what a feeling

Friday, 29 August 2008

Warning: This post contains cheesy content.

I was preparing a slideshow to show clients yesterday and thought some music would make a very nice touch. A bunch of inappropriate music in my iTunes but there were a few good tracks thanks to Leona and Mariah.

I clicked play, sat back and watched the photos fade from one into another. By the end of the slideshow, my heart was soaring and my eyes were tearing up. I was just so overcome with joy

I couldn't do anything for a while. Seeing those smiling faces, a mother kissing her son, brides looking like princesses, a groom waiting in the church and everything that is about a wedding just made me so happy.

I'm just so in love with doing this. Sure I'm totally biassed looking at the photos with music but I don't care. I know I wanna keep doing this and get better and better. I am also realising what kind of wedding photographer I want to be. I don't want just pretty pictures. I want emotions and memories. That's what I'll be aiming for in my future work.

I actually cried after telling Eric about all that over the phone. I know that just sounded really stupid but surely I'm not the only one feeling this kind of passion. Bottom line is I love wedding photography.

Ok ok enough with the silly stuff. How about a random photo hey?

These guys are sitting on my window sill in the study. They came with many happy meals. I have eight and Eric has the other eight that we can't find at the moment. Yes that's a LOT of happy meals which Eric *cough* thoroughly enjoyed =p

Labels: life

eyelashes

Thursday, 28 August 2008

Just a few shots from yesterday while assisting Gordon. Images taken at his studio in Rozelle. I've always wanted to do the eyelashes thing =)

Labels: weddings

Gorgeous lashes!! :D

Which lens did you shoot with? The 85mm? (28 August 2008 23:14)

Awww pretty! (31 August 2008 17:22)

Nice....! (04 September 2008 13:11)

celeste & vi: wedding - part 1

Friday, 22 August 2008

Wow, I can't believe it's been two weeks since I shot this. I'm trying to design an album at the same time you see, that's why this has been going slower than my usual speedy post wedding blogging. Anyway, thought I'd put up some bits and pieces now =)

I woke up to a gray sky that Friday. Overcast weather for outdoors ceremony? Awesome. I went about getting ready, packing my gear and having my breakfast - the luxury of an 11am start.

Only a week ago I was booked for this wedding. Vi met me at Gordon's studio but Celeste didn't come with him. As I was sitting in the car keeping warm ('cos I was early again), I saw a man which I guessed was the father of the bride and a young girl with curlers in her hair come out of the house. They were getting something out of their car. I thought I looked like a total stalker just sitting there in my car so I grabbed my stuff and went out to meet them.

"Hi. Celeste?" I said to the girl with curlers in her hair. She pointed to the house and told me Celeste was getting ready. Oh. That wasn't her.

I went inside and met the bride at last. Celeste was very relaxed as she was getting her hair and make up done.

I left the bride for a while to do some detail shots. Check out the invitation. It's pretty cute =)

During the prep, Celeste decided that she didn't like her nails and wanted them redone. I was really surprised at how calm she was! This is one cool lady. If I was the bride and had do my nails at last minute I think I'd be so stressed out.

Time was coming close to when I was supposed to depart to go to the ceremony and Celeste was still not quite ready. We were running behind schedule but she still remained as calm as the ocean.

The ceremony was held at the Royal Botanic Gardens with a small gathering of family and friends. It was extremely bright and sunny. Whatever happened to my gray sky? I thought back to Gordon's sms that morning which said "Overcast is great for photos :)". I knoooow but it's gone! There was also big clouds floating above. The light was constantly changing as though the sun was a light bulb and there was a naughty kid flicking the switch on and off.

We wandered around the garden for location shoot. You could spend hours in there and we did which left us with only little time at the art gallery.

This backdrop of yellow flowers really caught my eye. There is a patch of dirt in front of it and so I asked Celeste to hold her dress up. The cheeky pose was all her =p

Now I know I posted this shot before but I redid the processing. I think I like this look better.

More photos to come in part 2 but there you have it, Natt - the official tog at last =)

So what cha think? Leave a comment!

Labels: weddings

WHAT DO I THINK?!?!?!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! You did such an awesome job! Esp it being your first official wedding! Great job!!!!!! (23 August 2008 00:33)

Awesome ! :) (25 August 2008 13:36)

Awesome Natt! I love the tones, great stuff.

K. (25 August 2008 23:53)

Just beautiful!!!! (26 August 2008 22:21)

a funny dream

Tuesday, 19 August 2008

Kimmie is a camera gear freak. He's got the latest and greatest of Canon cameras and lenses and if Canon had frequent flyer points, he'd be off around the world by now.

We met years ago at work. I had just started getting into photography then and of course we hit it off straight away. Unfortunately he was only there for a few months, getting ready to transfer to Hong Kong.

The last time Kimmie visited would've been around October last year. We caught up for lunch one day and of course talks of camera gear and photography took place. Kimmie was raving about the new 40D. It had been a long time since I had the 20D and I have been wanting new gear. In that same afternoon, I ended up with a brand new 40D in my hand. A bit of an impulsive buy but not one that I regret at all =)

Kimmie is in town again this week. I had lunch with him yesterday. He just bought the 1Ds Mk III and the 85mm f/1.2L. I have been wanting a full frame camera for a while so after lunch yesterday...well of course I didn't go and buy one! I'm not THAT impulsive.

Last night, however, I had a strange dream. I was on a shoot and I was switching between two bodies like I do in real life. I grabbed my 20D, focussed with the AE lock button (my cam is set up that way) and when I went to press the shutter button, it didn't work. I tried and tried and the shutter button just got stuck. I thought hmm maybe now I really have to buy the 5D. I woke up a little confused "what? I have to buy a new camera??". I'm happy to report that my camera is fine btw =)

Kimmie, since you got new awesome gear, if you feel the need to give away some of your older stuff like say a 5D, I'll be more than willing to find a happy home for it. Also if you feel the impulse to buy something, my birthday is coming up...but not before xmas =)

Labels: life

Hahaha, yeah I am a bit impulsive aren't I? Just wait till the 5D-mk2 comes out, I'll be doing my best to convince you to pick that one up for sure! (19 August 2008 11:28)

a wedding sneak peek

Thursday, 14 August 2008

Haven't posted any photos for a while and the wedding from last Friday is going to take longer than usual to process since I'm still unpacking (gosh I'm slow) and working in a blindless study. That means I can only retouch properly at night when the sun is not streaming straight onto my screen...or I could hide in the bathroom but that's not so pleasant now is it? =p

Anyway, here's one of my fav. Stay tuned for more of this wedding.

Labels: weddings

I can't wait to see the rest.. ;) (15 August 2008 00:05)

i'm back

Tuesday, 12 August 2008

Hello world!!! Hooray, I am back online again =)

Love the new place we're in right now. It's great to have your own space.

We have no furniture nor blinds but we did stock up the kitchen and bought a new big ass TV hehe. The hot water only got fixed today as well. I've been showering with a bucket of kettle boiled water mixed with cold tap water. There are still a lot of boxes to go through. I don't know how we managed to rack up so much junk!

As of last Friday, I am a full-fledged wedding tog. Yes, I shot a small and casual wedding at the Royal Botanic Gardens all by my lonesome self. It was a totally different experience compared to second shooting. Anyway, I did it! I'll be posting photos later when I get around to processing them.

Yesterday, I tagged along to a shoot Gordon Jovic and Jason Cole was doing. No shooting for me, just observing. It was not your usual pretty and lovey-dovey wedding shoot. It was this...

A very sexy shoot indeed. I can't wait to see more. The two photos Gordon posted on his blog look absolutely fantastic! It's pretty cool to be there on the shoot and then see how the photos turn out afterwards.

Bec (the bride) is just gorgeous. She's like a dream to work with. I hope Gordon got some close up of her face 'cos her eyes are amazing. She has no modeling experience but gosh she was so good! The Italian male model, Paolo, is not too shabby either and he seemed to be having a REALLY good time on this shoot. Some people just have the best jobs don't they? =p

Labels: life

YAY! I can't wait to see the photographs you took... Man, how awesome! (12 August 2008 15:10)