Angela Higgins – Lifestyle Photographer » Lifestyle Photographer of kids, babies, families and weddings

Yesterday was a pretty big day. Amanda of White Tulip Photography was kind enough to let me tag along as a second shooter to the wedding of her clients Fran and Armand at Belvoir. I really could not have asked for a better wedding to be my “first”. This marriage of the similar cultures from Mauritus and New Zealand was beautiful to witness and I felt so humble to be able to be there (even if I was working).

For those who aren’t sure, a second shooter is basically an assistant to the main photographer. So my job was to assist Amanda where I could, take alternate angles of the same formal shots, lots of details and try to take a different perspective to what she was. I found this a little challenging at first because you tend to gravitate towards the safe, predictable but necessary shots. However, I searched out different views and perspectives to try to achieve that goal.

At first I was unsure if I had done it but after a good nights sleep and some family time today I looked at my images with fresh eyes and feel very proud of many of my shots. Here are just some of them. Be sure to head on over to Amanda’s blog to check out a whole lot more.

Let me know what you think.

During the toasts a number of the girls, including the bride Fran, took to the floor to perform traditional Maori songs and the Haka. I have a soft spot for anything from New Zealand and it immediately took me back there. Seeing the bride performing the Haka is an image I will never forget.

Hows this for intimidating?

Ben was watching the news this morning and an article came up about global warming. This was the conversation that followed.

BEN: How much longer are we going to have global warming?

ME: Pardon?

BEN: Well, we’ve had a trial for 3 years so are we going to keep it?

ME (trying not to laugh) : Ummmm . . . do you understand what global warming is Ben?

BEN (indignantly) : Yes!

ME: Ok, well its not something we want to have because it makes the world get warmer and the ice caps melt. We don’t want that so we’re trying to stop it.

BEN: But if its warmer we can go outside more. Why wouldn’t we want that?

Lol, how do you respond to that!? I think he might have been confused with the daylight savings trial. Have a great Friday everyone

September hasn’t finished yet, but it feels like its almost over as I start to look forward to October.

Wedding season is officially here and I have a couple of weddings I am assisting Amanda at White Tulip with over the next couple of weeks which is exciting. I’ve been out spending up on a flash and new memory cards so I am all prepared for the first one on Friday. I love having new stuff – especially camera stuff Stay tuned for some images next weekend.

Following that I have the workshop in Canberra with Jinky which is going to be insane. My flights are booked and confirmed and I’m all set to go. I really can’t express how much I am looking forward to picking her (and other photogs) brains. I think I might just explode!

On top of that I have a number of portrait sessions coming up in October and November too and then I have a pretty big announcement in the works for Nov/Dec which will be pretty hot. Something so big that Grant may just send me to the insane asylum thinking I have lost my mind.

I have also been streamlining my processes and systems to make things easier for me and my clients. This is always an ongoing project but it is almost there.

On top of all that there is also a personal announcement coming within the next couple of months that I am busting to tell you about.

I know . . . I’m a tease For now, I hope you enjoyed your weekend and stay tuned for all these updates.

I still have a few spots available for November and December sessions so if you are thinking about a session I suggest you get in now before they get filled too.

Despite threatening weather on Saturday afternoon, we persevered with a family shoot at Bells Rapids. Of course, the wet weather made for some amazing light and as a result, some great shots and we only got rained on a little. I could have spent ages just hanging out with these three sisters.

Their “fly-away” hair, freckles, bright eyes and such respect for each other had me in rapture. This was my kind of shoot without any pretense at all.

Watching the dynamics between families is such a privilege and these 3 didn’t disappoint. In particular was big sisters response to my question “What do you like best about your sister?”.

She was a little stumped because after all little sisters don’t have “best” qualities at her this age – they simply annoy the bejesus out of you.

“Um . . .” as she pondered the seriousness of the question, “She doesn’t fart that much?” she responded in more of a question than a statement. How do you respond to that!

I imagine that for photographers 20 years ago, the most publicity that was done was an ad in the Yellow Pages and perhaps door to door knocking for the real die hards.

Today for me the most important part of marketing is having a great website as a store front, being “traceable” through an internet search engine and ensuring that my clients are so happy with me that they will pass the message onto their friends and family. There is no greater compliment than a referral. It shows such great trust from my clients, in me.

I succumbed to Facebook about a year ago and only in the last few months have I been jumping on regularly. I have reconnected with some old friends and even made some new ones.

Recently I created a page on Facebook for my photography business which is the next level in the internet age of marketing and will be sure to update it regularly with images and any special promotions going on. So head on over and become a fan of Angela Higgins Photographer. I’d love to hear from you

A shot from a session yesterday. It just screamed at me for some “massaging” to give it what it deserved.

I love the freckles, the wispy tendrils of hair, her wry smile and how much of a free spirit she is. I feel it comes across in this image.

More to come

It’s the weekend.

Time to kick back.

Relax.

And be still like vegetables.

Although it may go against the laws of nature, we tend to frequent our local marina more in the winter than in summer. We’ll go there mid-week for the best fish and chips in the northern suburbs and then the kids will wash it down with a hot chocolate (or in Ben’s case an iced chocolate – the boys a weirdo what can I say) while Grant and I have a coffee.

Its nice to rug up with scarfs, coats and gloves and walk around the marina just hanging out. The fact that there are 99% less people there compared to summer is also a bonus.

The kids and I went down on Wednesday night by ourselves as Grant was out of town for work and we had a blast. Those kids are the funniest people I have ever met.

This first shot was Phoebe and I stirring up Ben about a soft toy his ‘girlfriend’ had given him at school that day – in front of all his friends and his sister. How embarrassing! He is loving it

A new black and white processing technique.

Clear. Clean. Sharp. Simple. Modern.

Me likey

This shot really means something to me. Not sure what – the shadows, lines, reflections, the innocence – they all create something I just can’t stop looking at.

A big happy fathers day to all the dads out there. Especially my dad, my brother (who celebrated his first fathers day) and to Grant who shows me daily what it means to be a parent.