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!

Tea Party Under the Trees

Some days just require Tea Parties under the trees.  Samantha Hannah and her beautiful daughters, Tomasina and Xavia were my willing subject for a video project I am working on.  We ate cupcakes and played leap frog, chased kittens, and twirled.  Yes there was lots of twirling.   I wish I had some shots like this of me and my mum.  We used to do stuff like this all of the time.

Dale's Model for a Day Shoot

Dale won our Pink Wheel of Happiness at the Women's Expo and won a voucher for a free print the lucky girl.  She the upgraded to the show special and got a chance to be spoiled by Renee in the makeup chair for a couple of hours.  She needed it too after having a challenging week...she was sure that we were not going to get much from her in the state she was in but nahhhh.... We always find ways to pull out that sparkle.  Doesn't she look amazing.  She is now plotting her next shoot and this time with her partner.  :)

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!

Wellington Fashion Week | Taylor !!!!

I have a new crush.  Yes and absolute crush.  I went to Wellington Fashion Week last night...albeit without my camera if you can believe it to actually sit down and enjoy the show.   I brought along Claire from the Vanity Case and luckily she had her iphone with her because when the Taylor show hit the run way I was hooked.  It was so incredibly beautiful.  The fabrics the design....LOVE.

 Trelisse Cooper was after Taylor and there were a few pieces that jumped out but it was the accessories that really snagged me.  Knee high socks with bouncy balls, gorgeous wee leather gloves and the standout dress for me  appeared to be a silk black swan print dress.  Lovely, just not sure how many times you would get away with wearing it.  There was a tailored jacket that was gorgeous, which was shown towards the end of the show.

Excellent job done by Cam, Marta, and Olivia (sorry these are the only ones I am familiar with who were the back bone of getting a fashion week in Wellington).  You should be absolutely proud by your accomplishments.  Enjoy the week of sleep you will need starting Sunday.

Abigail Boyle the Tui (behind the scenes)

Had a great shoot this weekend with the beautiful Abigail Boyle and her boyfriend Sergio Torrado, of the Royal New Zealand Ballet.  OK Sergio was more of the pack animal of the day as it was the Tui shoot  of the Gaia Aotearoa series. In this series, I am exploring how I see Mother Earth's manifestation in New Zealand.  Abbie is our Tui/Kowhai mix.  So beautiful!  I had such a great time and they are both such fun to hang out with.  I designed the dress and Kaarin Macaulay the head costume design tutor at Toi Whaakaari made it for me.  Love it!  Nicole from BodyFX did the hair and makeup and body painting and feather work.  It was amazing working in a collaboration like this because everyone got to play.  So much fun!!! Now I just need to figure out how I am going to use Sergio in shoot....

I have to hold off showing the final image to you until after I submit them for the Iris Awards this year but I can't wait to!  

Kicking Up a Rainbow | Wellington Dance Photographer

Some days are just winners.  I got up extra early today (Easter Sunday)...like at 5:40 am.  Not quite sure why but started working on an image for the Iris awards and it turned out beautiful.  Then went scouting with my stepson Wills for the perfect Kowhai tree to photograph Abigail Boyle who is going to be the model for my Tui...scored it...found the perfect tree and backdrop...Then it was such a beautiful day that Craig and I decided to take the kids to the river to chuck some stones.  I managed to capture Emma kicking up a rainbow.  This image is straight out of my camera with no retouching.  So pretty.  I love Indian Summers and serendipity. 

Thirza our beautiful Island Princess | Wellington Portrait Photographer

Isn't she beautiful, Daddy's little girl has grown up into such a beautiful woman.  Thirza is such a beautiful person on the inside and the out.  We had such a blast on this shoot.  She is the sort of person everyone wants to hang out with.

Nat and Peaches Wedding | Wellington Wedding Photographer

Dias De Los Muertos | Wellington Portrait Photographer

In an impromptu moment we decided to run a competition for someone to be made up to celebrate Dias De Los Muertos.  Bridget and Emily were our winners and we had an absolute blast doing these shoots.  We had decided we wanted to be a bit more romantic in our treatment as by the time we started looking on line it looked like dias de los muertos had been done to death.  So here are our romantically inspired undead girls.  Hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed shooting them.

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!