Just this week I received the latest addition to my collection which is a Portfolio Box. An adorable 7×7″ box housing 10 select images in thick, luxurious matting. I had a Rachel Zoe moment as I put it all together and quietly exclaimed, “Ba-nanas” just to myself.

I can see these boxes being perfect as a keepsake from an engagement or portrait session or even as a special gift for a parent or grandparent. They are just so perfect for understated display and even comes with a small easel to display the images. Perfect!

When Grant and I moved in together, the only reading he did for recreation was a little newspaper and a bunch of cycling and triathlon magazines. Not a book in sight. The thought of suggesting he try a novel would have him look at me like I just asked him to explain the mating rituals of the Dumbo Octopus, “You want me to what!?”, he would say with disbelief.

I would read novels and be dying to discuss them with someone (apart from my mother who shares my love of reading) but I resigned myself to the fact that Grant would never be that person. It was just something we didn’t have in common.

But then one day he came home from a business trip with a massive, bible sized book he had found in the airport bookstore. The Bourne Trilogy. All of the first three novels thoughtfully published in one book. He told me how he planned to read the entire series and how smart of him to find one book with the first three. How smart indeed! Unfortunately on another business trip as he was halfway through the first novel, he left the book on the plane and never saw it again. I am still amazed he managed to lose a book so large that I would have used as a door stop.

But his appetite had been whet and before I knew it he had picked up Twilight and began reading it. And then New Moon. And then Eclipse until he had finished the entire series and then promptly went out and found himself an entire series of books he devoured in no time. My anti-book fiance had caught the reading bug and I fell in love with him all over again and his infectious enthusiasm.

So now when we go to see Eclipse this weekend, I will have someone to whinge with when they mess up the story or perhaps when they do something extra thoughtful that makes me fall in love with the characters all over again. I know we differ on our music tastes and our movie choices amongst other things, but for those moments when we do have a mutual interest and can share it together, it makes me appreciate and love him even more.

The minute I returned home from Jasmine Star’s workshop in Sydney, I knew that the next focus for my business was an investment in the process of branding. Not just creating a new logo or ordering new business cards but really researching who I am and therefore what my business and my photography is trying to say and who it is for. I got in contact with the lovely ladies of Studio Bomba who I discovered through their sister company Mitchell and Dent, and let them know what I was looking for in my new brand and I am sure they thought I was a little crazy when I came into their office with a box loaded with my favourite things right down to my new bed linen.

I began to learn that I am my business and my business is a reflection of who I am . . . sensitive, dreamy and sometimes a little indulgent. I looked at other companies I respected and admired and in retrospect I was surprised that alot of them weren’t photography businesses but fashion or lifestyle companies that are aiming to enhance the consumers life. Companies like Laura Mercier, Martha Stewart Living, Apple, Witchery and Stella McCartney – these companies that create an experience for their consumers, not just a product.

Since re-branding I have begun to see the couples who are booking me are my ideal couples that are looking for uncluttered, simple and beautiful images that have a discerning eye for quality along with an experience that is just as important as their images. I know this isn’t just because I have a new logo, but because I am more sure of myself and what my point of difference is.

The icing on the cake were my glorious 600gsm letterpressed business and note cards that I collected last week. I’m not sure if I squealed a little but I am sure I was clapping my hands with glee at receiving these little goodies that continue to speak about the service I offer my clients. I have had a love affair for letterpress for as long as I can remember and I knew from the beginning this was what I wanted to invest in for my marketing tools. I love giving handwritten cards perhaps only more than I love receiving them – I even have a special little noticeboard in my studio for personal notes from my clients and friends.

When I brought these babies home, I showed each one to Grant for his oohs and aahs and then promptly put them in my business card holder. I then discovered I could only fit in 4 cards at one time because they are so thick – oh well, them’s the breaks!

I can’t thank Leah, Angela and Michelle at Studio Bomba enough for their patience and delivering such beautiful paper goods that I can’t wait to begin to share with my clients. They are so thick and luxurious! I have to admit, I think I have been fondling them almost hourly. I promise you, if you are one of the lucky few who receive one, you will be too.

The Kind Diet is about being kind to yourself, kind to the planet and in turn feeling the benefits physically, emotionally and spiritually. Yes, the book is about veganism primarily but I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to understand more about where their food is coming from and the impact it is having on the environment and how you can treat yourself and the environment better through your food choices. It offers the facts and gives you the tools to be able to move forward whether it be just flirting with the idea of being vegan/vegetarian or being a full blown macrobiotic diet follower.

I’ve been inspired. Inspired to care for myself, for my family and in turn, to care for the planet. Most, if not all of the decisions I am making for the past few years, are with the end result in mind that I am being kind to the environment and to my family – buying recycled toilet paper, not running the washing machine all week, running errands in bulk to economise on fuel, buying organic.

Living a vegan lifestyle feels like the natural next step. Small changes have been made like replacing butter and cream cheese with vegan options and I have eliminated meat from my diet already. While my being a vegan will be a challenge with my carnivore fiance who hasn’t eaten a lettuce leaf since being he was a toddler, it is something I want to explore further and see if this lifestyle really is for me.

If you are looking for the next step in being kinder to yourself and the environment, pick up the book. I guarantee you love it!

During my short time as a wedding and lifestyle photographer I have shot in the Kings Park Pines a number of times and although the area was becoming cliched, I believe there was a reason why people chose and loved using the location for photographs. For me, I simply loved the light and serenity when I was hidden in the Pines while spending time with my clients and friends capturing memories of their first moments as husband and wife. I’ll miss working there but am even more excited to find more locations in our beautiful city with my couples.

After pitching a concept of a wedding in the south of France (Oh my God, can you imagine?!), Grant brought me back to reality and we decided to narrow down the search to the southern hemisphere.

I remembered an article I came across years before and began researching a location in New Zealand called Hawkes Bay. The country itself is breathtaking and New Zealand has special meaning for me as it is where my father grew up and I have extremely fond childhood memories there. Grant was just as enamored with the country when we traveled there a couple of years ago. So I managed to find a spectacular venue managed by a vineyard that we penciled in and were finally able to see for ourselves last week when we visited New Zealand to get the ball rolling on our plans.

I had seen every image the venue had of the location but when we saw it for ourselves, it just confirmed all of our expectations and we knew that we had found the perfect venue fit for us and our needs. A beautiful log building set amongst an incredible backdrop of a landscape you could only find in New Zealand. I deliberately tried to hold off making any decisions such as flowers or clothing until we actually saw the location because I knew that it would have such a big impact in our choices. That is, except for our photographer who we locked in without question a couple of months ago – more on that later

Within moments of being there I was able to envision exactly how the decor will look, the colour palette and all the other bits and pieces. So the Save the Dates have been sent, the location is locked in and we are officially in planning mode.

The images below was our view from our accommodation while we were in New Zealand last week. The hills look as though they have been draped in velvet fabric and had little white sheep and black cows dotted across the landscape. I am so looking forward to creating some very special memories in this spectacular corner of the world.

I have started collecting some coffee table books for inspiration from photographers like these. For me, rather than looking at solely at other wedding photography as inspiration, instead I find most inspiration for both weddings and portraits through fashion magazines and these sorts of coffee table books. These are just a few of my favourites I thought I would share.

I came across Milton’s Marilyn while on the internet late one night. I immediately purchased it and it has been close to my heart ever since, some 10 years later. This book compiled by Joshua Greene is a manifesto of his father, Milton Green and Marilyn Monroe’s business and personal relationship and the images Greene captured along the way – it was a match made in photographic heaven. It is some of my favourite imagery ever and I think some of my favourite images of all time are from the Black Sitting. Unfortunately Lulu didn’t realise how much I loved it before she used it as a teething toy.

Another Monroe book from a different perspective, Eve Arnold almost picked up where Milton Greene left off by capturing many images of Monroe in the final years of her life on set. Eve Arnold’s book of photographs and her time with Monroe on set is candid and endearing. Her black and white images in particular are captivating. So many images just make me pause and it seems as though the world stops revolving for just a moment when I look through this book.

Lastly, Annie Liebovitz At Work and Vanity Fair Portraits. Both are holding such amazing pieces of popular culture and the Vanity Fair Portraits in particular is such a great example of how photographs are these little time capsules to be pulled out for insight into the past and sometimes into the future.

In the past few months Bec and Brett have bought their first home, welcomed a new addition (their puppy Lady) and now, they are married. It is not unusual for me to choke up a little and it was a magical moment as Bec came down the aisle. She looked incredible and I heard her breath catch with a small cry as she tried to hold it together once she saw Brett waiting for her. Later in the day, I asked her about the rosary she had attached to her bouquet. I thought perhaps it was a family heirloom and she responded that she hoped one day it would be as she would give it to her daughter on her own wedding day in the future. There is something to be said for creating your own traditions and it is a beautifully, personal touch.

Bec and Brett were married in the middle of autumn and it could not have been a more beautiful day. I have heard other photographers say it before and I’ll say it again – the light in April and May is just beautiful and I wish I could work more during these months. From the cobolt blue bridesmaids dresses, to the chartreuse green chrysanthemums in the bouquets – it was full of gorgeous details and spots of colour. One of my favourite touches throughout the day was that I continued to come across Bec and Brett’s peacock feather signature accent and the literal icing on the cake was a peacock cake. Incredible!

Ceremony: St Mary’s Catholic Church, Leederville
Reception: Matilda Bay Restaurant
Makeup Artist: Make up by Kassy
Florist: Balshaws Florist
Cake Artist: Entwined

Me on the other hand . . . I have puppy fever. I think its the floppy ears that does it to me.

Polka Dot Bride is an amazing source of inspiration and I have been stalking it religiously as a bride and a photographer. So many weddings are featured from Western Australia, Australia and even some overseas ones not to mention the gorgeous wedding fashion showcased weekly. Head on over and check out Von and Conrad’s wedding here and here. They both took some time to share information on their planning and those moments that they included in their day that made it uniquely theirs.