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    Beauty in small things | Melbourne baby photographer

    Looking out of my office window this morning, I sighed as I saw patches of overgrown lawn and weeds outside in my backyard - a product of both a lazy husband and a lot of rain we’ve been experiencing here in Melbourne. Everything shoots up so fast when it’s had such a lovely drink after so long.

    I was about to sigh once more over this dreadful infestation, when I stopped and looked again.

    Peeking out through the long grass strands were tiny little yellow flowers.
    Weeds.

    Yet… they were so pretty. Aren’t weeds supposed to be hated, even loathed? Why was I drawn to them? They were so beautiful – I’d seen them a hundred times before, they’re not an uncommon sight, so why was today any different? Was I looking at them with a different heart?

    I saw them differently because I looked past the fact that they were weeds and therefore supposed to make me feel anything other than beauty. I knew in that moment I could feel whatever I wanted to feel… about anything. That was my choice. There was nothing good or bad about what I was looking at – it was only the way that I was feeling about what I saw that made it good or bad. I saw beauty. I wanted to go out and look at them, admire them, enjoy them. So, I did.

    I too often forget, personally, how it’s the little things like this that can make such a huge impact in the way that you feel, love and be. I photographed the beauty that I saw today, for me – to remind me that there is beauty in everything. These flowers are not any less deserving of my attention or love for them just because they are weeds – it is my choice alone how I choose to look at them.

    I do this constantly with those I am fortunate enough to photograph – every.single.client.is.beautiful. I am constantly in awe of the beauty that surrounds me when I photograph my clients – every moment, every breath, every whisper. Today my challenge was to go beyond the beauty that I see in my clients, and look for it where I might not have noticed before. 

    So remember friends – you are important, you are loved and you are beautiful.

    Find the beauty in small things, and the most unexpected of things.

    Unique blessings | Melbourne baby photographer

    One thing that I truly love about being a newborn photographer is that every baby is different to the next. No session is ever the same because no newborn baby is ever the same, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Each one has a different personality, different likes and dislikes, different quirks, mannerisms and features. Getting to know these beautiful little souls when I first come to meet them is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do – they are special, they are loved and they are important. For months parents wonder what their baby will look like and who it will take after – my job is to make sure that they can remember those early moments with fondness as they are too fleeting, too sudden and too quickly forgotten.

    I was lucky enough to capture the beautiful connection between this little man’s parents at his mama’s maternity session a little while ago, and was waiting so patiently for his arrival as I knew he would be a very special and loved boy indeed. He is the first little Kynan I have had the honour of meeting – and an honour it truly was.

    {He is a brilliant, strong and loved soul Ruth and David}

    Baby Beauty | Melbourne newborn photographer

    If you saw beauty in my eyes, remember that I was looking at you
    - Jesh de Rox

     It has felt like so long since I’ve had a beautiful, independent baby girl in my studio – after a good run of handsome newborn baby boys of late, I was beginning to miss my girls. Zoe is just one of the beauties I was able to photograph recently.

    We met… and I fell in love.

    {Jess and Mark – she is lovely, she is adored and she is special. Thank you for allowing me to into your hearts to capture baby Zoe’s beauty}

    Baby dreaming | Newborn photographer, Melbourne

    “Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing,
    Beloved from pole to pole.”
    - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

    Try as he might, he couldn’t stay awake forever. I was just a far too patient newborn photographer for his liking. What a brave new soul he was – inquisitive, cheeky and learning about this brand new sense of being in a beautiful way. Welcome lovely baby Ethan – the world is happy you’re here.

    {He gave me such a happy heart, Cheryl and Patrick – may he continue grow yours the same way each and every day}

    Baby Alessandra | Melbourne baby photographer

    As beautiful as her name, Alessandra and I waited a very long time to meet. Her mama first contacted me not long after she was born, but with my pregnancy the timing just wasn’t meant to be. We decided instead to organise her session for my next favourite age to photograph – baby stage. So here she is in all of her beauty – the gorgeous baby girl herself at nine months.

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    {Juliana, she was worth the wait. Oh what a joy she was, her kisses and cuddles – divine}.

    Mama love | Newborn photographer Melbourne

    Oh how she loves him…

    It was beautiful, special and I was proud to witness it and be a part of it. Every fibre of my being ached to try and capture even an ounce of her love for him in my images. I can only hope I did that love justice. Joseph’s mama was so relaxed with him, so bonded, I told her it felt like she had done all of this before. She agreed – it’s just like it was meant to be for these two. As a newborn photographer I felt such joy to be there and be surrounded by it.

    I could have cried when his little hand reached up to touch his mama’s face. I very nearly did…

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    {Georgia, my heart still feels full and happy. Thank you for a joyous experience capturing the wonder that is your little man Joseph}

    Tina + Duncan | Wedding Photographer Melbourne

    They travelled a long way for their wedding. A very long way indeed. You could tell from the joy in their guests’ faces though that they were all glad that they had done so. This joyous reunion of family and friends was one of the most important elements of the day for Tina and Duncan, and I was so pleased to have been asked to be a part of it with them.

    There was lots of this going on with the boys that afternoon (loved hearing that laughter)…

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    And much fun drinking this…

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    All while full of style…

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    Things were just as gorgeous with Tina and her bridesmaids before the ceremony also. There were 12 in the bridal party, including Tina and Duncan, and three of Tina’s bridesmaids were male. LOVED that.

    I couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous image of Tina than the one below if I tried. Actually, I did try. After I snapped this and she moved her head back a second later, I asked her to turn her head again in a vain attempt to capture the same shot again. I couldn’t. You can’t ask for moments like this. They just are. She looks so incredibly beautiful here and it’s one of my personal favourites of her from the day taken just at the right moment, in the right light. Bliss!

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    As I said to Tina’s mum when she was lauhing at me lying on the floor taking photos of Tina’s shoes, ”They’re Manolos Barb – they need their own space to be admired properly”. Oh yes… they do! Thank you Mr Blahnik from women everywhere ;)

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    Did I say Tina was stunning…? STUNNING. Another two of my favourite images with her before the ceremony. In fact, the one of her girls helping her into her dress is one of my favourites full stop.

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    Another image I can’t help but make happy noises about. Love, adore, love, adore – detail on these beautiful nicolangëla bridesmaids dresses. They were honestly the most divine bridesmaids dresses I’ve ever seen.

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    Their beautiful ceremony was held at St Pauls Cathedral right in the heart of the CBD and was nothing short of magnificent. They connected so beautifully with each other. The images we took after the ceremony make me realise how much I love living here in Melbourne too.

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     Tina + Duncan’s Dream Team
    Ceremony Location: St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne
    Reception Location: Zinc at Federation Square
    Bridal Gown: Brides of Armadale
    Groom’s attire: Lavin
    Bridesmaids: nicolangëla
    Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
    Jewellery: Vintage
    Makeup/Hair: Anaka
    Flowers: Kate Hill
    StationeryChapel Press
    Cake: La Tropezienne 

    Babylicious | Baby Photographer Melbourne

    The second I saw him, I could have melted on the spot. Those eyes… I wanted to swim in them. There were intoxicating.

    Baby Alex was oh-so-full-of-style on arrival. Sporting a little Ralph Lauren number, in fact. However, when we began to strip him down to reveal that amazing baby chub of his – I truly fell in love. Honestly, there is nothing better than those rolls. How could you resist?

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    {Is it crazy I miss him just a little bit since seeing him? Loved the time we shared. Thank you Stav and  Pete}

    Who are you (who, who, who who?) | Baby Photographer, Melbourne

    Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
    I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
    Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
    ‘Cause I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

    I have had this song by The Who stuck in my head for days – mainly because I was catching up on some much neglected blog/website stat reviews, when I came across some wonderfully gorgeous people who had themselves blogged about me and my newborn and baby photography. I was blown away, truly. Particularly as I had never heard a peep from these people before, and yet here they were, taking the time to stop and write to the special people in their world, about my work. I felt flattered, actually –  more than that, I felt honoured. Speechless, in fact. I would have never known that they had done so had I not stumbled across them. But, it also made me realise there must be many people out there who may visit my blog without ever saying a word (and considering my stats, that’s the majority of you!).

    So today, I challenge all of your silent visitors out there!!!! Drop in and say hello! Even if it’s just one word, I’d love to hear from you in the comments field on my blog below. Go on… it will take two seconds, I promise! :)   Whether you’ve never commented, commented once, comment occassionally or comment every time I blog (I appreciate it more than you know… x), I’m talking to YOU! Yes, YOU! Show me you’re listening ;)

    Coincidentally, I’m also updating a new FAQ post for my blog shortly, so if there is some burning question you’ve wanted to ask me about anything (doesn’t have to be biz related) either pop it in the comments below, or send me an email.

    Facebook Page
    Don’t forget I also have a Facebook page that I also keep updated, so if you’re not already a fan via Facebook, make sure you come past, join and say hello!

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    Tender | Newborn photography Melbourne

    There are moments. Moments where you just want to breathe them in. Moments when you just have to stop, be thankful and appreciate the beauty around you. This session was made up of these moments. So, so many beautiful and precious moments.

    So many times I found myself lost in her world. She consumed me. I wanted to so badly capture the way my heart was feeling – I was floating.

    And oh those lips… she can thank her beautiful mama for those lips. The perfect. The pure. The beautiful Miss Kayla…

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    {Cath and Jason – continue to love her deeply, purely and honestly as you do. She can ask for nothing more than that}

    Baby Sebastian | Melbourne newborn photography

    Seb (as his mama calls him) is one loved little soul. It was one of the first things I could feel the moment his beautiful family walked in the door. His parents were filled with such pride, such love. It’s one of the main reasons I love being a newborn photographer.

    After finding out that this family is friends with the wonderful Lynn and James (who coincidentally have  welcomed their own little baby boy into the world in Canberra a week ago – congratulations again!), it made it even more special to be asked to capture this little one.

    He makes me smile…

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    {Amanda and Raymond, I feel so thankful to have been able to do this for you. Give him another cuddle from me}

    It’s the little things | Melbourne newborn photography

    … that make my heart sing.

    Today, I celebrate. I celebrate the milk blisters, the milia, the flakes, the fuzz, the wrinkles, the lines, the softness, the creases, the beauty that is baby.

    I also celebrate this little man (albeit a late celebration, as these images are now weeks old… very slack blogger!) I photographed his big sister almost two years ago, and being invited to capture this moment for their family again made me giddy with pride.

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    {Shannon, he is amazing. Your beautifiul adoration and bond with him was incredible to witness, and loved seeing you again}

    Photo-a-day: Day 31 | Melbourne baby photographer

    {Photo-a-Day Project: A personal project that I undertake every January for an entire month taking one photo a day of my children.}

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    Day 31: So… here we are. The end of the month, the end of the photo-a-day project. I had wanted to get a photo of the two of them together quite a few times over the month, but it just never seemed to work out. So, I kept putting it off, putting it in the too hard basket, saying that I would do it on the 31st. But when the 31st came around, try as I may, they were both just not in the mood. I was just about ready to call it a day when all of a sudden, I snapped this last frame. I could almost cry. It’s like their little personalities were frozen, in that hundredth of a second, just as I know them. My happy little bright-eyed man and my shy, cheeky little girl – together, loving one another as only they can do. I couldn’t ask for anything more from them than be themselves, and this is what they gave me.

    Thank you to everyone who as been following along this year’s project with me. It’s been a blast, and I hope that you have enjoyed it just as much as I have.

    Photo-a-day: Day 30 | Baby Photographer, Melbourne

    {Photo-a-Day Project: A personal project that I undertake every January for an entire month taking one photo a day of my children.}

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    Day 30: Taken during one of his crying episodes if only just to prove he’s not always smiling. Still cute though…(naughty mummy!)

    (I know I’m slightly behind with blogging these as I take them, and even though I’ve finished, I’ll try and get the last one up ASAP! Thank you for all of your lovely comments on the project everyone! x)

    Jessie + Sam | Wedding Photographer, Melbourne

    You know that two people are just made for each other when you meet people like Jessie and Sam. Their fun-loving, gentle natures just make you want to run over and give them a cuddle every time you see them. It’s always a special day when two people make a promise to be together forever, but when you also throw these two in the mix, you know it’s going to be a lot of fun as well.

    I adore these two. Their attention to detail and meticulous preparation of, well, everything meant that the whole day ran smoothly and effortlessly. They went out of their way to make their wedding theirs – most of the decorations and details were all put together by the two of them and I can only imagine the hours upon hours of work they put into it all. It was all worth it though. All so very worth it. The entire wedding was just so very them, and I adore that.

    Not only was this entire wedding held in my own suburb (nothing like supporting the local crowd – well done you two!) but every person involved with the day was so friendly and easy going that it just made it such a pleasure to spend the day with them.

    First up though, meet our groom, Sam. I must say – the boys were great fun. I don’t think they stopped laughing the entire time I was there. The bubbles were out, the laughs were out, such a great atmosphere pre-ceremony for the lovely Sam (and for me as their wedding photographer!).

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    Tie shots are probably some of my favourite moments when capturing the groom getting ready for the ceremony (mainly because there’s always at least one guy that has no idea how to tie it properly) so you can imagine my delight when Sam brought out his bow-tie. Yep, a favourite alright.

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    Yes, they’re boys… but at least they have checklists!

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    Afterwards I made my way over to see Jessie who looked like some 1940’s film starlet. There’s something about weddings that makes brides just look even more beautiful than they already are, and Jess was no exception. She was beaming. That gorgeous smile of hers lit up as I walked in the door. “I’m up here!” she called from the top of the stairs and waved. I think I just stood there with my jaw open for a moment or two – she look radiant. And no wonder – she was about to marry her highschool sweetheart – the boy that still gives her butterflies every time she sees him.

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    These next two are so special to me, particularly the one on the right which is a beautiful image of Jessie’s parents on their wedding day.

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    Is she not the cutest little thing alive?

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    Sam and Jessie had told me how special photos were to them. They told me their house was filled with them, and that they would always be taking photos of anything and everything. It was so fitting therefore to see that they’d hired a photobooth for the day for them and their guests. Guest were all encouraged to use the booth to take photos and then pop them into their guestbook with a message. So,so fab! The first thing they did after walking down the aisle was jump into the photobooth and get some photos done. How gorgeous is that?

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    More Jess + Sam loveliness… oh they were so fun! 

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    Of course, there was a photobooth – so we had to try it out for ourselves while we were there (meet my gorgeous assistant CJ too whom I adore and makes my life so much easier for me every week! She joined me that day too)

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    {You are both as cute as a button – adored every single second of your day with the two of you. It was fun, relaxed and just a beautiful celebration of love – I wish nothing but the best for your future together x)

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