Not sure which one I felt or did more…but this is what NOT to do at your wedding!

Busy proofing numerous sessions for families, newborns and Engagements before Christmas.  We have a Christening, two newborns, a family, two Engagements and a Wedding to do before the 25th December…..then we look forward to new things and exciting releases in 2009!

Will be back to blog in two days, when I have some photos to post for you too!  In the meantime….sighs….isn’t she beautiful?

Well the sparks sure did fly when I got to photography this stunning couple!  It’s so easy to see how in love J is with S…he adores her! and wow! who wouldn’t????  Stunning is the word that comes to mind!   They were both so fun and so easy to work with, just the way I like it, up for anything, incorporated their ultra cool dog, and happy to dig around amongst the trees, alleyways and other unlikely places, but where the light was perfect!

At one point we pulled into the side of the road to shoot some in the bushes…and the police pulled up behind us….I proceeded to get out my ladder to shoot in the bushes (yes I really do do that! LOL) and the police man was observing …..so I went and asked him if there was a problem, nervously thinking we were going to get arrested for public displays of affection and those PDA’s being photographed! but nope….they were looking for some naughty teens coming down the railway line behind us.  I breathed a sigh of relief but turned around to find this perfect shot happening behind me! LOL….nothing to see here Mr Plod!

…and some in the township……out of the township….and a funny outtake! ….just checking out my lens!

So of course today is the American Election; which with Erick being American, we watch closely, and I think Obama will take it out…but like they say don’t count McCain out, he is an old war horse who has survived many a battle, and may just pull his way out of the sad polls.  Then Saturday we have our own elections; and since this is not a place to discuss politics, I won’t go into that! …but Messy/Dirty/Low are the words that spring to mind about the Campaign this time.

Lastly …see Exhibit A    

…. now see Exhibit B (Image kindly supplied by my friend Anastasia Chomlack, whose work is so beautiful!) 

…today is last day to purchase fireworks, so if you are getting married and want to have a beautiful exit from your Reception, rush out and grab a box of sparklers!  Which is the very reason I had to borrow the image from Stace, because we have never seen it done here; so do something unique and different; we promise to capture it beautifully too…how about a heart shape captured on a slow shutter?  awesome!  (If you are one of our couples and have only just seen this idea …ie AFTER 5th November! don’t worry we bought some boxes, so just ask!)

For wedding couples checking out our work and blog ….please note we are fully booked for Weddings  from December 08 through to Mid May 09 …we may take a smaller one at end of April and we have a gap at the end of May, but anything else….Sorry!  If you are considering booking with us, please contact us as early as possible, because we are currently filling for the end of 09 and only have a few gaps left for the spring/summer weddings then, as well as 2010 bookings which are also filling now. Thanks!

Sighs…..do you find that little bit of air escaping your lips when you are thinking of everything you need to do?  Or if your To Do List seems to keep getting longer rather than shorter; and yet your crossing things off it every day!!!   Sighs …..or you realise that you’re out of toothpaste for the kids in the morning but the Warehouse has closed and the Grocery seems tooooo far to drive.     Sighs.    You proofed and loaded so many sessions that you loved but you haven’t had a chance to share them!   Sighs.  (Okay that was partly HAPPY sighs…that they are done, and that you loved them!)  

The Magazine for Beyond is finished.   (Another happy lot of sighs) ….but we can’t load it until we move to the new Server (again!) so…..yep……Sighs…. (as she adds that to the To Do List).  Big thanks to Tash for doing the mag again!

The Desk that was clean two days ago (okay I confess it took me until 2am to get it clean!) is now filled again with paperwork, pens and kids camp forms (and Kelsea gives me hers’ and says “mom don’t forget to tick “blackouts” on the medical part”.    “Kelsea you don’t have blackouts!”    “Yes I do too!, that is why I have to put the hallway light on every night before I turn my light out……I HATE having the blackouts”)    Hmmmmmm didn’t I send that kid to school to GET an education?????

Then there is my lovely husband, you know I love him right? but he tells me tonite (as we compare diaries and appointments because the next few months leading up to Christmas are totally full-on with weddings, engagements, maternity and newborns….as well as family christmas shoots - such an awesome gift to give!!! if you are looking to give the perfect gift this year!…..why not one of our Gift Certificates?)…but I digress - so back to my husband who tells me that no he will not be working Labour Day; because he is practicing for his new 3 day work week, for when he retires next year.  On seeing my face he said “oh so I can work three days away and the other four here on the house”…way to save yourself honey!   The mere mention that we might finally finish this renovation has me instantly thinking this is a good idea! 

Boy does that guy know how to emotionally blackmail me or what!   Sighs.

So anyhow….I have so many sessions to show you….I’ve been buried in to-do lists and been a bad blogger, but I’m sure clients are pleased that I’m actually working for them; and not just here chatting with all of you; so just wanted to share a few and let you all know that I’ve missed you!  ….and I will be back with our big exciting news and more session peeks on the weekend!   In the meantime…Enjoy!

I love the mystery of this one………and oh my gosh…..isn’t this exactly what it is like to be in the last weeks of pregnancy?  I had to do pregnancy from mom’s perspective!

So tonite E comes in and gives me a big kiss on the head (as I toil at the computer catching up on admin!)…a hug and says “Have I told you how much I love you?”….ummmmm No?…..I mean I know he does, and for SURE it is nice to be told….but he had just come from the Doctor, from having cancer looked at on his ears (yes from his Kauai surfing days).  So you can see my problem?  Right?

I want to say “Honey, you are the sweetest, my thoughtful hubby on the planet!  Thank you for making me feel so special, thank you for reminding me today that you love me, and giving me warm fuzzies!”…..instead I say “How’d it go at the Doctor?” (because the kiss and reminder of our love is making me nervous that it is a percursor to BAD news) “Fine” says he.  Hmmmmmm

Okay, will try again “Then what’s with the kiss?……was that kiss because it is school holidays and you are heading out for another social event, leaving me again to get the kids fed, showered, pj’d and tucked, before I have to come back to finish off some admin, the new banner for SBO kit, a maternity session (yes I promise sneak peeks will be up tomorrow of this GORGEOUS couple; gosh hope they haven’t got their new miracle yet!)…..and work for Beyond“……yes I really said all that in one breath, and anyone who knows me, knows I did, cos I can!

He stares at me……………silence…………….I carry on typing on computer but I can hear the thinking in his head…………OKAY I’M AN ASS!!!!   At this point he probably wished he DID have bad news from the Doc!  Sometimes it is best to just shut up and feel special.  Lesson learnt.   (although he did still go out and leave me to get the kids fed, showered…….hmmmmm maybe this is one lesson that might take a little bit longer to seep in!). 

and the reason for the kiss?   “Just because I didn’t tell you that today, and on the way home I realised that I really wanted you to know”

Sometimes the little things go a     L  O  N  G   way.  Nuff said.

(The cat is down below clawing at the old chair…….hence the amusement on the face! …..but love the capture!)

and in case you thought I was kidding…this was Shadow’s next move!   What’s that rule about working with kids and animals?

Tonite I am working in the office and I hear the sounds of Abba’s Dancing Queen throbbing in the Lounge, and then major laughter from the four kids.  I couldnt’ resist ….sneaking my head around the corner, I spy Erick dancing with Kelsea.  Great practice for when she is a Bride!

However the music is Abba, the Dance moves are Saturday Night Fever!…hmmmmmm   ….and then the topper is Ethan who spys me and says “Mom, you just lost your sweetheart….. he’s with her now ” (meaning Kelsea)…(all said in a very matter of fact voice) and as I try not to crack up laughing he follows with “Guess you’ll just have to marry me”.   Gee Ethan, sorry that you only got to be my back-up husband.    LOL! 

As I returned to my office, I suddenly had flashbacks to the 80’s….oh my gosh…I remember……

The first movie I snuck into pretending to be 18, was Saturday Night Fever, I wore makeup and heels, all aided and abetted by my brother and his fiance, so that I could see my heart-throb John (who also made my heart race when he was in Grease!)   I thought Olivia Newton-John was singing about aerobics on her “physical” album. 

I wanted to be a Solid Gold Dancer (why I ever thought that when I don’t have legs up to my armpits, I’ll never know, but I now watch this and crack up at the mere thought that I EVER wanted to do that!)…and does this seem rather, well, sexy? to anyone else?  I can’t even believe our family gathered around for family night viewing of this!

I recorded songs off the radio on my tape-recorder; by holding the tape recorder up to the speakers on the radio and making sure there was no one around to create background “voices” on my dub! …and don’t laugh too hard; those tape recorders are now selling for more on ebay than the new cd players!

I made macrame plant hangers for everyone I knew for Christmas one year……good grief!  

I wore cool Farrah side wings hair that moved when I flicked my head, and I carried a special brush everywhere, so I could keep the “flicks” just right!    I will NOT even mention things like colored mascara, leather jackets, HUGE earrings, bright (and I mean fluro!) pink lipstick, belts wrapped three times around our waists and dropt low over the hips (and yes! that is coming back too!), Jelly Shoes or Chinese Flats. 

..the first time I saw a “beta” video….WOW! and then my cousins put “Pong” on…..and I was in awe!  The wee ball bounced up and down the screen endlessly and I was in video game heaven!   I watch my kids on the PS2 that they are allowed to rent if the holidays are wet, and really feel they are missing out (tongue firmly in cheek there!).   The Love Boat, Fantasy Island (which I thought was kind of creepy) but not as much as the Dalecks on Dr Who! …..and finally Chopper flags on the back of your bike!  If you didn’t have one you just weren’t cool!

Thanks for the trip back down memory lane kids…..I was going to send them to bed, but suddenly I feel so old, I think I will go there myself!

What more can you say?  Sisters, Stunning, Fun, Amazing, Talented (you can see that!!!)…….and an awesome family!  I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves! 

Just a reminder to anyone wanting to book a session for your Teens, Christmas bookings are filling up, the weather is turning beautiful and warm, so even if you are wanting these done in January / February 09, you need to book now, because our wedding season for next year is nearly full.  We supply the images for Facebook, Bebo, Twitter, etc…just ask, we are happy to give you watermarked copies for free.

Their Mom has the most amazing garden, and she wanted images done there, although the day was miserable, I love the mellow greens and softness that the overcast sky brings!

…and here’s the talent!

Hee hee, gotta love girls that can rock a Photo Shoot!   More to post this weekend of some new things coming online for the Business……and exciting happenings over at Beyond too!  Laters!

My friend Brenda had this on her Blog, and I just thought it was so dang cute!   Thought it was about time I shared!   We are back from our trip to DayDream Island in the WhitSundays…and oh my!  It was AMAZING!   A much deserved break I feel, but we missed our kiddos, and wouldn’t want to go again with taking them with us to experience all the wildlife, tropical fish and just plain AWESOMENESS (is that even a word???) of DayDream.   Had a day in Brisbane catching up with my colleagues Sheila and Jodi, could have talked to them for hours about our businesses (poor them!).

Our friends who own GraceWorks (if you ever need Demolition materials for anything you will find that Paul and Sarah are truly amazing and will source what you need……their range is HUGE)…..anyhow, they had our kiddos, on top of their own four, so eight in total! (yes I know!) ….and my kids had the best time with bonfires, treehuts, sleepover EXTRA friends staying (yes I’m not kidding!…they increased their load to 9!)….we were just so thrilled to come home and find that where we thought our kids would be a mess without us, they had in fact been kept so busy that they had only cried a little on the night right before our return.  Good friends are hard to find.

This week is a busy one, putting together wedding albums, dealing with the Framer’s on several large portraits, a Display wall to go up at a fantastic location in town, new images into the Display at Wee Kiwi….and lots of other incidentals that mark the start of preparing for the School Holidays.  Once again, we will not be open during the weeks of 29th September until the 13th October, but there is available TWO Sunday sessions.  If you want to enquire about Christmas mini-sessions, feel free to do that also, we have a special package this year, and I’ll post that by the end of the week.  This is a fantastic way to do your Christmas Cards~!   (I always throw out the generic purchased one’s but have kept all our “photo” christmas cards from friends/family overseas).

Anyhow, back tomorrow to share two incredibly beautiful “seniors” that I shot on the Weekend, and more from our recent wedding, but leaving you with these two!

Talk about a random headline!  but go check out Jodi Friedman’s new blog templates!  We were so happy when she asked us to be contributing photographer’s to showcase her amazing new product!~   We have been featured photographer’s on three Commercial websites now, and have two other exciting new challenges in the works!  More on that later!  

You don’t have to be a Professional Photographer to use these templates, but if you have a Blog, send photos to Grandparents, etc…then these would be so ooooo oo perfect for you!  So just a heads up to check them out, and if you are one of the amazing clients featured …congrats!  you all rock and it was difficult to pick from so many amazing sessions that we have done lately but we went with images that were different in color and style to the other templates shown…….

On another note!  We are out of the office until Monday…..we are going away for a planning, learning, refreshing, exciting new opportunities Weekend…yes all of that in four days!~  Think of the words: Crazy, Sexy, Downloadable, Unique…..and you’ll begin to get an idea of the new products and services that are about to come online for our Wedding Clients.  We are so so excited by these new products…..which will be add-ons to our current offerings and very very affordable!  Yep they really are gonna be that good!  

So nuts and bolts over the weekend…..if you need us, text or email; I”ll check in daily (that is if the sharks haven’t got me! ….after Jaws I NEVER go in the water, unless it has some form of chlorine involved) but crocodiles are a form of shark, and they can get me on land….so I’m worried!

Anyhow, have a great weekend no matter what you are doing!  Catch you all next week!

This wedding was so fun!….as mentioned in my previous post….it was everything a wedding day should be!  While I love the romance, beauty of the Bride and everything else about weddings (who doesn’t!), I appreciate more the sense of Family that surrounds the couple, and that they have not only come to get “married” but then to just have a really good time with all the special people in their lives.  That is what makes Wedding Day’s so special, I think.

When couples relax and just “be” then the magic of the lens really happens.  When they forget that we are there and just hang out with each other and their friends/family, the natural, relaxed and most emotional moments happen.

So…..some sneak peeks for you guys!  The weather was perfect, their daughter was an angel….and what can I say about the wedding dance?  PURE FUN!  It was hard to shoot while laughing so hard and watching all the Guests Laugh and then the roar and clapping at the end was just fantastic!  Thank you for letting us be a small part of your Amazing Day!

The Robin Cliff Gown, look at that detail!

Stunning Accessories, Claire had provided beautiful accessories for her Bridesmaids too!

Nothing to say about this one!

Claire was STUNNING!  I”ve only just started proofing her Bridal Images and her beauty is jaw-dropping!

Told you the Dance was great! 

a wedding we are always tired….and I suspect the Bride and Groom are REALLY tired! Their Day was everything a Day should be!  Fun, Sexy, NO RAIN, lots of laughter, friends, family, great food, wonderful music, hip dancing (that first dance!!!!!)…..and just so romantic!  I’ll load some sneak peeks tomorrow but today, I thought I’d just give you all a laugh….so here is my tutorial on how to take care of babies (for Dummies!)

Okay got it?