Two days, Two Weddings, my first time as lead photographer! I am shattered.
I took on these weddings knowing that I would have an excellent second shooter at my side and I advise anyone who is doing their first few weddings to do the same. I know I keep saying it Sam, but seriously - thank you so much Sam Hobson of Dancing Light Photography. www.dancinglightphoto.co.nz
Sam was not my assistant, she was my partner for the day and someone to lean on.
Here is my wee list of what I have learned in the last two day. There is a whole load more, but generally this is it....
I have learned....
1. A whole new respect for wedding photographers
2. I need to get REALLY REALLY REALLY good at using my equipment that it becomes second nature (I thought I was ok, but when the pressure it on, I wasn't ok)
3. I need to write spare copies of the group shot lists so I can cajole people too
4. Its better to flag the last shot at the hotel so I don't nearly kill myself getting to the reception so I can be in front of the wedding vehicles. I apologise to the residents of west auckland for my STOOPID Dukes of Hazard moves along West Coast Road!
5. Flash photography is going to be my friend and not to be so scared of it.
6. The value of a second shooter is massive
7. That my camera although good, could do with an upgrade for better ISO options.
8. The need to change my shooting style and let my camera do more work for focussing so I can speed up
9. That there is no "warming up" on a wedding creative shoot... speak up, get into it
10. Brides can be your best friend or not realllly share your vision on the day and to suck it up, do your best, and keep them happy!
11. That mental and physical exhaustion all rolled into one is well, exhausting!
12. That I have loads and loads of learning to do and to let it humble me, not scare me away
13. And not to forget to take the step ladder on the creative! and to use it more!
14. To have fun!, but be a little more assertive and ask even more questions so I know my bride is telling me EVERYTHING
15. TV Directors are in it for themselves <----- polite version.
[one of my weddings was being film for TV, and well, thats a whole new blog post]
16. Long Lenses will be my friend when I can afford one. Saving for a 85mm prime first
PHEW!
Nykie
I am looking for teenagers in their final year of school, Or perhaps their first year of uni or tech. I want do so some fun photoshoots showing their individual style and hobbies. I would love to hear from anyone who may be interested! Please email me with a snap shot of yourself and tell me a little about yourself!
There is NO SESSION FEE for these shoots.
Nykie
noo@noo.co.nz
2010! This year has started with a hiss and a roar! Busy busy...! I am behind on my blogging and pricelists! but I am not complaining. I have loads of photography bookings. Some of these are weddings coming up which I am sooooooo excited about. I have been dreaming about them! I get a little obsessed!....
Well, this was my first shoot for 2010 a couple of weeks back - The Nimmo Family! yay for them, and yay for North Head which was totally rocking the party with a lovely cloud cover and dramatic skies.
Stay tuned for my facebook page, Exciting specials and news soon!
http://www.facebook.com/mistralphoto : BECOME A FAN!
Nykie
Anne-Lise called me wanting pictures of her sweet wee Hanna... and so we made booking. We then included her big brother Karsten and his Wife Jaime who are over from Australia and of course their sweet boy Torbien... So it was a fun extended-family, all kinds of combinations... shoot...
I have been reflecting on this year! This is my penultimate shoot for 2009 and so it has to be said! What a ride. I have loved meeting so many cool people from all over Auckland and of course all their sweet babies and children who have all been completely individual. And that's just one of the many things I have grown to love about this wee business of mine.. is the constant different challenges it throws my way! Keep it coming! Here is to a fantastic 2010
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!
What a breathe of fresh air... This is Rach & Dan and their seriously sweet kids Milan 2.5 amd Chloe 7 months. They were both lovely, but I realllly wanted to take Chloe home with me! So sweet!... We had grand plans of going to the beach and park, but once we started hanging out just at their house it was apparent that we didn't need to go anywhere flash... and so they just did their thing and I documented it! Milan sang me Jingle Bells & I was blown away at his impressive alphabet!.... Great fun... Enjoy!
I kept the whole weekend free for Emma & her family so we could work around whether and with Saturday bombing out, Sunday was a corker! I am so glad we chose the day with some sunshine so I could capture her twins who have "Wooley Heads" as Emma put it.
I put this crazy piccie at the top because it captures what I saw in their personalities of the day... Mercedes who remained very shy, but very sweet throughout the shoot.. Then little Chiari who is so flippin cute!! but with lil' mischievous thrown in!, then Sienna the other twin who was keen & fun... and big sister Maya who was into it from the get-go!
Special thanks for dad, Willy who let me take a family portrait at the beginning! He then stood firmly on the sidelines, but it was all good!
Thanks you guys!! Twas fun!
Yesterday I had fun at Bexs' house and photographed her boys Billy who is 3, and Ollie who is six weeks. Ollie is a big little fella! For only six weeks he is already so chubby & smiley! Billy was loads of fun out in the garden. We played with bubbles, and on his bike, tramp and run around the washing hanging on the line... Enjoy!...
The beauitful mum in this family is Kiani! 36 weeks pregnant and look ridiculously lovely! also is her partner Tim and her son Noah. Noah was such a natural in front of the camera and really pulled out some "boy band" moves as Tim put it... Despite the miserable weather on Saturday avo, we managed to get some good shots in.... 
One of the most powerful things you can capture in a photograph is emotion. Our emotions are at play all day and even all night... all mixed up with lives and all the things we do every day... but when a photography stops all that other stuff and breaks down a moment into just an emotion or capturing several emotions at once it is magic.... Even if sometimes that emotion is ponderous and sad. To stop and reflect is a good thing in our busy lives... [ooooh, deep!]
This morning I found myself frantically running around North Head trying to find some spots in the shade so I could photograph the Bossley Girls.. They arrived minutes after I had circumnavigated the whole mountain!... We used the cool buildings at the very top, and some large trees up there too... And then headed down to Cheltenham Beach which was looking ridiculously beautiful this morning... I love Auckland!
Here they are! Mum Emma, Nina 13, Lucy 3 & wee Eddie 17 months... I love her name!! Eddie... so rad.