More on madeit.com :):):):)

I have just added some new stuff to madeit.com, the all handmade site.  I've now got 11 listings with lots of colourful pieces of Canvas Art including flowers, pencils, elephants, lollies and now Grafitti.

I think Grafitti is fast becoming my favourite pieces and am thinking of adding some to my very own wall!!

You can find me on madeit at:

http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=303515

and be sure to drop over and check out my other items.

Thanks

:)

FUN FOTO FRIDAY - Week 25

I am cheating a little bit this week but when you see the photo and reason why, I know you are going to understand!!  This is little Isla and these photo were taken last week but while I was going through and editing, I came across this absolute beauty.  I had this idea in my head for a photo but was still unsure how to pull it off when the shoot rolled around.  Isla wasn't having the best start and it didn't help when I wanted her undressed on a chilly morning at the Glasshouse Mountains so I figured I would set up the shot and have a go and if I got nothing else that morning, then so be it. 

I love it when things work!!! 

This, if you can believe, was the very first shot if the day and it was easily the winner in this series with the set up.  She was so adorable and it looks like the headband even fits (it was massive, after this mum Kay Ellen had to keep pulling it back up from falling down her face constantly!).  I was so happy with how the final shot looks, it's going straight into my portfolio!!

We had a bit fun and it was a delight to meet this absolutely beautiful little girl.  I'll be going back for cuddles again this coming week and I'm looking forward to that!!

I have lots more sweet photos of this little princess which I'll share in the coming weeks :)

Goebel Gang {Family Photo}

After we had spent some time getting some awfully adorable shots of little baby Eloise (see here), we headed outside to get a family snap.  It was funny trying to get everyone looking at the same time and smiling and happy (a newborn and a 2 year old and another together always proves to be a bit challenging but rewarding when you get it!!) but we did get there and it was a complete success and particularly cute.  I love the top one at our first attempt and that look from Leyla.  The eldest two Rueben and Leyla are just perfectly gorgeous though in the bottom one..... :)

 

This was such a hoot to watch.  Bubbles are one of the simplest thing to keep kids happy, sometimes I feel I couldn't do my job without them!!  She was so funny trying to blow and when she got a good one, would get so excited.  It wasn't just that though, she had this whole motion thing going on..... like swaying forward..... getting a built up to then blow the wand..... it was just so cute and so funny!!

Really these are just incredibley good looking kids and are certainly going to break some hearts as they get older!!

These shots above were taken at our first shoot Ashleighs maternity shoot (see here), but again, it helps support my point from earlier in the post perfectly..... that kids love the bubbles..... and they are so so so happy here running around and chasing down every last one of them - it's so lovely :)

WEEK 24 - Fun Foto Friday

As the wonderful person that I am, I offered to help out my good friend Renee Skewis shooting a series of clothing from a Thai manufacturer.  We started the series with our first shoot during the week in the city for an urban look and managed to stumble on a couple of really cool alley ways in and around the mall.  We also had 3 terrific models and this gorgeous girl is Melissa.  I have been shooting with my fish eye camera whenever I can lately and this afternoon was no exception.  I thought the buildings would look good with the fish eye and I was right!!!  I had so much fun with these photos, just happy snapping really but this is one of my favourites so far. 

Thanks to Renee and to the girls for letting me take part in all the fun, I can't wait to do the rest and I know Renee has some awesome locations picked out.  Today was a field and tomorrow is a pine forest..... YAY!!

FUN FUN FUN

Girly fun day {Makeup and Nails}

A HUUUUUUUUGE day was spent with Belinda and the girls playing dress up and having mini make overs for promotional photos for Belinda's nail and make up business.  We had 6 super patient ladies as our models, a make up artist working her backside off getting everyone ready and being the party hostess, numerous fabulous assistants (for reasons that will be mentioned as the post goes on) and even a 10 year old boy who help prep our lunch..... nice job Caleb!

Firstly Merilyn had her nails and toes matching but played a big roll all day getting everyone drinks and she made a mean cup of coffee. Thanks Merilyn :)

Next is Kara, my awesome sister, who was my right hand girl...... from carrying my lens, holding the reflector and being my gofer girl AFTER she'd sat and had her hair and make up done and photographs taken.  She did a bang up job and I totally appreciated having her there with me for the day.  This was a recreation of her wedding makeup which was a few months ago.

Such a lady..... I loved these looking into the mirror shots showing off her eyelashes.  I think she looks so grown up and so elegant....

and here I think she just looks cute :) 

Thank you big sister for a massive effort.  Mmwah xx

Next was Kasey, the hands down pick of the days photos and not to take away from the other girls at all but I think it's the combination of the beautiful pale skin, bright red lips and lush green background that makes these absolutely...

These two are easily the top shots of the day, the winner being the right side.  Those eyes just jump out at you and command your attention.  We had some fun with these as Kasey was more than happy to have a go at whatever we suggested and she was also really funny and great to shoot!!

...............................................

The above shot is our third model Minette taking on the corporate look.  She was outstanding!!!  This is also up there in my top shots of the day

Nikki came next........ Nikki wasn't feeling the best but put in a huge effort for Belinda, filling in for another girl who was unable to make it.  I'm not sure what was going on with this dress Belinda chose but Nikki did a great job in front of the camera.

Our last lucky lady for the day was Amy and I think she put in one heck of an effort.  She was the first to arrive for the day at Belinda's then did everyone hair, helped get the girls dressed and then sat for her own makeup, had her photos done AND was the last to leave!!  Amy was awesome, both assisting and modeling.  She has the nicest blue eyes and cheeky dimples when she smiles.  Top job Amy.... high fives!!!

I wanted to see this one in B&W and in the end I loved it!  I showed Belinda and it ended up being one of her final picks.  It looks great in colour as well but something about the B&W just sold me.... and her :)

Everyone had their eye or eyes photographed and Amy's (above) were one of my favourites as well as Kasey (first) and Kara (second)

So all in all it was a SUPER day and I was thrilled with my shots and Belinda was also very pleased.  We both learnt a lot so next time (and there will be a next time) we will be much better prepared and have other ideas and styles.

Thanks to all the girls (and boys) for the day and to Belinda for the opportunity :) 

I'm already looking forward to our next shoot!

Sweet Honey....... the Dog!

Sweet Honey is the little staffy that my friend was looking after when she was doing a spot of house sitting for Honey's parents.  I went and spent the night with the two of them and Honey was just so super sweet and her gorgeous smiley face had me totally won over.  I am a sucker for most dogs but when it comes to a Staffy, I just wanna give them a big cuddle.  She did give me a few looks as if to say "What on earth are you doing?" but she was a good sport and fun to photograph :)

Honey also featured in my Fun Foto Friday series with this shot which is just to die for..... such a happy girl :)

Puppy dog eyes much?!?!?!

Life on the farm....

Back in March, Mark and I visited his parents who live in Tully, about a month after cyclone Yasi hit the area.  His parents own a cane farm up there and have seen many cyclones in their time. They were lucky and the only damage was to their many sheds and crops (I say lucky because the house and they were ok).  We arrived in Cairns but were unable to get to Tully due to rain and flooding for a couple of days.

On their property, there is a very old dwelling, referred to as the barracks, that Mark's dad Joe actually grew up in.  Everyone was sure that it would go during the cyclone but to our surprise, it was still standing when we got there.  It is an interesting place with parts of it (actually, most of it) looking like it was straight out of a horror movie.

I couldn't help but take photos of this old place.  I especially love the 4th shot from the left of the old iron that covers the stairs. 

The weather wasn't the best while we were up there so I didn't get to take my big camera everywhere with me but I always had my waterproof happy snap ready to go.  Thankfully I did on this day when his dad took us out in the boat.  We were on our way home when Joe did a big U-turn in the boat and slowly cruised back toward some mangroves on the shore.  It took me a while to realise what we were seeing but when I saw it, I nearly filled my pants.  In front of our 12 foot little boat was a 14 foot croc, sunning himself  with a huge full belly on him.  He wasn't fazed by us and didn't move while I was shaking like a leaf, trying to get a shot of the hiding croc.  This was about as good as I got....

It was the first croc I've seen in the wild and he definitely took my breath away.  We did see some smaller ones as well but none quite like this old boy.  I had a great time in the boat, cruising around, trying to spot crocs!!

This was from another day when the weather was a bit better.

I LOVE frogs and I was in my element as every night, a big green frog would come and make camp in the toilet and every morning, we would take the little guys out onto the farm, far from the house and release them, hoping they wouldn't come back.  This was the last frog from our visit and we placed him on some cane.  He was the perfect model for me and stayed right where we put him and let me snap away.  He was sooooo beautiful and so content in the cane....

We visited some family friends who lived at Mission Beach and this fella was the welcome wagon.  These are the stairs that led up to the house and I couldn't believe how comfortable he was there, it looked like he was going to head up stairs and join us for morning tea.  I hadn't seen a casswary the wild before either so this was a real treat for me.  He wasn't all that happy to be having his photo taken but stayed long enough for me to get a few beauties.

This is probably my favourite photo from our trip, I'm not sure why but I just love the composition, the colours and the old feel.  This is already up on my wall as a massive print in an old wooden frame and I can say it looks FABulous!!

I also love this one showing the stretch of the cane....

We had an afternoon where we were trying to catch some mud cod as bait to use to catch barramundi.  We were lucky to get lots of mud cod (even yours truly caught a couple) but unfortunately we were unlucky when it came to the barra but this is a couple of Mark and his dad that I just love.

On our drive back to Cairns, this was the view.  All I can say is that it was spectacular, the cloud formations, the colours from the sunset and the glorious big mountain....... SPECTACULAR!!

We had a wonderful time away and spent a great night, just the two of us, in Cairns for our last night away from home.  Mark and I went to a wonderful seafood restaurant before a stroll through the streets and a wonder through the night markets.  I put this little series together from that night and love the randomness of them all but love that we can still be dags and laugh and have fun together.

I love you husband:)

A huge and special thanks to Pam an Joe for taking such wonderful care of us while we were there.  We throughly enjoyed our time up north and are looking forward to taking another trip up there soon xx

Little Miss Eloise {Newborn}

Meet Miss Eloise, the newest addition to the Goebel family and Ashleigh, who we met during her maternity shoot a little while back (see here).  Eloise is another stunning child (three in one family could seem a little unfair to the rest of us.... just kidding... hehe) and was a total gem for the camera.  We were lucky to got her both awake and asleep so we got to capture her big beautiful dark eyes!! 

 And a big smile to start us off, what a good girl!!

This was done to match one we did during the maternity shoot with Ashleigh.  I loved the colour of the little roses and especially love the contrast with the B&W.

Look at those perfect little lips.... what a doll!!

Eloise made this petti skirt look particularly big.... it is already really small but she looks so super tiny in it but so super cute!!!

 Sleeping beauty...... *sigh*

"What beautiful big eyes you have....."

She was a special little to girl to shoot and I thank all the family again for the pleasure and opportunity :):):)