2012 roundup: Family Photography

Over the next few weeks I'm going to be doing a series of roundup blogs showing some of my favourite photos from sessions I've done throughout the year. This year I've had the opportunity to do family photography sessions in 2 great locations, where I am from on the Central Coast of NSW, Australia and where I now call home in London, Ontario, Canada. If there is one thing I love about being a photographer it is knowing that these images will be forever in the family and cherished for years to come, maybe in frames up on the walls or even just hidden away for that 18th (Australia) or 19th (Canada) birthday slideshow. Photographing families really is my passion and I'm looking forward to meeting many new families to photograph in the New Year! 

I love the chaos in this shot from a family lifestyles session in London. It captures the moment that many times you don't see in family sessions, the meltdown. 

If there is one photo I've taken this year that just encapsulates summer, it's this one. London, On

That look of love from a mothers eyes

Playful shoot at Terrigal, NSW

Two best friends at Gibbons Park, London.

Baby love at Long Jetty, NSW

The growing and healing family, Wamberal, NSW

The bond between mother and son, Toowoon Bay, NSW

The first full family shoot, Wamberal, NSW

Puppy Love, Ettalong, NSW

Baby bump, Bateau Bay, NSW

Boys will be boys, London, On

Family fun, Gibbons Park, London, On

If you would like to buy a Gift Certificate for a family photography session in London, Contact me and I will give you a $50 discount!

Unsigned top 10

My Lovely friend Leanne had a link on facebook to her friends Jewellery that needs votes, or facebook 'likes' to be a designer on 'Ec one', a store in london with a beautiful website with Designer and fine jewellery for sale, or in my case to need to wipe the drool off of my keyboard in awe of some of the jewellery on there.

Laura Gravestock

Lilly Gibbs

I did a fine art Jewellery course at NSCAD when I was there on exchange and after terrible burns, 8 hour sanding sessions, blowtorch meltings and design failures I have incredible respect for people who can excel in that field.

My attempt at Jewellery making, my 'Hot and Cold' Ring.

So, check it out, Vintage inspired diamond ring ladies? Check it out and vote for some new designers to be discovered.

Do you have a favorite jewellery store or website?

Looking up..

Working at a Camera store/Lab, you get to see alot of run-of-the-mill engagement photo-shoots and wedding photography. I know as a photographer who doesn't want to be a commercial photographer, I find it hard to be in a world where the standard shots are needed (and wanted too I guess) so when you see something different it really is great. I found a great blog about a shoot that Is like what I would like to be shooting for people for their engagement/wedding photos, and what eventually I would like done for me when the time comes, something personal and different.. Enjoy!

Cuba baby!

"Wednesday, when, huh, what day? Thursday, the third day" is approaching, and with each passing day it gets closer and closer to our new adventure, an all inclusive island holiday!

I honestly dont know what i'm looking forward to most,

Reason 1: having another adventure (well, an adventure inside an adventure as at the moment i'm living it up in k-nad-town but life does still get a bit monotonous and at times and different situations can make it a little stressful, so an island get away is exactly what the doctor ordered! (or not because as it stands i've had to pay almost $500 in doctors bills in the last 2 weeks because of the stupid Canadian health care system not reaching out to poor Aussies..)

Reason 2: I can't wait to have spare time to take a bunch of photos, I'll be taking my Olympuswaterproof, shockproof camera (for drunken nights out) my Canon 30d (for taking 'real' photos) a Canon D10 (because the Olympus takes shocking photos and i'll be taking it to the beach and underwater) and my Polaroid, and yes, I'm one of the only ones still with film. Ha.

Reason 3: It's all inclusive, and when i say all inclusive I mean everything, Alcohol, beach sports, food, everything..

Reason 4: Last but not least, I'm looking forward to some quality time with my boy.. Who is finishing his exams/ whole undergraduate degree right about now and so we'll be free to just chill out (and heres the best bit) together. :)

Here is an article that I found on the Lomography website which is set in Cuba, not the same place i'm going but yeah..

Blogging for the man..

So today I eventually posted a blog that I was writing for my work (They have their own blog) at Atlantic Photo Supply, a locally owned and loved Camera shop and professional lab. I really like working there, being able to get to know all the newest cameras, talk to all the professional photographer clients and even help all the little old ladies get reprints from their old slides.. All the different characters that I get to interact with throughout the day are also what make it feel like it was meant to be for me to work there..

So, take a look at the blog and as always feel free to leave comments, I've left it pretty open for discussion..

Here is a link to one of my favorite photographers who walks through the doors.. I think i'll have to make a follow up blog of all of my favorites because there are so many to choose from.

And to leave you with a photo, heres one I took last week.. I love old people holding hands :)

A really nice blog post..

While at work doing some social networking for the store.. I found this beautiful blog post about a street person and their dog. I know for a fact that if i had the choice between being completely alone or having to share what little I had with a dog for company I would definitely do it if i could.

I generally really like street photography but yeah its always a fine line when taking photographs of anyone in public, particularly 'street people'. When I was in my last year of uni I did a photography series taking portraits of these people, mainly just of their hands but yeah I had to be very careful with doing it because of all of the history of misuse of the photography form in these kinds of situations.

The following two photographs were from that series, taken here in Halifax for an algorithm project, the only limitations of the project were that you had to follow a set of rules (made up by you) and take a series, I interpreted this as like the ultimate algorithmic photographs, Passport photos, which always end up looking like mug shots, which got me thinking about other mug shots, there is of course, like any art alot more to be said about them but i'll let you find that for yourself. These were my favorites.

Antiques..

Awhile ago I was blogging about going for a walk on Valentines Day and mentioned that I bought some things in an antique store and said I'd put up photos.. Its been awhile but here they are..

Venetian bookmarks

Dad in a previous life

Tower of london collector cards

Gettin Bloggy wit it..

So i've decided to get bloggy with it. And hopefully all of ya'll will find it as fresh as Will Smith when he was getting jiggy..

So I basically will be talking about my life, all things i find fun, interesting and all about my travels.

But for now I wanted to let

you know about a few blogs or fun websites (a few I'm sure you know)

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/

http://failblog.org/

http://www.textsfromlastnight.com/

http://www.fmylife.com/

http://www.givesmehope.com/

http://verydemotivational.com/

Looking at these sites always gives me a laugh and i've learnt from these that the trick to keeping people interested is to keep it changing, and that is hopefully what i will be doing.