Assistants offer a second point of view which is very important when one photographer can be in two places at once.
There’s two types of people that can assist me at a wedding. One with a camera and one without. In some circumstances I will bring along two people, one to act as a second shooter, and one to carry some gear.
It’s 2:00am, the day after Katy and Gareth’s amazing wedding. After a beautiful and heartfelt ceremony at Narrowneck Beach, we took some photos along the beach front, then travelled to the Pumphouse theatre for some fun. Finally we ended up at the new Wynyard Quarter which has some excellent locations for wedding photos. Katy and Gareth’s reception was at the gorgeous Mantells on the Water, and evening filled with excellent food, sincere speeches, and lots of great company. It’s so late, and I’m totally going to fall asleep at the keyboard, but I had to share some photos before I hit the hay. Watch out for the full post on their wedding soon.
I've lived in Auckland for over 20yrs but have never wandered out to Riverhead Forest. I I didn't really know how to get there, and was surprised after looking at the map that I've cycled past it a dozen times.
So with the kids out for the day, I packed the camera and set out to get lost. And get lost I did. Luckily all roads lead to Rome, or in my case, the motorway.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a special pill, a creativity pill, that when taken allowed us to open up our minds to the possibilities and generate something that’s never been seen before. I wonder what the limits would be, how many new and unique songs or movies we’ll encounter, or how many photographers will start seeing the world that little bit different.
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I’ve had a great time offering Pay what it’s worth for 2012,
During this trial, I’ve had many positive comments about how Pay what it’s worth is a good system, but I also discovered that many people found it hard to judge the value of their photography. So in the interests of making like much easier for my clients, I’ve now reverted to a different model, which you can see on my wedding prices page.
You can read below what the PWIW model entailed.
Today I decided that I’d had enough of the house and needed to get out and be among the people, lots of people. So I bustled the kids into the car with a few hats, sunblock, and snacks thrown in after them, and sped towards the Devonport ferry (obeying all speed limits of course). Once again I decided to take my big camera in the hope of getting some great shots of the All Blacks parade. With my phone number proudly tattooed on the kids’ arms in case they got lost, we ventured to the ferry.
The slug was in full form. It’s growing on me, and I think it makes for an interesting feature on the waterfront. Certainly no Sydney Opera House, but it’s a start.
Make your invitations personal
Every year, for both kids I’ve shot a photo for their birthday invitations. It’s one of my favourite things as I get to choose a photo that reflects their personality at that age. This year was no different, except that we’ve decided there will be no more parties after the kids turn 5. Even so, we’re going to have a bunch of his mates around for a movie, some minigolf, and fish n chips, so I had to do another invitation didn’t I?
Yesterday we found out that the house we’re renting sold at auction. What’s more it sold for an unbelievable price, which was far out of our reach.
We moved here at the start of the year to be close to Mr6′s school, Bron’s parents (who live in the same street), and because we love the area. I took on a one-year lease as opposed to the two-year one that was offered because of the state of the house. The mould, dampness, and general lack of maintenance was worrying. But the rent was cheap, and the location was perfect.
It didn’t take long to realise that we really love this house. We have so much space for the kids to run around in, a REAL garden for us to pitch a tent in, and a large indoor studio in which I’ve been itching to start more baby photography, as well as a big garage for the cyc and big-people portraits. All year we’ve spoken about the changes we would make; rip that wall out, put new bathroom in, strip that ceiling etc. and give the state of the house we thought that by the end of next year we could afford to put in an offer.
It caught us completely by surprise when the landlord called to say the place was up for sale. Straight to auction and we wouldn’t have the opportunity to put in an offer beforehand. Needless to say this annoyed me immensely. I’ve rented for 20yrs, since coming to NZ, and have never experienced this. Yes a rental is someone else’s house, but it’s our home. To have someone phone and say you have to move out is heart-wrenching.
So onward with yet another move, hopefully in the same area. I’m adamant that Mr6 is not moving schools as he’s doing so well, and Miss4 is due to start there next year. I’ll lose the studio, so back to photographing babies in their homes as before. But I know we’ll manage. I will miss the space, the garden, the studio, and the security of an enclosed space for the kids to run around in. But I will certainly not miss that god-awful wallpaper!
Just had to share this image from this morning; both kids happily painting away on a Sunday morning.
The peace and quiet in the house was deafening! Both kids painted a card for their Great Nana who turns 80 on Tuesday.
I can’t believe it’s a year since I last went to the kowhai festival in Warkworth. I was prepared last time, and took the family, but this year it sort of crept up on me.
I managed to evacuate the house in a record breaking 19mins from making the decision to take the kids. That means I managed to make them lunch, pack a bag, make them go to the toilet, AND make them put on their shoes without being distracted by showing my ninja skills with the flip flops. I am super-Dad.
I had two and half hours, including travel time, as the kids had a play date later in the afternoon, but I was determined to do it! Thanks to the recent release of The Smurfs movie, I endured la la lala la la, la lala la la the whole way there, multiple times, except for 30seconds when we had to hold our breath going through the tunnel. They didn’t sing after that as they instead looked like smurfs.
Inevitbaly, my request for them to go to the toilet was in vain as Miss4 decided that she was ‘busting’. So despite having had no water since the last evacuation, we found a loo, and THEN FINALLY got to the festival.
All we had time for was a couple of trips up and down, a play on the Scooby Doo bouncy castle, ice creams, and buying two oversized hammers. These tools were used on the return leg to whack me over the head each time I said I didn’t want to hear the Smurfs tune again.
I went to take photos on my own, but instead had a great time with the kids, which was far more enriching. I got a few snaps too, but with Miss4 on my shoulders and Mr6 pulling me this way and that, it was kinda difficult.
My boy can skip, oh yes he can skip.
I have no idea why this guy was carrying a coconut cos I couldn’t see a coconut stall anywhere. The other bloke was part of a brass band, Miss4 like this instrument the best. I don’t know what the sea shell was for though.
Everywhere I went I saw this man taking photos in my general direction, so I’m probably on his blog somewhere, thought I’d return the favour. Shot this blind from the hip as I walked past, glad I nailed the focus.
THE COOLEST LOOKING BIKE EVER!!
These aeroplanes were great, as you can see they’re made from beer cans. But don’t drink and fly kids.
