We were hoping for a sunny day, and we got one. This was a recent family shoot out on the peninsula, and I arrived early to beat the midday sun. We spent a lovely morning running around under the trees, playing with diggers and hiding dinosaurs.

Often when photographing families I can divide kids into two different types. There's the kind who are shy, and take about half an hour to warm up before they become your best friend (Elmer). Then there's the kind who are best friends with you straight away, no effort required. Sam and Monty (I love the name Monty!) are the latter variety and utterly gorgeous. One of the beauties of being small is that you can dispense with boring small talk, like "Hello", and get straight into the important stuff, "Look how BIG the plants are!"

Since the garden is being dug up for drainage, there were two proper, full size diggers left at the side of the lawn for the weekend. Boy heaven. I think we spent about 80% of the photoshoot in the diggers.

He is squidgy and smiley. And stylish. I photographed baby Jack at home recently with his doting parents, and he was so well behaved and relaxed. He didn't even get grumpy at the end of our shoot when he was tired, he just looked all sleepy and bewildered. So cute!! If this doesn't make you broody, I don't know what will..

I photographed these guys before I left Dunedin - about three months ago now, and thought I should blog a few images before I head back into another wedding season next week.

Brothers Harry and Archie and two of the smiliest boys I've encountered. They are totally and utterly adorable.

Whilst in Worthing I alsomanaged to see Lerryn and Jamie, who I first met around the same time last year. They are so entertaining, I really enjoy spending time with these two. Lerryn reminds me of myself a little when I was that age. Bossy, but in a good (funny!) big sister way, and full of imagination and exciting ideas for play. Jamie is just edible. I wish I could record his voice for my blog - he looks like a little angelic 3 year old, but then he has this totally adorable husky 'been here before' voice. Lush.

We played in the garden at home, and this year we also went to the beach where Grandad has a beach hut.

I was in Worthing (near Brighton) this weekend staying at my cousin's house. She arranged a couple of photoshoots whilst I was there, and this was one of them. It was nice to get back into the swing of my documentary portrait stuff. I feel like I haven't done this for ages!

Worthing is such a British seaside town, and I noticed that so much more after three years in New Zealand. The little white beach huts, pebble beach, Victorian houses, pubs, trinket shops.... It's all very cute, and in contrast to the big landscapes of NZ.

The Sweeney kids are lovely, full of energy, and up for all the games and tricks we played...