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You have no idea how much it means to me how much positive feedback and support that I have received from the images that I have posted already, it has taken me a bit longer than I intended to post this final part as I wanted to have the time to try and express in words what these images represent to me. You see I am better at taking photos than trying to express in writing how I feel, I wish I was a better writer and be able to express as I type what is in my head, I will try my best, so please bear with me. I mentioned on twitter last week that there was a story associated with this last part, so I think I will start there.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a control freak at times and I will admit it, this shoot was so important to me but there were several things that I felt, lets just say “out of control” about. I was so thankful for all of the wonderful people involved that I tried to, in my husbands words “micro-manage” every last detail. My biggest fear was turning up on the day and letting someone down as I had not though of one crutial element to bring it all together.

This is where the story I guess starts. As I had not been involved in a shoot like this before I had in my head that I would meet with the dress designer the wonderful Melanie Ford and we would have a try on of the dress/ dresses so I knew all of the other elements that I needed prepare. It didn’t happen like that as Melanie was such a professional at what she does that she didn’t need us to come and try on the dress, I just needed to supply her with the height, and size of the model. I knew it would be totally fabulous but also was not wanting to assume she was bringing other things like jewellery etc.

So having not seen the dress I was trying to work out in my head how I could get everything to coordinate, this is where Stacey my friend and neighbour comes into the picture (and Leila the adorable flower girls mum). You see Stacey got married only six weeks before and we had many a long and involved conversations about weddings and her amazing bouquet came to mind, as it was a neutral colour and would match any dress Melanie selected to bring on the day. I guess that didn’t come out quite right, it wasn’t only that it was neutral, I just knew that Louise from WOW Flowers was the lady I needed to contact to see if she wanted to be a part of this opportunity I had been so gratefully given.

When I walked into Louise’s wonderful shop Worn Out Wares where WOW Flowers is also situated, and while I was waiting for her to come and speak to me the two hat boxes were spied out of the corner of my eye, as well as the little purple umberella that I thought would tie in perfectly. Louise was so positive about being involved from the start, even though she had three weddings, Mother’s Day and donating all of the flowers for the Hunter Medical Research Luncheon that week (I volunteered to take photos at that too). I took a deep breath and asked her if I could borrow the hat boxes and the umbrella for the shoot, they were new stock and she knew they would be an in demand item for Mother’s Day but she let me lend them all the same. I promised her with my hand on my heart that if they were damaged in any way I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase them.

Stacey, who had agreed to come and hang out and help me, Danielle the model and I were so careful with these hat boxes, I had taken a picnic rug out and at each set up we all ensured that they were returned to Louise in the condition we received them. Now you may remember from earlier details that I shared about his shoot the idea to bring Miss Leila along came to me only the day before in the shower of all places. We had been shooting for around an hour and a half maybe when Leila’s Grandma brought her out and she really didn’t want any part of it to start off with. Poor Danielle was fantastic with her, even when there was screaming and throwing herself on the ground tantrums.

As both Stacey and I knew if we tried to force Leila it would only make things worse so we all just kept focusing on Danielle and slowly but surely Leila came around and just started playing and having fun with her new pretty princess friend. Two year olds basically have a mind of their own and we just had to go with what happened, did she want to stand in the direction of the nice light – no she did not. Did she want to do anything I asked her to do – no she did not. That is what was so exciting to me was we just let her decide what she wanted to do and we just went with it. I would loosely give Danielle direction and I am so, so pleased with the images we were able to capture.

This brings us to the beautiful brand new hat boxes, Leila decided she didn’t just want to look at them, she wanted to be just like Danielle and carry them too. The reactions from everyone was a gasp and run towards her to take them off her, remembering how careful we had been for the previous two hours. I could see in the viewfinder of my camera that I loved what was unfolding in front of me and I just went with it. Basically I was almost hyperventilating with excitement as I could see how genuine and real the images seemed to be as we just let the two of them play together. I said let her go I’ll buy the bags I love it, so that is what we did. The moments with the bag falling there is no way that I could have set that up and the genuine reaction of Danielle I am just amazed at what can be captured in a photo. By the way, my mum got one for Mother’s Day and the other is in my studio.

I have spent years photographing children and I think that has stood me in good stead as I gently ease my way into wedding photography. I guess what I am trying to say is I have learned so much from shooting children how to capture moments as they happen and I believe I have learned by experience to carry that through to when I work with adults too. I am also touched and honored that Danielle has had a lady come into her shop and genuinely believed the images were from her own wedding day, as my husband Aaron said well that shows you achieved what you wanted to achieve. She said this woman was so persisent that she was a real bride that Danielle held up her hand and said “I’m only 21″!

If you have read all of this I hope that you get a feel for what I am trying to say and to thank each and everyone of you who have supported me thus far. I am in the process of putting together an online slideshow of the images for Melissa to send to all prospective brides and I am off to the annual photography tradeshow in Melbourne to select a new album to design so that all of the potential brides who come to Ironbark can see them. I would like to thank Melissa, David and the team again for giving me this opportunity. Guess what, I am meeting with a bride this Sunday who is getting married at Ironbark Hill in May next year, she wanted to meet with me after seeing these images and I am very chuffed about it!

Kind Regards

Kristin
xxx

I think this image sums up my photography style…I could not set this up even if I tried!

This one cracks me up… Danielle trying to protect the bags and Leila being determined as all hell to get it off her!!!

I am still on an absolute high from Monday’s promotional shoot at Ironbark Hill Barrel Room and Gallery. If you scroll below this post you will see that I have updated the first post now with all of the supplier information so you can see who made all of this possible. The first summary of images that I posted were to provide an overall sneak peek from the shoot.

It makes sense to me to post groups of images in different blog posts – here are some detail shots of hair and make-up from Blush Brides (profile of Blush Brides to come).

More to come very soon.

Kristin
xxx

Can you imagine how excited I was when I met with Tania recently at The Vintage and she specifically told me that she and her bridesmaid Kylie would be getting ready at the newly opened (6 weeks ago I am told) Chateau Elan. I think I had to control myself not to let out the biggest squeal as to not deafen her. I have been excited about it ever since, and of course I had an instant connection with Mark and Tania and was honored that they had chosen me as their photographer for their special day.

To top off my excitement I was told that the brand new Carriage House (think beautiful sandstone chapel) was finished on the day of the wedding. I am not telling a lie the turf had been laid only hours before the ceremony and I am told all of the guttering and lots of finishing touches were also completed yesterday too. Whilst the ceremony was outdoors the wonderful wedding co-ordinator for Chateau Elan Phoebe told us we were free to explore and utilise it during our shooting time. Literally when I drove it an hour and a half before the ceremony there were still tarps everywhere…looking at these photos I am sure you would never guess.

You will see that I have labelled this post Part I, you see I will be showcasing many more images from this amazing wedding, can you tell I am a little excited. I just wanted to show Mark and Tania some images before they leave on their honeymoon and to allow Phoebe and her team see how great their pride and joy the Carriage House came up in the photos. I told Mark and Tania when they met with me that I will just capture some moments as they happen. You will see down the bottom of this post a sequence of images that Mark looked at me and said “Was that one of those moments you were talking about”.

Take care, enjoy the rest of your weekend wonderful people.

Kind Regards

Kristin
xxx

I will give you a quick run down on this sequence, I have not laughed so hard in such a long time, you can see that I had put my camera down and quickly put it back up again when I saw what had unfolded in front of me. Originally I had Tania standing behind Mark. Then I envisaged in my head that I would have the girls swap sides so that they boys could look up diagonally at each other. I actually verbally explained my thinking and I even recall having a look of acknowledgment from everyone that we were all on the same page. As I explained myself quite clearly I remember saying something like “hold on let me check my settings”, then something like “okay when I say go look up”!!! So what happened next you can see in the first photo…Mark took me literally and “LOOKED UP”, resulting in him smacking his head very enthusiastically into the wooden pole behind him! The reactions you see from the others were priceless. Yes Mark, that was just one of those moments!

If you have looked at my Daily Delight posts over the last couple of days you would have seen this family before. I still have so many to blog they will be featured in the Daily Delight section over the next week or so.

It is 10.02pm and I have made my target of five blog posts today! More words to come soon.

Have a wonderful and safe Easter LONG weekend people. Thank you for your kind words and support.

Take care, talk soon.

Kristin
xxx

This is the 4th blog post of the day, I will come back later to update wording. So many other cool images from this shoot which may feature in upcoming Daily Delight section.

Hayley, Kurt and Stuart surprised their parents for Christams…then the parents booked me to photograph the five of them together.

One more post to go and I have made five today.

Take care, talk soon.

Kristin
xxx