The Dreamers - Elena Walsh

8 days ago

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Written by

8 days ago

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Written by

Welcome to the Dreamers series, created in collaboration with Emma Wand Photography—celebrating the beauty, chaos and magic of real family life. This month, meet Elena Walsh (@littlemanlyphotographer), mama of two, family photographer and believer in keeping life light, playful and full of flow. From her home in Manly, Elena shares how curiosity, kindness and trying new things shape her family’s days.

Can you introduce your family to us, names, ages, and a glimpse into what makes each family member shine in their own way.

Gabija, eight, is clever, funny, kind, smart- just a gorgeous little human being in every sense. Jasmin, six, is our cheeky spark. She’s cute, full of attitude in the best way. My husband is easy going, makes me laugh, and is just a solid guy all round. He loves his sports and is happiest in the surf or with a beer in his hand and his friends around. And then there’s me, the mum. Pretty laid back, love a good time, love dancing, love life, and I’m always keen for a catch-up with my girlfriends. I like to keep our days feeling light and a little different ,a bit of flow, a bit of adventure, and never too rigid. We’ve also got Berry, our tiny ball of a dog. She’s ridiculously cute, insists on riding front row on the bike, and would swim all day if we let her.

Tell us about where you live. What is your favourite local spot for a family swim, adventure or coffee stop/feed?

We live in Manly and love the easy going vibe, the beach, the village, all of it. And it is close enough to the city for when I start missing the culture and buzz of the big city. There are so many great spots here it is hard to pick a favourite: the surf side, Fairy Bower, sunset drinks at The Office… honestly, we are spoiled for choice. We absolutely love it here, the community is just brilliant.

What inspired you to become a family photographer — and what was the journey that led you to found Little Manly Photography?

I’ve been a photographer my whole life and never really did anything else. But once I had my own babies, a new understanding of family dynamics naturally pulled me towards family photography. I started Little Manly Photography a few months after my second child was born and less than a year after we moved to Sydney, so it made sense that I connected most with families with young children. In the very beginning, the business gave me exactly what I needed: flexibility around my family, a bit of adventure as I explored new locations around the area, and the joy of meeting and connecting with people.

How does being a parent change your perspective behind the camera compared to when you first started?

Oh, it changed dramatically. Back in London I photographed all sorts of things, always people, but in completely different ways. I still remember photographing a family once and it felt so alien to me. I honestly didn’t even notice kids existed where we lived, so it just wasn’t part of my world. Saying that, I did know plenty of grown ups who behaved like kids anyway ;) Once I had my own babies, everything shifted. The appreciation, the connection, the chaos, all of it. And I absolutely love it.

Are there any values you’re particularly focused on passing down to your kids at this stage of life?

I love trying new things, and it is something I always try to model for my girls. I tell them it doesn’t matter how wobbly you are at the start or what anyone else thinks. The whole point is to just get out there and give it a go. With practice, things start to click, confidence grows, and you can start to feel the flow. It’s all about showing up in the
first place.

What’s a parenting hack or habit that’s been a game-changer
for you?

My parenting hacks are simple: pick your battles, and the laundry and dirty dishes can wait. And that saying about long nights and short years, so true. Nothing lasts forever; everything is a stage, a little season that comes and goes. The tricky bits, the sweet bits, all of it drifts by quicker than you think, so you may as well breathe it in while it’s here.

If your family had a mascot or a motto, what would it be?

Lead with love, be kind, try your best and flow though the rest.

What’s on the horizon for your family — what are you dreaming of or hoping for in this next season? Can answer short term (summer) or longer term (2026 and beyond)

The girls are at such a great age now, so I definitely want to focus more on travelling over the next few years, especially around Australia,there’s so much to explore and learn. We’re also starting a renovation on our place, so that will be taking up a bit of
headspace too.

Favourite Banabae pieces?

Every single piece, I love the style, the look, the quality. The sarong has been my favourite; I usually wear it as more of a skirt, but I recently took it to a festival and it made the perfect head piece. And the girls’ caps… absolutely adored them. So, so cute.