Did you know that family photos are the most precious memory for your kids, especially little ones  They love to sit and look at their whole family in a photograph.  If you as the mum or dad are taking the photo you won’t be in it and you’re children will be asking “where are you in this picture”?   I’m speaking from experience here as “the one” usually behind the camera and missing from all the family photos.

Can I encourage you to invest an hour out of your year to have some professional pictures taken with you all in them. Invest in your family with images that will tell your story.  Ask anyone, “what would you take if your house was in an emergency?” and 9 out of 10 people will say their photographs … me included, it’s certainly the one thing besides my family that I’d grab!

Another tip!  Get your images printed.  Think about this … going to a photographer who gives you a disc – 7 out of 10 people who get a high resolution disc and no prints never get any images printed.  Truly?  Sadly yes!

Faced with a disk of images, you as the client need to worry about taking them to a great lab (you wouldn’t want to get them printed anywhere else but a pro lab).  Unfortunately, most images are kept in the computer and are never seen the way they are meant to be seen.  I’ve had many people tell me they never get around to printing and their images generally end up at the bottom of the to do list.  What about cropping?  If you don’t know about cropping you can ruin your photographs and waste a lot of money.

So why put a high priority on photographs?  There is nothing like holding a printed photograph in your hands or sitting back admiring and reflecting on that beautiful image on your wall.  When all is said and done, your memories that you treasure will be all wrapped up in the photographs throughout your life.  Not only will you look at them with fond memories over the years, but your family will also treasure them for generations.

Today I was delighted to learn this image was selected as the current face of Who Adelaide new "Tot Shop". Wahoo!

Photography truly is an art like no other and it delights me to be able to create this art for my clients.  Every time I open an image that takes my breath away, I know that I am doing what I was born to do.  Because in my world everything is beautiful and everyone has a story to tell.  I don’t strive to get pictures of what you look like -  I delight in getting pictures of WHO YOU ARE.

I’m committed to helping you decorate your world with highly personal artwork.

Artwork that matters … because I am the storyteller and your life is the story I tell.

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Had the absolute pleasure of caring for these two adorable little kiddos on the weekend. Sweetest little angels, they were so well behaved.

Our family grew from 5 to 7 but was delightful to watch them all interact and play.

Hope you enjoy Annette and thank you for entrusting us with their first ever sleepover.

What do you do when you have two teenage cousins born only 4 days apart on holidays together … and bored? You dress up of course … and boy did they look dapper!

Naturally I ran to grab my camera and take some pics for them.

Then of course before too long the girls caught wind of what was happening and came sashaying outside all dollyed up ready for their photos.

The girls are cousins too but are 5 years apart.  Ironically my middle son was born just 3 weeks earlier than his girl cousin making them equal cousins too but the whole girl/boy doesn’t gel so well.  Thankfully the 3 youngest get on like a house on fire and spent every waking moment playing together.

I had to throw in the last photo too … Sarah lost her first tooth while we were staying there. Too cute!

I often reminisce about the joys of childhood running through the sprinklers with squeals of delight and spraying water over my friends as we basked in the glorious sun with such carefree spirits.   But sadly in my reminiscing I am also saddened.  Saddened for the fact that my children have rarely ever had the chance to experience that same innocent, carefree and sheer fun of being able to waterplay under the sprinklers & hoses.

With water restrictions tight here in Australia sprinklers are not allowed and very minimum hose use per week in an effort to ‘save our water’.  We really are the land of “droughts” & “flooding rains” and our weather is becoming more and more unpredictable.

So at the risk of being “told off” or worse “fined” I let the kids have some “waterplay” this weekend (as you can clearly see my lawns & plants need it!!!!) and sat back and watched with a sense of contentment & a smile in my heart as my two youngest kiddos squealed with delight dousing each other with water and enjoying the GOOD LIFE … under the sprinklers.

Today’s kids are robbed of so much … even the sheer joy of such innocent fun.  A time to reflect on our past and help them embrace their future.

I had the pleasure of photographing two delightful little boys today … delightful enough to melt my socks off! Here’s a little sneak peak …

I know it’s early… but we leave for holidays in Melbourne 11th December and won’t return until the end of January and time is flying by really fast.

Christmas season is always CRAZY so this year we’ve got it covered. If you want a short-n-sweet family (or just siblings) or couple session with just enough images to display on your own custom designed fabulous Christmas cards or to solve your Christmas gift shopping woes … then this is the option for you!

Here are the details…

(may be subject to change of equal or greater value)

Each mini session will last approximately 30min. I will artistically & professionally edit the best 8-10 images from the session and upload the proofs to an online gallery for you to view and make your selections. Please note that this does not mean I only take 8-10 pictures… I will take many.  I will just narrow all the images down to the BEST 8-10 for proofing.

Those participating in the mini sessions will have 3 collection options available.  All participants are required to purchase the smallest (Boughs of Holly) collection.  Your $315 is due in advance to secure your time slot. You also have the option of upgrading to one of the other 2 collections or your may purchase additional a la carte items at proofing if you so choose. This is a massive saving off our regular photography session fees. Please note that there are no substitutions allowed with these collections.

If you are interested in a mini session please contact me and let me know your preferred date and time. Sessions will take place in the gardens at Partridge House, Glenelg.  Session times will be 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm.

Please make sure your children are fed and rested (if at all possible) prior to the session to better our chances of some happy smiles. For suggestions on how to dress your family for the occassion… click here.  In the event of rain on either of the scheduled days of mini sessions, November 7th will be left open and available on my calender as a day to reschedule.

If you are interested in booking … let me know ASAP!  Space is definitely limited and no further mini dates will be available (to ensure your goodies arrive well before Christmas and my leaving for holidays)!

“Can you please put a jumper on” … “why, it’s not even cold” … “coz you make me feel cold looking at you”.

Does this sound familiar to you? Yes, unfortunately for my kids my responses are usually the result of how I’m feeling. *Hangs head in shame*.

Ok, so I’m not obsessive but I do have to turn away even at the playground just so my kids can have fun, learn & experiment without mum calling out “careful, watch this, watch that” …. uggggh! sounds horrible just typing it.

I had a big wakeup call this week whilst I was home sick.  Hubby took our 3 kids to the Royal Adelaide Show with another dad and his daughter. (Brave men … they did an excellent job BTW!!!!). Anyway, back to my story … I was home sick and I get a text from hubby saying our son No2 who is 8 years old is ON (not going on so I can protest … but actually ON) the MEGADROP!!!! Aaaagh! NO WAY! I exclaimed.

The pangs of horror filled my body as I remembered the feeling of that insane ride at the show last year.  You get dropped from 45m at a speed of 204km/hr and I’m not exaggerating when I say I felt like I had died and been plunged to the depths of the earth on my way to hell itself.   Now don’t get me wrong, I love crazy rides but this was one I vowed I would never do … but unfortunately was forced to accompany my 12yr old and not forfeit the $20 we had just spent when we realised my hubby couldn’t go on with him.

Yes friends, I freaked out!  I was home and he was there and there was NOTHING I could do about it.  The thought of my poor little baby on that ride really sent my heart into a spin.  Would he be ok?  Would his little heart & body take it? … and so on and so on.

I anxiously waited for another text to tell me he was ok.   But instead of text message I heard a small still voice inside.  At that moment I felt a sense of peace and assurance.  As I sat and thought about it for what seemed like 10 mins but was all of 3 or so minutes I said to myself “you know what Cindy, get over yourself girl!”.  I realised at that moment that when I say “no” or “put a jumper on” or “be careful” that I’m saying it because of ‘me’.  My kids are kids and they NEED to be kids and they need to be allowed to do kid things.

Sure they’re gonna fall and get hurt and there’ll be tears … that’s ok (reminder to self).  As long as I’m there for them when they fall to cuddle, console and encourage, I know they’ll grow up stronger, more courageous and more confident and more fulfilled.

And YES, he was OK … he LOVED it!  He screamed … but he loved it.  Next stop was the killer rollercoaster.  He had an absolute ball and I learned a very good lesson.  How can I begrudge my kids that?

I was reminded again this week to DANCE like NOONE is watching!  Have you danced today?

Unlike my other two, it’s rare that he lets me photograph him so I’m delighted to have captured the many faces & facets of my boy that truly reflect who he is.  Needless to say I just had this printed 20×30″ for our wall.  Yeah baby!

Mumma loves you sweetheart xxx

Ps.  … and in case you’re wondering?  Yes! He does read my blog

Way too many pics to choose from but here’s a sneak peak of their session!

I love the wonder & innocence of childhood …

Yes, that’s my little princess there too!  The li’l fellow is her classmate and his younger sister.
And … I’m told on good authority they will marry each other!!!!

Where there’s smoke … there’s fire!

What a blast!  We had such a fun day.

Today was the last day of Term 2 and the Grade 7′s celebrated with an excursion to their teacher’s property for a bonfire & bush skills.

Now you have to give a holla! to the girls .. go girl power … they hunted down & collected their wood and got their bonfire stoked first and then sat back and watched as the boys fumbled, played and got distracted, but finally got their bonfires cranking.

After enjoying the warmth emanating from their skillfully (well somewhat!) prepared bonfires, it was time to get some food happening …

“Yeaaaahh!”  Yes, he was very proud of his ‘smokin’ fire.

The ultimate in male multi-tasking .. well!

While the idea was baked potatoes (above) I must give kudos to one adventurous “Daniel” for bringing along
a potato peeler, salt, butter and knife to crank out some wedges with his creative culinary skills (below).

From this …

… to this!  Yes, it’s damper & it was yummo! (bar the doughy bit in the middle)

and of course it wouldn’t be complete without sausages, now would it?

That there dirty boy .. yep!  he’s all mine

He happen to find a beautifully wet & fun mudslide and of course
being the leader that he is … so did everyone else!!

Now this was our treat!  Freddo frogs inside bananas cooked over our bonfires.

Mmmmmm mmmmmm!  … oh and of course there were marshmallows to toast!

Miss “C” … I love you.  I love your zaniness & zest for life … don’t ever change xxx

School folk can view the entire gallery of images from the day.