Xavier

Xavier was dedicated at church last weekend and we had a lovely celebration lunch afterwards.  My baby is growing up so fast! Matt and I really enjoyed thanking our friends and family for being so supportive during my pregnancy and the first few weeks after Xavier was born.  It is so true that it takes a village to raise a child. Xavier is blessed to have lots of Aunties and Uncles who would do anything for him. Being a parent is amazing, it was great to sit back and reflect on our journey so far. We made it to 3 months!!

Any day now.....

Any day now, we will welcome into the world a new baby! I'm really excited, and a little nervous. It will be a great end to what has been a fantastic first year of my full-time photography business. I have loved meeting so many fabulous couples this year: Thank you for letting me capture your wedding day. A special thanks to all the brides who trusted me to photograph their wedding despite being heavily pregnant!

This also marks one year since my husband and I left Auckland for Tauranga, and the beautiful Bay of Plenty. We are blessed with a spectacular place to live. Having the beach right on your doorstep is incredible, and everyone is so friendly! I've had the privilege of meeting regularly with other local photographers and wedding vendors, who have been lovely. We have also made a lot of new friends who have welcomed us, and it feels like we have known them for much longer. Being in community with such supportive, friendly and fun people has made the shift from Auckland a lot easier, so thank you!

I will be taking the next few months off to look after the new addition to our family. I will still be contactable by email, but please excuse a slight delay in response from time to time. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, and a happy, safe new year. I'm looking forward to all the wonderful 2013 weddings, can't wait! x

P.S These photos were taken by my fav second shooter, husband and best friend; Matt Andrews

Inspiring words

Melbourne

Recently my husband and I went on a trip to Melbourne, and we immediately loved the inner city culture of this funky city. It has been widely praised as being the 'cultural and sporting capital of Australia', and it is easy to see why. The streets are teaming with creativity, and a good coffee is never too far away. A short tram ride out of the CBD leads to smaller 'village' suburbs, where clusters of restaurants from around the globe serve up superb food and wine.

We found the cutest cafe called kinfolk, located on Bourke St in the CBD.  Most of the staff are volunteers and all the profits from the cafe go to various charities around the world.  The coffee was great, food was fab and staff very friendly. Read more about what they do here. 

We loved walking around the streets and laneways. There was always a new discovery around the corner; an amazing cafe or boutique shop tucked away down a lane, waiting to be found.  We ate out a lot but our fav place would have to be Hellenic Republic. Amazing Greek food with a friendly atmosphere, though it pays to book in advance, as it was completely full even on a Tuesday night!

Melbourne is very pretty by night, and a walk along the river at Southbank after dinner makes for a lovely end to the evening. Other places we would recommend: Chin Chin for the most amazing, fresh, Asian fusion cuisine. Chapel St Precinct for clothing boutiques, and Mama Baba for the best pasta in town. For a good nights sleep, you can't go wrong with The Langham, located right on the river at Southbank. Bliss.

Note: Saving room for shopping, I didn't take my DSLR to Melbourne, and all photos were taken on my iphone.

Into the wild

A few weeks ago my Dad and I went on a 4 day hike in the central North Island through native New Zealand bush. We crossed a distance of about 23 kilometers, traveling along ridges, down into valleys and up mountain faces.  Even though my pack weighed a little more than usual, taking my camera along was worth it. I managed to capture some shots of this beautiful country I call home.  From crystal clear rivers, to fields of wild flowers, the scenery here is breathtaking. I hope you enjoy seeing a little bit of this hidden paradise.

Paris

My husband and I just spent a week in Paris....... simply amazing!