Sweet little Archie {Brisbane Newborn Photographer}

Sweet little Archie was an absolute delight to have in the studio. He slept so well throughout the session and only woke right near the end when he let us know that he thought we had enough images. The softest smoothest skin, perfect features and the sweetest face *sigh*.

Splash Photography is accepting both Maternity and Newborn bookings however places at limited at this time of the year. For more information and pricing email click here. Mention you saw the blog and you'll receive five 8"x10" matted prints from your session.

Miss M's Cake Smash! {Brisbane Child Photographer}

I first photographed the adorable Miss M back here and as you can see she is still as cute as ever.......

To celebrate her first birthday Miss M had a cake smash which ended up in an all inclusive family food fight! Loads of fun and how cute is that Tutu from Frilly Butts?!

 

Tutu: Frilly Butts

Throwback Thursday {Taking time to find peace}

Back in 2009 the world was an exciting place for me. I had two little boys who were full on yet adorable at ages 3 and 5 and I had discovered photography. I was snapping just about everything! Now for me, my personal photography (when I'm taking photos for me not 'work') is a very relaxing thing. Taking that time out to stroll around, sometimes with no set idea on what I want to photograph, is like therapy. Time to clear the head, let the mind wander and get creative. The big hurdle I had back in 2009 when the image below was taken was that, as I mentioned, I had two little boys who took up all of my available time. One day my Husband said to me "I'll take the kids and have a boy's day, you spend the day with your camera and just have fun" (or something along those words!).

Any Mum knows how wonderful these rare moments are so I didn't check to see if he was joking or not and I was off! I spent the day wandering around the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Powerhouse Museum, New Farm Park and eventually found a wonderful place only a few blocks from where I live. The Chung Tian Buddhist Temple is such a welcoming place. I returned a few times now and always leave energised and at peace.

What this particular day (and now looking back at this image) reminded me is that we all need to take time out every now and then and simply stop, spend time with just ourselves and make time to find peace. I know I need to do it far more often.....

Sweet little Lamb {Brisbane Newborn Photographer}

Sweet little Hunter came into the studio just one week young. Although unsettled at first he eventually drifted off to sleep and was a delight to photograph. Many parents tell me when they come in that bubs is not happy without clothes on, but with the right set up and conditions in Studio they soon drift off to sleep which is when all the magic happens!

I'm not sure if it's just me but I'm noticing plenty of growing bellies around my local area lately! If you know of someone who is pregnant and would like Maternity or Newborn images please get them to contact me. Alternatively why not give them a Photography Gift Voucher as a Baby Shower or Arrival gift? These little angels grow far too quickly and it's always so sweet to look back on photos and remember how tiny and sweet they were.

For more information contact: info@splashphotography.com.au or call Anita on 0413 040 434

Throwback Thursday {Should We Always Aim for Perfection?}

As a photographer you always seem to aiming to take that 'perfect' photo. The one you look at and love to pieces without afterwards picking it to pieces. "It's not in focus enough", "I should have taken it from another angle", "I should have picked x setting instead of y...." If you have even a vague interest in taking photos you will understand what I mean.

But sometimes we need to stop searching for perfection and just appreciate what is in front of us for what it is and be grateful we are here to see it and in turn have a memory of it to take into the future.

The photo below was taken back in 2008 when I purchased my first Digital SLR. I was sitting out in the back yard one Winters morning having a play trying to figure out what I was doing while the boys did their 'boy' thing. When you look at it from an over analytical technical point of view it's out of focus with a boring background...... When really its PERFECT. Perfect because it shows my two little monkeys as they were then, having fun, carefree and just simply being them. This photo always makes me smile and I loved coming across it while looking for a Throwback Thursday image.

5 years on and this image below was taken just yesterday while scouting for a new location for an upcoming session. I'm immediately drawn to the fact that Miles is still, 5 years on, looking up to Lachlan xxx 

Oh and as usual I'm picky when I look at this - Lachlan's collar is sticking up which right now is driving me crazy that I didn't fix it at the time. Even as I type that I know that in another 5 years I won't care about the collar and I'll say that everything about this image is PERFECT :) Sometimes the non perfect things in an image are what makes it perfect......

"I've never met anyone like that...." {Brisbane Portrait Photographer}

I am WAY behind in my blogging! Sorry, it always seems the more behind I get the harder it is to find the time to even attempt to get up to date. But on this rainy Brisbane day (at the time of typing) I've found some time! Even though I was tempted to say 'lets just start from my current sessions' I wanted to show you all the amazing people I've been lucky enough to work with over the past few months.

The couple below you may remember from the first image I posted on my Facebook Page a while back. These images were from their engagement session earlier this year (the wedding blog with images from their beautiful day is still to come!). So thankful that I have met this couple, beautiful people (along with their super adorable daughter) with an extended family that are just as special xx

The quote on the first image is a direct quote from Kristy when asked one of the things she loves most about Dan. I think the image says it all......

For pricing information and available session times for your portrait session, contact info@splashphotography.com.au
Mention this blog post and receive a voucher to the value of $100 towards your images!


 

When was the last time you felt beautiful? {Brisbane Boudoir & Glamour Photographer}

As women we are our own worst critiques. We always think we need to be thinner/fitter/healthier/ have longer hair/nails blah blah blah. We waste too much time saying I'll have those photos take of me (or even just updated family portraits) when loose some weight. DO IT NOW! You will never be the way you are now. How many times have you looked back on images of yourself and thought "Gee I wish I knew how attractive I was back then, I wish I loved my body THEN"?? Well trust me, you will do exactly the same thing in 5 years time. So don't regret not having your portrait taken now - give me a call, lock it in and I promise you won't regret it!

Splash Photography is now offering Boudoir Glamour Photography Sessions. Come along and be treated to one hour of hair and make up pampering followed by a photographic session that will show off the best in you! 

A testimonial from a recent session: "I can't stop looking at myself......I was feeling out of shape and old and about to turn 39 and you've made me feel like Megan Gale!" What a wonderful feeling to have :)

Clients are taken step by step through the process of selecting clothing, how to pose all in a comfortable environment (with a female photographer) .....the nerves will float away....

Boudoir session fees are $150 with image packages starting from $200.

If you know your partner struggles every year for Mother Day gift ideas - drop a little hint to let them know I do Gift Vouchers!

AND I'm pleased to announce that I will be offering this session to Kassy S & Toni-Ann R! Congratulations ladies! I'll be in touch with all the details by the end of next week.

For more information contact: info@splashphotography.com.au

It always comes down to the little things.....

The big things that happen in our life create a big impact don't they? Change of house, career, new routines in life, children...... all of these things are BIG changes and we all know that they have an impact on our day to day life. 

How often though, do we acknowledge the little things? The difference the little things make on both our lives and the lives of others. I've recently received an email from a client that has reminded me of both the big and the little things. The big event in their life was their 20mth old daughter commencing Chemotherapy treatment for a brain tumor this year. Hard to comprehend unless you've experienced it. They had a photography session with me recently and as part of their package (which they didn't know) I included a little photo book with 8 images from their session. It is my gift from me to my clients to say thank you. Thank you for booking me. Thank you for taking the time to allow me to photograph their life. It was was lovely this week when this particular client emailed me to thank me for the photo book and mentioned how perfect it was for them to take to the hospital when their daughter was going through treatment so she could have the photos of those nearest and dearest close to her while something not so pleasant was happening. 

So to that client of mine, thank YOU for reminding me it's the little things. The little things that can sometimes turn out to mean bigger things to other people.....

A Saturday morning Wedding {Brisbane Wedding Photographer}

I love weddings, families and friends getting together to celebrate a beautiful union. Yes Weddings can be stressful however this one was different! This couple held a relaxed wedding in a local park with their nearest and dearest with them on a Saturday morning. It was one of the most easy going events I have ever attended let alone a wedding! After a brief official ceremony and a few drinks to celebrate the bride and groom along with theirs guests had a few hours to themselves before reconvening at another venue for a Mad Hatters Tea Party themed reception! It's a reminder that weddings should not about the 'event' rather than celebrating togetherness and having some fun with those that matter most.

How much cuter can you get? {Brisbane Family Photographer}

On a beautiful afternoon I was lucky enough to photograph this beautiful family. Now beauty as they say is only skin deep and I personally truly believe that beauty comes from within. When I'm taking photos of families who have beautiful souls it shows in their images. These are the sessions we live for as a photographers, the sessions where you walk away and just know you have amazing images on your camera and you just can't wait to upload them and start sorting through them. These are the images that you find yourself smiling while editing - it's a fabulous feeling and something that keeps us (well me at least) going back for more. 

You might remember little Miss M below if you follow my Facebook page when I links to a blog "How to make a baby smile"  about the surprise I found in her eyes while editing an image. 

When I arrived home from the session below my husband asked "How did it go" and I reply "Great...." :) He looked at me surprised as I'm usually quite reserved in my judgement until I sort and edit my images but I just knew I had some crackers after this one. Dan manages the Go Kart Centre at Eagle Farm which is a load of fun and Leisa is an amazing Naturopath whom I'll forever be grateful towards after she got my body back on track after a very bad time in July this year. I had lost 8kgs in two weeks and wasn't able to eat anything without being in extreme pain. My GP was simply trying to put a bandaid on the problem and not looking for a solution so after weeks of frustration (and pain) I was recommended to Leisa and remarkably feeling so much better in just a few days. So apart from just simply being a beautiful person she knows how to get people healthy from the inside out! Thanks again Leisa and Dan, looking forward to photographing you again in the future when Miss M (with the super chubbiest cheeks) is a bit older!

So what does AIPP Accreditation mean anyway??

You may have seen on my Facebook page the other day my announcement of having received accreditation with the AIPP. You may have asked yourself what does that mean? 

 

Well by exact definition the AIPP is the Australian Institute of Professional Photography. 

With continuous improvements and greater accessibility to cameras that produce a high quality image, why should you commission an AIPP Accredited Professional Photographer? The old saying "you get what you pay for" is a short and highly accurate answer.

An Accredited Professional Photographer:

• Is Assessed and Proven – Accredited members are judged by an assessment panel to ensure that each accredited member achieves and maintains an expected level of craftsmanship
• Is Professional - operates a registered business
• Is Professional - has liability insurance, as appropriate to their business
• Is Professional – agrees to follow the AIPP Code of Ethics and AIPP Terms and Conditions of Membership
• Is Professional – agrees to abide by the AIPP Accredited Membership Business Requirements
• Is Experienced – every Accredited Member has a minimum of two years industry experience or has completed a minimum two year photographic program before applying for Accreditation
• Is Experienced – Has the skill, creativity, style and ability to get the job done on time and on budget
• Never Stops Learning – through the AIPP Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program, all Accredited Members must take part in workshops and seminars throughout each year to ensure they continue to develop along with the industry.

(Information taken from the AIPP website. For more information check out the AIPP page)

In my work I want to continually keep pushing myself to grow, improve, learn new skills and be challenged. To date the AIPP has already provided this opportunity along with ability to network with other amazing photographers so I can't wait to see what 2013 brings!

WAR on the Race Track! {Brisbane Event Photographer}

It's always refreshing to get out and photograph something different to your 'usual' once and a while. The afternoon pictured below I swapped family portraits for fast cars! 

'WAR' stands for Wednesday Afternoon Racing :) This group of friends and colleagues get together one Wednesday afternoon each month and head to the Holden Driving Centre for hours of fun. Over the afternoon they are taught how to drive - fast! They also get to have a heap of fun on the Skid Pan learning how to over steer and under steer on a wet surface. 

Spending time at various race tracks over the past 8 or so years with my husband I have grown to appreciate the skill in driving and driving well and these guys certainly had a greater appreciation by the end of the afternoon. Loads of fun and it certainly had me wanting to jump in a car myself and take it for a spin round the track! The group finished off the day in The Bumper Bar trackside with a few drinks and a podium trophy presentation for the winners of the fast laps challenge held at the end of the day.

 

Interested in organising one of these afternoons for yourself? Then get in contact with The Driving Centre and tell them Splash Photography sent you!

 
 

  Splash Photography is available to cover your Sporting Event be it big or small - email info@splashphotography.com.au for more details.

Gerard & Jen's Engagement {Brisbane Event Photography}

When one half of a couple celebrating their engagement is a chief, you know the food is going to be fabulous at the party! This bride-to-be certainly didn't disappoint with so much attention to detail it was amazing. Printed personalised menus and a dessert table that had everyone (including myself) drooling all night.... Jen and Gerard had decided to have a big engagement party and a small intimate wedding so friends and family gathered to celebrate and I have to say both families were adorable. It was touching to see them both welcome the other partner and families literally with open arms. It was one of those events where I truly enjoyed being a part of the occasion. Jen called just a few weeks after their engagement party to say they had decided that they couldn't wait until the new year to get married and they were bringing their wedding forward to December. I was thrilled to be asked if I would be a part of their day. It was a huge compliment however I had to regretfully decline as I'm going to be overseas at the time of their wedding. I'm sure it will be another touching event for all involved and I look forward to hearing all about it.

A surprise 40th AND Vow Renewal {Brisbane Event Photographer}

The world needs more good stories about wonderful husbands such as the one below. Nick, knowing his wife had her birthday coming up organised both a surprise birthday party PLUS a surprise Vow Renewal Ceremony. What made it all the more special is that Nick found their original Wedding Celebrant to partake in the vow renewal - even spending 3 months searching for him! While some things change over time some things stay the same - specifically the Celebrant miss pronouncing Nicky's name the same way he did on their wedding day :) At least Nicky had the confidence to speak up this time and correct him! It was a lovely afternoon surrounded with close family and friends on the couples acreage property.  As always it was a privilege to be involved on the day.

Pine needle pranks.... {Brisbane Family Photographer}

I had a lovely afternoon recently with this family who had been a long time between family photos. I guess we always seem to put off those little things and just add them to the 'one day' pile, one day, when I loose weight or one day, when they kids can sit still longer....sound familiar? It's a shame really as our families change month by month, both in looks and personalities. No one has ever looked back on photos and thought, gee I wish I didn't capture that moment in time..... Hey you might question your fashion choices at the time but such is life! ;)

This family was great fun and loads of giggles and laughs. One of the reason being that they kept sneaking pine needle pricks into each other during the shoot.....

Note the hand on the left Sisters shoulder.....and the resulting facial expression on the right! I love watching the dynamics between siblings :)

 This one below is a personal favourite of mine......

 One too many pine needle pricks on Dad I think!

Thank you so much Lola, I hope you love your images as much as I do!

Discovering Life Without Barriers {Brisbane Event Photographer}

You know those moments in your life when you eyes open just that little bit wider along with your heart? You realise that yes, we are much better off than we think we are and there are so many wonderful people out there that don't get the recognition they deserve. I had one of these moments when capturing the Queensland office of Life Without Barriers 10 year Anniversary recently. While the rest of the world continued as normal, a small group of valued people gathered at the Life Without Barriers (LWB) Qld office to celebrate 10 years of support and understanding to vulnerable and marginalised people. It is heartwarming to see both the helpers and those that receive assistance getting together and celebrating their achievements and how much more enriched their lives are since discovering LWB. It was one of those times when I was glad to have a camera in front of my face covering the damp eyes as I listened to individual stories and amazing achievements. :)

Thank you to Life Without Barriers for including me in the day along and opening my eyes. Thank you to David from Flagstone Images for your assistance. The Lions @ Springwood were also in attendance presenting a valued staff member (and huge Brisbane Lion's fan) a signed Lions momento.

New Product to bring out the best in your photos! Acrylic Photo Tiles....

There is nothing better than seeing images in print displayed around your home. We all have a pile of 'to print' images on our computer. You know the ones, they are in that 'one day' folder that we never get around to actually printing. Well to encourage you to drag them out and display them around your home I'm introducing a new product to Splash which looks STUNNING no matter what the image. These tiles give an image a luminescent, floating, three dimensional effect and the tiles are freestanding, so no hanging is required. You also have the option to print on metallic paper which really makes your photos pop!

The tiles come in four sizes:
Mini - 10cm x 10cm x 2cm 

Small - 10cm x 15cm x 3cm

Medium -  20cm x 30cm x 3cm

Large - 30cm x 30cm x 4cm

As an introductory offer I am offering 2 FREE mini sized Acrylic Tiles (valued at $60) with every booking made until the end of September. All you need to do is mention the Acrylic Tiles when you book. If you already have images you would like to take to another level on these tiles I am more than happy to arrange printing for you. Contact me at info@splashphotogrpahy.com.au for more details and pricing.

A Windaroo Wedding {Brisbane Wedding Photographer}

Well it has become obvious that I'm feeling a black & white vibe at the moment as I've just noticed this is my third post in a row that only has black & white images. And hey, what's not to like (LOVE) about black & white?

This lovely wedding was held at Windaroo Cottage on a lovely Saturday afternoon. It had been raining for most of the week however this day, the clouds cleared and the sun shone! I love weddings, the emotion, the fun, the gatherings, the laughs. Everyone is there to celebrate and more importantly celebrate a union of two people they care about. As I mentioned last month in this post, it the little details that I love watching and at weddings, there are a heaps of those little details or moments. The unposed moments and the quick glances that capture the feeling of the day. They are the images that bring back all 'those' memories as soon as you look at them again, even if it's years later. 

Carol & Bill were the two very lovely people everyone had gathered to celebrate on this day. I was fortunate to meet mid last year at a very fun event featuring Suprises, Strippers and plenty of Smiles. The day was a very intimate ceremony and very relaxed, another word I love to associate with weddings! Congratulations Carol & Bill, wishing you many more years of happiness together x

Hmmmm, looks like somone's been a little slack....

Ok, Ok! Put your fingers down, yes, yes, I know it's me!
It's quite embarrassing to see it's been over two months since my last blog post. I have plenty of reasons (excuses) but hey, excuses don't change things do they? I've had plenty going on behind the scenes and while I sit here and type I'm still trying to get over a health issue that has sidelined me for the past few weeks. With new medication issued yesterday and a promise of healthier days ahead my brain is starting to follow and become focused again.

I promise to update you all on what has been happening over the past few months and I promise it won't all be in one big hit! Until then, I hope all is well in your world x

It's my Birthday! Soooooo I'm handing out the gifts to YOU!

It's my birthday today and I'm in a giving mood!

As a Mum myself I know all too well that images of Mums and their kids together are in short supply. Usually it is us behind the camera taking pictures but we never seem to get in them ourselves! Treat yourself or even your own Mum to some updated images this Mothers Day - Gift Vouchers are available right up to the night before Mothers Day - all you need to do is simply print, give Mum a massive hug and kiss, then hand over the voucher - I'll organise the rest!

To celebrate Mothers Day this year I am offering two free 6"x8" images PLUS one massive 8"x12" print for each Mothers Day session booked. Offer is only available to the first 10 bookings. Sessions can be held at any time during 2012 once the session fee is paid. This special must be mentioned at the time of booking to secure the free prints. Contact me at info@splashphotography with 'Mothers Day' in the subject line for more details. 

Go on, show Mum just how much you love her this year with a timeless keepsake of the two of you. Alternatively you can simply treat yourself! Looking forward to hearing from you.