Yacht race day

Magnetic Island Queensland, Spring.  What an amazing afternoon.  The light for this event helped to evoke a bright pallet of colour.  The models were absolutely stunning, along with the designers for this event.  So much effort went into creating just one image.  Hours of sewing, hair styling, make up, photography editing.  Do you ever think of all the small intricate parts that go into making a whole? Big thought when you pull it apart.

Violets and Lace Gala Ball

Katie's Gala Ball

Probably the most amazing night of my life. A gala ball that I helped organise (along with some very amazing ladies and now friends) and did the photography for.  This lady is the most inspiring woman I have ever met.  Her words, her cause, all make me want to be a better person.  It's amazing how one person can cause you to self reflect and take actions to appreciate each and everday more and a more.  Katie refuses to accept her fate, and fights every day to beat the odds.  Keep fighting girl, we are all hear every step of the way.  xx

I am procrastinating from my bill paying job, what better way to do that. This would have to be the most symbolic photo I have ever taken.  If I missed this shot I would of been devastated.  To me this photo is my best friend in the whole wide world and me.  She loves balloons, and watching them soar up into the sky, it reminds us of something silly, on an ordinary day.  This day though was hugely sad.  After a week of emotions and grief, it came down to this.  I took over a thousand photos that day, and edited about 100 - and this is the only photo I have ever let anyone see of that series.  It was a day no mother should ever have to live, no little 8 year old sister should experience. When I look at this photo, I feel sad, sad that the person I hold dearest and nearest will never see the world in the same way again.  Love to you my dear best friend x

A day in Katelyn Aslett's shop

A Day in Katelyn Aslett's shop

Every time I pick up my camera, I learn something new, I meet someone new, quite unexpected and amazing really.  Recently I have met up with a Local Townsville designer, Katelyn Aslett.  Walking into her shop in the mall, must of been like walking into a magical fairyland this tiny 2 year old.  Whilst shooting for a charity calendar in Katelyn's shop, Violet pretended to float around the room as if she had wings and of course fairy dust.  As a photographer, you are always searching for the perfect shot.  This frame in time, will feature as a centre piece in my new house.  It perfectly captures all that she is.  A soft pink marshmallow.  It was captured at the end of the shoot, Violet had climbed up onto the chair with that beautiful woollen hat upon her head, and requested her photo be taken immediately.  It was taken with studio lighting, which has turned out just amazing.  How can you not love art  xx

Dear Violet - by Katie Lee

Photography to me is my art.  A collage of ideas can turn into something so magic and emotional.  Neither of these photos are my best technical work, but probably evoke more emotion than any other photo.  I had planned to meet with Katie and Violet for  a photo shoot.  Katie, a 29 year old mother of baby Violet, dressed and presented herself just beautifully.  This is after 3 pseudo strokes, a cracked tiba and a range of other medical disasters.  When I arrived, I asked Katie how she was feeling, she says "don't ask".  Looking at her smile and joy, you would not know her world is crumbling.  Whilst taking her photo she asked if I would take one of the sign. She said, this is the message I want to leave Violet.

My heart broke as I shot these photos.  Violet was particularly irritable that morning, all she wanted was to be picked up and cuddled.  My heart broke to think that somewhere in Katie's mind, she must be devastated beyond imagination that someday she may not be there, the one that Violet whinges to, the one that consoles her, the one that can just look at her and know what she wants.  I wish you good health dear friend xx

A touch of sun flare

I just loved this shoot, after a week of unseasonal rain, the sun shone through for an afternoon.  I found Lauren in another setting a few months back, and was mesmerised by her stunning eyes. This is a girl who has never modelled, so I was very impressed with the way she moved, natural and beautiful. To take these shots I set the shutter 1/125 or higher (as there was so much light coming in at times), and F of 4 or over, the ISO at 100.  The model was asked to hold her pose, whilst I moved the camera to frame the shot, and let just enough light into the camera to create the effect.  I was very excited to edit these, adding golden overlays and hazy tones.  So happy with this beautiful girl. 

A Tea Party to Remember

This is my first blog, so I thought I would chose a photo that essentially brought the dream of photography alive for me.  This photo was taken at a fundraiser "A Tea Party to Remember", which was inspired by an earlier photo I took, featuring the mother leaning down to her baby girl in this photo (Katie Lee and Violet).  This photo saddens me every time I look at it.  To look at it looks normal. But Katie has metastatic melanoma, which has been classed as terminal.  I hope this photo captures a brave mother, who despite her pain (physical and emotional), makes such an effort to be normal and there for her little Violet.

The experience of putting the tea party together was absolutely humbling.  With the set for the photoshoot being donated, people donated their time, money, hearts, to raise awareness for Melanoma and to help with Katie Lee's medical expenses.  I am so privileged to be a part of Katie's cancer journey.  We are all praying for a miracle.

Needless to say, it was an easy choice to have this photo feature on my business card collection.