Boobies, Bickies, and Bear Farts...who knew? | Wellington Family Photographer

So I have known this family now for three years.  That little one in the Teepee...I knew her before she was outside of her mummy's belly.  Miss Catherine is one of my poster children.  I know this gorgeous creature...but on her third birthday...forget about it.  She wanted no part of this photoshoot...which was about Hamish the gorgeous addition to the family.  While her mum was sitting in the makeup chair getting spoiled rotten by Renee, I was trying to sneak some shots of Hamish off.  Catherine had other ideas.  She stomped her little feet and tried to shoo me away from her little brother like I was a cat that was being naughty.  She was the ultimate gorgeous little mini diva detesting the paparazzi.  That is until I gave her a bickie.   Sometimes they work a treat... Never underestimate the power of a good bickie.   However...this reprieve only lasted until I started paying attention to Hamish again then all bets were off. Hmmmm.  WHat is a photographer to do.  My heart was breaking.  I love Miss Catherine...she is my gorgeous girl.  But nah...today she would have none of aunty Mandi.  We tried relocating down in the garden and setting up the most gorgeous teepee...Brilliant Idea except nope she didn't really feel like coming out of such a beautiful setting.

So I farted.

Yes you heard me right.

When ever I am stuck for what to do.   I fart.   Usually it is with my mouth. (for the record it was this time as well).

Catherine decided that a fart was worth a peek out of the tent.   I asked her if it was her who did it.  She flattly denied it.   I asked her if it was her daddy?  She gave him a suspicious look.  Then it ripped again.  Head popped out one more time.  This time I told her I was so clever that I had identified whom it was who had done such and unsightly thing.  She demanded to know whom it was!

"The bear in the woods of course."   This she found absolutely hilarious.  (to my huge relieve...I was slightly concerned it would send her cowering all the more in her teepee).  But now our Catherine the Great strode out to show that  bear her bare bum.  GORGEOUS!  Then we were off cooking with grease.  Here are some sneak peaks from their shoot. And an introduction to the most chilled out 9 day old I have yet to meet.  Hamish.  Hamish made one peep the entire session.  Was given boobie and he was sweet.  Simple life.  Gotta love it.  SO LOVE THIS FAMILY.  So looking forward to photographing them in their new home for Hamish's first birthday!  Yeah!

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.

Larissa, Ian, Max, and Ethan | Wellington Family Photography

This is the part I love....becoming a photographer for life.   I was incredibly lucky to photograph Larissa and Ian at their beautiful wedding and reception. Max featured there but he was significantly shorter at that time.  What a little character he has turned into!  I had heard that Ethan had come on the scene but I did not know how gorgeous he was.  My favourite shot is definitely the top one where he was walking the "catwalk" for me.  He thought it was hysterical....so did I!

Chrisna the Artist | Wellington Portrait Photographer

Gorgeous Chrisna had her beautiful baby three month ago.  She has been completely relishing her role as a new mother but was feeling slightly disconnected from herself as a woman and artist.  So she decided to come in and be pampered and reminded of what an amazing woman she was.  We wove flowers and ivy in her hair, did her makeup, played music for her, brought her tea, and reminded her she could dance and swing...we twirled because twirling is good for the soul.   At the end of the shoot her gorgeous son was brought in and we got this beautiful photo with Chrisna looking as beautiful and radiant as her boy.   Now that is what I am talking about!  

Sue's Crew | Wellington Family Photographer

The stars aligned correctly for Sue and her gorgeous family on the day of this shoot.  I happened to have a cancellation due to a sick child on the only time where all of Sue's family was together so we were able to capture their family in all of their glory.  They are spread to the winds in Australia, and Scotland but for this brief time they all came back together for a bit of mischief in front of the camera at the Botanical Gardens. They are such a fun bunch.  Gosh I love my job.

I love the Brady Bunch feel to this one.

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.

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!!!!

Ellie Belly | Wellington Family Photographer

 What a crazy crack up! Jo, Andrew, and Ellie were so much fun to photograph.  The love in this family is as palpable as their expansive sense of humour.  My favourite moments were when Jo was trying to get Ellie to wear the fairy wings and she looked at her mum like she was just slightly to the left of daft.  So Jo donned them herself.  After much rock chucking in the river Andrew hefted Ellie on to his shoulders and she proceeded to enact a barn yard scene on his head with her plastic cow...she also found a unique grip for her location as pictured below...Sorry Andrew but I had too it was so funny!  And the mischief face that Ellie made when she was coming to put sand on my shoes.  I almost didn't get the shot I was laughing so hard at her little face....see if you can spot it in the square 9 image.  

I love how Ellie's faces can move so seamlessly through from sheer little devil to completely Angelic.

If you are friend or family member of Ellie's you are in luck.  Ellie's family is a member of our Collection Club and because of this you score!If you are one of the first of her friends to register. You will get a voucher for $350.00 to be used in my studio for portraits taken  in July 2010. For each person that books in Ellie will have $50.00 added to an account for her next photoshoot.   This is only available to a limited number so if you are interested you need to be in quick. Click here to get your voucher.

Also if Ellie's page reaches 50 comments from unique people her folks will get an extra present when they pick up their images so make sure you show all of your friends gorgeous Ellie and have them show their friends!!!!

If you would like to order any of the photos for your own just email me and I will talk you through getting some for yourself.

Carlo the Cutest | Wellington Newborn Photographer

I met the beautiful Simone and Farrand at my breastfeeding class... Boobs in the Berries.  They were lively, curious, and funny and even tolerated my crazy class crashing Pukeko, Puku, playing with their shoes in the class.  I really enjoyed their company and I was so excited when they said they wanted to do a photoshoot as well.  Because lets face it they are both stunners! Puku even came back to visit them during the photoshoot.  She wanted to meet Carlo as well I imagine.    They are so beautiful and fun to be with.  What a lovely shoot.

If you are friend or family member of Carlos you are in luck.  Because Carlo is such a cool kid, already in the in crowd, he gets special privileges at my studio, and because you know this amazing little man you could be one of the few to get his free vouchers all you have to do is Click Here

If you are one of the first of his friends to register. You will get a voucher for $350.00 to be used in my studio for portraits taken  in July 2010. For each person that books in Carlo will have $50.00 applied to his 1 year birthday shoots.   This is only available to a limited number so if you are interested you need to be in quick.

Also if Carlo's page reaches 50 comments from unique people his folks will get an extra present when they pick up their images so make sure you show all of your friends gorgeous Carlo!!!!

If you would like to order any of the photos for you own just email me and I will talk you through getting some for yourself.

Darlin Aimee | Wellington's Pregnancy Photographer

Cute as a button wee Aimee is and absolutely adored by her family.  It was a complete pleasure doing this shoot and I can't wait to meet baby!  It is funny how pregnancy shoots are so different depending on whether a mother is a first time mum or not.  By the second birth it is hard to just focus on the pregnancy shots when you have such gorgeous little moppets running around.

Kayden and Trey - Bodacious Brothers | Wellington Family Photographers

These guys were fun.  I mean a lot of fun.  The thing I loved the most about them though was that they were such cuddly boys still with there mum.  I adore cuddly boys...expecially cheeky ones!

Nicole the Explorer | Wellington Children's Photographer

Nicole was one of the first little girls to come and be photographed for the Blueberry Farm Kids Book.  What a charmer!

Milly's Crew | Wellington Family Photographer

Milly has been a friend of mine for years now and it has been a joy to chronical the evolving cheekiness of her brood.

Look at the Hair! | Wellington Newborn Photographer

The Hair on this little one is to die for!  I hated actually putting a hat on.

India + Germany = GORGEOUS | Wellington Family Photographer

One of Yavhi's favourite things to do during our Blueberry Farm Kids Book shoot was apple picking.   You don't get much cuter than this that is for sure.  All personality and looks taboot.  What a charmer!