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There is such a simplicity about life when you’re a baby.
You love, you are loved.
You smile, you chat, you giggle, you explore, you gaze.
Where life consists of being able to reach your toes when lying on your back, or munching on your fingers as the teething urge sets in.
There is a beauty in that innocence.
Babies are wonderful.
{Naomi, is it possible to love her even more now than I did before? Give her an extra tight cuddle from me}
“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart“
- Kahlil Gibran
Above all things, one must learn to appreciate and recognise the beauty that surrounds them. It need not be tangible, it need not be fixed but, it must come from the heart. From time to time, you need to stop, slow down and drink in the simple pleasure of breathing life into your lungs.
We are provided with so many opportunities on a daily basis to feel thankful for just how special this life is, and for me, one of those opportunities was Ella. Her beauty envelopes me. Hugs me like a warm blanket. A brand new tiny human enters this world, and the world is now more beautiful to me for that reason alone.
{Jacquie and Scott, it’s those tiny details that form the beautiful person she is and will become. Don’t ever forget them}
“We’re getting married at the Sofitel Mansion Hotel & Spa in Werribee” said Catherine in her first contact with me.
My heart skipped a beat.
You mean, my Mansion? The same place that I was married? I was so giddy with excitement I could barely contain it.
I remember closing the door after our first meeting with a huge smile on my face. These two made my heart sing a beautiful song. They were genuine, they were in love, and coincidentally they had chosen the best venue (of course!) in Victoria to share that moment of love. As their wedding drew closer, even I was counting down the sleeps. All I could think about were these two gorgeous people ready to make the most honest and important promise they could ever make, in such wonderful meaningful surroundings.
As expected, the whole day was beyond beautiful.
The details were delicious…
This is what love’s pure joy looks like…
And this is what my heart looks like…
The staff at the hotel are wonderful (and a huge shout out to Toni who was not only my wedding coordinator back when I was married here, but is still doing an amazing job giving nothing less than 110% effort in everything she does. This lady is fabulous and I cannot speak more highly of her to anyone). Plus they put on a gorgeous spread…
Yep, this is why I love the place too…
Catherine + Alister’s Dream Team:
Ceremony Location: Sofitel Mansion Hotel & Spa, Werribee
Reception Location: Sofitel Mansion Hotel & Spa, Werribee (The Pavilion)
Ceremony Officiant: Rev. David Withers
Bridal Gown: Deborah Selleck
Groom’s attire: Walter Withers
Bridesmaid: Lisa Ho
Groomsmen’s attire: Walter Withers
Hair/Makeup: Abi Leilani
Shoes: Novat
Jewellery: Charles Rose
Flowers: Kylie Cornwall
Cars: Melbourne Classic Cars
Bonbonniere: Springhill Chocolates
This divine miracle drove three hours to get to me for his newborn photography session, and another three hours going back home again. Oh, how I adored him… there was such love in the room this day.
His mama is a beautiful, amazing and loving woman and I am so blessed to have been chosen to photograph these precious and fleeting moments in her young baby’s life.
… keep her? Please?
Oh, sweet baby girl, you are here because of love, you are joyful because of love and you are going to make a difference because of love.
Thank you for filling my heart with love.
{Cailen’s heart is pure sunshine, Eloisa and Robin. Breathe her in every day}
“I’m not worried about today at all” said Sheila, in response to me asking if she was nervous. “It’s the next 50 years that are going to be important”.
She was so right.
I told her it was one of the most honest statements a bride has ever said to me on their wedding day.
Family was paramount to them – to be surrounded by those who loved them was far more important than anything else at their wedding. These two have amazing hearts. They even arranged for all of their guests to stay a couple of nights at the Langham Hotel as part of their wedding experience – no detail was left out. The sincere and heartfelt gratitude that their guests felt as a result was amazing. There were tears, laughs – but most of all, there was joy. Joy for these two amazing souls who in the words of James’ mum “were meant to be together”. For a couple who love each other’s family as their own, it was only fitting to have an intimate affair catered just to their needs (38 people in total… completely gorgeous) and desires.
Heartfelt. Connected. Thoughful. Perfect.
Sheila kept saying how she wasn’t used to having her photo taken in public (who does!) but I tell you… these two worked it like you wouldn’t believe. I love, love, love post-ceremony love buzz.
Have so many more I would love to share, but I will leave those for the gorgeous Sheila and James to savour in their own time.
My gorgeous friend Lana flew in from Brisbane to join me for this wedding, has also blogged some images so please have a peek at those too (and for those in Brisbane looking for a wedding photographer… contact this girl!)
Sheila + James’ Dream Team
Ceremony Location: Langham Hotel
Reception Location: Langham Hotel
Celebrant: Denise Martin
Bridal Gown: Karen Willis Holmes
Groom’s attire: Simon Carter
Shoes: Tony Bianco
Jewellery: Tiffany & Co
Flowers: Flower Temple
Bonbonniere: Hermes and MOR
Videographers: Living Lens
More of this beautiful wedding to come soon…
…Hello, little seedling.
We welcome you with open arms into this beautiful world.
Grow, little seedling.
Stretch your arms up and up, and let your fingers dance and sway in the beautiful sunshine.
Breathe in this new life you have claimed.
Grow strong for tomorrow.
Love, little seedling.
Snuggle into the warmth of your family’s happiness.
They (and I) are so thankful you have come to be.
Oh sweet baby girl. How you have grown.
You have such a beautiful energy about you. You laugh, you pout, you giggle, you frown. I love how wonderfully independent you are – you are going to be such a strong woman one day. I can’t wait to see what amazing things you will do in this world. I love how Woofy makes you smile (and gives you attitude!). That gorgeous mop of hair that you had at birth is even more divine now – if that is even possible. I want to pinch and smoosh your beautiful rolls because every time I look at them they make me swoon. You are beautiful.
Please thank your mama for bringing you back to play with me.
{*sigh*…. all of her little gorgeous personality traits wrapped up in four frames. I adore her! x)
There was so much love in the room this day.
Her daddy’s eyes just lit up with pride as he watched her.
Her mama’s tender affection was like a magnet for cheeky smiles and kisses.
She was a quiet soul - an observer, a thinker, a great achiever.
With every gaze she became more beautiful.
I am just thankful to have photographed her.
{There is something so special about your gorgeous Madeleine, Vicky and Andrew – I can feel it in my bones. She has such a great future ahead of her…}
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away
xx
{My apologies in my blog absence of late – it hasn’t been intentional, and there are just so many wonderful things happening behind the scenes here keeping me busy. I will try and respond to any emails and phone calls that are outstanding as soon as I possibly can. Thank you for staying a while to visit.}
{Rebecca and Nathan, couldn’t resist posting these – he is the sunshine in my day}
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}
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}
