Everyday Insanity and Delight

another stunning wedding in Spring!

Ooo thought I should finally post this wedding too.  The gorgeous Nicole marrying the spunkalicious Brodie in November 2011.

Another rainy Spring day as every wedding I did towards the end of last year was.  I guess the drought is broken or something.  Anyway....again it made for divine colour and gorgeous light!

I can't actually say I've ever photographed a bride who I didn't consider beautiful but Nicole's radiant smile was just so amazingly infectious.  She is such a naturally stunning girl and Brodie didn't take his eyes off her all day!  I've never seen a grrom so impatient to see his bride - a true aaaaaaaw moment :D

They didn't get to have their ceremony beside the lake as they'd planned because of the rain, but I think this spot was amazing anyway.  A misunderstanding with the venue double-booking weddings made things errr...awkward to say the least.  I won't name the place but let's just say I was left gobsmacked at how things panned out and how these guys were treated by the venue...

It was incredible how these two didn't let it ruin their day.  Less diplomatic couples may have felt differently but instead we just went to another venue which was in fact, chosen by the groom :)

I think it was a great spot and they even had pics at Brodie's regular milk bar stop! I adore that these locations are unique to Nicole and Brodie and they were incredibly happy ALL day!

This was a stunning wedding and I could tell by the joy-filled atmosphere that these two are well loved by lots of family and friends.  Their natural affection towards each other left me in awe (and maybe a bit jealous ;-) ) I see smitten couples all the time but when these two look at each other, it's like no-one else exists in their world and its an amazing thing to witness.

Aaaaaw <3 a happy day :D

a wedding. finally....

I've been a bit slack on the blogging of photo shoots since last year!  I've been so privileged this wedding season to have witnessed some beautiful unions between people.  One thing I've learned about myself is that while I've always thought of mushy romance as a bit of a wank, I'm actually a bit of a romantic at heart - a sap actually.

There's something contagious about the joy that surrounds people when they marry, not only the couple but everyone around them - their attendants, their guests, everyone.  Lots of wide smiles and genuine emotion.  Aaaw...anyway enough of my blabbering and sentimental thoughts, it is the middle of the night after all, this post is all about Kate and Luke who married way back in October....

Kate is one of the most contagiously joy-filled people I've ever met and when I met her family, I realised it might well be genetic. She along with pretty much every guest there wore these beautiful smiles all day and her husband Luke looked like every Christmas had come to him at once.  He was totally gorgeous and they are clearly smitten with one another :)

Their bridal party were SO fun from start to finish and looked amazingly gorgeous!

The ceremony was held at The Gables followed by a reception at Wild Dog Winery which is one of my favourite places to photograph a wedding :)

The day was revolting weather-wise.  A gloomy grey day, however no-one's spirits were dampened and as you can see, it made for some gorgeous light!

Kate and Luke requested I stay for their first dance which they did not long after their arrival.  It was a little unusual but then I realised why.  They had practised their moves and after they had finished almost EVERY guest got up on the dance floor for a boogie.  Unbridled and passionate, it was nothing I had ever seen before - young, mature, single, coupled, everyone got up and danced like no-one was watching.  It was amazing and made for some really happy, fun images.

I managed to snap that lower right image of Kate's grandmother. Oh it makes me happy.  I hope I have that face at her age, she was so lovely and glowed from the inside.

It also made me a little sad I guess as I realised I never do that at weddings I'm a guest at.  I'd never get up and dance just for the joy of it. I only dance after MANY glasses of wine and that seems to be the norm.  It takes Dutch Courage to dance.  Why I wonder? Why are we all so self conscious about it when it's SO fun? Anyway, lesson learned there - encourage the kids to dance more :D

I really loved this wedding....and best of all, I get to call it work :)

Getting a freshie...

Did you ever say that at school when someone came in with a new haircut? "Such and such got a freshie.  Hey freshie"  So dumb, but I still say it and it still amuses me along with more immature words like rubber (yes Suz I know I'm not alone :P ) and dinghy, and wang.  I digress....

Anyway I feel like I'm going through this massive shift - mentally, emotionally and even physically.  It's my birthday tomorrow and I'm a year closer to the big 4-0, so maybe that's why I feel the shift, or maybe it's because I'm moving house in a  few weeks, or that my son is off to high school, or my masses of psychotherapy, or maybe there's just no answer unless it's to to with the El Nino caused change in ocean temperature or maybe the moon is aligning with Jupiter.  Clearly I have no clue.  So I'm feeling the need to jump off the round and round and do some shifting of stuff, and stuff.

Yesterday I cleared out some of my craft storage and a HEAP of scrapbooking stuff.  My sister was pretty pleased with several large boxes of scrapbooking stuff including two large bags of glimmermist. I love the stuff still but man am I feeling lighter letting it all go.

Not scrapbooking for a "job" has been ace.  Actually scrapbooking for my job was ace too but now if I go back to it I can do it how I started I guess.  Simple. So that meant the great offload of stuff that was covered in dust.  And now I know it's being used.

I was directed to this blog today - Home Life Simplified

I like the 52 week thingo.  I know there's tonnes of different takes on this theme, and I'll most likely stick to none of them but bugger it, I'm having a crack for now.  Also doing a photo a day but slacking off using my iPhone and Facebook.  Here's the link if you wanna see - Facebook POTD

This year for me will be full of art and photography.  And blogging the SYL Challenge.  And hanging with my kids.  And smooching my hubby, and facepalming my hubby, and sorting my new workspace in our new house.  And sewing and stuff.  Maybe even cooking (gasp).  Hmm we'll see....

Here's my first SYL post.  Read it or don't but here it is anyway.  I'd love to know if you join in too.

Week #1 Challenge: Create a list of everything that went “right” in 2011

What energised you?  Heaps of things energised (and drained) me in 2011, but that's life isn't it?  Here's a few I can think of immediately...

• Singing loudly in the car, with and without my babies
• Taking time out with girlfriends for a good old natter and a cocktail or two
  
• Sunshine
• Painting and drawing
  
• Going to my shrink
• Knowing I have genuine friends
• Photographing moments
  

What made you feel happy? 

• Holding my newborn nephew
• Morning snuggles with the family
• Winning an art prize
• Anti-depressant drugs
• The process of photographing made-over pin-up chicks
• Witnessing and photographing people marrying
• Seeing a young family in the front yard of a house I used to live in playing with their child just like we did when we lived there.
• My new tattoo
• Being able to afford some things we've not been able to before.
• Getting my hair undercut and listening to my husband loving it.
  

What made you feel at peace?

• Going to my shrink and resolving some stuff
  
• Having my emotional anguish being taken seriously by my husband and doctor and just accepting that this is who I am and to quit being embarrassed by it.
  
• Finally getting help from specialists who deal with my "condition" and also being told I am a "text book case" of PTSD
• Xanax
  
• Yoga
• Letting certain people in my life "go"
• Saying NO
  

What positive people lifted you up?

• My friends, some old, some new, some nearby, some online
• My kids and husband
• My family
• My incredibly spunky clients and photo subjects
  
• Victorian Police Deputy Commissioner Keiran Walshe
• The art of Mike Adey,  amongst other amazing artists but his work makes me smile.

What filled your “tank”?

• Pretty frocks.  Wearing them anyway instead of stressing about being too fat, too overdressed, too different.  Who gives a shit?
• Singing in the car, badly.
• Going to galleries. Over and over.
  
• Bubble baths
• Getting my first pedicure and having my nails done.
• Seeing new places, even if it was alone.
• Taking an art class.
• Painting, and painting for others.
• Live music
  
• Laying on the trampoline with and without the family, looking at the sky
• Watching trashy reality TV
  
• Weekends away with the girls where I did NOT have scrapping deadlines to meet

What worked to bring your family together?

• Nerf guns
• Monster High
• Drawing
• Buying books
• Gallery visits
  
• Eating dinner outside
• Afternoon tea
• Weekend sleep-ins all together
• Getting the kids to help with washing and dishes
• Taking Maddy away to my exhibition opening and staying in a fancy motel for the night
• Laying on the trampoline
• Inventing the "private chat"
  

What is something that made you feel excited to dive right in?

• Being the photographer for Fatality Free Friday
• Creating art that is in my head
• Photographing weddings
• Travel
  

What did you learn (positive things)?

• To take a "mental health day" every week for the sanity of myself and those around me.
• it's okay to outsource the ironing
• I'm not pathetic having not dealt with my PTSD
• I love the smell of apple/cinnamon candles
• My parenting is okay
• How much I value my marriage and family
  

What are you grateful for?

• Being alive and healthy
• My shrink
• Head medication
• That my kids are good people
• Nice smelling washing powder.
• My friends
• My abilities

Geez that took forever...

 

 

 

New Year's noodle-heads....

New Year's Eve.  Hmm, some years I'm busting to party, others I really can't be bothered.  This year I couldn't be bothered until friends suggested we just hang out for dinner and a few drinks together.  So that's what we did.  Easy night, takeaway pizza in our backyard, probably for the last time ever as we are moving house in a month!

Mmm yep, our backyard has hosted some cool memories over the past almost ten years.  I'm feeling a bit sentimental actually but I'm saving that for a post I'm not writing in my pyjamas at 1 in the afternoon. Oops.

Truth is about these pics though is my friends all tell me to go away when the camera comes out but I think they secretly like it. Please, why would I NOT take photos and besides, it's me that they come to when they need a pic for something so I've decided all the protests are pretend and when I insist on a stupid pic with each of them, they comply.  Eventually.

It was nice.  It was hot.  I drank too may Cosmopolitans, and stupidly I think it was because I was actually thirsty.  They didn't mix well with cream off the pavlova later that night but the good thing was that the feeling it gave me stopped me drinking and hence saved me a feral hangover! 

Kids all played nicely, nothing was too trashed and so another year begins....

Merry

Christmas in our household came and went quickly.  I hate to admit it but I find Christmas to be somewhat of a nuisance given that it falls within my busiest worktime - wedding season.

There's so many damn things on that I'm expected to attend, the kids get busy and the bit I really loathe is the fake cheer and crap that comes from advertising.  I feel pressured to create some amazing ambiance at home and wear emotions of peace and goodwill when I'd really like to shop with a cattle prod and roundhouse kick every battery operated singing Christmas decoration in the country.

However......this year I was kind to all of us and I did most of my shopping online - hooray! eBay, Dick Smith, Big W, Toys R Us, Fishpond, Red Balloon and Readings were a few of the sites I shopped at and everything except for one gift made it well in time.  I live nowhere close to any of these shops so it was well worth paying their delivery fees to save me the petrol and incidental extras I'd incur shopping PLUS - no crowds or exasperated sales assistants. 

So our Christmas was quiet as usual with both kids telling me it was their "best Christmas ever!"  This reminded me what it was all about and ignited a spark of spirit when i found it Christmas Eve with Santa's drink and biscuits...and seems that Miss M was pleased with what Santa left behind :)

Our Alexander-Panda got the gift he thought he wouldn't when he opened this - THE Panda iPod docking station that he desperately wanted along with a pile of all things Nerf

They had HEAPS of presents and I adored being able to give them lots this year!  The nicest part was when Alex hugged me and said he couldn't believe he got EVERYTHING on his list and more.  Nice.

The morning looked much like this before lunch at my youngest sister's house with her husband, bubba, our Dad and my other sister and her kids. 

We all cook something and take it so none of us are stuck with all of the cooking.  It was great but so damn exhausting!

We headed back later for dinner with our Mum and her partner.  Amazingly my scalloped spuds and dessert for lunch were awesome.  My pav and spuds for dinner were meh.  Pasta salad on both counts was pretty good though....

The nicest part of the Christmas was that it was my nephew Rajeev's first Christmas.  I just love the look of "What's this all about?" on his face and then he was so exhausted he couldn't fight the sleep any longer. Any time with him is amazing and happy and lovely..

All of the kids got along nicely and it was relaxing and lovely out on my sister's deck looking over towards the mountain range.  Mother Nature was stormy and rumbly and looked spectacular!

When I look at these images, of this amazing Christmas Day sunset, it reminds of the amazing sunset and light at dusk last Christmas Day and if I were a religious person, I'd look at this heavenly light and well, I'd wonder what made it so ;-)