions.
4. Ulla Nordwood Photography
Taroona, TAS
Ulla and Egor are a Taroona-based photography duo specialising in wedding photography across Tasmania and beyond. With 16 years of experience, they shoot in a natural, unposed documentary style with hand-edited images. Two photographers cover every wedding, delivering full digital galleries with unlimited download and printing rights.
5. Photography at Mallow – Hobart Family Photographer
Campania, TAS
Photography at Mallow offers relaxed, natural family, newborn, and maternity photography on a private farm in Campania, near Hobart, Tasmania. Sessions are unposed and child-led, held in soft morning light across barn, paddocks, creek, and bush settings, focused on genuine connection and candid moments.
6. Ange Nicolle Photography
Ulverstone, TAS
Ange Nicolle Photography is based in Ulverstone, Tasmania, offering studio and on-location maternity, newborn, and family photography. Studio sessions feature professional lighting, props, and backdrops. Sessions are child-led, focusing on authentic moments of love and connection for growing families and multi-generational gatherings.
7. Olivia Brown Photographer
Acton Park, TAS
Olivia Brown is a Southern Tasmania-based photographer with over 10 years of experience and a Fine Arts degree. She shoots on location across Tasmania in a documentary, warm, and whimsical style, covering weddings, elopements, family, newborn, and maternity photography.
8. Lauren Vanier Photography
Mount Rumney, TAS
Lauren Vanier Photography is a boutique studio in Hobart, Tasmania, specialising in newborn, maternity, family, baby milestone, sitter, and cake smash sessions. With over 10 years' experience, Lauren captures classically styled, timeless imagery with a natural aesthetic, offering studio-based sessions with props and maternity gowns.
9. Zara Maree Photography
Glenorchy, TAS
Zara Maree Photography is a Hobart-based studio centrally located in Glenorchy, TAS. Specialising in newborn, maternity, family, and milestone photography, Zara captures organic, timeless moments with a simple, connection-focused style. Also offers branding, headshots, weddings, and commercial work.
10. TL Photography
Forth, TAS
TL Photography is based in Forth, Tasmania. The website contains minimal text with no explicit detail on services, style, or session types beyond image galleries. No specific session offerings, studio or on-location preference, or photographer name are stated in the available website text.
11. Michael O'Keefe Photography
Old Beach, TAS
Michael O'Keefe is an award-winning photographer based in Old Beach, TAS (Hobart area), specialising in newborn, children, family, maternity, and baby photography. He offers studio-style posed newborn sessions and outdoor family portraits, with a storytelling philosophy focused on capturing emotion, connection, and timeless memories.
12. Louis Creative Studio
Devonport, TAS
Louis Creative Studio is based in Devonport, Tasmania, servicing all of Australia. They offer a wide range of photography including newborn, maternity, family, glamour, weddings, corporate headshots, commercial, food, and lifestyle. Style and studio vs. on-location details are not specified on the website.
13. Billy Button Photography
Hobart, TAS
Naomi of Billy Button Photography is based in southern Tasmania, shooting weddings, elopements, family, and motherhood sessions on location. With 15+ years experience, she focuses on cinematic, candid storytelling that captures real human connection and family moments, travelling across various Tasmanian locations.
14. Katinka Smith Photography
Hobart, TAS
Katinka Smith Photography is a Hobart, Tasmania-based photographer specialising in family, newborn, baby, maternity, and children's photography. Her style focuses on real connections, tenderness, and bonds between loved ones, capturing genuine emotion and intimate moments for families.
15. Peter Whyte Photography
North Hobart, TAS
Peter Whyte Photography is based in North Hobart, TAS, offering newborn, maternity, family, baby, cake smash, milestone, and children's photography. The website text provides limited detail on style or studio versus on-location specifics.
16. MKR Photography
West Moonah, TAS
MKR Photography, based in West Moonah, TAS, captures portraits and events with a focus on love, growth, and milestone moments. They offer professional photography services including portraits and events, emphasising creativity and attention to detail. Specific session types and studio or on-location details are not explicitly stated on the website.
17. Kelly Davis Photography
Kingston, TAS
Kelly Davis is a Tasmania-based professional photographer operating since 2014. She offers family portraits alongside weddings, corporate events, real estate, and travel photography. She shoots both locally and internationally, covering a wide variety of assignments.
What a Family Photography Session Involves
A family session is simply time set aside to capture your family as you are right now — the cuddles, the giggles, and the chaos in between. Most Hobart photographers offer relaxed sessions in a studio, in your own home, or outdoors at a location that means something to you. Sessions typically run from 30 minutes to a couple of hours depending on the package and the ages of your kids.
Good photographers won't expect everyone to sit still and smile on cue. Instead they'll guide you through simple prompts and activities — walking together, tickle fights, reading a book — so the photos feel natural rather than stiff. This approach works especially well with young children and toddlers, who rarely cooperate with traditional posing anyway.
What to Expect on the Day
Before your session, most photographers will have a quick chat (by phone or email) about what you're after, where you'd like to shoot, and what to wear. On the day, allow plenty of time so nobody arrives flustered. Bring snacks, a change of clothes for little ones, and any comfort items.
Expect the photographer to do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of keeping kids engaged. The best sessions feel like a relaxed outing rather than a formal portrait sitting. Afterwards, you'll usually be invited to a viewing or sent an online gallery where you select your favourite images and any prints or products.
Studio vs On-Location and Lifestyle Sessions
Studio sessions give you controlled lighting and a clean, timeless backdrop. They're great in Tasmania's unpredictable weather and work well for newborns and classic portraits.
On-location and outdoor sessions make the most of Hobart's gorgeous scenery — think Kingston Beach, the Domain, kunanyi/Mount Wellington foothills, or local bushland. Golden hour (the hour after sunrise or before sunset) gives the softest, warmest light.
Lifestyle or at-home sessions capture your family in your own space, doing everyday things. These are wonderfully personal and especially lovely with newborns and small children who feel most comfortable at home.
Many photographers, including several featured here, offer all three options so you can pick what suits your family best.
Typical AU Price and Package Ranges
Pricing varies widely based on experience, session length, and what's included, so treat these as general guides only — always confirm current pricing directly with the photographer.
- Session fee only: roughly $150–$450, which usually covers the photographer's time and editing but not prints or digital files.
- Session plus a small collection of digital images: roughly $450–$900.
- Full packages with all edited high-resolution digitals, prints, or wall art: roughly $900–$2,500+.
Some photographers charge a sitting fee and sell images separately, while others bundle everything into one price. Ask exactly what you'll walk away with so there are no surprises.
How to Choose a Family Photographer in Hobart
Look at full galleries, not just highlights. A single stunning image is easy; a consistent full session shows real skill. Make sure their style — light and airy, rich and moody, classic, or candid — matches what you imagine on your wall.
Read reviews. Repeated mentions of patience with kids, easy communication, and quick turnaround are good signs. The photographers featured on this page are all highly rated, with strong review counts ranging from established studios like Zanzo Portraits to newer names building their reputation.
Check professionalism and credentials. Ask whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance — important for any session, especially in a studio or public location. Some photographers hold accreditation with industry bodies (the former AIPP has merged into the Australian Photographic Society's accreditation pathways), which signals a commitment to professional standards, though plenty of excellent photographers operate without formal accreditation.
Consider location and travel. Several featured photographers are based outside central Hobart — in Collinsvale, Taroona, Campania, Mount Rumney and beyond — and may travel to you or have a home studio. Confirm travel fees if your preferred location is a distance away.
When to Book
Family photographers in Hobart get busy in autumn and the lead-up to Christmas, when families want photos for cards and gifts. If you have a specific date in mind, book several weeks to a few months ahead.
Expecting a baby? Book your newborn session during your pregnancy, ideally in your second or third trimester. Newborn sessions are best done in the first two weeks, and the most experienced newborn photographers fill those tentative due-date slots early. Always choose someone trained in safe newborn posing — a baby should never be left unattended or placed in risky props, and safety should always come before any particular shot.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
- What's included in the price, and how many edited images do I receive?
- Do you offer studio, at-home and outdoor sessions?
- How long will the session run, and how do you handle young kids who get tired or restless?
- When and how will I see and choose my photos?
- What's your turnaround time for the final gallery?
- Do you have insurance, and (for newborns) what's your safety and hygiene approach?
- What happens if we need to reschedule due to weather or illness?
Taking ten minutes to ask these upfront means you can relax on the day and simply enjoy time with your family in front of the camera.
Other session types in Hobart
Or read the full family photography guide, or browse all Hobart photographers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a family photography session cost in Hobart?
As a general guide, session fees often range from about $150 to $450, while packages that include digital images or prints commonly run from $450 to $2,500 or more. Pricing varies by photographer and what's included, so always confirm current rates directly.
Should we choose a studio or an outdoor session?
Studio sessions offer controlled lighting and are reliable in Tasmania's changeable weather, while outdoor sessions make the most of Hobart's beaches and bushland in beautiful natural light. At-home lifestyle sessions are great for newborns and young kids who feel most comfortable in familiar surroundings. Many Hobart photographers offer all three.
When should I book a newborn session?
Book during your pregnancy, ideally in the second or third trimester. Newborn photos are usually taken within the first two weeks, and experienced newborn photographers fill due-date slots early. Always choose someone trained in safe newborn posing who never leaves a baby unattended.
What should we wear for family photos?
Aim for coordinated but not matching outfits in complementary colours, and avoid large logos or busy patterns. Dress for comfort, especially the kids, and bring a spare outfit for little ones. Your photographer can usually offer wardrobe guidance before the day.
How do I choose the right photographer for my family?
Look at full session galleries to check their style suits you, read reviews for comments about patience with children and reliable communication, and confirm they have appropriate insurance. Ask what's included in the price and how many final images you'll receive before booking.