I met Jennifer and Lucas over a year ago now, as they were approaching the due date of their gorgeous girl. I also had the pleasure of photographing Ava as a newborn: you can see those shoots here and here. They’re getting married in February 2012, so my lucky last session of 2011 was their engagement shoot, complete with this adorable little ball of sass and giggles (who is going to make the cutest flower girl ever, don’t you think?!).

And that’s it for 2011!

I’ll be back to start 30 Days of Summer later in the week, but a quick reminder that the office will be closed from Thursday December 22 until Thursday January 19th, inclusive.

P.S If you haven’t already seen it, here is my 2011 Christmas message.

Here are some of my favourite images. Promise to tell me if they give you a lump in your throat…

Enjoy!

I have spent less than two hours with these guys, but I know that they are going to be amazing in their new roles, and their little girl is going to have a childhood full of love and joy. They totally adore each other, and their excitement over meeting their baby girl was so infectious; I couldn’t stop grinning. And Canberra turned on such an amazing day, with the most delicious late afternoon light: it was just the sweetest session. More please!

I was SO happy to be there with a gorgeous, talented and uber-supportive bunch of photographer-friends, most of whom received AMAZING results during the APPA judging. It was exciting, thrilling and inspirational watching prints being judged that belonged to some of my closest friends, and also those belonging to the many amazing photographers who lead our industry and inspire the hell out of the rest of us (not to mention, nerve-wracking, emotional and exhausting waiting and listening to my own prints being judged!).

I was utterly thrilled to receive 3 out of 3; two silvers and one silver distinction, with a score of 88 (my first ever print in that score range!). The judges were very divided on my first two images (below), and although I had two judges on each panel score in the silver distinction range (85-89), the other judges disagreed, so they remained at silver. Of course, it’s wonderful listening to your print being fought for, but disheartening when it’s criticised! (We all pour our hearts and souls into our work and so sometimes entering the awards can feel a bit like voluntarily standing on stage in your birthday suit!)  There are many factors that make up an award winning image and many factors that judges use to determine scores. It’s a fascinating process to watch and be a part of, and I would encourage any and every photographer, enthusiast or professional, who has never been or seen it, to come along next year. The judging is open to the public at both the state and national awards, and you can stay posted on dates and times via the AIPP website.

So, I made a complete fool of myself during the judging of the last print by bursting into tears of joy and gratefulness! I was so fortunate to have Jesh De Rox on the panel at the time it came up. Jesh saw something in this image (below) that not all the judges on the panel saw at first, and he argued passionately for it. When the re-score came up I nearly fell off my chair – the scores were 89, 89, 88, 88 and 88. I had one wish this year for APPAs, and that was to outdo last year’s results. This cinched the deal and I just couldn’t be happier!

The APPAs are held each June, and are national, but before the APPAs come around, every state holds their own AIPP print awards – it’s a great opportunity to put some work out there and see how it goes, without the stress and pressure of the nationals. So back in March, I entered several images in the ACT/NSW AIPP Print Awards, and was stoked to receive 5 silver awards. I didn’t post my winning images at the time, as I wanted to wait until after the APPAs. So here are the remaining two award images from the state awards which I didn’t enter in APPAs.

We met at a tattoo parlour in Surrey Hills: Matt got his first tattoo and Mandy got her seventh. When we came out, the rain was torrential! There were literally rivers running down the street, and there was just no possible way to stay dry! With no shelter in sight, our only option was to retreat into a bar, where I photographed them playing pool to pass the time. A bit later on, we managed to snatch 15 minutes of dry sky to sneak some shots in a cute laneway. We thought we might be in the clear, and we headed back to the hotel so they could get changed, but the rain returned with a vengeance! We had barely dried from the first downpour, and we were soaked again! Then, right before sunset, there was a tiny patch of blue sky and some very pretty light. I bid them farewell as darkness fell, and they headed off for dinner, followed by Eddie Vedder.

It wasn’t exactly the photo session Mandy and I had in mind, but we had a lot of fun anyway, and I’m pretty sure it will be an anniversary they’ll always remember.

Time with these guys is totally hilarious. I admit, there were a few moments where I got so caught up laughing at their stories and comments, that I forgot I was there to photograph them, because it felt like we were just good friends hanging out.

I can wait to photograph their wedding next month, it’s going to be awesome!

I forgot to mention the cupcakes!!! Karena owns and runs Sweet Petite, a delicious cupcake business – you can find her at the Canberra Handmade Markets. I was hoping that Karena would smoosh a cupcake in Drew’s face, but I should have known it would be the other way around. I think Olive was hoping that someone would do it to her too.

She is a dear, dear friend of mine. We’ve known each other for many years, and I feel blessed to have witnessed the most beautiful change in her since she found and married the love of her life.

They call each other honey. They giggle like newlyweds. They are profoundly connected through buddhism, and their unique, shared experiences. I couldn’t imagine anyone more perfect for her than him, yet I never could have imagined him before I knew he existed.

They come from two completely different worlds, and it is amazing to me that they even met. She is Australian, he is Tibetan. They met in a tiny village in India, while she taught English in a monastery and he ran a bakery. He could barely speak English, yet a randomly baked loaf of brown bread sparked a friendship, which quickly turned to love, and they were married in a traditional Tibetan ceremony in India several months later. They went through a long and difficult time living apart, waiting for him to be granted permission to leave India and come and join her in Australia so they could start their new life together.

This session started at their home, where they revisited their past; looking through letters they sent to each other from halfway around the world, and the huge pile of documents about their lives and history that they’d had to put together for immigration. Then we went for a walk to a beautiful location that holds special meaning to them. They wore traditional Tibetan dress for part of the session.

These images are a perfect reflection of what their story is to me, how I see them, and what they give to the world around them. That story and the images we created together move me deeply. I hope they move you too.

Thank you, both of you, for your amazing trust and openness. You are an inspiration and my life is richer and more beautiful for you being in it.

Beloved sessions are about celebrating you and the unique relationship you share with your beloved. It doesn’t have to be a romantic relationship, it could be a family member or your dearest friend. Images like these are a window back to what’s truly important in your life, and their power lasts forever.

When Jodie and I were emailing back and forth planning our session (which has been a long time coming), I suggested a picnic, and Jodie replied with ‘I was going to say that; I always think I look better with a glass of wine in my hand!’ And so in true Jodie and Ken style, there was wine and cheese, chatting and much laughter. And of course, Jordy, their beloved eleven-year-old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, freshly brushed and looking very dapper.

Jodie brought along a box of postcards that she collected during their recent trip to South Africa.

I learnt that Ken has a fondness for warthogs, and that there is a bird called a ‘Go Away’ bird. I am still laughing at the memory of both their impressions of said bird.

And Ken teased Jodie about how many postcards she bought during a four week trip. I didn’t think it was odd at all (I collect postcards too), but then I realised that if Jodie buys that many postcards on every trip, she must have, well, a lot.

I love how it looks like Jordy has his beloved Jane-Bear on his leash in this next shot.

I love photographing animals, and Jordy was such a great model, despite not being able to hear all my crazy noises.

Thanks for such a fun afternoon guys; I will be in touch with your gallery very soon. xo

Our session was absolutely epic. We started off at some rundown buildings in Docklands.  Then we took a drive out of town looking for canola fields, and on the way discovered a paddock of bizarre fluffy things that made me feel like I was in a sexy, romantic version of Horton Hears a Who. It didn’t take us long to find the canola fields, they’re kind of hard to miss. We had a very funny moment as we were driving towards them: we could see them up ahead, but we started to think we were actually driving towards a bright yellow wall because it just looked too, too bright and intense to possibly be natural.

Shooting in canola fields was the fulfillment of a little dream for me – something I’ve always wanted to do – and the light was crazy beautiful. While in the middle of the canola field, we were hit by a freaky  and very sudden wind and rain storm, so we had to make a hasty retreat, but not before I captured the magic. Then we drove back into the city where attempts to pull of some rain shots when awry when my trusty clear umbrella blew inside out and died. But no matter, because a few minutes later, we were bathed in a pool of golden light that came out from beneath the storm clouds, and so I went a little nuts with artistic lovey dovey shots.

A session I will never forget. Loved. Every. Minute. Alan and Karen, you rock.