Splish-splash...

Most children end up a bit wet by the end of a photo shoot at the beach. These kids ended up SO soaked by the end of our hour together at Maroubra Beach that they walked back to the car in their undies! I hope they had half as much fun as they looked to be having! (..Mom & Dad got a little wet as well!)

Back at it...

It feels really good to be back to photographing! As much as I am loving Mommy-hood... I like to know that I can go off and do a shoot once in awhile for a change of pace.
Today I photographed a lovely family from the play-group I attend. We headed down to Maroubra Beach for some fun by the ocean! For one whole hour I forgot all about changing diapers and feeding and fussing.
And I remembered how bouncy little boys can be!

Don't Blink...

"Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney

(chorus)

Don't blink

Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you

Wake up and you're 25 and your highschool sweet-heart becomes your wife

Don't blink

You just might miss your babies growing like mine did

Turning into Moms and Dads, next thing you know your 'better half'

Of fifty years is there in bed

And you're praying God takes you instead

Trust me friend, a hundred years goes faster than you think

So don't blink.

Logan is growing. Where has the time gone?! Diaper changes, feedings, sleeps and lullaby-singing sessions have strung together to make up the last 3 1/2 weeks of my life with him. The days have sort of melted together into a bit of a blur. It's been tiring but also wonderful.

At some point I'll have to take on a few more things again- not just my gorgeous son. Right now I could just stare into those deep baby blue eyes forever. But I'm already missing Chris in a way that I hear many new parents say they miss their spouse when a baby comes along. We need to start making more time for each other. And I'm getting keen to do some more photography again as well. I still need to get on top of baby announcement/thank-you cards. So many people have been so generous with their gifts and their well-wishes. They deserve to be thanked.

How will I fit everything in?! How will I find balance in my life? How will I do it all while still enjoying every moment and not having the years pass me by so quickly?

This is going to be the greatest challenge of my life. I'm just starting to ponder it now...

It's been 3 weeks...

Tiny socks in the laundry.
Living in 3 hour intervals.
Showering quickly.
Baby cuddles.
Up at 4 a.m.
Phone is always out of reach. So is coffee.
Big blue eyes.

Things have changed at our house.

He's Finally Here...

Logan Thomas Jackson finally entered the world on Wednesday, September 22nd at 3:31am. He weighed 9.6 lbs at birth and looked just perfect from the moment we saw him.
Logan was 10 days overdue when I was induced in hospital. My labour was long... so I chose to have an epidural half way through. The pain I experienced once my contractions fully set in was not something I could imagine enduring for any serious length of time. And things were moving along slowly. Having the intense pain taken away made my labour a much more enjoyable and positive experience. Once the epidural was given- I laboured for 7 more hours.
In the end, Logan entered the world in grand-finale style. After 2 full hours of pushing and lack of progress, the doctor & the forceps appeared. Things got a little too dramatic for my liking at this stage. Giving birth was a horrific, beautiful & amazing experience. I can't really explain how something can fall under all of those descriptive words... but it did.
Once the doctor set Logan on my chest and he began to cry- any pain and confusion that was involved in my labour ended. Everything made sense again. And my heart swelled 10 times bigger than I feel it has ever been. I fell in love with my son at that moment.
I could finally see his face. And let his tiny fingers curl around one of mine. I could see him moving and hear his little noises. I could witness him hiccuping- not just feel it in my belly.
Logan is nearly 2 weeks old now. He is becoming more alert and loveable each day. Chris and I are learning how to be parents- a lesson that will go on for years and years to come. It is still early days- but things are good.
Part of me doesn't want Logan to grow or change- not even an inch. And part of me can't help but wonder what is in store for him in the future. What will he look like as a toddler? When will he smile? Will he be a good runner? Where will his dreams take him one day?
And how did we ever exist without him?
Thanks to the powers above for our little blessing.
xoxo

I am a photographer! (exclamation mark)

Wow. What a way to come in such a short time. If you look at my first post (back in May) it was titled "I am a photographer? (Question mark)"
I feel quite confident these days using the new and updated version of the title. I started working for Israel in August- last month- for pay. I got through all the training and I've done five freelance shoots for his company. And wouldn't you know it- I made the guy some big sales! Hooray! At this point there really isn't any reason I can't call myself a "photographer".
It feels good.
The families I have worked with through Israel Smith Photographers have been very friendly, fun and positive. As I've grown bigger and bigger this past month they have offered to carry my camera gear (I always decline), to drive me home so I don't have to take the bus, and to help me down hills, up onto rocks, etc. Doing shoots has become more difficult so by mid-August I had to tell Israel that I needed a break until after the baby comes. I am missing the work and the opportunities to learn more through experience. But I'll pick it back up again soon enough.
So there you have it- I am a working photographer. Exclamation mark!

34 Weeks...

34 Weeks, and this is how I feel:
* Like I could actually deliver a baby any day now. We've been to the pre-natal class and learned all about labour. I know the signs to watch for. I know the pain to expect. My bag is (kinda-sorta) packed for the hospital. I'm getting keen to DO this baby thing! Bring on the contractions!
* But at the same time I feel like I should relish in every last movie watched, every last meal eaten with two hands, every night that I sleep many hours in a row. I feel like as much as I am excited to see my baby's face and look into his eyes... I shouldn't rush it. Now is the time to relax, to be patient and to let nature take it's course.
* Some moments I feel like "Oh my god- what have we done?!" Are we crazy?! HOW are we going to handle this?! Is there ANY way we can turn back time about 9 months and re-think some things?! :)
* Literally I feel my stomach churning multiple times on a daily basis. The baby has gotten bigger and there are no more little pokes here and there. When he moves my entire stomach moves and shudders and shakes. Sometimes it's quite uncomfortable... most mostly it makes me happy that he is in there practicing his moves and growing stronger.
* I feel like I'm almost a Mom. And that is the most astonishing feeling of all.

Beach Baby...

What can I say? She's adorable!

This little chicken and her parents met me down at Coogee Beach for a family photo session this afternoon.

All it took was a pink stuffed cow to get Miss P to smile for the camera. She is the happiest baby I have photographed in quite some time!

(click on images for a larger view)

Two little girls and another on the way...

How fun was it getting to help this family document the current stage of their family?! Two little girls and another on the way! (That's a lot of painted finger-nails and frilly skirts!) Mum & Dad informed me that they hadn't had a nice photograph taken of the two of them together in years... so we had to remedy that! And how cute is the bump?! Due to arrive in September- just one week before our little bump! xo

When you love someone...

I heard some song lyrics today that struck a chord with me:

When you love someone
you'll do anything
you'll do all the crazy things
that you can't explain

you'll shoot the moon
put out the sun...
when you love someone.

We are going through some crazy-stressful times these days. Chris and I. Others. People around us who we care about. Things have been falling apart and we've all been working in different ways to put them back together. It is taking time and patience... and lots of love.

I'm finding that sometimes circumstances that seem so big and so difficult can turn out just fine in the end... as long as people are loving each other and acting out of love.

The concept of "putting out the sun" is huge. But I've seen some pretty amazing people pulling off some pretty amazing feats lately in times of pain & grief. They are doing it for the people they love- and it's inspiring.

To all those who have been affected by the helicopter crash in Afghanistan- those who lost their lives, those who were injured, those who got out safely, those who helped them come home, those who lost them, and those who continue to help them heal. xo

Family Photography...

They laugh together- they cry together- they hang out together. They are families! They are fun to photograph for all of their quirks, their dramas and their love. I really enjoy capturing the essence of each family I photograph. I've met some very friendly and interesting people during the photo sessions that I've done. It's fantastic to see the pride that they all take in their families and the lives that they have created together!

Ants in their pants...

That's what these two little guys had during our family shoot together this past weekend. Mom & Dad came up with the fantastic idea to stick them up in a tree. So we did. They couldn't go anywhere and for a few minutes they were actually quite amused at the novelty of being up high. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to get any shots of their faces- let alone their smiling faces.

So there's your photography tip for the day folks... if your kids won't sit/stand still for a decent photo you may have to trap them up in a tree! :)

You're Gonna Miss This...

I was listening to a great song today on my ipod. This is the chorus:

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days
hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now...
But you're gonna miss this.

I've been thinking a lot about the stages of my life lately. Periods in time (months or years) where I was living in certain places, or working certain jobs, or in certain relationships.

My life is made up of a long string of these stages. And each stage got me one step closer to where I am right now. I am very happy to be here, although, sometimes I would love to go back a stage or two or three. Just for a few days- for another taste of that time. Sometimes I miss the past stages in my life.

I miss the highschool stage: All that cafeteria banter- surrounded by the friends I rarely get to see now. I miss a time when the only things I seemed to worry about were passing the weekly math test and how to afford the outfits I saw in Teen magazine.

I miss the university stage: That sudden freedom. The crazy residence I lived in where nobody ever slept and everybody seemed to know everybody else's business. I miss my room-mate and that cute boy down the hall who looked a lot like Patrick Swayze circa Dirty Dancing. I dropped out after first year because I decided that my program was not for me. But oh the freedom! I miss the freedom.

I miss the next massively confusing stage of my life: My early twenties mid-life-crisis. When I cried to my Mom on the phone every other night because I didn't know what to do with my life. When I couldn't recognize what I was good at. I couldn't figure out what to do next. I was stuck. It was horrible... but it was necessary. I know that now. I miss not knowing where my life would take me next. The un-known was exciting.

I miss my 4 years in London: Living with one of my best girlfriends. I miss spending hours in our living-room together talking about life. I miss dating. I miss all those first kisses and walks through the park and great get-to-know-you coffees. I miss the moments that made my heart flutter. I even miss the moments that made my heart break. I miss patio bars on Richmond Street.

I miss my first year in Australia: Meeting Chris again after nearly 5 years of emailing back and forth. I miss realizing that he was going to be my future husband. Travelling around a country I wanted to see since I was 9 years-old. Petting kangaroos and going on long road trips. I miss my engagement night. I miss all those happy tears.

I miss my recent journey in Melbourne to get through photography school. I miss all the frustrating moments where I doubted myself. And all the wonderful moments where I succeeded. I miss all my crazy class-mates who each have their own style and strength. I miss long sessions in the studio and the dark-room.

At the moment- I am working to identify all of the wonderful things about this current stage in my life. Sydney- starting a photography career- enjoying time with Chris and the dogs. I want to enjoy these things for all that they're worth. Because in another 3 months or so we will be heading into the next stage. We'll have a baby. We'll be parents. There will be amazing new aspects in life to embrace. But there will no doubt, be things I will miss. xo

Kid Psychology 101...

I've photographed a LOT of kids over the past two weeks. And if there's one thing I've learned throughout these shoots it's that I don't understand them at ALL! They are more clever and cunning than you might believe. And most of them have gone out of their way to outwit, outlast, outplay me at taking a decent photograph of them! They squirm, they make faces and they are quick! One even threw a whole pile of leaves at me and my camera!

I am proud to say, however, that not a single kid left a photo session with me succesfully un-photographed. I managed to capture the cuteness- even if it nearly killed me!

Check out these little munchkins in action!

Despite the difficulties of working with children as subjects- I actually really enjoy it. The results are worth the work that is put in. And nothing brings me more pleasure than to deliver beautiful images of people's children to them once they are edited and ready for print. I may not be a mother yet- but I can imagine in the future that a beautiful portrait of my little boy will be priceless to me. As I get into this photography thing more and more- I appreciate the skills I have developed to be able to pass along priceless gifts to others.

This is why I got into portraiture photography over all the other areas of photography that I studied in school. I love to capture memories of people in images. To bring people joy. To help them remember the good times in their lives and the beautiful relationships they have with their children and their partners and their family & friends.

Also- I kind of enjoy a little cardio built into my photo shoots- chasing the munchkins! It keeps me on my feet!

Meet the Team...

Well, here they are. The people I've been spending a LOT of time with lately. My fellow photographers, learners and all around nice guys and girls. (From left to right- James, Sami, Israel, Magdalena). These photos were taken on our last training session together at The Rocks. That's right- we've finished all of our training. Now it's on to some serious shooting. It's been a fun and very informative 8 weeks! I've been so lucky to be given the opportunity to learn portraiture photography from someone who is doing it successfully for a living. Israel has been a dream to work with. Positive, enthousiastic, and patient. And the other trainees who've been along for the ride with me have been so supportive too. I'm looking forward to seeing each of our experiences turn into future careers as photographers. Until then- we'll all be shooting as part of the "Israel Smith Photographers" team! If you're interested, check us out at www.israelsmith.com

Bright & Early...

Bright and early today (8am) I met the Anderson's down at Coogee Beach for a family photo session. We were worried about the weather- but it turned out to be a beautiful morning after two days of rain in Sydney.

Dan & Fiona's son Patrick was feeling a little bit under the weather but we managed to get some smiles out of him throughout the shoot. What a little sweet-heart! I love those big blue eyes- just like his Mum's. Dan & Fi are great friends of ours and it was a pleasure to get to photograph them! Thanks so much guys! xo

Another day, another shoot...

I returned to Coogee Beach today with Magdalena to practice shooting portraiture at this location. Israel ran our last practical session at Coogee.
I'm finding it very helpful to return to a location more than once to get used to it and how the light works there.
Here's my favorite portrait of Mag today- how gorgeous is she?!
We had a nice relaxing hour or so together- just trying things out and comparing notes. It's so nice to be working with young photographers who are still figuring it all out, just like me!

All about the belly...

Allow me to introduce you to my new friend- my belly. The thing I have always been most curious about in regards to pregnancy is what it must feel like to suddenly have your stomach grow uncontrollably. In the last couple of weeks I have suddenly noticed my belly becoming larger. It gets in the way when I bend down to put on my shoes. It aches now and then and I can literally feel it stretching and growing.
Most curiously- my once "innie" belly-button is slowly but surely becoming an "outie". I've acquired that vertical, dark line called the linea-nigra (I read my books!) And in the evenings when I lay on the couch to watch t.v. my belly starts it's evening ritual of little pokes, kicks, and manouvers. The little man is practicing his rugby. And I can literally see the movements underneath my skin sometimes.
This belly is a strange and wonderful thing.
Chris took this photo tonight as a joke. But I actually find it amazing. My belly at 21 weeks. xo

The Beautiful Katy

I am loving my new camera! It has transformed my ability to capture the types of images I have dreamed of capturing. I never realized how limited I was with my old camera gear until now! Everything is sharper, clearer, brighter. And I can achieve great images in low light (hooray for ISO!)
This might sound cheesy- but I feel lucky to have started on such basic equipment and moved up. I didn't have the technology to fall back on in the beginning as I was learning the basics of photography. And now that I know what I am doing- I have the equipment capable of achieving the results I want. It's a beautiful thing.
These images are of my gorgeous (inside and out) girlfriend Katy at Centennial park. We headed there on the weekend for a relaxing 2 hour shoot (which ended with a well deserved cappucino for each of us- if we do say so ourselves)! A lovely afternoon.
I wanted to practice shooting in some of the locations Israel went through with us at our practical training session this week. I will definitely be doing more family shoots at Centennial Park in the near future!

For those of you who are interested... here are a few tips Israel swears by in order to achieve fantastic portrait shots:
1. The back ground (in most cases) should be darker than the subject
2. The lighting should be interesting
3. There should be a very shallow depth of field
4. There should be good separation between the subject and the background
5. Speaking of background- keep it simple

Anzac Day Parade 2010

I picked up my new camera (a Canon 5D MkII) yesterday- just in time to have a play with it today at the Anzac Day Parade!

My latest assignment with Israel is to do a photo-documentary story. I've chose to cover Anzac Day since Chris and I planned to attend all of the festivities.

Our day started at 3:15am. We woke that early in order to get to the dawn service on time. It was a rainy, miserable morning. But I kept thinking that if men and women can train as hard as they do to serve at war, and then go and do it- I can bust out my umbrella and brave getting a bit wet!

We moved into the city later in the morning. Chris went off to march in the parade and I enjoyed nearly two hours of capturing interesting people with my new toy. *Note: It's not really a toy ($$$). We may not eat for a few months!

I've posted a couple of my favorite images from today. I'm loving the depth of field I can achieve now. And the fact that I can go above 400 ISO and not get any noise! So long tri-pod. Hello whole new world of photography!

Children's Photography

Some of my favorite children's photography to date.

Boy oh Boy!

Boy oh boy... we're having a boy! A tree climber. A sports player. A dirt digger. Or maybe none of these things? But it's got my mind racing with possibilities of what our little son will throw at us in the upcoming years.
Now that we know the gender of our un-born baby I have reached a new level of excitement in my pregnancy. We're talking about names. I'm shopping online. Everything seems more... real!
Those of you who have gone through this will probably be able to relate to that period of time where you almost have to convince yourself that you are pregnant. It's what other people go through. Not you.
Well, it's me! And Chris! And Moe & Rowdy! We're going to add another darling boy to the family. And I'm going to be out-numbered even more than usual! (... but loved and protected more than most women on the block also)!
We can't wait to meet you in 5 months baby boy!

Say Cheese... PLEASE!?!

Here's another photo of Magdalena, (shot at Bronte Beach). Of about 20 photos that I shot of her I think she is smiling in 3 of them. You wouldn't know it- but she doesn't like having her photo taken.

It makes some people very uncomfortable. Which is an issue for portrait photographers when we are trying to bring out the best in people. To capture them looking natural and happy. Not like they want to run away and hide.

There is a real psychology involved in shooting people. As if we don't have enough to think about with lighting, exposure, composition, etc. We've also got to say the right things and give off the right vibe to put people around us at ease. It's a bit of a song and dance that you can't really be taught. You just have to get out there and learn what works best. I find it takes a lot of concious effort to ensure I conduct a shoot in a way that clients leave having enjoyed themselves.

So I encourage portrait photographers to get in front of the lens once in awhile. And remember exactly how it feels to have that under the microscope feeling. And for those of you having your photo taken... say cheese PLEASE?!?! We're not trying to hurt you. Promise!

Location, location, location!

We had a great session with Israel yesterday at Bronte Beach. He took us around to different locations he normally shoots at and explained how the light behaved in each spot and the types of images he is able to achieve there.

Magdalena and I went around afterwards and shot each other with some of Israel's recommended locations. Here is one of my favorite shots of her...

Afterwards I had the opportunity to watch Israel in action at Coogee Beach. He had a shoot scheduled with a family (2 parents and 2 twin boys- 2 years old). Hilarious! I held a stuffed tiger and a stuffed dog for most of the shoot and acted as "smile inducer". This shoot involved a lot of racing after toddlers and a lot of bribery. But I think the final images will be amazing- I can't wait to see them!

Lessons learned:

1. Take time to make your clients feel comfortable during the shoot. Talk to them about their kids, their jobs, their hobbies.

2. Get parents to tickle their kids. The smiles are incredible!

3. Prop a stuffed animal on your head or your lens if necessary!

Love Your Pets...

A friend of mine lost her dog in the last few days. He passed away very young and (I'd imagine) left her feeling like a piece her heart was missing. That might sound extreme- but those of you who have pets who you absolutely adore will understand.

We have two dogs. We feed Moe & Rowdy and walk them and pat their enormous heads. We throw them a ball and let them sit on the couch. We tell them they are "good boys" every day.

In return- they have made us their entire world. They follow us around the house like furry magnets. They want to be with us always. They sit beside us and place one big paw in our hand to be held. Not shaken. Held. They wake us each morning with a long pink tongue that runs from our chin to our fore-head in one quick motion.

They warm our hearts with their sweetness. They make us laugh with their antics. They bring us more joy than we ever realized they would on the day we brought them home from the dog shelter.

We want them to be with us forever. But the reality is- they won't. One day, for what-ever reason... they will leave us.

So this post is for Milo. The dog I never met- but who resembled Moe & Rowdy with his long legs, his expressive face and his black & tan markings. He was a special friend. And this post is for every pet owner who might need a gentle reminder that their furry family members are a gift- one that won't last forever. So love them constantly and don't scold them too harshly when accidents happen (on the floor, the bed, in the laundry hamper). There will come a day when you even miss their mishaps.

I See the Light!

Lighting is something I thought I learned enough about in photography school.
But my most recent assignment with Israel was to photograph a person using all different types of light. Side light, back light, front light. In sunlight and in shade. Even indoors.
And I realized... I just haven't been observant enough when it comes to light. I am always more focussed on the background and composition than the actual lighting of a subject.
Duh!
I've been missing something pretty important here, people!
So I'm approaching my portraiture a bit differently now- and that's exciting.
Here's a photo of Chris. Side lit. In sunshine. In Brisbane. :)

This is my favorite portrait photograph that I have taken to date.
This lovely creature is my niece, Izabella. She and her parents spent plenty of time with us over the last two years while we were living in Melbourne. I did a few scheduled photo shoots with Izabella, however, this wasn't one of them. This shot was taken spontaneously one afternoon because I happened to look up and see that Bella looked so darn cute. And the lighting was pretty. *Snap*
My biggest goal over the next 6 months or so is to learn how to capture quality images like this one more often. To be able to plan for results and not just hope that everything goes my way through luck and circumstance. I've been a bit guilty of that in the past- lack of planning, that is. I'm hoping Israel will be able to help me with this.
A photographer needs to know how to make things happen to his/her advantage in a short ammount of time. To anticipate results. To plan for lighting. Be certain of a location. To make people comfortable. There is so much going through a photographer's head during a shoot... I'd like to learn to make it all feel a little more natural. Basically, to have more of a strategy.
And THEN- there will always be those very rare moments when a beautiful shot appears before you. And if you're lucky enough to have your camera handy... *Snap*.