Mr. A La Mo

This year's Charity of Focus was the Movember Campaign and we created a Coffee table limited edition book and calendar as a fundraiser for Men's Health.  

Congratulations to 

Simon has won the following prize package:

Simon will feature on the cover of both the book and calendar as Mr A La Mo 2012, winning a major prize pack that includes a barbeque from Mitre 10 Mega Petone & Upper Hutt valued at $599, a Surreal Illustrated Portrait Package by International Award Winning Master Photographer, Mandi Lynn of A La Mode Photographic Boutique valued at $1,900 and a ‘Mr A La Mo’ book (in addition to their category prize).  Flight Coffee have donated a voucher for you and a group of friends to enjoy - Flight Coffee Geek Out Session/Tour (approx 2 hours) for up to 10 people.  Mitre 10 Mega in Petone & Upper Hutt have donated a $100 gift voucher Global Beauty have donated two Nimue men's skin care products valued at $75.  Les Mills have donated 1 months gym membership. Plus A La Mode Photographic Boutique have donated a Model for a Day Photography Package (this is a makeover and photo shoot for that special lady in your life valued at $440)

Treena and Cassandra | Mother Daughter Photography

They are just the cutest mother and daughter.  The tatoos that they share are a doodle that the two of them doodle all of the time.   Such a cool relationship to observe and capture and they are both so darn beautiful inside and out!

Imaginarium | Rubin and the Zombies

Imaginarium: A Piece of Digital Art that dives into the adventures of the mind of a child and features them in their own adventures.
Rubin loves Zombies and Ghosts.  It just so happened that after he told me this I found out I was going to be photographing a Zombie Flashmob in Wellington and so I invited Rubin to come along and play.  I think he was nervous as could be in the beginning and I almost called it off for him but he would have none of it and thought the idea of taking his zombies for a walk was a brilliant one.

Here are some of the behind the scenes from the day

 

Obviously Rubin warmed to the Zombies after a while.  His mum said he had an amazing day

Here is the final image.  This will be part of the Imaginarium Series I am currently working on and accepting commissions for...unless I get a whole cluster of 9 year boys my guess is the rest of them will not be quite so dark :).

Imaginariums | Isabella and Tigger

Imaginariums are one off pieces of surreal photographic paintings that are created to celebrate the adventures of your child's imagination.  The quicksilver of their dreams is captured in all of their wonder with your favourite little person as the star of the show. 

Behind the scenes: of Izzies Imaginarium:

So when Isabella goes off into the land of her imagination she brings her trusted friend Tigger with her.  I asked her to draw a story of what they get up to and hers involved her and tigger bouncing with huge springs on their feet into a deep wood.  There was also her cat and an Umbrella featured as well. 

Today we shot the first series of images for her Imaginarium piece.  Can't wait to get started on it. 

This was Izzie's drawing

Mandiland Images | From the imagination of Mandi Lynn

Yesterday we visited the Aethercon Festival which celebrated all things Steampunk in Wellington.  Nicole from Bodyfx did a beautiful job making up Chantelle Naraine this was one of the pieces I created from our shoot entitled Ruler of Thirds.  My Partner Craig was there manning the stall as I had to be pulled away to shoot a Zombie flashmob in the Trainstation in Wellington and start on our first little boys Imaginarium piece which features Ghosts and Zombies.  Little Rubin when asked to draw what was taking place in his imagination at the moment (he is 9) drew me ghosts and Zombies.  I heard about the flashmob through my apparent zombie connections I didn't even realize i had and bam we had 50 zombies to chose from.   Those images to follow soon.

Jessie and Her Peoples

The Doctor Becomes the Patient

I decided that I need to drop some weight before going on an epic hiking trip.  But I wanted to celebrate each stage along the way so I plan on showcasing how a woman can be beautiful and sexy no matter what her size....so this is me at 127kgs (280lbs).    If you would like to follow the blog that goes into detail about the journey then hop over to Love Mandi Lynn

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.  :)

collection of Before and Afters | Wellington Portrait Photographer

Magenta Me | My rocking new hairdo

When I was a kid my favourite place was the humongous book stores we used to have in the U.S. Or used book stores...any book stores would do really...I remember reading this poem as a kid and thought it was "the balls" (although that was probably not the correct term back then...It was something much more 80's inspired like bitch'n) and realized as the roughly good kid that I was that I was probably saving my better randomness for my older age. This was the poem I think was tapping me on the shoulder saying....hey guess what...you are getting a bit older now (the big 40 countdown has started)....now is the time to start the fun!!!!. 


Warning

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
Jenny Joseph

So this week I decided to dye my hair purple.  I was doing a shoot a couple of years ago and there was a woman there who had brown hair with purple highlights. She was a woman in her mid forties and she just had such a light about her. She had grey streaks in her hair and basically just said stuff it I'm going to rock this grey thing so she threw in some purple highlights. I couldn't take my eyes off her. I loved the idea of it...then recently all of the pastel hair and ombreed looks have come in to fashion and I thought...cool look at all of the options...then darn...It might look like I am just following a trend which will go out soon....So after I was done arguing with myself I said stuff it and did it. As the ends fade I imagine they will go a bit pinkish or lighter purplish who knows. Ohhh this is fun....Wonder what I will grow the ovaries to do next?