Dreamy Underwater Photoshoot: A Pre-Raphaelite Mother & Daughters Portrait in Noosa

Celebrating family connection through award-winning underwater photography

When a mother’s two teenage daughters, both ballet students in Europe, returned home to Noosa for the Christmas holidays, I had a small window of time for this unique family photoshoot to celebrate their bond.

With their fiery red hair and my studio’s floaty couture gowns, I envisioned a portrait that captured the essence of the Pre-Raphaelite era—but reimagined underwater. The underwater element brought in that dreamy, ethereal look with the soft flowing fabrics that enhanced their serene expressions. The delicate colour palette of peach and pink added to the Pre-Raphaelite aesthetic. The result? A wall-worthy portrait that beautifully encapsulates their family connection.

I am honoured to share that a fine art print of this image won a Silver award at this year’s Australian Photographic Prize, a national and international photography competition. While industry recognition is lovely, the true reward of client commissions is knowing that the family will forever treasure their portraits and photoshoot memories.

This portrait might just hit home for every mum watching her teenagers start to look more like adults every day. You know how it goes—there are days when the parenting gig feels like forever, but somehow the years whiz by. Before you know it, your kids are standing at the door of independence, ready to take flight.

Think of a family photoshoot not just as a to-do but as a golden opportunity to hit pause on life’s fast-forward button. Imagine a shoot that is an unforgettable experience in itself—a day to connect, to laugh, and to create a vivid core memory together. An underwater photoshoot does exactly that. And it’s a chance to see yourselves through an artist’s eyes, to craft stunning portraits that transcend the everyday.

You might be surprised how keen your teens are to dive in. They’re at that age where identity and memories begin to mean more, where they start to appreciate what family means. This photoshoot is more than just photos; it’s a chance to slow down for a moment, to really see and celebrate how far you’ve all come together.

Down the road, these family portraits will be more than pictures in a frame; they’ll be the compasses that guide your kids right back here to you, back to this very moment.

I invite you to my Noosa pool studio for an underwater family photoshoot

—Liz