Check out this month’s online wedding mag www.engaged.co.nz to see their feature article, Waiheke Wonders.  It is a 21 page spread featuring some gorgeous Waiheke Island Weddings as photographed by yours truly…

Thanks to my lovely featured brides and grooms; Tania and Robin, Anne and Nick, Barbara and Euan and Mon-Wei and Blair…

We have recently returned from the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography Annual Epson/Iris Awards which was held in Wellington.  It was a great conference again this year with keynote speakers Yervant and Rob Imhoff (both from Australia) and NZ photographers Johannes van Kan, John Crawford, Tony Whincup, Nick Servian, and John Doogan all giving excellent and informative presentations.  There was also a presentation from Weta Workshop guru Karim Sahai about the use of still photography in movies.  A busy and informative conference this year!

This year, I received a total of three Silver Awards (one of my silvers was also given a “distinction award”) and four Bronze Awards for my photographs.  The judging was really hard again this year so I was absolutely delighted with this result.  I was also one of three runners-up for the coveted title of Wedding Photographer of the Year.  (This accolade was won by Tony Carter who is an awesome wedding and portrait photographer from the Taranaki region.) AND in addition, I gained my Masters Status this year

I am now officially a Master of Photography with the NZIPP!

Wedding category winners…

Thank you to my gorgeous brides Mon-Wei, Jodi, Wendy and Leslea!

The People Category winners…

This last shot is our annual family portrait!   It’s one of true pleasures of my job that I get to capture and record other people’s families and special events.  I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of recording your visual history as life ebbs and flows so every year we make sure that we do a photo of ourselves together as a family.  Not a snapshot, but a “real photo”.  This ALWAYS gives me new appreciation of how hard it is to co-ordinate all members of the family to be looking in the same direction at the same time (and this is noticably more difficult when using a self timer!!).

This year I have started working on a project/exhibition idea that I am loosely thinking of as “the things that betray us”, i.e., the outward signs of the things we feel or choose and what they tell others about us (either intentionally or unintentionally).  So, this family portrait ties in with this thinking; we went for a long walk along the beach one afternoon and I asked the kids and Lance to select their favourite shell for our photo.  At another time, on another beach they would have selected a different shell and I love that this image is a combination of random chance and thoughtful consideration and serves as a portrait which tells you a little about the subjects while still leaving a lot to the imagination of the viewer.

OK, less talk, more photos! … 

ABOVE: Emma on Bubbles!  
BELOW: Receiving my Masters at the Gala Dinner…