Golden Ringlets | Wellington Photographer

Some times you fall in love with a client...if mum would have let me I would have taken her home and raised her she was so incredibly beautiful inside and out! There is just something about the wonder and possibilities in the eyes of a 4 year old. The world is still so sparkley and magical. I kept wanting to pick her up and squeeze her like the little girl from Despicable me and yell "She's so fluffy" She wasn't very fluffy but I just really wanted to squeeze her like a puppy. GOD I LOVE MY JOB!

Free Range Kids Book | Wellington Childrens Photographer

For the last couple of years I have been collecting images to create a book of visual poems about childhood in New Zealand.  I have an idealized view of it as a Kiwi by choice but not by birth.  I know I had quite a Free Range Childhood in the Suburbs of Atlanta but America was not looking at all like the sort of place I could give that sort of an upbringing to my Sam.  That was one of the reasons we moved to New Zealand in the first place.   We eventually bought an organic farm in the Akatarawa Valley.  This was where my photography business started as I would record the beautiful children who would come and pick blueberries on our farm.  I got the idea to do the Blueberry Farm Kids book...but wasn't quite organized enough to get all of the kids I needed in one season (I was running the farm and an Environmental Education program as well as working at the Hospital and teaching myself photography....go figure.)  So this project I thought would take just one year has spread into four and I am keen to see the book published but I am finding that after organizing the images I have less children than I thought I had gotten for it and would like to get some more to round out the picture I was shooting for.  

Just click on the book below and you will be taken to a page that will give you all of the juicy details on how to sign your favourite littlie up for the book.

Free Range Kids Farm Day | Wellington Children's Photographer

The weather today was dodgy at best but boy did we make the most of it.  I made up for never having had a daughter today with a marathon girly dress up party in my farm house studio.  It looked like a fairy exploded in my closet when we were done and it was wonderful!

And my bling buying session at the Equip sale was completely justified!

Rose or is it Alice? | Wellington Family Photographer

Carlo the Flirt | Wellington Child Photographer

There is a beautiful wee man named Carlo.  I first met him as a newborn and I thought he was beautiful then but then he came back at nine months.  He was a stunner and look at those eyelashes!!!!  My goodness!

Today was a wonderful shoot for the Free Range Kids Book with the beautiful young Rose.  We had such a fun time goofing around in the orchard and she looks so grown up.  Look out world here comes Rose. 

Free Range Kids - Miss Mia | Wellington Children's Photographer

Isn't she gorgeous.  Mia and her mum Bonita and I had a lovely day out at Days Bay on Saturday.  This was my favourite shot of the day.  There is one other I am considering for the book but this is the strongest contender so far.

Cooper and Riley as Promised

Cute Right?  These boys were so much fun to photograph!  Laura and I had an absolute blast.  And what is it about tails?  I always used to do this too. I would cut down a whole lot of weeping willow branches and make almost a peacock sized tail that would flow and bounce while I skipped and ran.  Cooper on the other hand wanted to see how far he could shove them down his drawers but Riley he was a bit more selective with his...no I take that back...he ended up with with a piece of bark for a tail in the end. Boys...they just don't understand the need for bouncy tails.....geeez.

Beautiful Children Needed for Free Range Kids Book

We are looking for beautiful children to feature in our book "Free Range Kids of New Zealand".   The Free Range Kids Book is a gallery of visual poetry portraying the innocence of childhood in New Zealand.  It is about the muddy play, the stone skimming, the blueberry picking, the tidal pool exploration, twirls, and lolly scrambles.  Rolly poly's, icecream covered faces, blankies, dolls, cannon balls into a swimming hole.  It is about the magic of New Zealand and what it means to be able to be a Kiwi kid growing up in the ultimate playground in the world. There are spaces for 50 children to be photographed in this years book. The best images from the book will be selected to produce a  Free Range Kids Exhibit, and limited edition print run.  Do you want your child to be one?


Register Your Child Today     spaces left 14/50


Find out more here