State Side

Just a little note to let my lovely clients know that my son Sam and I are on a Stateside adventure.  We haven't been back to the States in 9 years and our family was about to come and extradite us so we figured it was time for a visit.  We will be back on the 21st of January.  In the mean time Debs is sorting everything out for me and has my cellphone.  We will be closed the two weeks around Christmas.  The trip has been great so far for artistic inspiration.  Looking forward to seeing you in the New Year.  In the mean time enjoy this picture of my gorgeous Goddaughter whom I have just met for the first time.  Isn't she amazing!  I am so in love!

Little Noah is Not so Little | Wellington Newborn Photographer

Georgia, Manaia, and Noah came to visit me following a Boobs in the Berries Class.  Oh my goodness Noah is huge.  Only 8 Weeks old and gynormous.  Look out All Blacks I have your next prop right here.  What a gorgeous moppet!!!

Lily, Lily, Lily | Wellington Baby Photographer

Lily, Lily, Lily I pick Lily.  Look at those sparkling eyes isn't she just scrummy!!!Nibbleable, just nibbleable.

Delicious Holly | Wellington Baby Photographer

Sarah and Lindon are the Proud Parents of Holly one of the most gorgeous little girls in the world.  Oh isn't she just delicious?

The Gorgeous Graniers | Wellington Family Photographer

Happiness and love just come out of the pores of this tribe.  I loved every minute of shooting with them.

Super Dad Competition

      Is your Dad often the one behind the camera and rarely can you find a good portrait of him?  Do you wish you had some images that really captured the coolness, ruggedness, playfulness, or occasional doofiness of your very special Dad.  Well now is your chance to shout out and let us know what makes your Dad so incredibly amazing and you could win a $525.00 voucher to have his portrait taken by a multi award winning photographer with your adoring family.  Our portraits are not take in a studio (we do have one though and use it on occasion) but most of our work is usually done outdoors where Dad's shine in all their natural glory.  We go to the places that you love and show you guys having fun together in the ways that are natural for you.  All you have to do is tell us why he is the coolest Dad ever.    To be in to win simply fill in the details below and tell us why your Dad is the bomb.  We will publish our favorite 3 answers on our blog and leave the voting up to the public.  Entries will close on 1 December so make sure you get writing. 

To enter your Dad in the competition simply go to this form and register and put Super Dad Competition on the voucher code.  You don't have to be a poet just tell us from your heart why he is the best ever.  Good luck.  Can't wait to here about all of your amazing Dads.

The GORGEOUS Leongs

What a fantastic family!  I met them through my friend Vivianna the owner of Basquesse, and how lucky am I.  Sam and I had a great time on this shoot!    The are so incredibly gorgeous and fun!!!!

Island Bay Beauties | Wellington Lifestyle Photographer

Bernard and Rebecca I am so sorry.  You are going to have one heck of a time picking out your favourite
from the ones I got of you guys.  You were so much fun to photograph and had such obvious love abounding that I had a fieldday!  So here are some teasers for you before the viewing.  Debs will call you soon to arrange a time.  Cheers,
Mandi

Textures Trainee at Weta Digital

The Universe is smiling down brightly on me this month.  After a shift into a lovely new home and great neighborhood for my boy, I was invited to work as a Textures Trainee at Weta Digital.  It is a dream I have had since I came to New Zealand, watched Lord of the Rings and learned about the work that Weta does. I still cannot get my head around the fact that they are actually paying me to learn from them.  I feel like I should be forking over money to them instead of the other way around. This just shows you that despite our best attempts to control life....sometimes it just has other even more amazing ideas for what you should be doing.   Who knew that by working in a hospital as a lactation consultant that I would get so frustrated with the illustrations available that I would  decide to be a photographer,  then photograph the family of the head of the Textures department at Weta, who would then offer me a trainee position?  Weird how life works.  Now the internship is only for one month and we will see how I go....exciting eh?  My favorite part though is the fact that it is a position that combines my painting and photography background and extends both of them.  Whoo Hoo!!!  But don't worry the photography will go on,  I am only a small part of our wonderful team here at "a la mode".  But oh the things I am learning.  I can't wait to apply them to my shoots, and paintings.  Yeah!!!!

Our new Brand!!!!

Brand Happy

For several years I have been planting the seeds of the brand I wanted for my photography business and finally I am happy.  So now we are officially launching "a la mode | Photographic Boutique".

  I struggled for so long to find a brand that would fit my vision, would be fresh and fun, and could equally represent commercial, weddings, lifestyle, fashion, and pin up.  I think we finally have it!  Yeah!  

Right what is with a la mode? The dictionary states that it refers to "of the fashion" or "with icecream on top".  As my photography business started out of the dreamings that came while running and managing the Blueberry farm dessert cafe I think this is quite fitting and we certainly have our own unique fashion of celebrating love.  Love....love....love the new brand!

Life in blueberry farm

This is a little video that was made by Jordi, a lovely spanish wwoofer who came to stay with us at the Blueberry Farm last year. It shows you the back grounds of where the studio is located and a little bit about the goofy personalities that make up the place. Hope you enjoy....we sure enjoyed making it.

Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg "California Gurls" Official Music Video HD

This video was one of the ones that cemented that I really wanted to do Pin Up Photography. I adore Katy Perry's sense of humour! I think it is fantastic that she is the daughter of two ministers. Classic.

Call for Pin Up girls

Ever fancied doing a Pin Up photoshoot?  Old School Hollywood Glamour, Boudoir, Pin Up, Burlesque, Vintage Romantic Period Portraits....We LOVE doing these!!!!! Our staff is all female, are consumate professionals and are very discrete.  We are about creating images that are about the tease, the allure that is woman. We understand the pressures of the modern world on a woman and we want to help women reclaim their inner goddess!  We are experts at seeing it in you...bringing it to the surface and serving it up in either a private little book that is for your eyes only or we can make a piece of art for your wall that is Christina Agullera sized.   We think you are stunning no matter what shape you are in and we want to show you how we can bring out the best in you.  Which inner goddess will shine through in you?  We will be selecting our 12 favourite shots over the next year to create a 2012 Pretty Young Things of Wellington Calendar.  Will you be in it?  And just remember...youth is a state of mind.   There are 23 years difference in the ages of the two pin ups below:).  Come and see....it will be the best thing you have done for yourself in a very long time.

Christina Aguilera - Candyman

A little sound track to get you in the mood and inspired for your own Pin Up Shoot. How gorgeous can we make you look? Will you be one of the beauties selected for the Pretty Young Things of Wellington Pin Up Calendar?

Do you live in Upper Hutt? Wanna win a $550.00 voucher?

The lovely folks at the Upper Hutt Leader are doing an article on this years wins at the NZIPP awards.  How wonderful are they to support our studio like that.  So as a thank you to all of the people of Upper Hutt for their support of our beautiful studio nessled so lovingly in one of its prettiest valleys we have decided to do a drawing that is will only be for residents of Upper Hutt.  So if you are a resident of Upper Hutt and would like a chance to win a $550.00 voucher to our studio then please let us know by leaving your details on our enquiry form and putting "Upper Hutt Leader" as the voucher code.  Good luck!!!!
Go here to win!

4 more awards scooped up at the Iris Awards

This year at the Iris awards I submitted a total of 10 images and 6 out of the ten picked up awards at the National Print Judging held in Queenstown this year.  The 6 awards pushed me up from
Qualified to Associate Photographer of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography.  I even got to go up on stage and get my little blue ribbon and medal....how exciting.  Next stop is Master of Photography... Here I come!!!!

I won my associateship!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!

So it is stupid oclock in the mornining and I have just gotten back from celebrating with some of my photography friends the very cool fact that 6 of my 10 prints won awards at the print judging this year and this was enough to push me into my associateship with the New Zealand Institute of Professional photography....Next stop master of photography....whoo hooo.

Iris Awards | Two Bronzes won on the first day of Judging

Miss Amelia, and Esther Fearless Leader of the Sheep  won Bronzes at this years Iris Awards in the Portrait Category.
Tomorrow I have 8 images that will be up under the judges noses so we will see what happens.  I am very nervous but hopeful.  Will post the results tomorrow!

Gorgeous Grace | Wellington Newborn Photographer

I had the privilege of meeting Kerry Graeme and Amie when Grace was still neatly packaged inside.  It was challenging for the ADD aspects of myself to do the Pregnancy photo shoot when Amie was so obviously stealing the show.  She was just so darn cute.  But we finally knocked it out when I could be brought back to Kerry...but as you can see Amie featured in most of the pregnancy shoots as well.  When gorgeous little Grace made an appearance on the scene, I got to spend time with her as a Lactation Consultant first then I got my lens turned on her.  The shot above of her asleep on Kerry just makes me want to cry she is so beautiful.

The music track can be downloaded from the Expedia website.  It is Tend to Me.  I love this song!!!

Fairy Trina and Family | Wellington Family Photographer

8

The Gorgeous Fairy Trina and her handsome  husband Greg from Wellington came to visit us on the farm for a photoshoot with their gorgeous twins Zavier (Zuzu) and  Nazir (Nunu) and the forever happy even with a gunky eye baby Kasra.

Trina is a popular Children's party Fairy based out of Wellington you can find out more about her and book her for your children's parties by going to http://www.fairytrina.com

When Trina came into the house to do her ordering session my assistant said to me. " It is like the room lit up when she came in."  I have to agree completely.

Fairy Trina's Family

Fairy Trina was one of the Winners of the free sittings at the Big Latch On in Wellington.  She brought her two two year old gorgeous Twins (Zuzu and Nunu)

Professional Photography of Breastfeeding Babies

Delicious Debs and Her Crew | Wellington Family Photographer

Debs was my first bride that I photographed and we got on so well she is now my Assistant and ruler of all things administrative at my studio!  I couldn't run the place with out her and so to show my love for her we gathered up her crew again and had a big photo festival with Tim, the Twins and the Football famous Aiken.  It was a lot of fun and I adored the pics.  So here they are!!!!

Little Mr. Jamie | Wellington Newborn Photographer

 This shoot was a lot of fun but it is not done yet.  Dave and I are on a hunt for the perfect piano to do the next stage of the shoot. Dave is a Blues pianist and wouldn't it be cool to do an hommage to the house of Blues with Little Jamie as the centerpiece.  But in the mean time we had a grand old time putting this very patient little man in all sorts of locales.  He sank into the pillow set up I had for him and it looked like he was stuck in the grass.  It was gorgeous.

I think my favourite part was seeing the beautiful tattoo on Nessa's back.  I had never wanted a tattoo until I saw hers.  It is gorgeous.  It is common in New Zealand to have beautiful tattoos featuring in the newborn shoots but it is usually on the dad but I have to say that Nessa's tattoo kicked butt.

King Kwayde | Wellington Newborn Photographer

 Bless this new families heart.  I am not sure who was more tired Kwayde or Daddy Leigh.  Poor dad had been pulling night shifts at work and I am pretty sure he hadn't slept in days.  But he was a great sport and rocked up for the photo session anyway.  At one stage Leigh fell asleep on Megan while she was feeding Kwayde, he was out for about 5 minutes but when he woke up it was like a different man was in the room, he went from being a near zombie to almost chirpy...now that is what I call a power nap!

Dreamy little Erina | Wellington Newborn Photographer

 Isn't she just a honey!  My goodness she is cute!  We had such a lovely time cuddling and shooting.  What a gorgeous moppet.

Bombproof Baby | Wellington Newborn Photographer

Demelza, Brad, and Oskar came to visit first for a Boobs in the Berries Class and then ultimately in my studio.  My favourite thing to do with photography is to find out what makes a family unique and to work with the family to make sure that I capture it completely.  This muzo/nordic family really took the cake for me.  I think we scored on this shoot....It was so much fun.  And bless their hearts were they patient with me when they came for their viewing.  I was having a technological melt down day and they just smiled and cracked jokes through it all.  And their parents were just the sweetest too!