Helen and Pete

We really look forward to weddings like this – down at our “local” Castaways. Helen and Pete have had us booked for a very long time - and we have gotten to know them both really well. The engagement photo session a few months ago was a blast, and so much fun! They had an enlargement matted, and had this on their wedding gift table – so that guests could sign the border.
I started the day off up in Ponsonby in the morning – where Helen, Amanda, mother of the bride Sue and junior bridesmaid Cheyanne were getting their hair and makeup done. It was very rowdy and fun, and of course the champagne helped. Nathan (who is a celebrity stylist) was awesome…! Such a great guy (yes he was gorgeous too) and so very talented. I met Vanessa from Indigo Moon – who was filming the video. (The best looking videographer I have met and so nice ). The girls were transported back to the Castaways by Gangster Cars – and I managed to grab a shot as they whizzed past our house on the way to the beach.
Nothing was going to stop this excited bride - and Helen arrived in style, walked down the isle, in her gorgeous Jane Yeh gown, by her Dad Keith – carrying lovely red roses by Sanda Seel.
Pete had such a wide grin as Helen joined him near the cliff edge over looking Karioitahi beach – it made my heart melt. The para gliders were out in force as usual - swooping above the ceremony – down onto the beach. The many visitors from the UK probably hadn’t seen anything as extraordinary as that – and many of them – all though covered in sun screen soon felt the bite of the sun. Seonid Horne was the celebrant and performed a lovely ceremony, as always.
Off the Karioitahi beach in the 4 wheel drives we went - for a photo shoot - which was a lot of fun and then back to the gorgeous reception at Castaways. The sunset was stunning that night and we got some amazing images.
Congratulations Helen and Pete!! – we enjoyed our day with you so much, and your family and friends were brilliant… We have some awesome photos…. Just a few revealed, enjoy these.. More to follow..(((( Big Hugs))))

Vicki and Chris

Vicki and Chris were married recently at Belsaas Estate in Ardmore. It was a very hot day – with gray clouds threatening rain and the air was thick with humidity, when Vicki and her three bridesmaids arrived in a beautiful Daimler from First class classics.
Vicki and the girls looked stunning! Vicki’s lovely gown was by Susan Tasker and Hair and Makeup by D’aguiar . Chris and the boys looked very handsome in their suits from Dress Circle . (I think they were a bit surprised I remembered their names - I especially remember the cheeky ones.....)
Mike Bailey conducted the wedding service and after signing the marriage certificate and quick photos family photos – we headed to the kiwifruit vines for some fun wedding party shots. Before long it was time for Vicki and Chris to make their entrance as husband and wife at their reception at Belsaas.
Thanks so much Vicki and Chris - we have some lovely shots... - We will catch up soon . Congratulations!

James and Helen - Wedding on Waiheke

James and Helen were married recently at Enclosure Bay on Waiheke Island. It was the perfect day, beautiful and clear – as it often is out there on the Hauraki Gulf.

James and the boys waited in the dappled shade of pohutukawas and Helen and friends walked past the local sunbathers and swimmers to the wedding ceremony location. Ruth Strawbridge was a delightful celebrant and the wedding service was professional and perfect. Helen’s wedding dress was by Tanya Carlson with her beautiful flowers by Wildflowers on Waiheke
Suits for James and the lads from Frank Casey

Apart from the occasional nudist swimmer! which certainly made a change - the photo shoot was fun on the rocks . Glad your friends managed lots of great shots in there too to send home to your family in the UK, who weren't able to be with you. It was a great day James and Helen – congratulations!! – well catch up soon.

Lilly Grows up

I spent a fun couple of hours back again at Lilly’s house. Lilly, who is now three, was my first baby model and I have taken her photos now for a few years. Catching up (and filling in the gaps) with parents, Sarah and Bodo is always great too!
Lilly has grown into a fun, inquisitive, delightful little girl and we had a great time playing and chatting about balloons and sandpits – amongst other topics! Lilly is bilingual and an intelligent little girl who will go far! Watch this space….. See you again soon Lilly.

Anna and Gary

Anna and Gary were married recently at Castaways at Karioitahi, Waiuku. It was very much a Scottish theme, and a piper played while Anna and her father walked down to the cliff edge where Gary was waiting. The celebrant was Grant Buchanan, who performed a heartfelt wedding service. Gary was wearing his family kilt and members of his family had flown in from Edinburgh to attend the ceremony and celebrations. Anna looked stunning in her beautiful lace gown, which was by Judith Whyman. Following the photos with family and friends we held a great photo session down on Karioitahi Beach. We returned to photograph the celebrations a bit later in the night and grabbed some gorgeous sunset photos, overlooking the surf beach, the cutting of the cake and the first dance by the new husband and wife. We enjoyed the music by Mike Steffans the DJ so much – we stayed on a bit later and the celebrations were in full swing when we departed. (My husband had to drag me away!) The team at Castaways again did a marvelous job and the food was divine.

Congratulations Anna and Gary, we had a great time with you and your friends and family! - We will catch up again soon

Digital Infrared Photography

This has been an interest of mine for quite sometime after stumbling upon a gallery of images and fell in love with the effect straight away.
There are a number of websites which feature SLR digital cameras which have been altered. I decided not to go down this avenue at this stage. I may even pick up an older model Sony DSC F828 or Minolta Dimage which work really well – I will see how my finances work out after my impending visit to the dentist!
I decided to go the other way - as this is really just for fun and somewhat satisfies part of my creative impulsive genetics - although - I must admit I have taken one or two wedding images with it in the past . You need to be careful though as eyes show up as black – so unless we want the whole”Twilight “movie effect (but even spookier) – it is best that the bride and groom look at each other and not the camera :). Summer is the best season to take the images - Mid summer, hot weather with good cloud formations in the middle of a hot day between 10 – 2pm is best – with the sun preferably to your back.

The camera I used was a Canon Power Shot G1 (3.3 megapixels) – This camera has not been altered and I purchased if off Trade-me after some furious bidding towards the end !
I don’t stress about the amount of megapixels…(Bigger is not ALWAYS better you know)..(LOL) .. You can still get reasonably sized A4 enlargements out of these though…
I actually have one of my infrared images as the photo on my eftpos card and everyone wonders where on earth all that snow is! Imagine their surprise when I tell them – well it’s actually at my place. I purchased the lens filter in the USA after ringing around a number of places here in New Zealand – (this was a few years ago now) so hopefully someone has had the initiative to supply them here. I must check again..:)
Here is an excellent tutorial on how to do digital infrared photography.
Settings for these shots:
Canon Power Shot G1
Tripod – MOST important
Lens filter Hoya - Infrared R72
ISO 50 (Choose the lowest ISO rating that you have as a general rule)
Aperture F 4.5
Shutter Speed is very slow anywhere from 1/15 – 2 secs
RAW - - - files are then uploaded /processed and through Adobe Lightroom then exported into Jpegs. Then I ran a Noiseware programme through some of them, as the longer the shutter speed the more noise you tend to get.
Articles of interest with a lot of information:::
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared_photography http://www.infraredphoto.eu/Site/Welcome.html
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/infrared/
http://www.nature-photography-central.com/DigitalInfraredPhotography.html

Images
http://www.arendtgalleries.infraredwithminoltad7.photoshare.co.nz/
http://www.thekoala.infrared.photoshare.co.nz/
http://www.lenshare.com/2008/07/digital-ir-photography.html