live your life

Yes. Yes. Yes.

The scrapping tonight flowed like warm honey. And it felt good. NO, better than that, it was friggin' great.!! I am so much happier seeing the end result with this one.

Journaling says  'live your life without boundaries Annie. don't let anyone box you in, categorise you or put you behind a fence you can't fly over. seize life Annie. it's yours for the taking.'

can now reveal after publication in Scrapbooking Memories

I also want to give a really big shout out to Tiff Sawyer, Tatum Woodroofe, Kerryn Lenworthy, Kathleen Glossop and Fran Tynan. Some of the few 2011 Masters announced today. I either have met these wonderful artists irl or  conversed with them online. What an awesome crop of talent this year and I'm just more than a bit chuffed that I 'know' a good number of them.  (note that they were all in blog hopping list previously except for Kerryn who I've just added)

I did have a go at The Masters this year and didn't make the final cut. But that's ok, it was fun and challenging to create under pressure. I can't show you any of my entries yet as there is a very small remote chance that they may qualify for a Honourable Mention. Well see. I'm not losing any sleep over it.

:O)

heart stealer

Well it's been many, many weeks since I've been able to sit down at the scrap table and give it my full attention.

And man, scrapping didn't come easy. I struggled. I'm doubting myself. I'm not satisfied with the end result, but its done. Time to move on to the next one tomorrow and find that elusive flow.

:O)
t

o christmas tree

until the hot weather comes and harvest starts I am decidedly not feeling as if Christmas is not that far away.

The kids and I had an unusual day today. We spent the whole day home. We didn't have to be anywhere so we didn't. No photo shoot appointments, no visiting, no nothing. And it was wonderful.

PJ morning, late pancake breakfast and Christmas Tree decorating!

the H ladies

I had 4 ladies visit me last weekend for their 'rural' photoshoot. The weather held and the breeze dropped out just in time. I had a ball with these ladies who brought in new ideas into their shoot. Love that!!!!

thanks ladies. enjoy your sneak peek.

more over at Tiff Firth Photography on Facebook.

the divine Miss M, little Miss Z and Master M

This family has the biggest bluest eyes I've seen yet. All three children have swimming pools for eyes and when I applied a BW treatment on their images, golly gosh, they are just startling!!!!

Little Miss Z has perfected the sucked in top lip that's just so damn cute, especially teamed with that wide eyed innocent look.

This shoot is Part A of a two part series. The Part B is when I have all the children together and a variety of other shots that I haven't yet caught.

Be memorised by their eyes.

more over @ Tiff Firth Photography on Facebook
;o)

more trash the dress

In between processing a photoshoot I had a quick play with one of the shots from 'trash the dress' Part A.

Part B is when the dress will really be trashed!! just waiting for the right day.

I've aged this one and scratched it up a bit.

another to add to the 'trash the dress' album on Tiff Firth Photography over at Facebook

swim

Well I have a load lifted off my shoulders today.

All the processing for the Graduation shoot is done, CD's burnt, labelled, parcelled and posted. Emails sent and and sneak peeks on Facebook completed. I originally gave myself up to 2 weeks to get all happening, but I've managed to started from Saturday and finished this morning. 5.5 days. I have the flattest, shiniest butt from sitting in front of the 'puter for so many hours late into the night. Most nights were at least 1.30am before I got to bed.

I've 2 more photoshoots to get thru so there is no rest for the wicked ;op  And a very large assignment next weekend.

Because I've had the camera in my hand A LOT lately I very nearly didn't take it with me to the pool for Annie's class swim lessons today. I just couldn't be stuffed.

I should be spanked!!! And hard.

Being busy with other people's children is no excuse to neglect my own as far as taking photos go. After all taking photos of my kids for scrapping is what lead me down my current path of photography.

I did run back into the house for something else so I grabbed the camera bag as an after thought.

And I'm very glad I did.

year 12 grad shoot

THE 2010 GRAD PHOTOGRAPHY SHOOT

I am so very relived that the weather was kind last Friday, as its been fairly crappy for photography during the day ever since.

Laura and I have had a number of team meetings, a trip to the Port Lincoln Hotel to scope out the pool deck,  planning for A, B and C sites in case of inclement weather, and of course to have an idea of how we would capture the Grad's photos. I was to shoot the images of the students, their family and partners. Laura caught all the accessory shots, and close up details.

The not knowing of the weather really chewed me up in the days leading up to the marathon shoot. I wasn't sleeping very well at all, I was talking A LOT in my sleep and I was checking out the Elders weather site often. So with a hugest sigh of relief that day was perfect. The location was perfect. The ladies looked their glamorous best and the gentlemen were very suave.

After starting the day at 12.40 and finishing at 7pm, Laura and I were stuffed. The schedule called for a student and their family to be on site every 20mins. We were flat out and we kept it all on time. I was thrilled with that we finished at exactly on time before moving to the Boardwalk.

With all the individual shots done, the Grads met at the Boardwalk under the Morton Bay Figs in front of the Lincoln Hotel for the group shots. The formal ones were completed and we all kicked off the shoes and headed onto the beach.

This is one of those beach shots that I am comfortable in popping here as it doesn't show any faces.

Between Laura and I we've been processing flat out since then. I have a 2010 Year 12 Grad album on my Tiff Firth Photography wall on Facebook. As I obtain the permission from each Grad I'll pop an image of them into that album, so it will be growing over the next few days.

I would really like to say the hugest thanks to Laura for jumping into this assignment with me as there is no way I would have done it without her help. And we made a GREAT team!!!!!!!!

snap happy - most outstanding photographer

I had a wonderful afternoon this afternoon. I was very fortunate enough to collect this today.

One of the Year 12 students organised a Community Photography Exhibition as part of her Art curriculum. So I entered a few images. The judge, I'm told did not have an easy job with so many entries and a lot of talent showcased. So to come home with this award was a wonderful surprise. I guess I'm feeling validated. And it tells my DH that what I'm doing behind the camera is something a bit more serious than taking a few snaps.

Thank you so very much K for pulling together an awesome exhibiton that exceeded beyond all expectations, to the Cummins Op Shop for sponsoring the awards and to the other worthy winners.


And tomorrow is another project I've had brewing for a little while. The Year 12's are having their Graduation and I'm shooting the photography for this formal event. I am so very grateful that Laura agreed to come on board to be part of the team, otherwise there is no way I would have taken this on.

I've hired a venue to shoot the images. Looks the weather will be perfect, thank goodness after today's cool day and dampness. I've been writing a list of stuff I need over the last few days to make sure I don't forget anything. We start in the middle of the day and should finish by 7pm. I'm going to knackered by the end of it all. And I'm looking forward to Laura and I heading out for a swish dinner afterwards.... if either of us have the energy.

trash the dress... a couple more

A couple more peeks of the Trash the Dress shoot from last weekend.

These two are all about the boots. I wanted the bride to wear thick chunky knee high boots for a bit of attitude in the images. Thanks to Cummins DressUps we found the perfect pair. My first thought when I saw these were Franknferter from Rocky Horror Picture Show would have worn these.

Many many thanks to Sarah for letting me shares these shots of her for our TTD shoot

I'll be adding a few more over time on the Trash the Dress Album for Tiff Firth Photography on FaceBook.

a photoshoot at the twilight end of the day

This day could have not been more perfect. Gentle sun, stunning sunset and even the sea as part of the backdrop.

As lady luck would have it, Mr B broke his arm that day and he had just come home from having it plastered. He was such a trooper. He still give me a smile when I asked. It would have been hurting like hell. I take my hat off to him for his patience with me.

I'm pretty damn proud of this set of images for this family.

More over at Tiff Firth Photography

Jessica Sprague - Inspiration Everywhere

I've just joined this free class from Jessica Sprague.

go have a look.

t

P's in a pod

I had a visit from these guys last week. It's wonderful to see them again and to marvel how much the boys have grown from one year to the next.

Thanks Mum, enjoy your sneak peek.

I do believe that Granny Sue would like to scrap these!!     wink. wink.

more over at Tiff Firth Photography

trash the dress - part A

• Trash the dress, also known as fearless bridal or rock the frock, is a style of wedding photography that contrasts elegant clothing with an environment in which it is out of place. It is generally shot in the style of fashion and glamour photography.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trash_the_dress

I've been working towards this project for a little while. Yesterday was the day we had it pre-planned to happen but Mother Nature had other ideas. So not to worry, we postponed.

Today was much kinder, so with a flurry of phone calls to arrange for our wonderful model, and the husbands to care for children in the late arvo, we had it all arranged.

Laura, Sarah and Janice {Tanya couldn't make it today :(   }, came with me out to a wonderful ruin not far out of town. So with a flurry of tulle, lace, kickarse boots, petticoats and pearl buttons, we had Sarah ready to strut her stuff.

Part B will happen when its a bit warmer and the weather a bit more reliable

Special thanks to the Cummins DressUps for their wonderful accessories. And just to clarify, the dress is mine that I'm trashing!!

And to just to answer any questions that may arise from seeing this, NO, I don't shoot wedding photography. I have absolutely no intention of heading that way at all. Kids and families rock my world. This shoot is all about artistic fun. Nothing more than that.

This is just one shot that I love straight away. I haven't worked on any others yet, as I'm working thru client photo shoots.

The 'M' Tribe

Do remember about a year ago (Dec 1st 2009 to be exact) I held a photoshoot giveaway to celebrate my 50th customer, and this lucky chick was the winner. With one thing and another we finally nailed her photoshoot last weekend. She suggested next time to put an expiry date on the prize to help motivate the family to get it together sooner lol  ;op

So, ta daaa. Here's the Tribe of M's and the gorgeous BJ.

sunset over Mt Greenly

On the way home from a photo shoot tonight I just had to stop on the highway and  catch this.

I had geese flying in formation on my left side and thunder rolling on my right.

Absolute magic.

All I've done to this is sharpen a little. The colours are untouched.

Breathtaking isn't it!!

princesses in pettiskirts

This family were truly blessed with the weather. Saturday dawned with a shower of rain and it was overcast and ominous for most of the day. So I kept in touch with the family during the day and by mid afternoon the western horizon looked slightly more promising.

So off we went. And out popped the sun. So very lucky with the timing. It was warm enough on the beach for the girls to wear their pretty pink singlets with their pettiskirts. In fact, I think Dad may have a touch of sunburn from this day.

I love this set of images and I know the Mum is RAPT.

Love a happy client!!

Oh and in case I was asked, Mum found their pettiskirts at www.kidzwearonline.com.au

:O)

More for your viewing pleasure over at Tiff Firth Photography on FaceBook  (when you go the page scroll down a bit - FB is playing silly buggas tonight lol.

the 80,s crew

with the kind permission from each wonderful friend I can show you our 'getups' from my 40th Birthday weekend. The 80 year olds are 'Dot with the Lot' (she had a big behind) and Prudence (looks the part doesnt she!!)

Crazy women, but love them all!!!!!!

the colours of nature

I just had to stop to take this on my way to a photo shoot yesterday. I live in such a beautiful part of our country.

:O)

flat out....

man o man. Life sure busy. I feel a bit like a duck who is madly paddling under the waterline to look like I'm serenely moving along. Believe me, I am churning it up

In the last 6 days I've done 7 photo shoots as well as running around after commitments the kids have, family time and a little bit of one on one time with DH. He's been wonderfully supportive of my going out late in the afternoons to visit families for their sessions. He's been coming in early so I can go, picking them up from sports if  I can't, doing teas, getting kids thru their night time routines and I'm usually back in time to listen to them read in bed.

As soon as harvest starts (sooner than later as the menfolk are getting restless!!) things will slow down a bit, but not for long. I've two or three things brewing at the moment, gathering ideas and getting the homework done first.

So with so much happening there's not a bit of scrapping done. And to be honest, I really havent missed it. I guess the photography side of things is massaging my creative needs.

So forgive the lack of posts in the last week and in the forth coming week, I'm flat out with shutter action and processing as time allows. Oh and throw in a couple of committee meetings too.

have a great week.

fyi

If you are on a BigPond Super G Liberty Wireless Internet Plan, it would be an idea to revisit your Telstra online  account. Telstra have released a set of new packages where you can get more Internet allowance for substantially less.

And its worth ringing up to enquire about the $20 month discount.

 :-)

So go on, nothing to lose and everything to gain.

(ps not for ADSL)

Miss R, Miss T and Master Z

I had the absolute pleasure of seeing this family again. The last time was over a year ago when Miss T was a little itty bitty babe. Now it's her brother's turn to take centre stage. And Miss R is gorgeous as always.

Thanks guys and enjoy your sneak peek.

More over at Tiff Firth Photography

:-)