Studio 22 Photography

You don't have to be the biggest to be the best.

2012-01-17T11:51:00.001+11:00

Being that it’s January, there’s a lot of New Year’s Resolutions getting about out there at the moment. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been finding it all a bit overwhelming!

I like to think that with each passing year I get better at who I am and what I do. But, with so much pressure to ‘do more, make more, sell more’, I feel like pulling the covers over my head until next year rolls around.

Last year was a huge one for me. I attended my first Expo. I did my first Maternity Shoot. I paid off my first camera.

This year promises to be even bigger. I’ll have 2 children in school. I have committed more time to volunteering in my local community. I hope to attend another Expo.

I’m not against New Year’s Resolutions but, growing up, my family never made them. Why wait for tomorrow if you can change something for the better today? Simple.

I LOVE Newborns, I ADORE Toddlers & I have so much FUN with Families. I love what I do, and I’m doing as much as I can. It’s as simple as that.

I recently read some fantastic advice for small business owners with regards to New Year’s Resolutions that I’ve decided to adopt.

I’ve always tried to run my business in a professional manner and take really good care of my Clients. I’d rather have ONE Client who raves about my services, than 100 Clients who don’t care.

So, instead of worrying how many Clients/Bookings the next photographer has. Or worrying about how big the next photographers ad is. Or how many facebook 'likes' the next photographer has.

My aim is to make sure each and every one of my Clients has a great experience. That they LOVE their photos. That, if they know someone is looking to find a great Childrens photographer, they recommend me.

Here's a little something I made to remind myself you don’t have to be the biggest to be the best :^)

Holiday Closure

2011-12-20T15:26:00.002+11:00

Just wanted to say a BIG thankyou to all my Clients who have made bookings this year. It has been crazy busy and next year looks to be even busier!

Also, a BIG thankyou to everyone who supported me at the Armidale Baby Expo. I feel priveleged to have been part of such a great event and I hope to continue to support great local initiatives that are aimed at supporting new parents!

I will be taking some time out over the next few weeks to spend some well earned quality time with my family and to recharge for 2012. I hope you are able to do the same.

I will be taking a slightly longer break from work than usual this year as my youngest is heading off to school next year. This is his last 'summer of freedom' before big school and I hope to enjoy it with him (& his big brother) as much as I can.

I will be 'switching off' (not answering or returning calls or emails) from 27 December 2011 - 6 January 2012.

From 7 January 2012 I will be back to work (answering calls and emails) but, only accepting Newborn Sessions(0-2weeks of age) for the month of January.

February it's back to business as usual. Newborns. Children. Families. Bring it on. :^)

And since no post is complete without a picture here's one from our holiday last summer. Hey! Just because I'm a photographer doesn't mean I like having my photo taken! :^)

Olivia {Armidale Newborn Photography}

2011-09-27T09:30:00.001+10:00

A few days ago I met sweet little Olivia & her family. She was such a good little girl! We even managed to get a few lovely sleepy shots even tho Olivia is 3mths old now! The weather was bleak outside so we stayed indoors, but were still able to use some gorgeous natural light for Olivia's portraits. (Have I told you how much I LOVE natural light???) Enjoy this sneak peak!

Technical Difficulties

2011-09-24T13:01:00.000+10:00

sorry the blog has been a bit quiet lately, I'm having some trouble with blogger, so for now, sneak peeks will happen at www.facebook.com/studio22photos until further notice, thanks for your patience!

Billy & Charlie {Armidale Family Photography}

2011-08-31T16:56:00.000+10:00

When I was just starting out, this family agreed to let me take photos of their(then) 6week old son. They were my first ever Clients! A little over 2 years later (its amazing how times flies) they asked me back to get some updated photos of their gorgeous family.
We had planned some indoor studio shots as we weren't sure what the weather would be like, and we ended up outside exploring, laughing & enjoying the afternoon sunshine .
I hope you like this sneak peek. It was hard to choose just a few favourites.....

I {heart} babies

2011-08-10T16:39:00.003+10:00

I've been turning down jobs lately. Lots of jobs. And not in the 'sorry I'm totally booked out right now' kind of way.

I've had lots of phone calls & emails asking about Wedding photography. I'm flattered to have been asked, but thats not where my heart is.

Many photographers have their 'toe in' a lot of different areas; weddings, portraits, commercial, formals, the list goes on. But, right from the start, I knew that wasn't me.

I LOVE babies. I LOVE toddlers. I LOVE children. They make me go all gooey inside. Thats where my heart is and thats where my business has always been.

I LOVE specialising in Newborn, Childrens & Family Photography and my Clients LOVE it too. I know if I covered all other areas, I'd end up being fairly mediocre at all of them. (Plus, to be perfectly honest, I'd rather be at home tucking my kids into bed than kicking up my heels at a wedding every Saturday night)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking those who offer a variety of photography services. I applaud those who are able to excell in more than one area. But, I know its not for me. Its not easy turning down work, but I LOVE what I do and I know where I want my business to go.

A huge thankyou to those who've made enquiries & sorry I wasn't able to help you personally. For those who are interested, I highly recommend the following Wedding Photographers(in no particular order);

Image Photography

James Day

North Coast Photography

Black Rose Photography

Rachel Meszaros Photography

But, if its Babies, Children or Families you want photographed, give me a call, I'm your girl!

And, with my feet firmly planted in the cosy Family Portrait corner, I'm excited to announce that I'll be a stallholder at the upcoming Armidale Baby Expo. With 30 fantastic stalls promoting services and products related to pregnancy and early childhood its sure to be a great day! I hope to see you there!

All play and No work...

2011-07-15T15:38:00.001+10:00

Well, I don't know about you, but our school holidays have been pretty busy! You name it, we've done it! We've visited family and friends, done arts and crafts, baked treats, and we even managed to have a few lovely quiet days reading by the fire.

It hasn't been all play and no work though, I managed to squeeze a photo session in as well. But, hey, these guys are like family, so it didn't really feel like work at all. :^)

Enjoy!

A good photo

2011-06-29T19:12:00.001+10:00

This wet & windy weather has kept me indoors lately. So I've been doing a few of the jobs that I put off on days when the warmth of the sunshine beckons me outside.

We moved here 4 years ago almost to the day but, somehow, we still have things packed in boxes(I blame the old house we live in that has no built in storage...). I've been attempting to de-clutter, and to organise the boxes little by little. Along the way I've come accross some old photos of my brother and sisters and I when we were kids, and it got me thinking.

As a child I HATED family photo time. Every 1-2yrs we'd get marched off to the local department store studio with the boring grey 'suede effect' canvas backdrop. We'd all be uncomfortably dressed in our 'sunday best'. Mum and Dad would sit on wobbly stools. We'd stand behind them. Us kids would all feign enjoyment for this obviously unenjoyable event. And, a few weeks later Mum & Dad would have a new picture hanging on their wall. When I look at those photos now, I feel nothing(other than perhaps regret at the fashion and hair choices we all made in the 80's).

This is in stark contrast to how I feel when I look at the photos taken by my parents of us kids playing naturally together and having fun. When my sisters and I looked thru a few of these old photos together recently, you couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces. They brought back so many happy memories. "Do you remember how he'd just lost his 1st tooth the day before?" "oh, look how dark your hair was when you were a baby!" "it was so cold that day, but we had so much fun didn't we?" "remember how she always made that funny face?"

A good photo doesn't just document a moment in time, it makes you feel something.

My aim is to find a happy medium for my Clients, somewhere between the traditional formal studio shots, and the pictures you would take yourself of your own children. Photos that capture who they are right now, their quirks and their cuteness. Sure you're gettting professional photos. But they have heart and soul, they're not boring and stiff. I want Clients to feel comfortable to ask me to come back again and again to photograph their children as they reach new milestones.

The biggest compliment I've had sofar in my time as a photographer was when a Client pulled me aside after a session and said "Thankyou so much for making today fun. The last time we had family photos my brothers hated it and, even though mum bought the photos, she didn't like them enough to put any in frames on her wall".

If you've never had professional photos taken of your family, or if its been a while since you have, give me a call. Lets talk. Lets have fun. Lets get some photos on your wall that make you smile.

And since no post is complete without a photo, heres one of my brother and I that makes me smile. Obviously we were very stylish kids...no really...we still are!

Maya & Lily

2011-06-10T17:27:00.030+10:00

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing these CUTE little girls. I think we had one of the last perfect Autumn days before this freezing Winter weather started. Steve & Katie and their girls moved to Armidale recently and wanted some lovely natural family photos and I think we nailed it. We met for our shoot a little out of Armidale, at the beautiful property Steve grew up on. I had such a fantastic time with this lovely family, by the end I had muddy knees and a wet bottom, but I didn't want to stop shooting :^) I hope you enjoy this sneak peek.

Hunter, Conan & Taylah

2011-06-02T16:02:00.001+10:00

Last Saturday I travelled down to Tamworth to do a family shoot. I had beautiful weather, a beautiful location and, as you will see, two lovely families. Hunter was such a sweetie, he had plenty of jokes to share and made everyone laugh. Little Taylah and Conan were just too cute and so easy to photograph.

I think Autumn is fast becoming my favourite time of year to shoot, the light is a little less harsh than summer and the colours are just gorgeous.

Thanks Crystal for inviting me to photograph you family, I had a lovely time and can't wait for you to see the rest.

Caleb & Lucas

2011-05-04T22:10:00.000+10:00

Firstly, I have to say a huge thankyou to Adam & Cathy for being so patient waiting to see these pics. My schedule has been hectic lately, but Cathy was determined to get gorgeous Autumn family photos, so we arranged to meet on the only afternoon we both had free.

So, a few weeks ago we got together on a rainy afternoon out at Gostwyck Station. Actually, it had rained all the night before, and most of that morning. All day we umm-ed and ahh-ed about whether the rain would hold off for our afternoon session. Finally, we decided to go ahead and make the most of the weather. Adam prearranged for us to use some of the outbuildings at Gostwyck Station and I'm so glad he did. Its just gorgeous out there, even in the rain...

I had a lovely time with your gorgeous family, I hope you enjoy this sneak peek :^)

Harry

2011-04-14T16:12:00.002+10:00

Sweet little Harry was only 7 days old when I met him. Tiny and perfect, sleeping peacefully in his cot. His proud parents smiling from ear to ear nearby.

I have never seen such doting parents. But, then, Scott and Sandy have waited a long time for little Harry to arrive. Like many others, they've had their fair share of disapointments. But its clear that they aren't planning to spend a single minute dwelling on the past. Not with precious little Harry here to steal their hearts every second of the day.

Congratulations Scott & Sandy, he's gorgeous. I really hope you enjoy this sneak peek, I can't wait for you to see the rest...

Scott likes fishing....Sandy likes elephants....Harry's grandad is a bee-keeper....nuff said.

Lachlan

2011-04-13T08:36:00.002+10:00

Luke and Julie's little man was 7 weeks old when I met him, and what a little cutie he is! He was such a patient little bub as we kept moving him around just as he would get comfy :^) Julie has a gorgeous old wingback chair she inherited from a friends grandparents....I was in heaven! It was nice to be able to use something so cool, and so sentimental, in these photos. Luke & Julie, I had a lovely time photographing you, thankyou for being so patient waiting for this sneak peek at your pics. Hope you enjoy these :^)

Oliver

2011-04-03T22:19:00.001+10:00

Last Monday I had a great time with Oliver and his family. We got some gorgeous studio shots and even had a bit of fun with his cousins at the end. Sorry its taken so long to get these on the blog, hope you enjoy this sneak peek...

Izak

2011-03-31T21:33:00.000+11:00

On Saturday afternoon I got to meet this cute little man, Izak. At 4weeks old he's still so tiny as he was born 5 weeks premature. He was a delight to photograph, and his mum and dad were pretty good too :^D Since the afternoon was cool, we kept him indoors and just did a studio shoot, but we did get to have a bit of fun with a few cute outfits that Megan had handy. Hope you enjoy these pics.

Matthew & Emily

2011-03-30T19:13:00.000+11:00

Saturday morning I had the pleasure of meeting Peter and Terri and their lovely family. These guys grew up in Armidale, and after some time living in Sydney, they have moved back home so their children can grow up here too. We started with some indoor studio shots but, since the weather was so gorgeous we couldn't resist going outside to enjoy the Autumn sunshine for a few more family photos. Thanks so much Peter & Terri I had a lovely time with your family. I know you've enjoyed the teaser shots on facebook, I hope you enjoy these too.

Day 12: Eyes (Joy of Love)

2011-02-28T16:59:00.000+11:00

Its the 28th of February. The 59th day of 2011. Already feel like I've run a marathon this year... When did life get this hectic. If you have kids you know what I'm talking about. Keeping up with their likes & dislikes, friends & favourites, worsts & disappointments. This month in particular seems to have flown by and as a result I'm behind in posting my 'Joy of Love' photos. Its day 28 and I'm posting a photo for day 12 of the project. Although I've not kept up I intend to keep going with the prompts until I do get to day 28, so please bear with me...

Day 12's prompt was 'eyes', so here are the eyes of my youngest. Please excuse the messy mouth, I'm sure I wipe his face a thousand times a day but somehow when I pick up the camera he still manages to have food all over his face, but thats what makes him Him. :^)

Apple Picking

2011-02-20T18:51:00.002+11:00

I realise I'm still a little behind with my 'Joy of Love' posts, but today we went apple picking and I couldn't resist posting a few picks of our 'haul'.

We've lived here for nearly 4 years and every year as we pass apple trees laden with fruit we promise ourselves that 'this year we'll stop and pick some'. So, finally, today we did.

Day 11 - Dreams (Joy of Love)

2011-02-18T14:47:00.002+11:00

Where do I start? So many dreams...

Like many others today, one of my family's dreams, is that of living 'the good life'. We have chickens. We collect their eggs. We have a vege patch. We have a strawberry patch. We have fruit trees.

My sisters think we're 'hicks' ;^D

One of the pleasures of having fresh eggs has been making our own fresh egg pasta. If you've never tried it, you should. Its incredibly easy to make and it 'knocks the socks off'' the dried packet variety you find at the supermarket.

Days 9 & 10 (Joy of Love)

2011-02-15T16:28:00.006+11:00

Ok, so I'm a little behind with this, but I hope to catch up over the next few days.

Day 9's theme was 'Passions & Hobbies'. As a family one of our hobbies is board games. Yep, we're geeky like that. Its great to get the kids involved in something that they enjoy without the TV going on in the back ground. Lately their favourite games are 'Pictureka' and 'Lego Robo Champ'. This is a photo of some of the games that get stuffed into our games cupboard. The rest are usually scattered throughout the house...

Day 10's theme was 'Spaces'. This is one of my boys favourite 'spaces'. Almost every night before bedtime they climb into each others beds, put on their bedside lights and read stories together. Naaaw...

Day 8: Love from the Heart (Joy of Love)

2011-02-11T16:43:00.002+11:00

Yep, I know I've fallen a bit behind, and even skipped Day 7.... I plan to catch up on Days 9 &10 over the weekend, but I'll be saving Day 7 for another time as the theme was Generations - we don't have any family living nearby, so I'll save that post for when we see them again in a few weeks.

My name is Leanda and I'm a 'handbag & shoe-aholic'. My husbands name is Richard and he feeds my addiction.

This handbag is years old now and was ridiculously expen$ive. We found it in a little store in one of those arty out of the way little towns in rural NSW. Our eldest was almost 1yr old and I still hadn't lost all my 'baby weight', so I was feeling a bit on the frumpy side. When I saw this handbag I fell in LOVE. Richard didn't even bat an eyelid at the price, he bought it straight away, and suddenly I felt like a million dollars (muffin-top and all).

The shoes have a similar story. Each year we plan to do something extra special for our Anniversary, and somehow, each year we end up doing the same thing. Getting someone to mind the kids while we get a kebab & a movie. Its almost become a tradition. One year we happened to be in the city having our kebab. We walked past a shoe shop with CUTE shoes, so Richard suggested I go in and try some on. You need to know that my feet are so big they make Ronald McDonalds feet look dainty. This pair of shoes were the ONLY pair in the shop that fit me. (well, we were in Chinatown... at least thats what I tell myself)

Both these items mean a lot to me and have been used again and again. Every time I look at them I'm reminded how much love my husband gives me from his heart.

Day 6: The ones they Love (Joy of Love)

2011-02-08T15:10:00.007+11:00

This is my youngest and our dog. Since my eldest is at school during the week, these two are best buddies. They have all sorts of adventures together. Digging holes in the backyard, chasing chickens, cats, birds... Its been so nice to see their friendship grow as he was getting a little wary of dogs before we got Max.
We made cupcakes earlier today and I let Arlen lick the bowl. Despite how much he loves Max, I think its obvious from this photo that he loves his food more...

Day 5: What you Love to Hate (Joy of Love)

2011-02-07T09:20:00.002+11:00

I've never been a sporty kind of girl. I probably never will be. Thats not to say I don't enjoy exercising. Walking. Pilates. Swimming. All good options. Its when it comes to team sports that my eyes glaze over and I slowly lose the will to live.

My hubby on the other hand....Sport, sport, sport, sport, sport... Without it he loses the will to live. AFL, GridIron, Premier League Football, the list goes on and on. So, what I love to hate today is Sport. Team sport. But, being SuperBowl Monday it would seem I won't be able to avoid it...

Day 4 - What they wear (Joy of Love)

2011-02-05T22:04:00.002+11:00

My sister recently sent us a parcel of clothes she'd bought on sale. Well, what can I say? The boys won't wear anything else now! They LOVE the shirts she sent them, they're made from a super soft cotton and have a little pocket on them that's the same colour as the rest of the shirt.

My youngest thinks its hilarious to ask: 'do you think I have a pocket?'

Me: 'No, I can't see one anywhere'

Him: 'Here it is!! Its hidden! It the same colour as my shirt! You didn't see it! hahahaha'

I can't tell you how many times he's told me this joke... ;^) I'm really enjoying this project, it's not often we get to document our own lives so intricately. The everyday little things that in the years to come will mean so much. If you are interested in joining me and the many others who are taking part in this FREE course click here to join.

Uralla Show: 2011

2011-02-05T18:57:00.000+11:00

I think I'm slowly losing my mind in this heat. Earlier in the week, after receiving a flyer for the Uralla Show in the letterbox, I decided to enter the Fine Arts/Photography Section. I read the flyer at 10:30am. Entries closed and judging started at 12noon. I told you I was losing my mind....

After a mad dash around town to print and mount my selected photos, with a 4 1/2yr old in tow, I entered 8 photos in the 15 various categories. On time. Well, country time anyway...

So, how did I go? Well, I felt a little sick in the stomach as I turned up to the exhibitors pavillion this afternoon. I've never won anything. But then, I've never entered anything. So, drum roll please......

I won 1st AND 2nd prize in Category 14 - Semi & Professional Photographers. Woot! I may or may not have done a little dance right there on the spot. But since no-one was looking you'll never know :^)

Here are just a few of the beautiful photos entered in the various categories.

Here are my winnning entries.

Here is the overall Photography Ribbon Winner.

Day 3: Then & Now (Joy of Love)

2011-02-05T09:54:00.002+11:00

Okay, so here is my photo for day 3. I've often marvelled at how much my husbands hair has changed since he was little. Its gone from so fair it was almost white, to a deep dark brown. From soft and straighter than straight, to wirey and curly.

This has to be one of my favourite photos of him. ever. I love that you can see all his freckles, his wrinkles, but especially his gorgeous eyes. sparkly grey pits of moodinesss.

Day 2: The Joy of Love - what they look like...

2011-02-03T17:44:00.003+11:00

This month I'm taking part in an online photography course. Part of the course involves daily photography assignments, which are to be shared online. So, guess what? Yep, I'm going to be uploading a photo each day for February as part of the course.

The course is called The Joy of Love and each day's assignment has a theme. Yesterdays was 'what they do' and I submitted the photo from the previous post. Todays theme was 'what they look like'.

So here is what my boys look like on most days.... messy, dirty, dishevelled, mismatched. I had taken another photo to use for todays assignment, but when uploading the pictures from today, I found a few I took on the weekend. I had forgotten they were still on the camera, and I ended up choosing one of them instead because it is such a perfect example of my youngest.

I've also included a photo from today, just because it makes me laugh. Hope you enjoy them too.

If you have an interest in photography and would like to stretch your photography skills, join this great online course by clicking here. Or to see a sample of all the great photos being submitted join the Joy of Love Facebook site. You don't need to be a pro, you just need a camera! Even better its FREE.

Morning Smiles

2011-01-25T09:07:00.000+11:00

During the school holidays we've indulged a little with 'ABCkids' time when the boys wake up(early) in the morning since we havn't had to rush off anywhere in particular on most mornings. Its so cute to see them both laughing at the same things. I couldn't resist getting the camera out and capturing it this morning. This image is just them 'to a tee' in the mornings...

*you'll notice in the background a bug-catcher. Its full of caterpillars that Riley helped me collect out of the garden yesterday. He LOVES them and he named all of them... Long-y, Creep-y, Munch-y.... They slept on his bedside table and he sang them a lullaby to make sure they went to sleep. aaaw.

Epic Love

2011-01-17T20:37:00.000+11:00

I struggled to find the right words to describe this Family Session. Epic. Sweet. Fun. They all fit, but none are quite right. You see most of these kids are in foster care. So the one word that sticks with me from this shoot is Love. Unbounding Love. These kids were all so sweet and lovely and the main reason behind it is their 'mum' Donna. She is AMAZING! Its obvious that she adores her 'kids'. I had an absolute blast with this beautiful family, we laughed, we giggled, we played, and most of all we smiled. Because of Donna, these beautiful children are in a home filled with love. The world would be a much better place if it was filled with people who opened their hearts and their home just like Donna.

It was tough to choose just a few favourites and I didn't want any of the kids to miss out, so here are a few pics to get you started...I'll try to post a few more via facebook later in the week. Enjoy!

Fletcher & Samantha

2011-01-10T14:52:00.001+11:00

Last Friday I had the pleasure of photographing two of the cutest little kids; Fletcher & his brand new little sister Samantha.

Samantha is only 3 weeks old but still so tiny and sleepy as she was born 3 weeks premature. As a result we managed to get some fantastic photos of her all curled up, Gorgeous!

Fletcher is a very proud big brother and was so cute giving his little sister kisses and pats on the head. I took some helium balloons along for him to play with and they were such a hit! I don't think I got one frowny face from him all afternoon!!!

To Daniel and Toni, thankyou so much for inviting me into your lovely home for the afternoon. The weather outside was bleak, but your family warmed my heart. I hope you enjoy this 'sneak peek'.

Down Time

2010-12-15T14:25:00.000+11:00

For the next few weeks I will be 'switching off ' and indulging in some quality time with my family. This means I won't be taking any more bookings for this year(2010). I will be accepting bookings for dates after 6 January 2011.

I will be checking my emails and messages periodically in the meantime, so if you are looking to make a booking for the New Year(2011) and are trying to contact me, please be patient, I will get back to you.

I'd also like to take the opportunity to say a HUGE thankyou to all of my gorgeous clients for your support during the year, I had a fantastic time with each and every one of you.

And, since no blog is complete without a photo....I couldn't resist....but, c'mon....could you say 'no' to this face? Who's a cutey wooty? Who? You are Max, you are.

Eather Family

2010-12-13T22:24:00.000+11:00

Well, my last session for the year couldn't have been any better. Gorgeous weather. Lovely family. Great location. This session was a present from Gabi to her mum. Isn't that a gorgeous idea? So, personal, and it was fun too. Thank you all for such a great time this afternoon, I hope you enjoy this sneak peek. :-)

Noah

2010-12-06T14:22:00.000+11:00

Well, on Saturday I was spoilt. Spoilt with the cutest, cruisiest, little guy called Noah. He was just so sweet I wanted to eat him up.

Noah's Nanna is a foster carer, and his Mum is a pre-school teacher (& his Dad's pretty awesome too) so there's a lot of love all around him and it really shows.

Thanks so much Ben and Amelia for a great afternoon, I hope you like this sneak peek...

Hannah & Owen

2010-12-01T17:08:00.000+11:00

On Monday afternoon as the storm clouds gathered on the horizon I had a lovely Newborn/Family Session with Hannah, Owen and, of course, their Mum & Dad.

We had a great time together at the park, and let me tell you, I had a really hard time choosing just a few favourites to show you here.

Bevan & Kellie, I hope you enjoy this sneak peek.

CUTE umbrella thanks to my lil' sisters :^)

I LOVE this one!

Afternoon Mini Session

2010-11-28T18:54:00.001+11:00

On Friday afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Laurie and Kim. These two lovebirds met several years ago thru work and then tied the knot recently at gorgeous Booloomimba. They wanted a few nice updated photos to share with their families so we arranged to meet for a 'mini session'. Thankyou Laurie & Kim for a fun afternoon, I hope you like this sneak peek. :^)

Claudia, Liam & Jayda

2010-11-23T23:09:00.000+11:00

I had such a blast with these gorgeous kids on Sunday. They were all so smiley and happy, and older two really dote on their little sister which was so sweet to watch. It was so nice to have the sun out for this shoot especially since we found a beautiful patch of wildflowers to play in. Thank you Wayne and Elizabeth for giving me the opportunity to photograph your beautiful children and I look forward to a full family session in the new year. Enjoy!

Brothers

2010-11-22T21:42:00.001+11:00

Well what can I say, these boys kept me very busy on Saturday afternoon. They are gorgeous just like their cousins. We ran, jumped, climbed trees, rode bikes, pushed billycarts... you name it, we did it.

I also have to mention how awesome Andrew & Catherine are. Its so great to see parents who really get involved with their kids and don't mind having a bit of fun and being silly with them as you will see from the last pic.

Thankyou so much Andrew & Catherine for inviting me into your life for an afternoon, I hope you enjoy this sneak peek.

Where would boys be without billycarts?

What can I say? I just love this one.

The start of something...

2010-11-04T15:56:00.001+11:00

I suddenly realised the other day that I hadn't taken proper photos of my kids in ages and ages. Not even with the little p&s (point & shoot) camera that I usually have stashed in my handbag. Shocking, I know!

I decided that since my phone has been ringing hot with family photo bookings in the lead up to the end of the year(where has this year gone?), I had better get my act together and take a few shots of my boys before I get caught up with other family's little ones and then another few months fly by.

Hope you enjoy these, don't forget to leave a comment if you do :^)

white boys can jump...

See, they obviously think I'm hilarious

I had to include these, just to show how much fun we had, and to prove that lollipops are great for bribing kids :^P For those in the know, yes that's my new pink camera bag - what can I say, I'm in love.....

10 Years

2010-10-28T17:20:00.000+11:00

Well, I promised I wouldn't buy you a present. And technically I didn't. I made you one instead. Just a little something to say thankyou for picking me 10 years ago. Our faith, our family, and our friends have helped us through the rollercoaster ride we've had over the past 10yrs. And I know I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else.

So, this is to say Thankyou.

Thankyou for our 2 beautiful boys. Thankyou for my cup of tea in bed last week. Thankyou for telling me I'm beautiful. Thankyou for squashing spiders for me. Thankyou for watching Pride & Prejudice with me. Thankyou for loving football. Thankyou for laughing at my jokes. Thankyou for saying yes to almost anything. Thankyou for my camera. Thankyou for caring. Thankyou for putting up with my crazyness.

Thankyou.

Love you hon.

Please excuse the poor quality of most of these images. We only went digital recently, so apart from a few that were taken on my old film SLR, most of the images were taken with a film p&s and have been (very poorly) scanned in, but, they mean a lot to us and had to be included. So, please enjoy this snapshot of our past 10yrs together.

Credits: Engagement & Wedding Photos: Brad Young

Music: 'Gimme Some Lovin' Spencer Davis Group

The Bourke Family

2010-10-15T22:32:00.000+11:00

On Wednesday afternoon, as the storm clouds gathered, I had a 'mini-session' with the lovely Bourke family. Like most of us the Bourkes havn't had a proper family photo taken for a few years. I was really glad they made the time for it tho. We met at their lovely property just outside of Armidale and the overcast skies gave us beautiful light. It was a pleasure to meet you all and I wish you all the best with your newest 'Moxon's Bakery' shop!

Evening Light + Mini Sessions = Fun

2010-10-01T07:48:00.001+10:00

Hi Everyone,

Well, now that the weather is gettting warmer and daylight savings is just around the corner, its the perfect time to book a 'mini session' to update your family photos.

Family photos are one of those things that we always mean to do, but somehow, they always get slowly bumped down the to-do-list as everyday life intervenes.

Well, hopefully we can break the cycle with a fantastic 'mini session' this summer. Starting in October, Studio 22 will be offering limited Evening 'mini sessions'.

The 'mini sessions' are for families of 4, and only cost $95!!! Each session lasts just 1/2hr and includes 15 high resolution photos on disk!!! How great is that??

If your family is larger than 4, I have some great deals up my sleeve for you too, so just give me a call for more details. I am still offering regular sessions for Newborns etc, just check the website for details.

You may have seen the poster below in some of the amazingly supportive stores, shops & cafes around Armidale. A BIG thankyou to ALL of them for supporting local businesses. And a huge thankyou to FM100.3 for being so helpful getting my ads ready to go to air. (listen out after the school holidays for the ads...)

FAQ: What should we wear????

2010-09-08T09:38:00.002+10:00

This is such a common (and sensible) question from Clients. But, its a question I have struggled to answer properly until now.

The answer I usally give is: neat and tidy 'complementary clothes', not 'matching clothes'. This answer makes perfect sense to me, but I think a bit more detail would really help potential clients turn good outfits choices into great outfit choices.

It might seem silly to put so much emphasis on what you wear for your family photos but, remember these photos will hopefully grace your walls for years to come. This doesn't mean I expect Clients spend huge amounts of $$ on new 'name brand' clothes just for one afternoon. Quite the opposite. I realise that most families(mine included) are on tight budgets right now. So below are a few things to keep in mind when choosing clothes for your family photo. More than likely you will be able to use clothes already in your wardrobe and maybe just add one new item each to freshen things up.

* The first thing to remember is to steer clear of big logos and crazy patterns. They distract from your family's faces.

* Secondly, choose colours that you know suit your family's skin and hair tone. A colour that really complements your eye colour works well too.

* Next, mix and match different shades of this colour with other complimentary clothes for each member of the family.

* Another handy hint is to keep the family all in one season's clothing. Eg. If Mum is wearing a big snuggly jumper, Dad shouldn't wear t-shirt & shorts etc etc.

** Please note: this doesn't mean you can't have your kids with matching jumpers, hats or shirts for some of the photos. Especially if certain clothes have sentimental meaning for your family Eg. Granny knitted them or Aunty Flo sent them from o/seas etc. But, it is a good idea to only use matching outfits in just a few of your photos.

While sick with the flu last week I spent my time shamelessly stalking other photographers blogs and websites for inspiration when I stumbled upon this GEM!

The following pics are from the awesome Cindy Lee's website(Aust), she in turn borrowed them from the AH-mazing Stephanie Lynn's website(USA).

I have included them here because it's just perfect for what I have been trying to describe to my Clients all along. Let me know what you think!

Have you got one of these???

2010-09-03T11:00:00.001+10:00

If you've had a new baby recently and someone special has sent you flowers, you probably have one of these...

So, I'm guessing you arrived home with grand ideas of fabulous things and then realised how busy & exhausting life gets with a newborn! Don't worry you're not the only one :^)

I want to take this opportunity to say a very big Congratulations to all the new parents out there in the New England area. I'm now going to say something I vowed I would never say to another parent because it was said to me sooooo many times....

"enjoy every minute, because they grow up so quickly"

I honestly didn't believe it when everyone told me that, but I now realise how true those words are. Hours turn to days, which turn to weeks, which turn to months and before you know it your precious little bundle is 6mths old and you feel like you havn't taken nearly enough photos of them sleeping, eating, playing, crying, crawling etc etc etc.

I would love to be able to help you capture just a few of these special moments in your new family's life. So, give me a call on 0434 676 876 or drop me a line at studio22photography@ymail.com to arrange a session tailored to suit you.

Drum Roll Please.......

2010-06-03T20:17:00.002+10:00

Ta Da! As some of you may already know, I now have my website up and running. Hooray!!! It has taken a several very long months to get it to this stage, but I am quite proud of the final product. (I did it all by myself, using Showit!)

There is now a permanent link to my website at the top of my blog, and also a link from the website back to the blog. (did that make sense?)

Please bear with me as I iron out creases, as there's sure to be a few, over the next few weeks. And feel free to email me if you notice any typo's etc :^)

So, for those who don't already know, here is my new web address: http://www.studio22photography.showitsite.com/

Don't worry you can still find me here too. This is where I'll be posting my latest sessions.

And since no post is complete without some photos, here are a few I took recently while out scouting for new and interesting locations. Even though the weather was dreary and wet, the gorgeous New England colours were amazing!

If you like any of the following locations and would like to incorporate them into your family's photo session, or if your family has another favourite spot, feel free to email me at studio22photography@ymail.com.

and last, but not least, my favourite...

Exciting News....

2010-05-26T20:53:00.002+10:00

I'm so excited I just couldn't keep this to myself...... I am finalising the last few details on my brand-spanking-new website!!!! eeeek!

I'm still going to be blogging my latest sessions here but the website will be the first 'port-of-call' for new Clients.

Heres a sneak peak, let me know what you think.

Leanda xoxo

Ryan & Tom (Armidale Newborn & Family Photography)

2010-05-09T19:38:00.004+10:00

To say this shoot was challenging would be a slight understatement. Baby Tom was not a happy chappy yesterday, poor little guy had a terrible case of wind. And by the time we had him calmed down and fast asleep, big brother Ryan was, like most toddlers, not interested in getting his picture taken....

I'm sure there's a saying "Never work with children & animals", if only I would listen :^)

Despite the challenges that photographing children and their families presents, the suprise and delight on their faces when they see the final product is worth it!

With that in mind, here are a few of my favourites from yesterdays shoot. Thank you Josh & Katie, you have a gorgeous family, I hope you enjoy this sneak peak.

Aaah, its bliss when they sleep...

I had to put this one in, it just cracks me up every time I look at it :^D

Sisterly love (Armidale Newborn & Childrens Photography)

2010-05-02T23:19:00.007+10:00

"You know full well as I do the value of sisters' affections: There is nothing like it in this world." - Charlotte Bronte

These beautiful sisters Bronte, Charlotte & Ella, have bucketloads of sisterly affection. It was so sweet to watch as they all fussed over their new little sister, Eve, who is only 5 weeks old. There were LOTS of cuddles and kisses.

We had lots of fun in the gorgeous autumn sunshine and I can't wait to catch up with these girls again when Eve is bigger and can join in the running and jumping with her big sisters.

Thankyou to Damien & Rebecca for inviting me into your beautiful home, I hope you enjoy this sneak peak.

It was hard to choose a few favourites, but here they are...

a little bit of fun with glitter & sparkles

aren't they just gorgeous?!

baby Eve

ok, I LOVE this one, but it makes me just a little bit clucky... :^)

Don't forget to leave us a comment :^)

"Kids are like Mozzies..."

2010-04-21T08:46:00.003+10:00

"...when they're quiet they're into something" Thats what my uncle told me when we started having kids. And, well, 9 times out of 10 he's been right!

As much as I love my boys and their crazy imaginations, a little quiet time would be nice.

So imagine my suprise when my hubby said "quick get your camera" and it didn't involve; digging giant holes in the backyard, emptying doorstops to make sandpits in the loungeroom, climbing to the highest branches of trees....(yes, we are regulars at the local Emergency Dept)

Instead what I saw when I peeked around the corner was this...

What? Tears? Me crying? Nooooo, I just have something in my eye... Aww, aren't they cute?