Pregnancy Sittings

I absolutely adore photographing pregnant women. It's always with a touch of longing, because it's a part of my life I've passed now (sob!) but the opportunity to make someone feel beautiful during their pregnancy is something I really enjoy. It  appeases the baby hunger somewhat :o) So, this is one of my recent favourites. I have her on my site at the moment, and she's also about to go on a new business card, but I wanted to show how lovely this shoot was, and there is even a colour image thrown in (gasp..don't get too excited, it was a one-off!).

So, this is Katie, who had little Gloria just over a week later. We photographed this in her parent's home, a beautiful grand old place in North Adelaide which was totally inspiring.

xo Simone

Christmas Shopping

Yep..that time again, and I've plunged in..I bought my husband's present yesterday. Something I usually reserve for the last minute, he's so difficult to buy for.  I came across the idea of getting him some really good chef's knives for Christmas this year, seeing as he's the cook in our house at present, so hopefully he likes them! Could be dangerous if he doesn't ;o)

So, the requests for prints as Christmas presents has begun also, and it prompted me to give an idea of timelines needed for Christmas 2006.  Sittings really need to be held by the first week in December to guarantee prints. If framing is also required then I have to be harder I think, to give my poor framers a break if nothing else..and say sittings have to be held by the end of November to ensure custom framing of your prints will be done in time. I will keep everyone advised on lead times etc, but as a prompt for those thinking about gifts (and you should..49 days til Christmas and Father Christmas is in residence in the Magic Cave! ), it would be wise to book soon to avoid disappointment. The glorious weather and incredible baby boom has seen weekend bookings fill quickly, so call me to arrange a time.

Happy Shopping!

:o) Simone

Oh boy...

I'm in trouble. I'm often in the dilemma of which image to have of my own boys on the walls. I just took another one that's thrown into the mix and we want it huge of course.  So..where to put it and how to display it? LOL..I have some thinking, and potentially some re-arranging to do!

xo Simone

Australian Breastfeeding Association Calendar 2007

I'm thrilled to announce that one of my images will appear in the Australian Association Breastfeeding Calendar for 2007. I've been involved with the ABA for five years now, and have had my images in each of the last four calendars, much to the delight of the clients featured! This year the honour goes to Amy, pregnant with baby Kayla, who I photographed late last year. Her photographs are some of my favourite pregnancy photos, she was so beautiful, and looked like she was handling the pregnancy really well.  She can now claim to be Miss January!

Here is the link to the calendar if you'd like to buy one, and a proper version of Amy's photo. Thanks again Amy, John and Kayla!

[Australian Breastfeeding Calendar 2007](http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/products/calendar.html)

The quintessential Aussie Childhood

Every month I plan to highlight one of my shoots and show some of how the whole sitting went. It will help give an idea of how I work, what kind of images to expect and it also showcases the amazing Adelaide families I get to meet :o) This month is Melissa and Peter's family, with Louis, William and Oliver starring as the very rowdy cast. I went in knowing I needed to get some shots of them at play, but had no idea how much that would end up like herding cats! Great fun, and it made for some amazing, very real, utterly candid images.

The anticipation on their faces cracks me up. Boys!!

A Crows player in the making I'd say. Will chased every ball he could spy all afternoon :o)

We wanted to show how stunning the front of the house was, I'm such a sucker for this type of architecture, but the boys weren't keen on sitting there too posed. Fine by me..how about a tickle?

My ultimate favourite, a little abstract for most people, but it says it all to me. The cricket bat on the ground, the child kicking a footy and the Hills Hoist in the background...only in Australia.

Don't you love the window? I nearly missed this, I spied it as I was leaving and arranged to come back and take some more. I can't resist a fantastic window like this, as followers of my work will notice ;o) So, people of Adelaide, show me your window! There are some truly beautiful ones out there, I gasp whenever I find a new one. I have so many window shots I could do a book...

Lastly...I think he was trying to escape.  Are we done yet?

So, a huge thankyou to Louis, Will and Oliver. I had a ball chasing you guys around, I hope your photographs will forever remind you of what being a kid felt like :o)

xo Simone

It's Show Time!

The Royal Adelaide Show has hit, and the kids bugged us senseless to go,  so we did the annual Father's Day thing  (we must be nuts) and braved the gathering crowds. We got lucky with weather too, nothing like traipsing around sideshows and rides in the wet.

So, Morgan and Toby had a ball, ate too much junk, spent too much, had a ball with the games etc and had a go on the bumper cars. All fun..until Mum can't stand the crowds anymore and hits the brick wall. LOL Not good!

So, some pics of the day! I finally thought to bring my camera to the Show, I mean to do it every year and every year I forget.

Toby and Mark on the Bumper Cars

The mermaids on a sideshow stand looking like technicolour roadkill. I really wanted one of those, but best we managed was a stuffed shark. Boys.

yum...

but it was a case of feeling like this by the end of the day..

and how cute are these guys? I only just managed a shot of them as they scooted past...

and lastly, Morgan with the prize he won. Hasn't looked at it since we got home of course, he was much more interested in the showbag with the fart whistle and whoopie cushion, but it made for a cute photo ;o)

So, the Royal Show means SPRING! So exciting, and lovely to be shooting outdoors more often. I can't wait to get out there and explore some new locations now the weather is warmer. Ok, so it's not better today...15C and rainy...sigh, but it's coming!

xo Simone - don't eat too much fairy floss ;o)

You've got to have friends

I just spent a brilliant girls weekend in Halls Gap - (The Grampians) with some of my closest friends. We try to do this from time to time, and the cast changes occasionally, but it's always people that we love and want to spend some time with. Being that we were from all over Victoria and South Australia, The Grampians seemed a natural choice for a meeting point and we're so glad we did. We were blessed with beautiful sunny winter weather, a fantastic cabin and great company. I can't wait to do it again :o)

So, some photos. Not all of them, we all used each other's cameras and we're yet to collect them all together, but I have some for now, and some film ones coming too :o)

This is my favourite. I wanted to get something special of Shannon on this trip, we get to see each other so rarely that when I do see her I want to capture how special she is. I love how serene she looks.

and then not so gorgeous trying to get off that rock!! It was like a dinner plate resting on smaller rocks, not easy to get off, so the moment was shattered...lol

This is one Shannon took of me. I made the mistake of giving her my digital ;o) Everywhere I turned, she was there. I like this one!

The landscape after January's fires. The regrowth was fantastic to see, but made for such an eerie place to be.

A wallaby in our backyard! He was a total poser. Kept hamming it up for Wendy's camera, but was less interested in mine :o) What's that Skip? Sonny's fallen down a well? LOL

Too quickly it was time to hit the road, leave those amazing women behind and drive six hours back home to my babies. A few things begged to be photographed along the way, and I had to stop often to avoid getting drowsy, so I would get out to take pics of the landscape and get baaaahed at by the local sheep. This was outside of Bordertown, South Australia.

So, back to work!! It was fantastic to take a break, shoot just for me and at a less frantic pace than with children, and to see my favourite girls again. I can't wait until the next time!

xo Simone

Baby Boom

There is something about this time of year that brings loads and loads of newborns. I've had so many lately and it has me all clucky :) So many beautiful newies and shattered, sleep-deprived parents! I wanted to send out a hello to all of them and show off their incredibly gorgeous bubbas. Here are a few from the last few weeks..

This is Charlotte, who chatted and yawned and, yes, squawked the whole time. As you'll see! My favourite image is the last one though, because of the love that surrounds her

and this is little Eliza, who was so wide-eyed and watchful. She loved the camera! Her big sister and brother were amazing with her, so protective :)

and last but certainly not least..the incredibly gorgeous Ava. This child just lit up the room, and her sisters, Grace and Phoebe, were just as luminous. I loved this shoot, and the images show it I think. I apologise in advance for the amount I plonk here, but I just have to share them!!

Stay tuned for more! I think baby season has only just begun :)

xo Simone