Wedding in the Hunter

A goal of photographing is to make the client feel relaxed and comfortable. I must admit that I LOVE it when I have a client that says: "I don't photograph well", "I never look good" or "I hate having photo's". 

When they see a photograph of themselves and they realise how good they look, how pretty or how photogenic they really are makes my day and makes me feel accomplished.

Often times, during a photo-shoot I will have to give the client a sneak peak of an image just to show them that it's "O.K", and that it is turning out better then they are imagining.

Not Jess & Phil! It wasn't until I got home that I turned to my handy off-sider and said: "You know I didn't even have to show them (Jess & Phil) once, a photo from the back of the camera to relax them and let them know how great they are looking!"

From the time I arrived they placed all their trust in my hands, and were relaxed - up until the end! In-fact if their were nerves, you definitely wouldn't have picked it from this couple!

James' Debut image!

It was the first image loaded with the last blog, and somehow didn't load.

The husband is my official partner now in photography (when and where possible). We had not worked together with this kind of thing "officially" and other situations on purpose because we thought we were a bad team when it comes to those kinds of things (you know, don't mix business and pleasure!)He has assisted me on jobs before and he definitely is my preference though.

WELL ... earlier this year we started renovating our home, expecting it to be an all out war between us, we were surprised not just how well we work together but AMAZINGLY how well we work together ... Not just in partnership but in the business matters as well.

The last wedding was amazing working with him ... The best part was he knew what I was thinking half the time, I barely had to say a word (which may surprise some of you). He even read my mind as to what lens and when - I think my eyes popped open in surprise a few times when I turned around, to see him out of no where standing there with the exact lens I needed.

We went through his shots and he was uncertain as to whether or not any would be usable. I didn't doubt there would be shots we could use, and "We Got One" (I can hear Ghostbusters in my head at the moment for some reason). 

He spotted this spot, whilst I was chasing the sun that was disappearing and went to set up the next spot, I left him and I'm very proud to say - he shot this:

Nothing else Matters

'Nothing else Matters' as inscribed in the wedding rings was but one of the MANY small details not forgotten in my recent wedding shoot of the Beautiful Melinda and Julian White.

A 12hr shoot that was more relaxing and easy going then any wedding I have ever been too. The bride was so chilled out I was in awe. Her calm and happy presence rubbed off on anyone in communication with her that morning. 

A secret Garden inspired wedding, Melinda & Julian did not miss a beat with this wedding. Every detail considered, from cards to in-laws. Handmade wooden boxes for the groomsmen with trinkets inside. Weeks and countless hours prior, making 'Ninja Gingers' as party favours. Art paper with a leaf less tree where guest could thumb print a leaf on and 'leave their signature'. Letters to each other locked in a box during the ceremony with wine saved commemorating their wedding.

The one advantage of being a photographer and being lost behind the camera is feeling the emotion that comes from a photo-shoot. If their is one thing I could say above all else during this photo-shoot, is that Julian adores his wife. This couple came to me and said qoute: "Jules and I are such goofballs and unfortunately really struggle to relax" in photo's.

I didn't even have to do much directing, Julian's love for Melinda and Melinda's charisma just naturally took the photo-shoot in it's own direction - they were natural's!   

(Keep an eye on my facebook page: Latu Photography for possibly more images of Melinda & Julian's wedding)

Best Friends

Regardless of how often these two fight, or have a disagreement, they do everything together and openly tell people that they are sisters and Best-friends!

Photographing kids is hard - HANDS DOWN, hardest photoshoot to date with these two, But worth it and to top it off I was able to dust off the camera!

For the Convenience!

My husband bought himself a laptop a little while back. As I started to get a feel for it, I was finding myself LOVING it. It's so convenient and small ... So when he got a work laptop (from the Dinosaur era), I convinced him that he no longer needed the personal laptop. His loss, My Gain!!!

Initially my intention was just to do quick jobs here and their, but it soon turned out to be my primary source for photo's. The downfall is, I had forgotten about my old (still fantastic) computer and therefore forgot about some of my older photo's. 

It's no secret photography is my passion, so when I entered a competition awhile ago and not just one, but two photograph's were featured in the newspaper I was beyond excited! (Not just small print like many of the other photographs, but Half page spread and the other covering a quarter page).

These pics I re-found need to be dusted off a little!

White Candy

The colour white can symbolise many different things; purity, happiness, comfort, peace, innocence.

A marriage starts out with small parts of these components rolled together and coated in an infinite love.

So what is more fitting to celebrate the unity of a couple's love on Valentines Day, then with a white (and silver) candy bar such as that created by Sugar Coated Mama at a gorgeous wedding.

New Year & A Newborn

Wow, 2013 already! For some reason, when you get older the year seems to go quicker! Is that just me or does anyone else feel the same? what happened to yesterday?

Jeffrey R. Holland once said; The start of a New Year is the traditional time to take stock of our lives and see where we are going, measured against the backdrop of where we have been...The past is to be learned from but not lived in. 

When learning from our past and as the biggest offender for living in the past (I'm only speaking of myself here), my husband and I often refer each other to Disney's movie 'The Lion King', when Rafiki hits Simba on the head with a stick Simba says: 
Ow, Geez what was that for?
Rafiki: It doesn't matter, it's in the past 
Simba: Yeah but it still hurts 
Rafiki: Oh yes, the past can hurt, but from the way I see it you can either run from it or ... learn from it!

Fortunately my first photo-shoot of the year was a new little life. Nothing but the future ahead of him and lots of memories yet to create!!! 

I am looking forward to another exciting year, new resolutions and new memories (with a past full of lessons!), Lets "learn from the past, live in the present, plan for the future"

Welcome to the world little man and HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!