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!

Finally!

I go through little phases where I put my camera down. My goal was to blog regularly and it had a been a little while, so it was time to get out and take something! Flicking through all the photographs on my computer recently, I realised I don't have many decent shots of my little one. Being so young she's quite difficult to get a hold of!  So when I had an opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with my little girl, out came the camera.

She loved posing, exploring the beach and playing in the sand, without having the distractions of anyone around her - namely her sister stealing her thunder!
However, if I knew this was going to turn into a proper photoshoot, I probably would've done her hair etc instead of coming straight from a nap!

Finally though, I have something of my little girl

Love Is Patient

Amanda and Vai. A small intimate wedding of very close family and friends - Everything one girl had dreamt of, came together on one special night.

I had met Amanda a number of years ago through my sister in law, she had been one of those girls that was always there first to help if you needed it. Countless times, you would see her as an extra set of hands to her friends with young families, gaining the love and adoration of these children - just as if she was a second mum to them. 

Amanda deserved to find a good guy in her life, she had been patient in waiting. Unexpectedly her patience paid off when she found Vai. Having met through a mutual friend, this new blossoming romance had everyone around them buzzing in excitement. 

I didn't realise all this time later I'd be working, photographing such a memorable day of hers, with the man of her dreams! It was an honour to see how happy these two were as they celebrated their union together, not only here in life but for eternity!

CONGRATULATIONS MR & MRS SORONAIVALU!!!

(A few more images found via my facebook: Natalie Latu Photography)

With the Summers pt1

We were fortunate enough to have our family come and visit from the United States. It had been six years since they were last here and 3 years since we were last in the States (that's an extra addition to each our families, that were yet to meet since our last reunion!)

Our children were excited to meet, see and hang out with more of their cousins. We were excited for family time, food, sight-seeing and more food (calorie free because it's holidays right?). 

In our busy schedule filled with fun holiday activities we managed to fit in a photoshoot down at the beach. I love doing shots at the beach, even though it's not great for my camera gear! I even attempted to add in an element of my love for landscape. Anything goes with photography (almost anything!).

Fingers crossed our next shoot with these guys will take us over to the States - Thats the idea anyway. Maybe we'll get to see more family sooner then we think - One could only hope! 

STAY TUNED for pt2 ... photobooth pics (when my husband puts them together, I'm excited to see the results!!!)

Happy Birthday!

It's this special Lady's birthday today!

I'm going to get into trouble for this but I'll face the wrath later when I see her .... I have been saving these pics for today to blog, so surprise - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOLI!

We had tried for so long to do family portraits this year, but something always got in our way - either time, weather, other commitments or energy! I finally got my chance to run out with the children. The one thing about taking photographs I have learnt, is that it is not necessarily the location - It was a great day, we needed something close by and so our location ended up being the driveway/path to a block of cheaper units (to put it nicely! Except for the image on the beach) 

Looking at all the photographs, you wouldn't have been able to guess it's location if I hadn't told you!

Unfortunately Toli was absent during these photographs, I had those first few images just 'lying' around, waiting to be used ... So until she lets me do her glamour shots, then this is what I have to work with!

Love Ya Toli!