At Lion & Cub Photography, we believe family photos should feel alive. Full of laughter, connection, and all those in-between moments that make your story yours. These aren’t stiff, posed portraits; they’re real, joyful glimpses of the love you share.
I’m Nikki, the creative behind the lens. I am a photographer, mum, teacher, and long-time member of Sydney’s vibrant arts scene. After 25 years behind the camera, I’ve learned how to turn everyday chaos into art. Whether your kids are climbing trees, chasing bubbles, or refusing to stand still, I’ll capture the beauty in it all, because that’s real family life.
Lion & Cub is part of Tortuga Studios, one of Sydney’s longest-standing creative collectives in Sydney’s inner west. The St Peters studio features natural light, industrial charm, a 90sqm photography studio with professional lighting setups – and it’s directly opposite the lush bushland of Sydney Park, Alexandria.
Families love working with us because:
You’ll walk away with a set of digital files and perhaps some timeless artwork that documents and celebrates your family exactly as it is.
There’s no perfect moment to do this — there’s only now.
We start with a chat to get to know you and your family, your personalities, your favourite locations, and the visual ‘vibe’ you are looking for. We plan the look and feel, what to wear, and discuss the timing for the photoshoot: sunrise, golden hour, late morning, beneath a starry sky…
Located in the heart of Sydney’s Inner West, my St Peters studio blends urban edge with creative charm. It is the perfect backdrop for your family, newborn, or fine art portraits.
The space has a bright, daylight corner with sheer curtains, a cozy white shag rug, and a daybed draped in hand-knitted boho fabrics that are ideal for soft, natural images. The main studio is huge and versatile, featuring a rainbow of coloured paper backdrops and professional lighting setups, ready for anything from classic portraits to bold, artistic shoots.
With over 25 years of experience, I’ll guide you every step of the way, turning your session into a fun, relaxed experience and leaving you with high-resolution digital images or bespoke artwork that feel personal, timeless, and beautifully crafted.
Lion & Cub Studio sessions include family, maternity, newborn, The Cub Chronicles, pets, couples and creative fine art portraiture for business, brand and boudoir.
We have a kitchen, plenty of space for clothes, a space for hair and makeup and room to move to get the shots!
There’s something truly magical about a beach session. Think salty air, sandy toes, kids running free, and that golden sunset glow that makes everything feel warm and cinematic.
I offer beach family sessions at some of Sydney’s most stunning locations, including:
Bronte Beach, Maroubra Beach, Milk Beach and Clontarf.
Sunset Golden Hour Magic:
Beach sessions are usually booked for golden hour, that is, the last hour before sunset The light is soft, flattering, and full of warmth. These are perfect for maternity, family, couples, extended family or pet photos. It’s when we capture:
If your family loves fresh air, big open spaces, and letting the kids just be kids, an outdoor adventure session is the perfect fit. These sessions are relaxed, playful and full of movement, with plenty of room for exploring, running, cuddling, climbing and laughing – plus, your four-legged friends are welcome! I offer outdoor adventure family sessions in some of Sydney’s most beautiful park locations, including Sydney Park, Camperdown Memorial Park, and Sir Joseph Banks Park. Think rolling hills, leafy trees, wide open skies and that gorgeous ‘nature meets city’ landscape feel.
Environmental, Storytelling Style
Outdoor adventure sessions are ideal if you love portraits that feel natural and cinematic, where the landscape becomes part of the story. We’ll capture:
These are perfect for families who want images that feel joyful, real and a little wild, with an environmental / landscape style that celebrates both your family and your surroundings.
Our 60-minute shoot focuses on connection and storytelling. I’ll guide you gently but keep things spontaneous as the best photos happen when you forget the camera is even there.
Once your images are edited, you’ll receive a private online gallery of your curated, beautifully retouched photos. From there, choose the images you want to download — with the option to upgrade if you’d like more. To secure your shoot date, you’ll pay a $200 deposit, with the remaining balance based on your chosen collection
To select treasured wall art or an album of images, book an in-person appointment where we can look at all the images, choose artwork, and design how it will look. This can be done via Zoom if that is more convenient.
Whether you’ve pre-booked the Cub Collection for $890 which includes a photoshoot and ten edited digital files, or are choosing individual artworks to display in your home, I’ll make the process easy, fun, and inspiring — helping you pick the images that truly capture your family’s personality.
In an age where digital is king, Lion & Cub believes there is power and beauty in real art, hung on the wall to see.
Deposit information
At the time of your booking a non-refundable deposit of $200 is required for family, maternity, pet and couples sessions to secure your date. This is required within 48 hours and if not paid, your scheduled date and time will be forfeited. Your remaining package balance is due no later than a week before our scheduled photo session.
Most sessions run for 45–60 minutes. It’s the perfect amount of time to capture a mix of portraits and natural moments — without it feeling too long for little ones.
You can choose from:
If you’re unsure what suits your family best, I’ll guide you to the perfect location.
You’ll receive wardrobe tips, but in general I recommend:
Struggling with styling? I’ll help you choose outfits that feel cohesive, flattering, and still totally you. Check out my What to Wear guide here.
Always. I’ll guide you gently the entire time with flattering posing and fun prompts, so it feels natural (never awkward). Even if you normally hate being photographed, you’ll feel confident and supported.
Your session includes the Cub Collection:
✅ 10 fully retouched portraits included in your $890 session.
You’ll also receive a gallery of your best images (often 80+) where you can choose your favourites — and upgrade only if you’d like more.
Yes, absolutely — that’s the whole idea.
Most families upgrade once they see their images because they fall in love with more favourites than expected.
The Pride Collection includes:
✅ 25 portraits total
✅ Matching black & white versions included (timeless, editorial, beautiful for framing)
That’s what the Legacy Collection is for — it includes all final images (80+).
It’s the best value and the ultimate “no regrets” option.
Yes. Every portrait you receive is professionally edited in my signature style:
No harsh filters. No plastic skin. Just your family, as you are.
Yes — absolutely. Grandparents are welcome for family portraits. If you’re planning a larger group, just let me know so I can recommend the best location and timing to keep everything relaxed and smooth. Extended family portraits incur an additional fee of $200 as the shoot time is longer and each family within the group has their own mini session.
Totally normal — kids don’t need to “perform” for beautiful portraits. I work quickly, gently and playfully so we capture real connection… and often the in-between moments become the favourites. I am also a teacher, and have a special knack and a make animal noises where appropriate to get the giggles – and I can work with a telephoto lens and hide behind trees if required. I can read the room and intuitively work with emotions – as my testimonials will verify.
If the weather isn’t suitable, we’ll reschedule or switch to a studio session. Easy and stress-free.
Your gallery is typically ready within 2–3 weeks (often sooner in quieter periods). If you have a special deadline (birthday, Mother’s Day, etc.), tell me and I’ll do my best to help.
Booking is simple:
Send me a message and let’s create portraits that feel like you — joyful, connected, and beautifully timeless.
