Board#189: Spring Fling

Ahh Spring... it's anything but spring like out doors right now, and whilst it's months of coldness away for us in the Southern Hemisphere I'm already dreaming of it! And what better way with a fresh kelly green and aqua colour palette. What colours get you in the mood for spring?

Photos; Bird Display | Olaf Szczepaniak, Cake | Martha Stewart, Mini Daffodils & Shoes | Jose Villa, Door | Simply Bloom, Asparagus | Tina Rupp, Chrysanthemum | Kate Parker, Martha Stewart, Fan | Martha Stewart Weddings, Baby's breath | Click Photo, Tie | Leo Patrone

Clayton Austin {Hammers & Strings Tour}

I was about to write happy Monday, but no it is in fact Tuesday and we've just had a lovely long weekend of would you believe... complete and utter sunshine!! What a treat after all the rain over the last five months or so. Summer is well and truly on it's way!  And in case you're wondering because of this I didn't get a jot of packing done!!

I am HEAD. OVER. HEELS for the Hammers & Strings series of love stories by Clayton Austin. In fact all his photography is utterly dreamy... and so emotive, but there is something about this series that totally tugs at my heartstrings (no pun intended!!). The muted colours, the stunning and well loved vintage piano, the breathtaking scenery... it's enough to make me want to book a ticket to the US for my own turn. I love the story in each shoot and it's amazing to see how you can take one prop and put it in different locations and record such a different feel. Below are just a handful of my favourites... trust me you'll be on his site for a while once you get there!

Click here to read more about the beginnings of the journey Clayton has taken and see the shoot that started it all. This is hands down one of the most beautiful series of photos I've ever seen, and if I were one to swoon... that's what I'd be doing right about now. 

Here's to penpals

When I was but a wee lass I had a penpal from Canada who I kept in touch with for almost 15 yrs and eventually met up with her a couple of times. Whatever happened to penpals? I guess with email...facebook...myspace, it's created a whole new modern version of penpals. Although in my opinion nothing beats a handwritten note in the mail - particularly when the envelope is covered in stickers and pretty pictures - as they were at age 11! So fast forward....several years.... it's still fantastic when you make a connection with someone who lives at the other end of the world/country that you 'click' with, be it by the written word, or email...and hopefully soon face to face over Skype (now that would really change the anonymity of penpals right!).

So without further delay I am delighted to be featuring a wedding from the so so lovely Fiona Andersen...my new penpal!! And this connection is mainly thanks to Jasmine Star...read here as to why. We have some uber exciting plans in the works which I'm looking forward to sharing with you, and she's also coincidentally shooting the upcoming wedding of a very sweet client of mine, Kirsten, so we are sure to feature that on here in the near future. So onto Miranda & Duncan's wedding below....I love the quality of these images, truly stunning! For this and much more head on over to Fiona's blog. And for all you South Island brides still on the lookout for a photographer - or NZ wide for that matter - get on the phone and book her in, this talent isn't going to have many free weekends left!

I'd just like to add that I was a mightly fine penpal too :-)

How small this wedding world is....

I've been a fan of the insanely talented Jasmine Star for some time now, not only is her work drop dead gorgeous, but she has a great writing style about her and reading her blog you instantly feel like you know her! So I was intrigued to see that she was doing a workshop in little ol' NZ! I was wondering what the pull was to come down this way - apart from the spectacular scenery of course - and then she answered my question with this post. All thanks to another wonderful talent - and a local one at that - in the shape of Fiona Andersen. Go and visit her blog NOW and you'll see what I mean. We have since connected and I am excited about featuring her work in the not too distant future....so thankyou Jasmine for putting me in touch with a local 'star'!!
Below is a snapshot of the workshop they were doing.....how lucky to attend that! And how fabulous are these photos....stunning right? All courtesy of the fabulous Fiona Andersen.

Monday tidbit

Love this for a bridal party shot.....fun, quirky and very cute! By RAD photographer.

Will be back to blogging regularly again soon!!!

Engagement Photos

Gosh, missed yesterday, late today.....my good run of blogging every day has been broken!! I'm getting ready for my Fiji holiday tomorrow so plenty of jobs to get out before I leave, not to mention packing, trying to sell our house and a long list of other to-do's!

Anyway ENGAGEMENT photos!! Whilst not so many of us do this here in New Zealand, in the US it seems to be quite popular and I think it's a brilliant idea. They're so creative and a lot of fun and they really allow your personality to shine through. Speak to your photographer about including it in your whole wedding package, and then have a think about what really speaks about you as a couple. Is it somewhere in the middle of the city, or a quiet beach? You may want to include your pets (which may not be involved on the wedding day??), or a fun hobby, or just go to your favourite place. Whatever you do, the key is to relax and be yourself which I think can sometimes be easier said than done on the actual wedding day, when you're itching to get back and socialise with your guests - at least that's what my husband wanted to do!!
Here are a few of my favourite shots!


Left column from top: Stephanie Williams (top 4), yellow field Jose Villa, on the Pier; Stephanie Williams, Mark Brooke
Right column from top: Simply Bloom, Jose Villa, Stephanie Williams (polaroids and bike), Jose Villa

Love Images by Gary Hewlett

Gary Hewlett is the fabulous talent behind Love Images, and as you can see from the below images he know's his art! With a wide variety of styles, Gary will tailor the photography to suit you, whether it's a contemporary 'reportage' style you're after or something more traditional. To see more of Gary's work check out his website or his blog.

Photo Booth

I am so in love with this uber-cool photo booth created by Sasha Souza that I saw posted on the amazing Elisabeth Messina's blog. How fabulous are these photos? You could have so much fun with this, coordinating it to work it with the colours/theme of your wedding. There are so many amazing vintage style fabrics you could use here. Photo Booths are a becoming a very popular thing to have at your wedding but this is definitely the most original I've seen. And best of all it wouldn't be too hard to DIY.

Kelly Newland Photography

I recently become familiar with Kelly Newland Photography and she's kindly sent me these stunning shots of a couple who got married in France, then the groom surprised his lucky bride and flew her to New Zealand, where they had Kelly do their wedding shot! He even secretly bought her a dress! It doesn't get more romantic than that!