welcome...

Hi there! I'm Natt - a Sydney based wedding and portrait photographer. This space is for me to share my passion for photography, my latest work as well as bits and pieces of my life. I'd love to hear from you so please feel free to leave a comment or drop me an email. Thanks for stopping by!
nattnee twittered...

dust storm

Wednesday, 23 September 2009
I woke up, looked outside the window and saw what looked like the end of the world. Ok I exaggerated a little but check out the crazy red sky from the dust storm that's hit Sydney this morning:





For those that don't live in Sydney, this was not a result of some funky antique photoshop actions. It's pretty much straight out of the cam. Gosh it smells so dusty even indoors!

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i had this once when i was in beijing back many years ago. the dust wasn't so red though. (23 September 2009 12:23)  

Hi, stumbled across your blog. Love the last previous post, really nice pictures with the umbrella. Wasn't it crazy today with the red dust? (23 September 2009 17:59)  

@mindy - thanks =) looking back at the photo of this morning, it just feels so unreal doesn't it? (23 September 2009 18:18)  

seng & yi: engagement

Wednesday, 16 September 2009
*SMILES* I was brimming with smiles while editing this engagement session. I love seeing smiles and laughter in my photographs and I got plenty of that from Seng and Yi. As I was browsing through the photos, I felt like I was watching the two of them having fun together right in front of me. It made me happy and I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear.

We did this shoot in the Hunter Valley and oh boy could I shoot there for days on end! If only it was closer to home, I'd be there all the time. There were a couple of spots that I was eyeing but didn't get to shoot at 'cos we ran out of light so hopefully I'll get to do those one day.

Seng proposed to Yi at the Hunter Valley on a hot air balloon and even considered having their wedding there (unfortunately Hunter Valley lost out to Vanuatu) and so we thought it would be a great idea to do their e-session here.

We started out doing simple stuff just to get comfie in front of the camera.





Don't you just love this door? There were a few guests standing around doing group shots somewhere nearby, they saw us shooting at the door and must have thought it was a great idea 'cos they eventually took over the spot hehe.











This next two is probably not so typical of my post processing but I thought it really suited this little bookstore. Check out that big old typewriter =)








Hello gorgeous dress!














I just love that Yi laughs a lot =)








But we did manage one serious shot.








I must've gone into the store to check out the frou frou umbrella/parasol a gazillion times but could never find a reason to get one until our Hunter Valley shoot. I didn't know which colour to get or whether it would really go with anything and so I was extremely pleased to see that Yi's beautiful dress happened to match the cream frou frou perfectly!

















Personally, I've never gone to the Hunter Valley at the right time and previous visits have shown me nothing but leafless vines or shriveled up grapes. As we drove to meet Seng & Yi, I observed the vines and was disappointed that there were only young little leaves and not the lush kind I had in mind. Luckily, Seng managed to find some wild growing vines and my goodness they were just so green, so abundant and oh so beautiful =)

It was staring to get dark which added a nice mood. They're pretty adorable together aren't they.








More laughs which I totally love =)











This has to be my favourite photograph from the session. I just love how happy they both look and how animated the photo is.





It was getting really dark by this stage but no way were we leaving without getting some shots of the cute couple with their awesome Mini Cooper (which happens to be my dream car hehe...no, not biased or anything).














Seng & Yi, thank you for spending the afternoon in Hunter Valley with me. I had such an amazing and fun time with you both. These photos really made me smile and I hope they do the same for you. Have a wonderful wedding in Vanuatu and I'll see you at your Sydney wedding in October!

Another fav before I go =)



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what an awesome set of photos ! (16 September 2009 16:10)  

Well done Natt!! These photos are so beautiful :D (16 September 2009 16:22)  

SOOOO gorgeous Nat!!! :) WOW. I love that first one with the parasol the best... my absolute fave!!! :) Fantastic session! (16 September 2009 16:35)  

Oh Natt, these are gorgeous! I love the vine shots and that door, wow! I hope they take you to Vanuatu too! (16 September 2009 22:12)  

Hi Natt, I'm friend of the couple, and I gotta say...
Great job on the photos! You've managed to capture their personality even... Yi's shyness came out in your photos (frowny big smile when Seng gets too close). Hahha, and Seng's overprotective nature; intense concentration as he leads her through the tall grass...

Thank you for immortalizing this memory so beautifully. (24 September 2009 20:09)  

@jef - thank you so much for your kind words...means a lot to me =) (24 September 2009 20:18)  

Hi Natt, the people in these photos look like two young romantic lovers. Thankyou again for bringing out the best in us.

I don't know how you made the night, as I remember it, turn into day, but you certainly have worked your magic.

My fav's the one I'm hugging Yi in the vines. (06 October 2009 22:56)  

crazy dreams

Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Have you ever had one of those dreams before an exam where you find yourself in a large classroom, the clock is ticking really loudly and everybody's got their heads down scribbling away like mad while you're staring at the exam papers and you just don't remember anything you've studied? Well I had the photography equivalent of that all week before the wedding last weekend. I didn't just have one either...I had FOUR photography related disaster dreams. I thought I was going insane!

Dream #1 - This took place early in the week. I dreamt that I turned up to a wedding and forgot to charge my batteries and couldn't take any photos.

Dream #2 - My favouritest photographer, Jose Villa, came to Sydney to do a workshop and I didn't have any money to attend it. I was feeling extremely sad and he looked at me with a "you poor thing" expression.

Dream #3 - This took place a two days before the wedding. I dreamt that I went to a night time wedding, the bridal party was already in church and on the stage singing away. I went to that wedding with one camera body, one lens, one battery and a single 4GB card! I had forgotten everything at home and couldn't go back to get it.

At this stage, I was freaking out 'cos this has never happened to me before. Needless to say, I made sure I had everything packed and ready earlier than usual. Then...

Dream #4 - This took place on the morning of the wedding. I dreamt that I woke up at 3:24pm and had missed the entire ceremony.

I bolted right out of bed and was up well before the alarm was due to go off. Talk about going crazy!! Anyway, the wedding went fine and I didn't forget to bring anything =p

Here's a sneak peek:





And for anyone who thinks "wow your camera takes nice photos" (yes I have copped that before), this is what it looks like unprocessed (btw I shoot RAW so I'm not speaking for the JPG folks):





I went to the Hunter Valley the day after the wedding for an engagement shoot and a bit of hanging out with friends. I was looking through the photos today and I couldn't stop smiling. I'm definitely a people photographer. Landscapes and still life and other stuff is great and all but seeing people smile and laugh in my photographs is really what makes me happy. Too bad I can't hang those photos on my walls at home...that would just be bizarre and totally stalker like =p

Some pics of my "assistants".





Eric just loves to take out my reflector...even when I don't need to use it =)





Okies, I'm off to do more post processing!

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Man! I have crazy photography related dreams as well!! Glad I'm not the only one having it ;) It means it's normal then.

I can't wait to see the rest of Matt and Charissa's photographs!! :D That sneak peak looks so NATT! :D I LOVE IT! Love the long willowy grass!! :D (09 September 2009 09:07)  

Hahah I have those freak out I missed my alarm dreams every time I'm anxious about something. Looks like everything turned out gorgeous for your day...and who knows, maybe Jose might be coming after all :P (09 September 2009 14:54)  

I was holding them for someone else! Honest! (09 September 2009 15:24)  

Hi Nattnee, I'm a fan of yours since I saw Dee&Ed's wedding pix. Would it be ok if you could tell me how you get from the raw to the very beautifully balance photo (in photoshop)? if not, it's ok. They are beautiful photos. (11 September 2009 14:34)  

Haha I keep dreaming I'll turn up to something and turn my camera on only to find a "memory card not in" sign displaying (it's happened once before) I love your photos! The colours are great (12 September 2009 20:02)  

lovely!!! :) love your processing, and you are SO brave, posting your RAW file for everyone to see! i'd be too scared to do it! :) (13 September 2009 20:09)  

lisa and her mother: portrait

Tuesday, 8 September 2009
You may remember Lisa from a portrait session I did late last year.





This girl is about to pack her bags and fly off to London for a little change of scenery but before she does that she thought her mother would like some photos of them together before she leaves. Here are some snaps from this recent mother & daughter shoot.






















Hope you have a fabulous time in London!

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What a fabulous gift to leave her mother while she is away! They are beautiful Natt, I especially love the one sitting in the bamboo! (08 September 2009 01:03)  

Mum and I love love all the photos - you are the best Natt!! (10 September 2009 08:33)