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Simone

23.5.17  POST CATEGORY  :  Teens | Before & Afters | Portrait | Portrait Couture | Beauty

I'm on a mission.. I think everyone should have at least one nice portrait of themselves. It doesn't seem like it's to much to ask, but it is the one thing that can be passed on from generation to generation that is a real keepsake of your family line. I have beautiful portraits of my Mother and Father, some of their grandparents and even my great and great great grandparents (there's even a painting prior to the invention of the photographic camera!) These images can't be replaced, they can't be repeated, they're a once in a life time.

The coming of age whether it be 13, 18, 21, 30... they're all moments in time that quickly pass that are really nice to have in photographic form. I have been thinking that girls who go to their school balls make a great effort to wear something they love and often there's not much to show for it. It really is the perfect opportunity to have one's portraits done utilising the dress again. This goes for boys too... it's nice to be able to look back on our Dad's and see them as young men.

Simone, you did awesome and the vanity fair inspired shots at the end were such fun. All the best for your studies!

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Take two of the ball dress

10.5.17  POST CATEGORY  :  Celebration | Teens | Portrait | Portrait Couture | Beauty
In the States it's normal, almost a right of passage to have photographs taken of you in that final year of school either by yourself or with your friends, or both. That's hasn't been the case here in NZ but there's no reason that the States should have the monopoly on teenage portraiture!! I am sure we value and love our children every bit as much as American parents do we just haven't thought of the photographic possibilities that are open to us to explore before our children leave home.

One option is to have photos taken in your ball dress again where you really get to show it off.Maybe do some fashion inspired shots in it too. That's what we did with Hannah. She brought three ball dresses with her and we ended up using two of them for her shoot. We did studio shots before lunch and then after a bit of sushi we headed off on location for some final shots. 

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Christmas Portrait Surprise

5.1.17  POST CATEGORY  :  Children | Family | Portrait | Portrait Couture | Beauty
Lois's sister surprised her with a gift voucher for a portrait shoot which worked in perfectly as they were heading this way for Christmas. Hair and makeup done it was on to the few outfits Lois had remembered at the very last minute to pack - phew! Near the end of the shoot we called Lois's husband to ask if he could bring their two girls in too.. so I had not one, but three delicious girls in my studio!! What a lovely Christmas treat - portraits, the gift that keeps on giving long after the wrapping paper of Christmas Day has been torn from the presents. Click to view full blog post
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Old Worlde Feel

16.10.16  POST CATEGORY  :  Teens | Portrait | Portrait Couture | Beauty

Sometimes ideas float around in your head for months or even years before you ever get around to doing anything about them. Sometimes you never do. 

I photographed Madre's family a while ago and there was one photo that I took that made me double take. It was a simple shot but I instantly saw images of a whole different kind. I asked her if she'd mind sitting for me at some stage...  months later it finally happened. An amazing hairstylist friend Simone, said she was up for my ideas and so it was all on. I made the green tulle skirt and one of the hairpieces. 

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Editing is like being in the dark room... old school film presets!! Yayness right there!!
Editing is like being in the dark room... old school film presets!! Yayness right there!!
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  • Marie de Beer on 9 Dec 1:02 am

    I could not believe my little granddaughter changed from a butterfly to a swan thank you for the beautiful photos

The soul behind the face...

4.11.15  POST CATEGORY  :  Children | Portrait | Portrait Couture | Beauty

I don't think I see things how other people see them. I like old things. I like things that other people think are junk...

Yesterday the Chorus guys installed fibre to our house. I wasn't particularly interested in getting it but Marc thought that while the install is happening for free we'd be silly not to get it. What I saw is that the guys moaned about having to do a 'proper' job (aka up the interior of the wall instead of a cable running up the face of the wall where you could see it) and that they stood all over my garden squashing baby plants about to flower and breaking rose buds off that were about to bloom - don't they realise that it takes all year to get the flowers to this point with lots of loving care?... 

During this time my Dad popped in with an old metal reel for Marc to put his air hose on in the garage but when Dad saw the Chorus guys he exclaimed, "Marc should ask them for a 'new' plastic one that they've finished with, that would be much better". Of course, I said "Na, na Dad, your old one will be heaps better. For starters it's metal and it's old, and it was yours". To me there's no comparison, but it does show how we all see things so differently from each other.

This is what I like about portrait photography... that I get to photograph the soul behind the face, the you I see. Just maybe, the you, you never knew existed... feelings and thoughts captured... 

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