We did a fabulous wedding on the weekend; just gorgeous – stunningly elegant bride, lovely families, very stylish, lots of fun and happy people all having a great time;  all the good stuff that makes me LOVE my job.  I wish that I could share some of the images but the bride and groom have opted to keep their wedding out of the blogisphere.   So… sad for you viewers, but instead I bring you, da dum da daaaaaaa… Our Family Campervan Holiday Photos.  Lucky, lucky you.

We had a great time away – Wellington for Christmas, then we flew back north and drove in Mango Tango (not her real name) to Miranda Hot Springs (ahhhhhh), traveled through Thames and up to Coromandel Town, across the 309 route to Whitianga, followed by Whangamata.  After that, Rotorua and Mt Maunganui.

We did some indoor rock-climbing, played mini golf, walked to waterfalls, visited swimming pools and a few dozen playgrounds/skateparks (as anyone with children knows, these are high on the list of attractions in any new town), got wet at Waterworks in the Coromandel (highly recommended), got extremely wet at hot water beach along with a gazillion other tourists  …  what is with all the rain this summer?

Had my first – and possibly last – ‘V’ slushy, went glass-bottom boating (Jessie snorkeled with the fishies because she is not a total cold water wuss unlike the rest of the family a brave adventurer), ate Thai from a RSA ‘restaurant’ (not recommended), did The Twist and a few other unrecognisable dance moves at a dine & dance for New Years Eve, frolicked on the beach, drew in the sand, lost some teeth (the kids)…  Yep, all in all it was a goodie!

We are nearing the end of our family camper-van trip around the coromandel (and rotorua/tgaranga). It has been such a treat to be on holiday at a time that is usually so busy for our studio. Feeling very lucky about now. Back at work from the 9th Jan so will post a few photos from the trip soon…
Hope everyone has had a great start to 2012!

We had such a lovely day spoiling Lance on Fathers Day this year; just hanging out and relaxing, making him breakie in bed, brunch in the sun, wine and cheese in the arvo and a specially requested Roast Lamb for dinner.  Yep, you heard right – breakie AND brunch, cos that’s just how we do Fathers Day in our house.  Sticky sweet pastries, bagels, cream cheese, salmon… you get the idea I am sure!

Actually, it sounds like we pretty much just ate all day which is kind of true, although he also squeezed in some recreational gardening as well (total mystery to me how gardening can be considered anything but a complete chore but then I am a non-gardener, which I imagine you would have gathered from the comment!).

To save you from being subjected to photos of our gluttonous eating spree (or Lance’s gardening for that matter), I have unearthed one of my favourite shots from soon after our daughter Jessie was born, a gorgeous moment which always reminds me how delicate and yummy those first few months are with a newborn.

Happy belated Fathers Day everyone.

Wow.  Just returned from the NZIPP annual convention and Iris Awards where I was awarded the Wedding Album of the Year trophy for the second year in a row!  This year I also received another ‘bar to my masters’, and was one of three finalists for the Classic Portrait Category, a new category this year which celebrates a ‘straight’ capture, i.e., an image that has not been digitally manipulated like so many of the current awards images are.

The convention itself was fabulous – a real treat, with heaps of great advice and inspiration from some awesome speakers.  Will post more info over the next few days along with my successful awards images and the details of the wedding album pages for those that have been asking me on FB.  Until then though, you will just have to look at my smiling (and slightly ‘stunned mullet’) face…

Yeeehah!!  We are on the road taking a well deserved winter break.  OK, there is a wee bit of work thrown in for good measure but only the kind of ‘work’ that is pretty good fun anyway so it doesn’t really count!  This year I am really excited to be part of the judging team at the NZIPP Iris Awards, which are being held in Rotorua in early August.  Exciting and slightly scary fun; can’t wait!

Apologies for any inconvenience if you are trying to reach me – I will be doing the occasional email session so feel free to send me a message and I’ll answer as I am able…

I was pretty chuffed to find out that one of my images made it to the Top 30 in this years Auckland Photo Day.  Part of June’s Auckland Festival of Photography, the photo day is a designated 24 hours in which Auckland’s photographers capture their city and all it means to them.  My shot of my gorgeous daughter Jessie leaping over a little beach stream was selected from over 1350 entries… choice!

All the winning photos can be viewed HERE