Summer!

It's been such a long time since I last blogged, for which there is no excuse, but Daylight Savings and its longer, sun-filled days has brought with it a restlessness that I get every year...that call of the ocean that entices me down to smell the salt air and let the winds lure me out to sea. I spent a good deal of my childhood living in a tiny sea-side village, going to sleep to the sound of the waves pounding, smelling salt and pine on the air, longing for the sea-breezes to come in around three in the afternoon to whistle through the house, cooling us down just in time for dinner. I visibly relax when I hit the beach, it's my natural habitat, inspiration and sanctuary. 

Over the last decade, so many of my favourite photographs have been taken at the beaches around Adelaide. From Port Willunga to Largs Bay, the gentle shoreline has given me so much joy as I've recorded families enjoying themselves. We've delighted to see moon-rises, King tides, dolphins, kite-surfers, a lot of crazy seagulls, windy days (where we're nearly blown to Kangaroo Island!) and a LOT of incredible sunsets. The ocean is mercurial, giving us a different mood every day, which is of course, the best part.  

I hope my love of the beach shines through these photographs and inspires you to consider having your very own, one-of-a-kind piece of art featuring your own beautiful children. Nothing shows how lucky we have it in this country than a photo of your child enjoying our incredible beaches. Book now to secure your appointment.

Simone x

A whole new look...

The thing about creative people, is that we’re never satisfied. As soon as we’ve mastered something we’re on the look out to change it up or try something new. My business has been such an exciting quest for innovation, integrity and authenticity in the last 10+ years, and this last year had me really wanting to transform yet again. When I start feeling like this, everyone around me has to watch out as I birth the new incarnation of Simone Hanckel Photography. I have to say, I don’t say birth lightly...it’s taken as long and has been about as painful... My sincere apologies to the loved ones that have had to witness it all. I'm sure they'll agree it has been worth it!

Enter my gorgeous and incredibly talented friend, Kate Burns of Kate Burns Design. Kate has had to listen to me waffle on about what I want my branding to evolve to for the last year, and patiently sifted through the bazillion ideas, all the while getting to know me on a personal level, until the glorious day that this new branding emerged perfect and whole. I’m so thrilled with it. It says so much about what I do, how I feel about my work and the children I photograph.

This new look encompasses a lot about me. The striking black and white that I’m well known for, the little girl jumping that is inspired by this iconic photo of darling Emily, the perfect name for my new loyalty/VIP programme, and the stamp...sigh...this gorgeous hallmark that says your art prints have been created by me with care and love. I hope you love it as much as I do, I am beyond excited about it all. I especially love the little silhouette that Kate unwittingly hit on as being so much a part of me. My own childhood was spent with my head in books as often as possible, and the little silhouette reminds me of those old fashioned, hard covered books with a little stamp on the cover of the book’s main character. I have many of these books, from Peter Pan to Anne of Green Gables, and when I saw this I was taken back to being the little girl who loved reading so much she was known to climb into a tree to escape my sisters long enough to get some peace and quiet to read. 

The part I'm most excited about is 'Kindred’, my fantastic new loyalty programme. My Kindred families are those who have supported me and my business over time, by referring me to their friends and family, bringing me back to photograph their children more than once, or by loving their photos so much that they have invested well in having my prints on the walls and as keepsakes. As a member you will have access to special offers, competitions, exclusive sittings and products, and every Kindred Family be entitled to one complimentary standard sitting per year (valued at $150). This is my thank you to the families that have welcomed me into their lives, and trusted me to be the photographer that documents their kids’ childhoods. It’s such a privilege and I really appreciate the honour. Full details on the Kindred Programme can be found here, and don’t hesitate to contact me to find out how to become a Kindred Family.

To welcome you to the Kindred Programme, I have a very special gift for you. Kindred Families will receive a special email with a link to take you to your very own app containing a selection of your own favourite photos, that can be opened onto your computer, smartphone or iPad and shared easily with family and friends through email or posting the link to Facebook or Twitter! The instructions are here if you have problems loading it onto your device.

We also have the first of our exclusive offers. For a very limited time, you can purchase the full proof set of the images from one of your sittings in 4x6 inch prints for the incredible price of $500. This is the opportunity to have the full set to use as gifts, put into family albums, or pop in a frame to go on your desk. This offer is open until August 31st, so don’t hesitate to call Simone on 83402838 to order your set now.

I want to thank you personally, for helping me build this amazing business, for allowing me to document your family and becoming part of the family of Simone Hanckel Photography. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Simone xo

Christmas in July - A gift for those of you who also love Winter!

I was driving out this morning to do the school run and felt like I was in England on a crisp wintery (ok...more like summery over there!) morning, and realised how much I was itching to get my camera out to shoot in that moody, quiet fog. I feel like this every year. There is a paddock at the end of the street of my son's school that has horses in it, and it's an incredible scene on foggy mornings to see the horses peeping out of the mist. What I'd give for a brave soul to tramp around with me one morning to get, what I know will be, an amazing shot. No point asking my kids, they're well and truly over the whole photo taking palaver! What I want, is to find like minded winter-lovers like myself, and offer them something special. If they book between now and July 31st, they will receive an 11x14 inch print with their sitting (valued at $350). Imagine a photograph on your wall with those beautiful bare, sculptural trees, the incredible, silvery winter light, and your children being their gorgeous selves. Actually will someone come and take that photo of my kids for me???!!

I look forward to hearing from all of you that love rugging up in scarves and boots and enjoy a rosy-cheeked wander outside in winter. If we're smart we can do it somewhere that has a pub with a roaring fire nearby! Call me on 83402838, or email simone@simonehanckel.com.au.

xo Simone

Announcing a really special competition...

which is a bit of a first! It's autumn...finally! Hands down, it's my favourite time of the year and I want to shake things up a bit. I'm always on the look out for new locations, so I can keep things unique and interesting, and realise that a lot of you would have special little places that you love, that might be the perfect backdrop for your family portraits. It might be the a park, somewhere you love to go walking, or a place that you've been meaning to visit. It doesn't have to be somewhere grand though, you'd be surprised how the small, out of the way places can lend themselves to amazing works of art. One of my favourite locations is along the side of the road in the Hills! Please keep in mind, some of the beautiful places around Adelaide, such as Carrick Hill, charge fees for photography in their grounds, and others are private property that need specific permission. Avoiding such places, no matter how fantastic, is preferable. Unless you have special access of course! Locations that are within the Adelaide Metro, or immediate Adelaide Hills are preferred. Not only for the travel time and expense, but also for the fact that small children don't handle a long car ride, then an active photo shoot all that well.

So, here's the competition. Inspire me with somewhere really cool and tell me why it means something to you, and you could win

One Location Sitting and a 16x20 inch Signature Print, valued at an amazing $925.

The best three responses will win, and also feature in my winter studio window display.

Entries are to be in before midnight on Friday, March 26th, and I'll contact the winner via email. You can add your entry here in the comments, email me at simone@simonehanckel.com.au (put 'Location Competition' in the header), or join the Facebook page, and comment there. Don't forget to add an email address.

The fine print! Bookings will need to be held before April 30th, and are limited to one individual family group (no extended families). Prize is not transferrable to cash, or product substitution. Normal booking conditions apply. Locations must be within Adelaide metro area and immediate Adelaide Hills.

The 'it's my birthday!' sale :) (Adelaide Pregnancy Photographer)

and why should I get all the presents? To celebrate my 'inaugural 39th birthday', I'm offering an exclusive blog special. Until July 31st you have the opportunity to purchase your complete set of session prints in 4x6 inch (10x15cm) at half price. This popular session set is ordinarily a collection item and is already heavily discounted to $900 (ordinarly $70 per print), but this special makes the set $450. Most clients purchase this set as Christmas presents, collage photos, or to put in their family album :)

This offer is limited to clients, past and present who mention they saw the blog, so spread the love :) There will be a special bonus for anyone interested that comments on this post too. Don't be shy I love to see comments! email simone@simonehanckel.com.au or phone on 8340 2838 :)

Simone xo (will also consider offers of anti-wrinkle cream...)

technorati - f46giph9am

My annual Winter love-fest

I just can't express how much I love this time of year. Ok, I'm not loving the cold studio right now, but a heater is definitely on my to-do list.

This winter I wanted to share the love, and so I'm offering something a bit special. Book a sitting to be held before August 31st, and you will receive a mini coffee table style book of your session. These books can't be bought, they are only available to fellow winter devotees. Bookings for this offer are limited to  new bookings only, and the first twenty calls that mention they saw it on the blog, so be quick to get the best dates :o) You will have to be up for anything though, winter is unpredictable, and it may involve umbrellas, gumboots and squealing.... usually from me ;o)

For more information give me a call on 83402838, or drop into the studio at 20 Elizabeth St, Croydon. Actually, call first, I'm in and out a lot!

"People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy" Anton Chekhov

It's baby season again!

and I'm photographing lots of divine little boys :o) I always tell my clients they're going to LOVE having boys because of the cuddles, and these babies are no exception.

This is Jagger (and his big brother Indi!), who had given his folks a rough night the night before his photographic debut and then decided to sleep through everything!! Which is more than ok with me, because there is nothing more beautiful than a sleeping baby (especially considering my own babies never slept!)

and this is the darling Lane, who also slept right through his photo shoot. He was amazing though, he'd let us do anything! This is a rare shot of him with his eyes open...

but most of the time was like this...

couldn't you just kiss them? Cluck cluck cluck :o)

xo Simone