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

Something funny happened last week. Grant and I started planning our wedding. Just quietly we started throwing ideas around and then after researching some locations we are on track. On a side note, how in the world did people organise ANYTHING before the internet! I have researched stationery, colour palettes and locations internationally all in one weekend from the comfort of our lounge. I love you internet! xxoo

I thought I would share some of my favourite sites for inspiration when planning your wedding. So many great ideas but when you start to filter through them all you will see a palette and concept emerging that is a true reflection of your style. I frequent alot of these as a photographer seeking inspiration, keeping up with the industry and concepts but when looking from the perspective of a bride its a whole new experience.

I’ll keep you up to date with the wedding planning once we have some things set in stone – I haven’t even selected a palette. For now I can definately say we are looking at mid-late 2010 and its going to be something really special.

Style Me Pretty has some wonderful inspiration boards and colour palettes submitted from its readers. I love these two – especially the bottom one featuring images from Jose Villa.

Something old, Something New is a great spot for those vintage inspired, “no two are the same” kind of items. How beautiful is the details in these two dresses from Lela Rose.

Polka Dot Bride is another great source for inspiration and real weddings. I especially love all the gowns she features – they are to die for! And she’s Australian too so alot of the products and features are local.

The Wedding Chicks have more great inspiration and concepts taking fashion to a wedding format. You could (and will!) spend hours here.

Southern Weddings Magazine is one of my favourites. It takes inspiration boards to another level and really helps you see how cohesively concepts can come together. Although it is based on weddings in the southern states of the US, they still transfer beautifully to the Australian lifestyle.

This little girl took her responsibility of holding up her bride’s train very seriously. She followed her all through the rooms while the final preparations were being made and even stood there and held it up while she was standing still.

She had her duty and she did it very well. It just gave me more excuses to photograph her. She was captivating.

This week has absolutely flown by! A couple of dinner dates, a few book designs, recovering from a wedding AND we have a house guest to stay for the weekend. My parents puppy, Billy, has come to stay while they are in Bali for a wedding. Its quite funny that both of my parents have been two of the last three weddings I shot. Unfortunately though I am not going to this one in Bali – although I have daydreamed about it.

I love it when Billy comes to stay but I think Lulu loves it more. She won’t leave him alone and is always in his face, but I think he enjoys the attention. He is a terrible snorer though and between him, Lulu and Lily all sleeping at the one time in my office the noise just reverberates off the walls.

These were actually taken when Billy stayed back in January. I’ve been meaning to post them but kept putting it off. So here they are

It doesn’t matter how many weddings I attend, I always seem to choke up and my breath catches for just a moment when the emotions fills the air. Perhaps during the vows, the radiance of a bride seeing her groom for the first time, a father’s heartfelt speech admiring his daughter and her new husband or watching a couple simply revel in each other shortly after becoming husband and wife.

I do think that wearing my heart on my sleeve makes me a better photographer. I have tried to distance myself at times and tried to put on the professional bravado but I always feel that indescribable joy and hope when watching two people look at each other and realise that they have done it. They have taken the first step in the next journey of their lives – together. I never tire of seeing it.

Last Saturday I was privileged to be a part of Neil and Elise’s wedding at the Joondalup Resort. Each couple gives something different to each other and in Neil and Elise’s case, Neil makes Elise laugh. Honestly, I think that Neil is most happy when he hears her laugh. She is radiant and you can see in the way she looks at him that she knows he holds her heart delicately and securely. Watching them sing to each other as they took their first dance as husband and wife, was something that will stay with me forever. I give a lot to my clients and a piece of me is in every image, but the things I get in return from them is indescribable. Here is a little peak at some of their collection.

Dispite my telling Grant over and over how funny I can be, he doesn’t buy it. This is the proof I need to show Grant that I am, in fact, hilarious. The “grab your belly and throw your head back” type of hilarious.

In fact I can’t remember exactly what was said here On this particular afternoon we laughed and cried so it was fraught with emotion. I love the naturalness of these.

Most mornings when I come out of the bathroom, I am greeted by this sight. Its something I look forward to now. She curls up just below my pillow and while she doesn’t move her head, her eyes follow me everywhere watching what I am doing.

She’s never far from me and lately I have started to get worried if she isn’t within a 2 metre radius. Most days she’s snoring on the couch behind me or sleeping on my feet under the desk. She’s my little lazy bones. And she’s in need of a haircut quite clearly by the look of those feet.