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

We were all sitting down watching one of the many cooking shows that usually graces our television set. As we watched and giggled at a bunch of very inept adults trying to cook and one in particular trying to peel and chop garlic extremely unsuccessfully, Ben at 12 years of age declared “Even I know how to do that.”

One of the best decisions we made in the past year was allocating each Tuesday night to the kids as their night to cook a meal and spending the time supervising them honing their skills and giving them tips to make things easier in the kitchen. Tips such as putting the salt in after the water has boiled or understanding the ratio of a good vinaigrette. They alternate each week and create a meal of their choice from scratch. No frozen food. No packaged sauces. No boxed meals. They scour my ridiculously large selection of cook books and find what appeals to them, write out their shopping list and get cooking. Much to Grant’s dismay they seem to be veering towards vegetarian meals mainly.

My ultimate aim is that they are gaining skills that won’t leave them relying on prepackaged meals and fast food and give them the courage to experience new things. And once you experience new things in one area of your life, it opens you up to experiencing other things in your life too.

As for me, I’ve become a baking fiend recently as I try to create snacks for the kids for their lunchboxes and after school snacks instead of relying on sugary muesli bars and overprocessed snacks. Its not hard to find a cookie or cake recipe they will love but it is hard to find one the is at least less bad for them, let alone good for them, that they love. So our home is littered with oatmeal raisin cookies and banana bread at the moment as I experiment and find some good choices. If you are coming for a consultation anytime soon, be prepared to be wowed by my baking prowess because no doubt I will be trying to palm some off to you too.

I came across this recipe on Cook Yourself Thin, an awesome cooking show. It substitutes sweet potato for butter and is just 336 calories per cupcake, including the icing. The original recipe can be found here. I adapted it a little bit to the flavours I wanted and my adapted recipe is below. I have seen the kids try new things more readily and when Ben helped me make these cupcakes and I put in the sweet potato, it wasn’t received with a “Gross!” but a simple “Oh” and he was interested to see what they tasted like. They were awesome by the way and totally worth trying.

I felt like indulging my feminine side and went for pink icing with sprinkles. Sometimes life is better with sprinkles.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

MAKES 12 CUPCAKES : 336 CALORIES PER CUPCAKE

2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 heaping cup of peeled and finely grated sweet potato
1/2 cup ground almonds
3/4 cup plain flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius. Line a 12 hole muffin pan with paper liners.

Using a handheld or stand mixer, whisk the eggs and sugar for 5 minutes until pale and quadruled in size. Add the grated sweet potato and whisk again. Whisk in the ground almonds, flour, salt, cocoa powder and baking powder until they are well combined. Add the chocolate chips and using a spatula mix until just combined and distributed.

Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners so each liner is half filled (Hint: Use an icecream scoop to get exactly the same amount in each liner)

Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted.

Once cooked, remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before icing.

For the icing, I started with 2 tbsp unsalted butter (at room temperature) and added 2 tbsp icing sugar and food colouring. Mix well. Then alternate between 1/4 cup cold water and additional icing sugar, mixing well until you get the right consistency and quantity. Ice and enjoy If you have any left over, refrigerate.

I am sure that Grant is tired of it. Of me declaring nearly every afternoon, “Tomorrow. I’m doing it tomorrow. Promise.”

Whether its paying the power bill, cleaning out the spare (aka junk) room or getting in a workout, there are so many things on my to do list that I’ve started to become the queen of tomorrows. I just think of pushing it back a little but before I know it my Things list is reminding me that finalising our wedding budget is 39 days overdue. 39 days! I mean, come on! There is so much to fit in that it becomes overwhelming and of course, responsibilities and unfortunately sometimes dreams and wishes get pushed aside as we move from day to day. The fact is that there are only so many tomorrows in our lives and they pass by way to quickly. Before you know it, tomorrow is here and the next one on the horizon.

This morning I was up at the god-awful hour of 4am to take Ben to a triathlon. It should be illegal to be up that early. However, as a result I found my silver lining of being on the beach in North Coogee during sunrise on this amazing autumn morning. I’ve experienced many sunsets on the beach but not often a sunrise so it is one of those moments that I acknowledged as being special and made the most of it. It was the most peaceful, serene and humbling moment as I meandered along the beach as the sun peaked over the sand dunes. We collected shells and beach glass and basked in the light pink glow of the morning.

Take the time today to do what you have been putting off until tomorrow. For me, I’m getting the chores done early and blowing of the afternoon to spend some quality time with those I love. I’m going to make their day just a little bit more special.

Back in December I mentioned that my “resolution” of sorts was to make each day a little more beautiful than the one before and take pleasure in the small moments. Its about taking the time to watch the glow of the sunset over our garden or taking a silent moment of reflection or perhaps taking the time to stop cleaning or cooking or working to snuggle on the couch with my love. These small things warm my heart immensly.

So as I am looking for things and moments that make my day better and in an effort to share a little bit more about me and who I am I thought I would start a regular post of The Bees Knees : all things fabulous that rock my world. Incidentally, while I was thinking up a title I came across the Dogs Bollocks and the Sardine’s Whiskers as a similar saying. While the Sardine’s Whiskers intrigued me, I like bees and I like their knees so here we are.

Gossip Girl : I so want to love Gossip Girl but geez, Blake Lively makes it hard with her whining. I love the fashions and forays of the Manhattan elite however if it weren’t for Chuck Bass, I might have tuned out long ago. Go Chuck Bass!

Hydration : My not-so-guilty pleasure recently has been the result of the purchase of a gorgeous glass pitcher for my client meetings. However, in an effort to try to get in more water (we all do right?) I have started filling up the pitcher daily and adding in some lemon or lime slices for a twist. It is sooooo much easier to get in my water and so much prettier than a plastic water bottle. Give it a try – you’ll be hydrated before you know it.

Kikki-K : Oh, heaven on earth! I have been ordering Kikki-K’s gorgeous stationery from their online store for ages and a few months ago I discovered their store in Karrinyup. My heart jumped out of my chest and I squealed just a little bit at my delight although I don’t think Grant quite understood my excitement. I feel instantly more organised and calm as soon as I enter the store and recently purchased their big family planner for the 2nd year to organise our increasingly busy family.

Marie Antoinette – The Soundtrack : I’ve mentioned before of my love of Sophia Coppola and her incredibly beautiful films. Marie Antoinette is my absolute favourite. There is something about how Sophia merges her gorgeous imagery with a rockin’ soundtrack that I connect with and the only thing better than this film is the soundtrack which I finally bought this week. Go check it out on iTunes now – I think I am in love with Hong Kong Garden by Siouxie and the Banshees. And after you’ve bought it, go buy the Virgin Suicides soundtrack too They both are the Bees Knees.

Puppy Time – I have started trying to schedule my day a little more and one thing I wanted to add in was regular time with our two puppies. The best time of my day is taking them for a walk with Grant as we discuss our plans and dreams while watching the girls foraging through the tall grass and leaves near the lake. They look so happy sniffing and running around it just melts my heart each time. Then for the rest of the day I am their BFF as they follow me everywhere and snooze the rest of the day away. Puppy time is the best.

I’ll leave you with one last moment that makes my heart sing. This gorgeous little vase I found in a York antique store for $8 and my home grown roses. I knew they would be a perfect fit. They definately are, the bees knees.

Happy Australia Day!

Our day started at 4.30am (yes, I know!) this morning as we all piled into the car and headed to Point Walter for Grant and Ben to compete in a triathlon. Ben won his age group coming in 1st and Grant did an amazing job too. So much spirit and passion is in every athlete that competes – its a great testament to the human spirit and I never tire of it.

The drive home along the coast was littered with people heading to the beach for the day and boats on their way to the Swan River to get their positions for the fireworks tonight. We are off to my parents house for some swimming, BBQ and  quality time with family. So looking forward to it.

So we wish you a Happy Australia Day! Be safe

When we decorated a living room recently, I invested way too much money in a custom ottoman upholstered in a beautiful chenille fabric. I had plans for this beautiful piece of furniture in our small, modest room as a feature piece. The room and layout I wanted wasn’t big enough for additional chairs, so the ottoman seemed like a perfect choice.

As it turns out, it has been an extremely good investment as a dog bed. Trying to discourage the dogs from being on the (yet to be scotch-guarded) couch, I encouraged them sit on the ottoman instead and before I knew it — it became their permanent resting place. It is right behind me as I work and perhaps the closest place to me without sleeping at my feet on the cool tiles. It is the perfect vantage point for viewing out the window without being told off for jumping on the couch and of course, is extremely comfortable for a 10kg canine. I have to admit, I like being able to hear Lily breathing deeply as she dreams. Perhaps not so happy when she lets “fluffy off the leash” as it is so affectionately termed in our house. This girl can evacuate a room, quick smart.

So here is a little celebration of my little Lily for following the rules and always staying on her très expensive dog bed and knowing the couch is out of bounds. I will not however, be posting photo evidence of Lulu ignoring the rules as always and claiming the couch as her own. No sir. The girl is 40cm long but can take up a 3 seat lounge like no-one else.

I was casually browsing through my blogroll one August morning last year when I came across a blog post that was almost too good to be true. Cathy Crawley was going to host Jasmine Star in Sydney as she conducted one of her workshops. My heart skipped a beat and I think I forgot to breathe as I feverishly put in my application to attend, hoping against hope that it wasn’t already sold out as I knew it would in record time.

I came across Jasmine’s work early on in my photography career and she has been more than a subtle influence in my own emerging style. I instantly fell in love with her work, her spirit and her candour as I read her blog from start to finish and then found her previous blog which I devoured much too quickly. Her work as always been a source of inspiration for me and to know that I would not only meet Jasmine but be able to get insights into her thoughts and then to watch her shoot was almost too much for me to bare. The workshop has come and gone far too quickly and as I begin to process what I have learnt and how I am going to implement these tools into not only my business but my life, I feel incredible blessed.

Here are some of my favourites from our shoot that are only possible because of the incredible work Cathy put into organising it. She sourced the best vendors in Sydney for the outstanding couture gowns, incredible bouquets and boutonnieres and the most beautiful hair and makeup.

Models – Lacy and Evan, Kristie Jane
Flowers – Daisy Chain Florist
Dresses – Catherine Colubriale
Hair and Makeup – Elle Vierboom

A huge thank you to Cathy Crawley and to Jasmine and JD. Your incredible hard work and effort was above and beyond my expectations and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity you have given me.

xoxo

Oh internet, where shall I begin? This past week has been beautiful in so many ways, all accumulating in my being in Sydney to attend a workshop with the fabulous Jasmine Star. This trip ended up being my own little pilgrimage as I took the time to listen to my inner voice and begin to live my life and approach my work with a new zest. I am very aware that I have been living a blessed life and I am also aware that it could be taken from me at any time. Spending time with Jasmine has encouraged me to jump head first into my life and not to hesitate in my decisions.

As I enter my third year in business as a professional lifestyle photographer, the next few months are expected to be busy with me coming to the end of a number of projects and beginning a few new ones that I am so looking forward to sharing. I have invested alot of time and effort over the past few years into my business and bettering myself as a photographer which has sacrificed alot of my time as a partner, daughter, sister and friend and the time has come to sit back for just a moment and reflect, reassess and move forward. The fruits of my labour in my business have been rewarding and there is more to come in the next few months. However I can’t wait to have more personal fulfillment as I invest time back into my loved ones and encourage them to pursue their own happiness and passion just as they have with mine.

In other fruits of my labour, these little glistening rubies were waiting for me in my modest vegetable garden when I returned home from my trip. The first harvest of the summer. They are small, but they make me smile from ear to ear.

Two thousand and nine.

I began this year with hope and peace in my heart at my decision to leave the corporate world behind me and pursue my passion. Photography was calling to me and as I look back over my years work I feel I made the right decision. It has been a hard journey, one that is often fraught with self-doubt but I remain sure that the images I am crafting are making the world, and my clients lives, just a little tiny bit more beautiful.

I am proud to now call myself an artist as I felt I was unable to before. I am finding my feet as a photographer and have gained the confidence to be more experimental in my approach to my work. I have learnt to follow my instincts and they will usually pay off. I see the world with an artists eye and am now documenting weddings and life honestly with this viewpoint. I can see how my work has evolved and how my journey to develop my own style is continuing to evolve with it as I follow my heart.

I set out this year with a goal of documenting 10 weddings. I have surpassed with a total of 12 wonderful clients that opened their hearts and welcomed me into their lives to document their declarations to each other. I am pleased to report that a few of these couples are expecting new additions to their family in 2010 which makes me so happy for them. There are also my portraiture clients (20 of you) who allowed me into their homes to document their lives and their relationships which I am so grateful.

2010 is looking to be just as beautiful, if not more than 2009. The next 6 months will see me document another 5 weddings, travel to Sydney for a photographers workshop, open my residential gallery to my clients and begin the planning stages of our own wedding we are scheduling for April 2011. I am developing a new found respect for my brides (and grooms!) and the effort and time they invest in crafting a wedding.

In the meantime, my resolution for 2010 is to make each day more beautiful than the one before. I have plans to refine my currently mediocre french, experiment more in the kitchen and enjoy the small moments that make life beautiful. I have a couple of other personal goals which I will wait just a little longer to share.

Happy new year!

The following four weddings were just this month and I will share them over the next few months. The last two were actually in the last 4 days so they are very hot off the press

Today is a little different. Today I share with you an image with me not behind the camera, but in front of it.

As my Mum’s 60th birthday was approaching for July, we decided as a joint birthday gift we would arrange for a family portrait session. This was something in the back of my mind for a while as it has been about 15 years since our last family portrait.

In addition, our family has grown in size. Having pretty much all of my extended family overseas, it was always just the 5 of us here in Australia – my parents, and my brother and sister and me. Now there are 11 of us and it was high time for us to be documented and celebrated in honour of Mum’s birthday.

So without hesitation I contacted my friend and colleague, Samm Blake, to see if she was up for the challenge of photographing our crazy family. I was floored by the end result and Mum was over the moon with her album we created for her birthday.

I thought I would share just one image from the session which is the first family portrait of my new family. These are the people I spend my days with, laugh with, cry with and live for. It is something I will treasure forever no matter what the future has in store for us or what has happened to us in the past. This is us. Right now. The start of our own story.

Thanks Samm

This week I was so fortunate to have been commissioned for a portrait session all the way up in Broome.

It had been far too long since I had seen that vibrant red dirt and its contrasting blue skies. I have spent more than half of my life in the north-west of Western Australia and even thought this was my first time to Broome, it kind of felt like coming home when I saw that familiar sparse landscape and felt the heat when getting off the plane onto the tarmac. I couldn’t help but smile to myself as we landed.

One morning, I packed up my gear and hit the road to explore a little and scout some potential shoot locations. This is what I saw.