Monthly Archives: August 2008

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Friday’s Child

August 30, 2008 – 11:15 pm

I didn’t actually find out what day she was born on (so she could be a Wednesday’s child, or a Monday’s child…you get the gist), but this is how I spent Friday morning - photographing beautiful Miss N. So, to me, she’s Friday’s child.  :)
Thanks for being patient with me mum and dad. Newborn sessions can be over in an hour, or can last just over three (like this one). But it was definately time well spent.
Your daughter is such a sweet, precious little girl. And so beautiful (but you already know these things).  I hope you feel my work does her justice.
Here are just a few from the session to tide you over.

More to come soon.

Narrelle x
{ Melbourne Newborn Photography }

By Narrelle | Posted in Babies, Baby Photography, Child Photography, Family Photography, Melbourne, Newborn Photography, Sneak Peak | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (12)

The Littlest Heroes Project

August 27, 2008 – 2:11 pm

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.

Narrelle x

By Narrelle | Posted in Baby Photography, Child Photography, Children, Family Photography, Newborn Photography, Personal | Tagged | Comments (5)

Point and Shoot

August 23, 2008 – 11:41 pm

I have a confession - these aren’t recent photos, as in taken in the last 3 years.  I was going through some old folders this evening and came across our trip to Italy, which was in July 2005.  It brought back lots of great memories - apart from the day I vomited all the way from Pisa to Rome (I was pregnant with Jaedon at the time). But I’m sure you didn’t want to know that.  :)
But I just thought I’d share a couple of my favourite pics from the trip - I think of them that way because they’re so ‘Italian’ in my mind. Both scenes should be familiar to most if not all of you.
And guess what - they were taken with a point and shoot camera!  These days I shoot with a Canon digital SLR, but back then I was using a Panasonic Lumix. I loved that camera. Seriously. I worked that poor thing to death (well, almost - it did find a grateful home after I’d finished with it), but I learnt how to make the most of it and got some photographs out of it that are better than I do now with my current camera. I’ve seen some people do amazing things with point and shoots - stuff that would easily show these two up as snapshots.
Maybe I’m just trying to convince myself that I don’t need the latest and greatest camera out there, but then I just go through some of my old stuff, photographs that I love, and realise I don’t need to. Not just yet anyway.  Ask me again tomorrow.  lol

By Narrelle | Posted in General Photography, Personal | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (4)

The things we do to keep our children happy

August 20, 2008 – 10:39 pm

So, after posting recently how we’d been to stay with the inlaws, and how much Jaedon loved all the wide open space there, we’ve really decided we want to buy some land of our own.  So we’ve been off hunting for the last week for that perfect piece of grass we can build a home, an airstrip, a football field, a cricket pitch, a tennis court, a paintball arena, a go-kart track, and whatever else takes the fancy of our little boy (and his dad’s) imagination.  :)
We’ve had a few let-downs, thinking we’d found THE place, only to find the ‘old farmhouse’ on the block is actually a few delapidated, worm-eaten, weathered planks of board loosely held together with a handful of rusty nails. Typical real-estate talk.  :)
But today we found IT.  A beautiful block of land about 30 minutes drive from where we are, so we’d still be within easy travelling distance to Melbourne (can’t go to far from the city - I need my fix every now and then…).  And what better time of day to have seen it. The sun was just setting, so it was all aglow with colour and beckoning us with a breathtaking view. Imagine looking at this every afternoon (which is what we hope to be doing in the not too distant future…):

I turned around from taking this photograph and was presented with this view (fortunately I already get to see this most afternoons :) ) I just love how dark the sky was, and how golden the ground. And of course I love seeing daddy all protective of his little girl, trying to shelter her from the wind.
So now all we have to do is submit an offer and sit back and wait. And dream of planes and footballs, go-karts and buggies, and sunsets to photograph. And wide open space. mmmmmmmm

By Narrelle | Posted in Family Photography, Landscape Photography, Melbourne, Personal | Tagged , | Comments (12)

He was in his element

August 17, 2008 – 2:42 pm

I figure as I have already featured Alicia-Rae twice on here, and Jaedon is yet to make an appearance, it must be his turn now.
We went up to Nanna and Grandpa’s place for four days last weekend. They live on the Victoria/New South Wales border, out in the ‘country’ with barely another house in sight. We were looking forward to seeing what Jaedon thought of it. He was only about 10 weeks old last time we were out there, so he probably didn’t appreciate all the wide open space as he does now.
He had a ball. It was cold. It was wet. It was muddy. Ideal conditions for a little boy who wants to run around outside.  :)
Tigger, mummy, and daddy all took turns being dragged around the property, exploring the unchartered territories. It was a very grand andventure indeed. Of course mummy’s camera got dragged around with them too, and she was glad of that.  The lighting for most of the time we were there (when it wasn’t raining) was spectacular, especially late afternoon when the sun was going down.  I definately made a mental note to book more outdoor sessions around this time. When it warms up a bit, of course.
I’m probably crossing the line of overloading you with pics here, but I can help myself.  I just love the size of the pics on this blog, and I love being able to show off my handsome little fella (and my handsome big fella also makes an appearance, with the little one running around in the background:) ).  So please indulge me on this one. x

By Narrelle | Posted in Child Photography, Children, Family Photography, Landscape Photography, Personal | Tagged , , | Comments (10)

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.”

August 15, 2008 – 11:18 pm

The above quote is by Tennessee Williams, and oh so true. It reminds me of a friend I have. Well, I guess you’d call her a friend - I’ve never actually met her. But she is one of the kindest, sweetest souls I have come across, and I found her right here http://www.flickr.com/people/11832768@N04/ (sorry - I thought I knew how to add a hyperlinks correctly, but apparently not….).
I’m a bit of a flickr-ite myself, and have been hugely inspired by Mistybliss’ photography (make sure you check out her stream if you click on the above link).  She somehow manages to capture the very soul of her children in her images, and has a very unique and beautiful style.  And they always come across as so much more than photographs - there’s a story and a feeling behind each and every one.  And a beautiful person as well.  She has always been very supportive and encouraging towards me, not ever having met me. She has a very simple trust and openess that is so rare these days.
Anyways - in our mail this morning we received a package from her. A beautifully handknitted bonnet for our daughter Alicia-Rae. I have been admiring her creations for a long while now, as they often pop up in her flickr stream, so it made my day (even week) to have one of my very own. Well, Alicia-Rae’s very own…  ;-)
It really is a treasured gift, especially when I consider how she managed to find time between keeping a house and raising 6 kids to think of us, and then put those thoughts into action. She certainly does me to shame.  :)
I asked if she minded if I share a few pics on here, and she said not at all. So here they are, modelled of course by the temporary owner of the said bonnet.  lol

Once again, thank you sooooo much ‘Mistybliss’ - it really is a treasure.

By Narrelle | Posted in Babies, Baby Photography, Children, Melbourne, Personal | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (2)

Sneak Peak for the C Family.

August 8, 2008 – 12:33 am

I have to say I’ve had a blast editing these photos so far. Almost as much fun as I had at the session.  Your little girl is the sweetest thing ever, and it’s been a treat seeing her personality coming out in the shots.
And of course you guys aren’t too hard on the eyes either. I’m loving your together shots!  I’m going to try a few different effects with them for you, and might even throw in an odd texture or two.  :)
It was so hard to decide which pics to edit first and put up here for you, but I hope these give you a taste of things to come.

Narrelle x

Oh - I’ve changed my mind too - I wasn’t going to add this one because it’s a tad out of focus, but it makes me smile the biggest smile every time I look at it. So I just had to share. Hope you enjoy.  :)

 

{ Family Photography Melbourne }

By Narrelle | Posted in Babies, Baby Photography, Child Photography, Family Photography, Melbourne, Sneak Peak | Tagged , | Comments (5)

Our daughter, the ham.

August 7, 2008 – 8:24 am

As a treat, as much for us as for the kids, we decided to go to Hungry Jacks for dinner last night.  I’m sure there are probably a lot more ‘nutriciously friendly’ places we could have taken them, but they just don’t have the same sense of fun and ‘naughtiness’ that a fast-food joint has.  :)
We did put our sensible-parent caps on for long enough to feed Alicia-Rae before we went, so it was just mummy, daddy and Jaedon eating. But we caved in the end and let our little lady munch on some chips so she didn’t feel left out. And our course I had to take some photos.
So I just had to share her in all her animated cuteness. She is such a character, and is becoming more so each day. She’s so much fun to be around.

By Narrelle | Posted in Babies, Baby Photography, Child Photography, Children, Melbourne, Personal | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)