Being the tech-savvy chick I am, I have set this up to post while Grant and I are in the air on our way to Auckland and then down to Taupo.
I will be back on board on 6th July. Please email if you need anything and I will be in touch as soon as I can.
Oh, right. I was going to come back and give you the goss on next week 
Well, my wonderful boyfriend recently finished up a job position and while he has some time off he thought that a week away with just us – no kids, no dogs – was on the cards.
So he asked me, “Lets go away. Where do you want to go for a week? Anywhere.” I responded with Paris almost immediately but then he smiled at me gently and said “Perhaps a little closer to home and a little less extravagant”. Believe me, when I go to Paris I will be painting that town red.
So he suggested New Zealand might be the ideal destination as it is winter and we might even be able to get in some skiing. He didn’t have to ask twice.
So the tickets are booked, the hotels confirmed and the hire car is ready to go. That was the easy part though 
So much has to be done here before we go on Friday, its a bit of a mad rush. Not to mention the shopping that needs to be done seeing as my winter wardrobe here is suited for average temps of 20 degrees celsius and where we are going its averaging 8 degrees during the day.
My boy’s going to get a shock not being able to wear shorts and a t-shirt during winter
And for nostalgia’s sake, here is the view of the sunset we saw from our apartment we stayed at in January. We were lucky enough to get the same accommodation for this trip, even down to the same room. It was fate that we take this trip, I tell you!
I could will be here. Not sure where it is? Click on the image for some more info.
More to come soon Yay!
I mentioned a little while ago that I made some changes to my pricing and packaging structures. Sitting here on a Friday night I thought it would be the perfect time to give a little peak into the packages on offer.
When I decided that I wanted to be a photographer and build a business I made my goal simple. I aimed to produce beautiful, timeless images for my clients to treasure at very affordable prices without compromising quality and beauty. This is still my goal, however I am also offering a number of products to create more of a complete experience.
One of the most important additions I have included is offering digital negative files with all but one of my packages.
In case you’re wondering, the digital files are high resolution JPEG images. The images are supplied with a joint-copyright allowing you to take the images anywhere for printing.
With so many changes in the world of technology I feel it is just as necessary for my clients to have the negatives as it is prints (if not more) because of sharing via the internet and email, digital photo frames and iPods, etc. While I may prefer the tangible nature of a beautiful customised print in an album, the reality is that many people want and need the digital files.
One of my packages that I believe is going to be very popular is called The Digital Package. In this package you receive your base coverage including the photo shoot, online gallery and an 8×10” custom print plus a complete DVD of digital files and a customised slideshow on CD.
I still highly recommend that you purchase custom prints for displaying purposes through my studio as they are the absolute optimum print and are printed at one of the best professional photo labs in the country. While your digital files are convenient for many things, the custom print is still beyond comparison. I’ll share some images to show you the difference soon.
This little guy was at Liam’s birthday party. They have been friends since they were babies and get along so well together. J’s big blue eyes were captivating. He is everything a little boy should be with chubby cheeks, rosy lips and a gorgeous smile.
When Lily curls up for a snooze, she really curls up. Feet up at her mouth and if its really cold she curls around so her nose is almost touching her bottom.
Because she doesn’t have a tail its just all ears and feet she looks like a little bunny rabbit when she assumes “the position”. This time she threw me a curve ball by having one leg intertwined amongst the other ones. She looked too cute with her little pillow and little feet and little bottom – just so perfect and tiny – that I couldn’t resist taking some shots.
Notice something else? No bucket. She is so happy she’s licked her feet into pristine condition, given Lulu a complete tongue bath and licked all sorts of other unmentionables that she has been restricted from over the past few weeks. She is in heaven now. Doggie heaven.
She does do other things than sleep. I swear. She is so fast though that the only time I can get a good shot of her is when she’s asleep.
I’ve been tagged by the wonderful Amanda Bowler! i’ve been watching this float around the blogs for a few days and was very surprised to be tagged – Thanks Amanda!
Here are the rules!
1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 songs you are embarrassed to admit to others you like and tell why.
3. Tag 5 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Here are my terribly embarrassing songs. Its a shame I could only give 5. I could have been here all day
Baby One More Time – You know the song, you know the girl – its totally infectious. I don’t know what it is about it but it gets me everytime.
Bye Bye Baby - A song from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes sung by Marilyn Monroe. I love this movie and this phoenom of an actress to no end and this particular song was my favourite from the movie. It was my “in the shower” song for ages. I love it! Something even more embarrassing? I think I have a CD of MM’s somewhere *yowch!*
When I Need You - The incomparable Leo Sayer. I pinched a CD of love songs of my mum’s that had this on it when I went through my first real break up. Sitting in my room singing this song while feeling as though my heart had been ripped out – good times
Rainy Days and Mondays – Yes, the Carpenters. This was my “no-one understands me” song when I was a young teenager. Who couldn’t resist Karen Carpenter’s voice – its amazing. I currently have the Carpenters Greatest Hits and the brilliant album, If I Were A Carpenter on my iPod now. Weird.
Part-Time Lover - Two words. Stevie. Wonder. I challenge anyone to listen to this and not tap their foot! A recent addition to my iPod that only comes on when it is only me in the car. Only me.
On my own – It was hard to pick between a number of musicals including a Cats, Phantom, or perhaps any Rogers and Hammerstein movie (“Wash that Man right out of my hair” ran a close second). I saw Les Miserables years ago and this song of heartache and longing gets to me. It is another song that I will belt out in the car or in the shower.
Now I have to tag 5 others:
From the moment I met Lincoln (or perhaps it was when I saw his blue bows from a distance) I knew that he would be deserving of his own post.
This adorable 10 month old came along for the family session on Saturday fresh from his morning at the salon and was very ready for his close up. He was so soft and fluffy!
I couldn’t help but comment that although his bows were blue, they really didn’t do much for his masculinity. He was most certainly the best looking dog in the park though.
They’re here! I have searched high and low for the most beautiful, affordable and classic mini album and I have found it.
So elegant and classic, these brag books are exactly what they sound like. A perfect little package to hold 24 of your favourite images at only 5×3.5″ in size. The book comes with a matching exterior case for added protection. This book will fit in your handbag, your briefcase – they are the perfect portable album and yet they will hold their own against any traditional photo album.
They will make gorgeous parent or grandparent gifts for weddings or newborns or even as a simple session album for your family and a keepsake for yourself. They are available in a choice of exterior colours of black, brown and red and are $200 each including the photographs.
So give me a call and be prepared to brag away to your hearts content.
On Monday Liam turned the big 4. We had a little party for him on Sunday with family and friends which was heaps of fun. I love looking for unique birthday gifts and found a great outlet for personalising t-shirts which I thought was brilliant. Fortunately Liam decided to wear it for the afternoon so I got some shots of it on him. In case you are curious, I found it at kidsgotstyle.com.au which is a fantastic online store that I highly recommend.
Happy 4th Birthday Liam! I hope the sugar crash wasn’t too intense
My sister, Liam’s mum, was thinking about hiring out a fun-zone but the kids had more fun running around the backyard kicking the football, running through an obsolete pool toy, the kiddie lawnmower and putting on blind folds anyway. Its ingenious the things kids think of to entertain themselves. Even sitting in Pop’s garden ripping out the plants
