Another month, another exciting life series where we do our little life series with other amazing photographers from around the world.

This month both me and my girls were sick, it was pouring with rain outside and I decided to just have a rain pyjama day in… Mia and I built a little tent fort and I got out my vintage tea cups. The girls loved having their little fake tea party  and eating their fake cake (which they made out of wooden blocks – oh to have their imaginations again!)

So here’s a day in the life of a rainy Melbourne day.

P.S. Please excuse the state of our play room! It stays tidy for all of 10 minutes every morning lol!

Now please head off to the incredibly talented Jen Snyder at Lux Amoris to check out her Life Series this month . She is one amazing photographer!

Mel and Damo are just a gorgeous couple. If my mind wasn’t so bogged down with flu, I would have so much to write about them …. how warm and loving Mel is, how easy-going and in love they are.

But the pictures will have to speak for themselves today cause the flu has taken my words

Love you guys – can’t wait for your big day in couple of weeks

xoxo

Colombia meets Russia, falls in love and lives happily ever after What a dream come true. Well, it’s Roman and Luisa’s dream come true… these two truly beautiful people tied the knot earlier this month at a lovely ceremony at St Kilda Botanical Gardens. While the sun couldn’t decide whether or not it would share the day with us, the love, warmth and happiness exuding from every single person at this intimate wedding more than made up for the chill in the air.

Roman and Luisa met a few years ago when Roman worked in the Real Estate industry and was showing Luisa an apartment she wanted to rent. She didn’t take the apartment, but she did accept his request for a date and the rest, as they say, is history.

Luisa has been good for Roman. In fact, she has been great for Roman and has kicked him into shape and has shown him the healthier side of life. It so great seeing him so happy, vibrant and full of life…  (Roman also happens to be my husband’s cousin, which is why my little Mia was a flower girl at their wedding).

Luisa – well Luisa is just stunning. And her beauty isn’t just skin deep – she is truly genuine and beautiful on the inside too. I remember when I first met her, it was a Jewish festival (New Year I think) and Roman had brought her to meet the family. She was amazing and just embraced the culture wholeheartedly… so much so that she even included Jewish elements in her wedding, which was really heartwarming to see. You’re one of the clan now Luisa. Welcome! Have they started nagging you about kids yet?

Roman and Luisa, we wish you a lifetime of happiness!

Vendor credits

Photography: The Wedding Birds

Hair and make-up: Studio 2

Ceremony: St kilda Botanical Gardens

Reception: Rasputin Receptions

As you know, every month a few of my wonderful photographer friends from around the world and I post a little series of blog posts that pertains to our lives. I have missed the last two because I was just so busy when they came around, but this time I am back in And this month I am going to tell you a bit more about me and the journey I have been on in the last 9 months.

You may or may not know this, but a mere 9 months ago I was obese… I was wearing a size 24 and the biggest I had ever been in my life. I was so unhappy within myself and I had tried everything to lose weight without any success. Everything was a chore, photo shoots were a nightmare and I would sweat so much it was disgusting. I couldn’t catch my breath enough to even talk to clients and I could barely even walk up stairs without half dying! I had lamented to my mother that my last hope was surgery but I just couldn’t afford it. My darling mummy realised how unhappy I was and offered to pay for the surgery. That kicked me into action and I started researching, researching and doing some more research.

I discovered that here in Australia the surgery was covered by my private health insurance, as well as the government. So my out of pocket costs weren’t going to be as high as I had first anticipated. So I met with a surgeon, who cemented the fact that this was the best option for me and I scheduled in my surgery for a vertical sleeve gastroscopy (google it ). On July 28th 2011 my life was going to change for the better! I won’t bore you with all the details, but lets just say I don’t regret it for even one moment. Not anything about it. I was very lucky and had very few side effects… It has changed my life and here I am, 9 months later. Size 14; 45kgs (99 pounds) lighter; 5kgs from my goal and happier than I’ve been in a long, long time.

Of course, when I was ginormous, I refused to be in photos so family photos were out of the question. Now, I LOVE being in photos and I finally scheduled in a very precious and long-awaited family session with my darling friend Kelly Mack Photography. She captured some beautiful images of my family, which I have been slowly editing. So without further ado, here is one image of me as I am now… 45kgs down and far more confident in myself, despite the saggy skin .

P.S. Don’t forget to scroll down so you can link to the next story in the the chain, the amazingly incredible Azure Marie photography  The next life story in this chain is from the incredibly talented Azure Marie Photography in the U.S. 

When I first spoke to Kristie on the phone all those months ago, I knew we were going to get on so well – her sweet, caring nature really came through during that conversation and I could not wait to meet her.

At our first meeting, poor Kristie ran out of petrol and was stranded in an industrial area while Kelly and I had dinner with Mark and chatted about the wedding. Poor Kristie – Mark couldn’t even eat he was so worried. Ok, he’d already eaten but the sentiment was there

We knew then and there that we wanted to photograph the love between these two – even when apart this love was palpable and the way Mark described Kristie made my heart melt. So we were over the moon when they booked us and we could not wait to spend time with them photographing their love during their pre-wedding session.

These two needed no direction showing their adoration for one another, but nor did they have any problem just having plain ol’ fun and I just loved capturing every moment.

Soft little snuggles, sweet little nuzzles. Little sighs of content and the pout of a beautiful slumbering newborn. That’s what makes my job worthwhile.

This day was filled with so many kisses, cuddles and most importantly, love! They really made me smile and as I was going through the images, I found myself grinning like a Cheshire cat as I remembered all the things we were trying to make little Miss M smile. I hope seeing these images makes them smile as much as I did

You may remember Jan & Bec whose engagement shoot we did a little while back? Well their wedding day dawned cloudy but wonderfully warm and they recently  tied the knot in a really beautiful, romantic ceremony at St Patrick’s Cathedral. The church was all still decked out in its Christmas finery and just added to the joyful atmosphere on the day.

This gorgeous wedding was a long time in the making – it took Jan six years to propose and Bec waited ever so patiently for that moment to come. But when it did, no detail was spared and Jan proposed on a fabulous trip to Egypt. On camels. In front of the Pyramids! Need we say more? The rest, as they say, is history.

These two are apparently polar opposites, but seeing them together you wouldn’t know because they’re just so perfect together.

What we really loved about them when we got to know them better was the fun-loving nature and quirkiness in their relationship – how many girls do you know that can piggy back their partner as a party trick? And really far too – not just for five seconds! They are so cute together! How cute is this little fun fact about them – their first kiss was on a set of swings. Everybody say it with us now… nawwwwwww!

This connection was really evident at their reception too where they boogied the night away, conga line and all. Jan rapping along to Will Smith and knowing every. single. word was brilliant! And you know it’s a good wedding when every single person at the reception is up on the dance floor getting on their moves like Jagger, regardless of age.

Oh we loved photographing all these special moments for you Jan and Bec and wish we could put ALL the images up for the world to see.

Thank you for letting us share in your special day and capturing these priceless memories for you’

xoxo

Kelly and Lee

Once again this month I get to share with you some little aspect of my life. Nothing gives me greater joy (and at times frustration hehe) than my two girls. One night I was driving home from a photo shoot and the sun was setting. The light was just beautiful and on the spur of the moment I decided to go home, dress Mia in her white dress and gumboots and go “jump in muddy puddles” –  a-la-peppa-pig – at the beach. It was really windy and cold, but I am so glad that I went, because some of the images I got took my breath away and I am so glad I will have these gorgeous images of Mia forever!

Sorry there are so many, but I just couldn’t leave any out!

Now don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of the page too to link to the next photographer in the chain, the amazing Nancy Wilkins.

To see what the lovely Nancy Wilkins has done, CLICK HERE

Because facebook just doesn’t do these justice, I had to post this gorgeous family on here. The light was dreamy, the kids were amazing, the parents were incredible – what more can I say? A recipe for a fantastic shoot!