Goodbye and Hello

I’ve just moved my blog to a much classier locale: www.sydneyportraits.com.au/blog. Please go there to see what I’m up to. Thanks and all the best!

Shelly Beach

 

 

Coming from the city there’s something about Manly that always makes you feel you’re on holiday. Of course when you are on holiday it is a little unusual to be followed round by a tall Englishman pointing a large camera at you. So these girls were initially a little phased but it wasn’t long before the white sand and clear cool water worked their magic and they completely forgot I was there. I didn’t get a dip but it was still a very enjoyable session.

 

Cute in Coogee

This was a fun shoot in Coogee, a mixed home-studio/location with a cherubic boy and his understandably adoring parents. Baby shoots can be a joy or they can be tough. It’s nothing personal. As a father of two I know that the child who glows with sweetness and light one day may well barely pause for breath between howls the next. James proved to have remarkable staying power, maintaining unsurpassable cuteness for not one shoot but two, back-to-back.

 

Yuletide greetings from Sydney Portraits!

It’s upon us again. As a Pom now fairly familiar with the Antipodes I should be used to sweating through roast turkey on Christmas Day followed by a whale-like splash at Bondi beach. It’s still a novelty, but not a bad one I have to admit.

This year the yuletide break will be more welcome than usual as I’ve been snowed under with work, shooting families, children, babies… portraits left, right and centre. Plus a few weddings, events and some documentary work. All wonderful and professionally nourishing. But quite exhausting.

And to top it all, I have a new baby daughter! She’s now almost two weeks old. A delicious little creature. I’ve yet to take any newborn photos of her that I’m really happy with but no doubt I will post some soon, hopefully while she’s still newborn-ish.

In the meantime here’s my obligingly festive son playing with a slinky in the sensational 7am light.

Happy Xmas!

 

Blissful in Balmain

One of the pleasures of family photography – aside from the families you get to meet and the children you photograph – is getting to know new parts of the city. Hannah and her parents lived (they’ve since moved) in a lovely corner of Balmain next to Mort Bay Park. Although I tend to focus on the family more than the location itself, the ambience – not to mention green space and fresh breeze – of a place can make a great deal of difference. Hannah was a delight and weather complimented the location to provide an early taste of summer.

Siblings

As with many of my posts these shots were taken some time ago in Bellevue Hill. Raffie, the very sweet baby, made me work for each shot but the effort was worthwhile. It’s always nice to capture the relationship between young siblings and Alex’s tenderness toward his little sister is palpable and touching.

Berowra glow

Berowra is a little further than I usually go for portrait sessions but it was well worth it to meet and photograph this charming family. It’s hard to believe from these photos but it was actually blowing a gale that day. We managed to find a very sheltered spot in the valley and grab a handful of shots while the slanting afternoon sun still gave the background an appealing glow – nicely complimenting the warmth radiating from the subjects.

Rose Bay one winter’s morn

It is now some time since I shot this session at Rose Bay. It was the kind of gloriously sunny winter day that confirms my suspicion that winter really doesn’t exist here in Sydney. The children were a dream, mucking around on the edge of the beach and being the kind of happy, responsive photo subjects that make this job seem like a very easy one. Then it was back to their house where a beautiful blue and white mural (painted by their mother Jo) made an excellent background.

Ellen and Will

I recently had the opportunity to shoot siblings Ellen and Will at one of my favourite city beaches. It’s small and secluded and has a range of rock backgrounds that makes it almost a multi-faceted outdoor studio. Ellen and Will were relaxed and charming company. A very satisfying winter shoot.

Winter special!

As a relatively recent migrant to his country I still find the concept of winter in Sydney a little hard to get my head round. That’s probably why I annoy my wife by turning off the gas heater every time she leaves the room. But even I now have to concede it is a tad chilly.

Winter in Sydney is surprisingly good for photography. On clear crisp days the slanting light is beautiful and generally less squinty than during warmer seasons. Plus there are plenty of opportunities for setting up my mobile studio in pre-warmed living rooms.

Anyway, I have recently introduced a Winter Special meaning portrait sessions for $95, a saving of $55, plus a discount of 10% off all print prices. It lasts until the first shoots of spring (September 15).