And this shoot was a hoot. For me, and for this gorgeous pair of almost-parents. How adorable is mum-to-be?

Their bub was born a few days ago (on my birthday, how cool is that?!), and will be having her first photo session this week. I can’t wait to meet her!

I can’t really express how much I enjoyed our session, but I think you can tell by the photos. You blew my mind with your trust, openness and connection. I loved hearing the stories of your past, and of the strong and inspiring relationship you have. While I was shooting, I felt so alive! I know that sounds a little bit nutty, but it’s the only way I can describe it. Your incredible energy filled the air around us, and all I could see was light and colour and this amazing love you have for one another. I wanted to capture it all; not just your expressions and interactions, but the feeling of each moment.

As I look through these images, I have to remember to breathe: they make my heart beat fast and my eyes fill with tears! I think this may be some of my best work, and I owe that all to you. Love like yours is not something you see every day.

This is how I see my job as a photographer: I open myself to the possibility before me… you give yourselves to me… I fall in love… and then I give you back to you.

This is how I see you Arek and Kate; you beautiful, beautiful souls.

So much love,

Katie

Dear Readers,

Arek & Kate have been together for 14 years and married for 7. This approach to photography is called Beloved. It’s about celebrating love; who you are together and as individuals. It’s about capturing the real you, free of self consciousness and really, truly in the moment. It’s a pretty amazing experience for both photographer and subject. I love these sessions and want to do more of them. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, how long you’ve been together: just consider the possibility. I’d love to meet you.

Katie

P.S Arek is a Melbourne photographer and owner of Five Castles Portraits.

A perfect set of images for Valentine’s Day… dear readers, may your day be full of moments like these.

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.