SILVASTINA'S MATERNITY & GENDER REVEAL | PARANA PARK

Silvastina organised a big day at Parana Park, a maternity session, family photos, and a gender reveal party all in one afternoon. I've photographed her family a few times before, including her first maternity session and milestones on her brother's side, so it was good to be invited along for this one.

The weather was on everyone's mind. A cyclone was forecast for the next day, and the sky kept changing. We did get a window of sun partway through, so I took Silvastina and a few family members to a spot on a bridge nearby where the backlight was beautiful. Those ended up being some of the strongest shots of the day.

The party had a proper setup with balloons, decorations, and games. The men had to put a nappy on a teddy bear while blindfolded, and there was a guess-the-jelly-beans jar. Silvastina's daughter was a bit shy at the start but warmed up as the afternoon went on.

The reveal itself had a twist. They did a fake one first, just silver confetti. Then the real one. Pink smoke. A girl.

It was a full afternoon and the family were generous and welcoming, offering me food and making sure I felt like part of the day. That kind of warmth always comes through in the photos.

I've been photographing this family across different chapters now, and each time the group gets a little bigger. That's the part of this job I like most.

— Tony