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.

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.

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

Lest we forget.

Taken with my lovely little Holga, December 2009

However this morning as I woke up, I felt something different. I looked forward and thought about what was to come during my 32nd year.  When I celebrate my birthday next year, it will be as a married woman. We will have just celebrated our wedding and I will be able to call Grant my husband. I will officially be a step-mother to two amazing kids. I will be looking forward to starting our own family. I began to think of my age not as a door closing but as another one opening as we begin a new chapter in our own lives.

I am feeling so loved this morning after so many well wishes. This morning Grant treated me to a delicious breakfast in Sorrento – I could seriously have breakfast morning, noon and night – and tonight we will have dinner with my parents. In the meantime, I decided to torture my stand in child with a party hat for my own amusement. I pity our future children – they don’t stand a chance.

xoxo

So as we prepare for a very wet and cold week here in Perth, Lily and I are resolved to be a little more slender at the end of winter. As you can see Lily is almost physically ill while basking in Lulu’s perfectness. I keep telling her that she’ll be the hot sister at the end of winter once we get started on our overhaul. I could almost hear her sighing “Whateva . . . Just take the damn picture”.

On the plus side it has meant that I have a wealth of knowledge at my fingertips. Late night calls asking her if she thinks I have meningococcal because I had a slight rash for a day. “No,” she said warmly. “I don’t think so love”.  Or the many recent calls about childhood illnesses as I began to tackle understanding kids and their own ailments.

On the down side though it means I usually wait as long as possible before visiting the doctor for any problems. For the past week it turns out I have a severe throat infection and I finally saw the doctor yesterday for some much needed penicillin. She seemed very impressed that I waited as long as I did since it began to hurt. Or was that amused? Or incredulous?

So in an effort to look for the silver lining, I thought a Bees Knees installment was the perfect thing.

• Penicillin – I mean really, where would we be without it.
• Martha Stewart – She’s done it again. Those clever people at Martha Stewart have created an iPhone app for Everyday Food and boy, it is awesome. Everyday Food is one of the staple cookbooks in our home and this just makes it so much easier. I do my shopping lists and search and save recipes all from the one location. Freakin’ amazing!
• Freak Storms – This one is for Ben. The freak storm last week has meant Ben hasn’t been able to return to school since last Monday because his school has been considered too unsafe. Oh shame. That means he gets 4 weeks of school holidays Bad news is, the school has set homework online for the kids to complete. Can’t win them all, dude.
• Polka Dot Bride - The lovely Ms Polka Dot was kind enough to feature Annika and Tom’s wedding last week. Annika did a beautiful job of describing their day so be sure to read both of the entries HERE and HERE at Polka Dot Bride.
• A New Website! – Yes, you heard right! My new website launched last night complete with new branding thanks to the amazing ladies at Studio Bomba. I’ll be sure to share a little insight into the process in a later post but in the meantime, check out the new galleries on the website. I love fresh beginnings.