2011 has been amazing. Thank you to all of my beautiful couples who have invited me in to their lives this year. I’m beyond blessed and privileged to be doing what I love most. Here are a few of my favourites from 2011, I’m so excited for what the future holds. Bring on 2012!! xoxo
Jess and Jedd woke up to rain on their wedding day, and lots of it! But Jess, who is my beautiful cousin, carried on as she had throughout their engagement with a completely calm, relaxed outlook. She was focused on marrying Jedd, and nothing (especially not rain!) could dampen her special day. Jess and Jedd have known each other since they were about 6 years old. They have grown up together, and I was so blessed to be able to capture their amazing day in Matakana. I wish you guys all the happiness in the world xx
It was still raining a little at Omaha beach, but I don’t think you can tell at all!
I hope you had a wonderful day whatever you got up to! My Christmas day was filled with delicious food, coffee, meeting new people, catching up with family, playing petanque, presents, conversations and lots of fun. A few years ago, Sam and I were in Tahiti for Christmas. While I definitely wouldn’t complain about being there, it felt very strange to not have our family around at Christmas, in fact it didn’t feel like Christmas at all! Christmas day for me is about being surrounded by the people who love you, who will always be there for you. Family.
Dad is back from a stint from working overseas in Papua New Guinea. It was so nice to see him again, we were all glad to have him back for Christmas. This is his Christmas present to himself – a new Nespresso coffee machine (the George Clooney one…) which produced surprisingly nice coffee with very minimal effort – always a bonus!
Present time! I wish I had a photo of what my sister Esther had made for Dad, it was his uncles old stamp collection pasted to the board Dad is holding. Our tree was a bit pathetic, but at least it was real!
My present from Sam… (!!)
I know lots of people don’t like Christmas cake, but this one I made was so good! And completely easy to make. A Nigella Lawson recipe, you just put everything in the pot, simmer for a while and pour into the baking tin. Just over an hour later you are given a moist, dense, delicious cake!
Petanque…
My DIY vases. Empty Antipodes bottles with Pohutakawa blooms and Magnolia flowers inside.
Everyone! My Mum fed 21 people!
Heeringa family. Jess and Jedd (on the far left) got married the week before. I’m so excited to show you their photos!
Me and my Dad. Love this photo!
Our family. x
My lovely Sam… It was such a gorgeous sunset that night xxx
I’ve already eaten way too much Christmas cake, but I definitely earned it walking up the amazing Pinnacles yesterday with my family! (aka – a steep hike which took 6 hours!!) I’m so pleased to have finished all of my editing and I’m so ready to relax and enjoy this lovely season, I hope you do the same. Merry Christmas.
xxxxx
It’s that time of year where photographers everywhere are desperately trying to finish editing weddings and other shoots before Christmas! I came to NZ from Melbourne on Thursday, so my aim was to have everything finished and sent by the time I stepped onto the plane, so I could relax when I got to NZ. Thankfully I achieved my goal! I think I work really well under pressure and deadlines. I photographed my cousin Jess’ wedding to Jedd on Sunday which was such an amazing day, so theirs is the only wedding I’m working on now. When I was in the thick of editing, when it was just me and my computer, I found a few things really helped me to speed the process up…
I love listening to music while I edit, but it was great to listen to a few great business and photography videos and podcasts too. I’d highly recommend the following…
Dane Sanders – Fast Track Photographer. Over the years Dane has interviewed so many amazing creative talented people specifically in Photography and business, two things I am passionate about! These videos are a couple of my favourites but you can find many more on his site here. Dane is interviewing Justin and Mary Marantz (amazing American based photographers, who have great advice on business) on Thursday (NZ Friday at 10am) which you can add to your calender here.
Christine Meintjes and her husband Ian have started an amazing site they have called Kiki ‘a playground for photographers’ here you will find inspiring tips and incredibly useful advice. Absolutely love the design and feel of the site, these guys are amazing! To top it off they have also recorded a Kiki TV show, which I love listening to while I edit. You can find all of the past shows here.
I stumbled across a few more inspiring chats with photographers on the [FRAMED] show on YouTube. I love this one with Sarah Rhodes and her husband…
And also this interview with Jonas Peterson…
Creative Live is another great site worth knowing about. They regularly have live workshops and photography courses, it’s free to watch the shows live and you can purchase the recording after the event.
I’ve found that listening to inspiring people while I edit motivates me, and makes me work faster! I hope you find these sources of information inspiring and helpful xxx
My cousin Jess got married on Sunday, such a wonderful day. Much more to come xxxx
I had the pleasure of spending a whole day with these two at 4 different locations around Victoria! A pre wedding shoot (wearing your wedding day gown) is a new concept for me… I asked Adriel if he didn’t mind seeing Pris’ dress before the wedding day, and I found out he’s actually been involved in the whole process with the dressmaker! I love how there are absolutely no rules with weddings, it’s so interesting to see how different cultures interpret a wedding day and everything that comes before and after. Adriel and Pris are from Singapore, and are getting married there in June next year. These photographs are going to be displayed at their wedding, which I know will be beautiful. xx
Last Thursday Sam and I took a break from thesis writing and photo editing to go on a road trip! We headed off early in the morning and drove 3 hours to the Grampians national park. It was so nice to get out of the city for a day and discover more of Victoria. I must admit that while I LOVE taking road trips like this, and exploring new places…I don’t really get that excited about taking landscape and wildlife photos ( I like people to be in my photographs!)… My husband on the other hand, loves landscape and wildlife photography… I may be slightly biased, but I think he’s an amazing photographer! Check out more of Sam’s photos here. xx
We saw an Echidna on our way down the mountain! I don’t think I have ever seen Sam quite so excited. It was pretty cool.
Jono and Lisa were wed a few weeks ago in one of the most STUNNING places I’ve ever been to in NZ. Lisa styled the day beautifully, I found out she is a big fan of op shops and DIY – and also writes a great blog! Check it out here. I first met Jono & Lisa when they were up in Auckland visiting from their home town, Taupo. I love hearing proposal stories and theirs was definitely unique! Lisa had wanted a puppy for a while, so they day came when they picked it up from the airport… unbeknown to Lisa this little puppy also came with a diamond ring in a box around its neck! Lisa & Jono, your day was incredible. Beyond incredible. Thank you so so much for giving me the privilege it was to document it. Mahia, I’m definitely returning xx
A gorgeous couple. A beautiful evening. Stunning scenery on New Zealand’s wild west coast. Bethells Beach is incredible. Thank you Jerome and Mallory for the privilege. Enjoy! xx
