When I met with Rod and Jenty on the weekend we got to talking about the same thing, almost.  Rod was explaining how, at 20 weeks pregnant, a friend of Jenty’s had posted a picture of her rounding belly, and how he had urged his wife to do the same. She eventually came around to the idea and took a photo at 24 weeks.  It was a good thing she did – three days later their twins were born. 

I remember finding out about it, and feeling completely shocked.  Then feeling slightly puzzled after talking to Rod and hearing how well they were going.  Having been pregnant I’d heard all these terms floating about, about the point of viability for a foetus (the earliest stage at which it can survive outside of the womb), and I knew that 24 weeks was VERY early, and I guess I just expected there to be complications.  But there weren’t.  These little champions, from all accounts, sailed through those early months.  And when I say little – you have no idea.  Rodney showed me a photograph taken in the early days, with his little princess wearing his wedding ring - over her arm. It would have gone all the way to her shoulder, easily. That’s how tiny they were.  And yet they somehow found the strength to fight on.  I do know they had a whole host of people, all over the world, praying for them.  And on Sunday I got to meet the answers to those prayers – two very happy, healthy, perfect-in-every-way, babies.  I couldn’t stop staring at them, marvelling at just how precious they were, losing count of the times I felt goose-bumps run from the top of my head to the very tip of my toes.  And, again, I felt very blessed to be able to do what I do, and to be able to capture a small portion of life of these extra special, truly beautiful bundles of joy.  What a buzz.

Guys (Rod and Jenty) - it really was a pleasure spending the afternoon with you, and finally meeting your little miracles.  I’m still in awe at just how perfect they are.  They must have something truly amazing in store for their lives.  I can’t wait to hear how they turn out.

This one makes me smile every time I look at it
She’s such a little sweetheart
Love this shot of Mama and her little doll
And those eyelashes. Not fair.
Awwwww
Almost two peas in a pod
Already looking out for her
I see you

Totally love these ones of Daddy and his little guy. Fatherhood suits you, Rod.
And I really love this one too.  There’s a whole series of them, each one of them looking like little Brandon has realised what they’ve overcome, and is giving out a little shout of triumph. Shout it out, little guy, you’ve earned it.

Narrelle x

(Oh, and thanks Rod for calling the RACV for me, after my blonde moment of leaving the car headlights on.  Matt tells me there were jump leads in the back after all.)

Chloe was fast asleep when she arrived, the hot weather here having a natural calming effect on her.  But, like most babies her age, she was busy sorting out her sleeping routine and thought it would be more fun to be awake for the session.  But that’s ok.  I love capturing the wide-eyed innocence of newborns, the eyes that don’t quite focus and so appear to be looking at you both intently and softly at the same time. And I love the interaction between mummy and baby, and daddy as well if he’s keen to join in.  I actually think I’m more in my element when baby chooses not to sleep, which is just as well given my run of late.

And yesterday I had the joy of seeing a beautiful baby doll who was adored beyond doubt by her parents.  Their faces lit up with each movement, each smile. They doted. They coo-ed. They loved. I watched, and I smiled at the wonder of new life and how it touches those around it.  I marvelled at these third-time parents and how it was just like the first time for them. The newness had in no way become old, and it was beautiful.

Thank you Lisa and Troy for the honour of photographing your precious little girl.  It was a pure delight.

All this laying down and being adored is so tiring…

And I just adore this one, how Chloe’s face is tilted up searching for her mummy, making that sweet connection.

Narrelle x

I’m very much looking forward to 2010. I’m looking forward to change, and exciting things. New things. New clients and new friends, and clients that become friends – I love it when that happens. Me and my camera made so many new friends last year, so I can’t wait to see who this one brings into my life.  I’m looking forward to new challenges, and new achievements. New moments, and new memories. New paths, and new heights.  And I’m looking forward to the new, improved version of me.

This is going to be a good year.  I can feel it. I hope you can too.

Running with the ‘new’ theme, here’s a peep at the latest, littlest, friend I’ve made lately. Isn’t she just beautiful.

Anna and Andrew – I’ll have some more of your little princess ready for you very soon. It was so good to see you again. Much love, Nelly. xxx 

I still love to sit and stare at his sweet little face.  He’s not so much a dainty little boy any more, but his features are still quite delicate.  Childish. Pure.  His cute little button nose (from his daddy) his blonde, curled-at-the-end eyelashes (from me), his kissable lips, pinchable cheeks,  and mischevious twinkle in his eyes.

There are days like today when I almost make it through, not having taken a single photo, and not wanting to ‘force a moment’ simply for the sake of getting it done. But then I catch a glimpse of my beautiful, soulful, happy little boy, fresh out of the bath, snuggled up in a towel watching his favourite tv show.  I stop doing my supposed chores for the evening and I simply watch. Stare. Marvel. And let one of those full-hearted mummy sighs escape my lips.

What I love about this session was the connection between little Liam and his mummy and daddy.  I adored watching him search them out, and engage with them.  I love how laid back they all were, and how comfortable and natural they were as a new family of four. And I felt grateful to be able to record a brief moment in their lives, as they were.  As I look through the images from the day I know that’s what they reflect.  And that makes me happy.

Thank you so much, Natasha and Andrew for having me over.  It really was a pleasure to spend time with you all – you have a beautiful family. And you would seriously have to be amongst  the most relaxed and calm people I know (which comes in handy when I get thrown out by roadworks on the way and end up running half an hour late…. please tell me you weren’t stressing in secret…  )  Here’s a few of my favourites so far.  I just love the first shot – I wish I had one like this with my own children.

And don’t you just love these little feet.  I just wanna munch on them! 

I hope he slept well after I left, guys.  It would be pretty typical. 

Narrelle. x
{ Newborn Photography Melbourne }

It was an absolute pleasure to capture Annabel in the first week of her life.  As both mum and dad commented, and I’ve seen countless times, it’s incredible how much they change even in that short space of time.  I love walking away from photographing a newborn knowing that I have captured a stage in their life, a brief moment of time, that is far too fleeting. Those few hours, though, have been stopped still, to pause and relect on. To wonder apon. To marvel at. For all time.  How incredible is that.  It fills me up with such joy, surrounded by warm and fuzzy butterflies.

Admittedly I was a bit fearful at the start of the session that we weren’t going to get the shots we were after. Miss Annabel had decided that the strange lady in her home was much more interesting than sleep.  She kept us on tippy toes for a good long while before she figured I wasn’t that exciting after all, and drifted off into a deep and peaceful sleep. She was as good as gold, both awake and asleep, and we managed some beautiful images of her after all. So many actually that I had trouble sorting through them and decided which few to share here for mum and dad.  I’ve narrowed them down to these for now – can’t wait to hear what you think of them Emma and Stuart.  She really is beautiful. Truly.  You’re very blessed.

Narrelle x

{ Melbourne Newborn Photographer }

Narrelle x
{ Newborn Photography Melbourne }

Week 17

I really struggled with this photo. I was having a bit of an un-creative day and was starting to feel like my self portraits were all beginning to look the same.  BUT I had just had my hair coloured the day before so thought I’d try and at least document that HUGE big event (I can’t remember how long it’s been since I’ve indulged myself enough to spend a couple of hours lounging in a chair while someone massaged my scalp – that HAS to be the best bit of going to the hairdressers…)

Week 17

I had fun with this shot. And, yes, that is a miniature version of me sitting in the palms of my hands. There are times when I wonder what I would do without photoshop. 
There was a bit of a thought process that went into this shot, as well as the desire for wanting to make things a bit more interesting.  The part I’ve enjoyed most about this challenge is actually discovering myself, in little ways, each week. The following was week 17′s find:

Sometimes I’m my own worst enemy.
There’s a little piece of me that seems to continually doubt herself.
She second-guesses her ability to be a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a photographer – all the things that make her who she is.
Too often I let her affect my outlook on life, and I resent her for this.
Instead, I should be nurturing her.
Showing her some love.
Embracing her inadequacies and imperfections.

This week I’ve realised that without her I wouldn’t strive to be better.
She brings out the best in me and through her I can see the person I’m capable of becoming.
So from now on I’ll hold her tight, look her in the face, and be her friend.

Week 18

I’ve been posting my self-portraits on my flickr stream as I’ve been going along, and here’s what I wrote with this image:

I wanted to incorporate my mum somehow into this week’s challenge, being mother’s day and all that, but with us being 3 states apart it was a bit hard to pull off.
So I did the next best thing I could think of (though not the most exciting perhaps…) and snatched my treasured photo from the wall in AR’s room of me as a baby with mum and dad.
I love this image. So much the more because I actually copied it and restored it myself – by hand, before photoshop even existed probably. And I made the frame too, as well as cutting the mattboard – all things I once did in one of my former lives. So it’s something I hold dear for many reasons. But not as dear as my mum, or dad for that matter.
(When you eventually get around to seeing this, mum and dad – love you both!) 

Oh, and I had to title this ‘Warm 70′s Love’ because I used that particular action from Jesh de Rox’s latest set to process it, which is quite fitting as I guess this photo is all about warm 70′s love – though I won’t tell from which end of the 70′s.

So, you should know me just that little bit better now.  It’s kinda scary sharing such personal thoughts with the world, almost as scary as putting my face out there. But that’s what this project’s all about.
And at least if you’ve been thinking lately that you’d like to have yourself cloned, once or twice over, you know I’d be happy to give it a shot for you. On paper anyway.  But imagine how awesome it would be if photoshop could bring to life our craziest, or most credible, imaginations.  If anyone out there figures it out before I do PLEASE let me know how. 

Narrelle x

{ Melbourne Portrait Photographer }

This is a post I shared a while back, when both my business and blog were quite young. I know there are considerably more people that read my blog now and may have missed this in the archives, and I’ve been feeling strongly about giving it another shout out lately.  I’m going to re-post the whole entry though rather than provide a link back because, if you’re anything like me, and your days are as busy as mine, it might seem like too much work to click on it.    So here goes:

THE LITTLEST HEROES PROJECT – Capturing Miracles, Picturing Cures

What is The Littlest Heroes Project?  Let me quote a piece from their website:

     “The Littlest Heroes Project is a non-profit based organization made up of professional photographers nationwide that provide free photo sessions to our nations Littlest Heroes. This is their way of giving back and taking a stand for these children who sometimes feel forgotten because of their illnesses. We are here to let them know that they are heroes to many, and to share their inspirational stories and photos with the world.

If you have a child, or know a child, who suffers from any type of serious illness we are here to help. The Littlest Heroes Project provides you with a complimentary photo shoot for your hero and family … Super Sibs and the Brave Parents are welcome to participate in the session as well!

Eligibility for the project: Any child or young person (Infant-21) that is currently fighting or has fought or suffers from any of the following: Autism, Alopecia, AIDS, Bell’s Palsy, Cancer,Chiari Malformation,Cystic Fibrosis, Cerebral Palsy, CHD,Childhood Stroke, Servere Diabetes, Down Syndrome, HIV,Immune System disorders and diseases, Kidney Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, Neurocutaneous Syndromes, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sickle Cell Anemia, Spina Bifida, Tay-Sachs Disease
(If your child’s illness is not listed and you are interested, please e-mail felicia@littlestheroesproject.org … This is just a basic list of illnesses of children we have already photographed!) “

I first heard of this project through a flickr contact of mine, Felicia Reinhard (I’d encourage you to go check her profile out. Her own story is very heartfelt and encouraging. She is such a beautiful young lady).
I visited their website (http://www.littlestheroesproject.org/) and was reduced to humble tears as I read the testimonies and trials of families who’s lives have been forever altered by disease and sickness, many of which I’d never even heard of.  As a parent of two young ones myself, I found it unbeliveably heartbreaking and agonising to even imagine myself in their position.
I  can’t recall the amount of times I have looked apon my life, wishing I was smarter at this, or better at that, as pretty as her, as outgoing as him etc etc.  I’m sure you know what I mean – we’ve all been there (if you haven’t, I wish I was more like you…. ).  And perhaps it’s a stereotypical response, but as I read through the stories of these children and their families, I felt so selfish and guilty. Who am I to complain about my life. At his point in time I have everything I could ever want.
It was a pretty easy decision for me to volunteer as a photographer for this organisation.  I don’t always feel like I’m the best photographer in the world (actually, I rarely do, but we won’t go there again lol) but I do know there are lives that can be touched with what I have to offer. How often do we get that opportunity in life.
So if you have a child, or know of one, that is affected by any of the illnesses mentioned above, please contact me via the contact button at the top of this page. It would be my pleasure to organise a complimentary photo session for you.  It’s the least I can do.
And please check out The Littlest Heroes Project webpage (linked above, or under my links button at the top of the page) if you are after more information.

It really has been on my heart for a while now to share this post again as I firmly believe it is up to us to share the gifts we have been blessed with, to help those around us.  Photography mightn’t seem like the most obvious, or even important, gift at times. But I’ve seen faces light up, brighter than I’d have hoped, and unplanned tears fall at the sight of a memory captured forever.
There are instances when a moment in time, frozen for eternity, can become a most treasured possession. I’ve seen it, and felt it myself.  So from my viewpoint it’s one of the best gifts I can offer.
So if you, or someone you know, is affected by illness please contact me via the link at the top of the page.

Narrelle x

And because, as they say, a post isn’t a post without a photograph – here’s another from babies Jesse and Owen’s session.  I just have to sneak one more peak in there for mummy and daddy.
(I should have the rest of the images ready for you within a few days, L & E, so keep an eye on your inbox).

{ Baby Photography Melbourne }