Paris
30 . June . 08
Father + son at Karnimata
29 . June . 08
Mao, Beijing
28 . June . 08
Custom Guest book
27 . June . 08
The book (which I posted the layout for about a fortnight ago) arrived early this week and it looks fabulous! This is going to be the guestbook for guests to sign at Donna and Grant’s wedding next weekend.
The front and back cover (it also comes with a dust jacket which looks exactly the same as the cover)
A few of my favorite layouts:
Im heading down to Albany this weekend, Claire and Peter who are getting married in December asked if I would like to come down to Denmark to do their portrait session, of course I said yes! I am very excited to be able to do a portrait session in my old stomping ground! :)
Have a fantastic weekend everyone :)
xox
Katy
26 . June . 08
Another shot from the very awesome shoot I did with the very beautiful Katy last month. I love this one.
the fire twirler
25 . June . 08
A few years back, Absolut Vodka approached me to be part of an artist project they were working on. They commissioned me to take 3 photographs taken at 3 different times of the day depicting life in Perth. The shot above was taken late at night in my friends backyard doing some crazy fire twirling (and fire breathing!!). These images then went on exhibition in Sydney and Melbourne. I will post the other two images soon! xox
Shannon and Niels - Wedding
24 . June . 08
Boy. India.
23 . June . 08
I spent 4 weeks in India part of my backpacking adventure in 2006. I really want to go back.
Inspiration for Weddings
22 . June . 08
Needing some inspiration for something completely cool and unique to do at your wedding? Head over to these websites for some inspiration. I can spend hours and hours on these sites :)
Ritzy Bee - One of the latest posts have lots of ideas for summer weddings! Ice cream at weddings! Picnics! Short dresses! ahh! So many cool ideas
Polka Dot Bride - This blog is Australian, so lots of ideas here for Aussie weddings.
Snippet and Ink - lots of inspiration boards
Style Me Pretty - One of my favorites! Love the inspiration boards on here too!
A favorite
21 . June . 08
A favorite from Fleur and Matt’s wedding in March.
Karina and Wysun
20 . June . 08
Website Update
19 . June . 08
Ive started to update my website with this wedding seasons photographs, out with the old and in with the new! Its a pretty time consuming process so it will take a few weeks or more. Today I added a new gallery called ‘photobooth lovin’ - as you can probably guess it features photobooth photos, which is a cool thing Ive started to do at weddings. Head over to www.sammblake.com to check it out :)
If you are interested in doing something like this at your wedding and we have not discussed it yet, give me a call or email so I can fill you in on the details :)
Happy thursday :)
101 List
18 . June . 08
10 days of blogging! Ive decided to carry on for a month so I tick off #2 in my 101 list. Have you ever wondered what my 101 is all about at the top of this blog? Well its 101 things I want to achieve in 1001 days. Some of the things are a bit unachievable in 1001 days (like having 3 kids! I do not even plan on having one by then), so its more of a long term list to keep me inspired and remind me of my goals. This year has been a little slow on being able to tick off items, only two, though two very good ones! To win an award and to be debt free! Those items were in my top ten so not too bad.
Some items from the list I am trying to check off:
#2 To update my blog everyday for a month : Only 20 days to go!
#5 Buy my own house and then spend time making it into exactly what I want: February 2009 is hopefully the month!
#7 Make a photo book of my travel photography: This is one of my winter projects.
9# Get a dog : this goes along with #5
11# To travel to Japan again : I am planning on going to Japan sometime next year. I went there when I was 12 on a student exchange. I cant wait to go back.
44# To travel to another country by myself : 6 weeks until I leave for the USA!! yippie!
46# To take my parents out for dinner at a really nice restaurant : I shouted my whole family dinner after we finishing up at the bridal fair in March. My parents and sisters helped me so much so it was a little thank you. Though Mum and Dad I plan on taking you to a nicer place soon :)
61# To live my life caffeine free : Okay this is the big one! If you know me well, you know I love my coke zero. This is officially my first day… im going through serious withdrawals. I am sleepy and have no energy. If you see me with a coke zero in the future, please tell me off :)
63# To travel to the USA for WPPI : Im going in February 2009!
77# To inspire someone to become a photographer : Someone emailed me a few months ago telling me I can check this off :)
86# Befriend an enemy : I dont really have enemies but a crazy neighbor and I are now friendly again!
101# Become a vegan : From about September 2007 until March 2008 I became vegetarian. I tried to become a vegan but my work lifestyle even made being a vegetarian too hard. Something I want to try again in the future.
Books
17 . June . 08
I’ve been reading a lot lately, almost a book a week, all business related, mostly finance, marketing and investing. I am indeed learning a lot! :) I am looking at buying a house in the next 6 months and so trying to learn as much as I can, as fast as I can. I wake up every morning at about 6am and read for about an hour or so, its amazing how much energy I have these days! I generally like my sleep, but not so much at the moment, I prefer to read.
Last week I finished reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
I am currently reading Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
Back from Albany
16 . June . 08
Back up from Albany! This is an old photo taken a few years back but Albany was very similar to this yesterday!
King George Sound, Western Australia
Pretty Things
15 . June . 08
One of the best things I like about weddings is the flowers. I love flowers and dont think we appreciate their beauty enough. Being in the most isolated city in the world we are pretty limited to what flowers we do get especially in so in the different seasons, but over the past wedding season I have been able to photograph some totally beautiful bouquets. Flowers always seem like a waste of money when your doing your wedding budget but they add so much atmosphere to the day. Here are a few of my favorites!
The pink flowers below were a bridesmaids at Monique and Oliver’s wedding in February. The flowers in the vase was taken at Merrin and Les’s wedding in April - this was taken at the house where Merrin was getting ready.
Shannon and Neils released butterflies during the ceremony in honor of Shannon’s father. It was a very beautiful moment to be able to photograph for them, the butterflies stayed throughout the ceremony which was very sweet. The one of the left stayed on Shannon’s dress throughout the ceremony and the photo of the right is a butterfly in one of the bridesmaids bouquets during the signing.
Monique’s bouquet:
The photo on the left was taken at Michaelia and Alwins wedding last year, i love the colours in this photo! The photo on the right was taken at Catie and Lindsays wedding in December. Each guest had one of these at their table setting.
Bouquet from Krish and Pauls March wedding. Table decoration from Megan and Craig’s January wedding.
Bouquet on the left from Catie and Linday’s December wedding. Bouquet on the right was taken in May at Katy and Evans wedding.
Freaky Friday
14 . June . 08
Last night I had a fabulous time at Kirstens Freaky Friday birthday party down in Albany (still down here until Sunday night). Mick went as the Hulk and I decided to go as Shrek and coated my face in green eye shadow! Heres a few photos of the festivities:
Michael and I. A match made in heaven - the hulk and shrek! haha
Arlene and myself. I think Arls went as a goth.
Kirsten and Backwards Man aka Chris:
Myself and Michael - it looks like I am about to spill my drink all over him! I think it was empty though!
Receiving a kiss from the birthday girl!
Boo!
13 . June . 08
I love this photo taken at Fleur and Matt’s wedding in March!
Today I am heading down to Albany for the weekend. Today is my dear friends birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRSTEN! Since her birthday falls on Friday 13th this year she is having a freaky friday costume party! I’ve got a few hours to run around town trying to find something to wear but im completely out of ideas. Any suggestions?
I’ve been tagged!
13 . June . 08
I ‘ve bee tagged by the fabulous Cathrin D’Entremont , wedding coordinator extrodonaire!
Here are the rules!
1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 songs you are embarrassed to admit to others you like and tell why.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Here are my 5 songs which are a part of my life:
Rod Stewart - The first cut is the deepest. One of my favorite songs. Is it daggy to like Rod Stewart? =)
The Eagles - Desperado. I love this song. This would make it into my top ten list. I love the memories that come flooding back to me when this song plays.
Peggy Healy - It’s Only a Paper Moon. I love her version!
Steely Dan - Ricky Don’t Lose That Number. Im a big Steely Dan fan! hah!
Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved. I dont normally like mainsteam pop music. I like this one though.
Now I have to tag 7 others:
Arlene Bax, James Day, Susan Yee, Sarah Perfrement, Kirsty Aksentiew, Amanda Bowler, Cathy Crawley
Amie and Anthony - April 2008
12 . June . 08
Finally the first of the many weddings yet to be blogged! Amie and Anthony got hitched in April on the foreshore at Matilda Bay and had their reception at Sitella’s Winery in the Swan Valley. We stopped past the old fire station in the city for photos, it was great to photograph in a new spot I had never been before! The light was extra lovely and juicy there! At the reception we had some photo booth lovin! It was indeed a fabulous day! xox
Roxy the dalmation
11 . June . 08
On Sunday I meet up with Karina and Wysun who are getting married next month. We meet at the beach to do their portrait session and so I suggested they bring they dog along for a few photos. Isnt she gorgeous? Roxy only stayed for a few photos before Karina’s parents took her home so we could continue on with the shoot. I started to edit the session today and I just had to post these =) More to come of Karina and Wysun later!
Book Layout
11 . June . 08
Donna and Grant are getting married on the 5th July. Instead of going the usual boring old guestbook, they have decided to use their photographs from their portrait session and turn it into a awesome and very unique guestbook for their guests to sign in at there reception. Here is the layout I have just finished working on. Once I receive the book back from the publisher’s I will post some pictures of what it actually looks like.
Randomness
10 . June . 08
I have been inspired by Becker and Susan’s random weekly thoughts, here goes =)
USA ::
I just booked my plane ticket to San Francisco! The office will be closed from the 31st July until the 14th August. My birthday is the 31st July…. I cant think of a better birthday present to give myself! =) Im not actually leaving until the 2nd August, didnt think it was a good idea to hope on a plane the day after my birthday. I dont do hangovers too well. haha. So in honour of me finally booking my tickets, the above photos were taken while I was in New York last year.
iPhone ::
Its finally been released in Australia on July 13th. I think it will have to be an early birthday present! Ive been waiting so long for them to come out here, why do we always have to be so far behind here?
Music ::
You should check out the following for your listening pleasure:
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Bookings ::
October 31 2008 is now available. Unfortunately a couple has had to cancel their wedding and so the date is now free.
Website ::
I cant wait to launch my fine art photography website this winter!
Check Out ::
Eiffel Tower - Paris
9 . June . 08
Third day of blogging! Thought I would post a travel picture that I have never posted! This photo was taken looking down from the Eiffel Tower in Paris while I was there in December 2006. This is the one and only photo I have while up the Eiffel Tower, my batteries in my Mamiya 6 died after this shot was taken, and my spare batteries were all the way back in London! My medium format camera takes a rare type of battery, so I didnt even bother trying to find any at the stores in Paris. Of all the places for my batteries to die! I am glad that this is the only shot I have though, I like how the people are arching around in the queue. Why would you bother waiting in line to catch the lift up? This was about 9am on a very very very cold winters morning, we took the stairs to try to get some warmth!
baby time!
8 . June . 08
About a fortnight ago I had the pleasure of photographing the beautiful little Amelia, only 15 days old. She was an absolute treat to photograph, only getting a wee cranky towards the end of the shoot. So many beautiful photos captured of this little family, I cant wait to have them all edited and to show Kristy and Evan =)
Wide awake…. and after a bit of effort, finally fast asleep!
The whole family!
Sleeping next to dad..
Some little toes!
Ive set myself a bet… im going to try to blog everyday for an entire week! two days down!
Photos from Brisbane
7 . June . 08
Finally back from Brisbane and back into the swing of things. It was great going over to PMA, my head is about to explode with all the ideas I want to implement into my business. It was great hearing everyone speak at the imaging conference on Sunday, lots of advice I will be taking on board. We finally got some good weather on Tuesday and so we walked around Brisbane for most of the day. The first two shots were taken in the Botanical Gardens. I only took my 45mm Tilt Shift lens out with me, it was great to just shot with this lens, manual focus and manual exposure, it definitely slows me down a lot, which is a very good thing indeed!
Sarah chilling out on some stairs in the gardens.
Sarah wanting to return the favor and took some photos of me. I hate having my photo taken! I look impressed don’t I?
We found this cool little cool cafe called Batavia on the South Bank, its basically a tea house, you order which blend of tea you would like and you get your own little tea party on your table. I had Chinese Gunpowder mixed with Emerald Sunrise. Its the best green tea I have had, so good in fact I am drinking some this very minute!
Myself and Sarah at the APPA awards night, taken in the ladies loo’s!
Lots of blog posts coming over the next week. Finally have the time to catch up on all the weddings, portrait shots and many other things I have not had time to blog! Stay tuned!
Rainy Days
2 . June . 08
The entire time we have been in Brisbane its been raining, which has been okay mostly because we have been at the convention center most the time but today is our day off and its rainy and looks oh so miserable to go outside. Might head into the city soon and immerse myself in a good bookshop and look at photo books all afternoon.
Here is a awesome video my sister sent my way. Enjoy!
MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.
