Free Photo Shoot & Christmas Cards! | Cumming, GA Photographer |

If you follow me on Facebook then you've been waiting for this announcement!  Here's your chance to be in the draw for one of two free mini-photo shoots and set of Christmas / holiday cards - either to keep for yourself or give away as a gift.

There are five ways to earn entries into the draw:

1. 'Like' the Southern Kiwi Photography Facebook page.  For those of you who have already 'liked' the page, you automatically have one entry in the draw!  This one is a MUST - if you don't 'like' the page, you won't receive credit for any other entries.
2. Get a friend to 'like' the Southern Kiwi Photography Facebook page.  They'll have one entry in the draw and you'll receive a second.  Make sure they leave a comment under the original Facebook post  for this draw (posted today, 12 Nov 2012), stating that you encouraged them to 'like' the page, so that you can get credit.
3. Leave a comment yourself under the original Facebook post for this draw.
4. Share the Facebook post onto your wall.
5. Write a comment under this blog post.

Be nice folks - any comments that I feel are mean-spirited or obscene will disqualify you from the draw.  Comments on Facebook must be on the original post, not one that someone has shared onto their wall, otherwise I won't be able to give you credit!

• There is no limit to the amount of entries you can earn via #2 above.  Note that extra comments (#3) and extra shares (#4) do not earn extra entries.
• You must 'like' the Southern Kiwi Photography Facebook page to be eligible for the draw.
• Don't try 'unliking' then 're-liking' the page to earn extra entries - doing so will disqualify you from the draw.
• The mini-photo shoot must take place prior to 5pm EST, Saturday 1 Dec 2012 and must be located within 30 miles of Cumming, GA.  If you win and can't redeem your mini-photo shoot due to either or both of these two constraints, please consider gifting the mini-photo shoot and cards to a friend who can, otherwise you will forfeit the right to claim the prize.
• Mini-photo shoots are 15-20 minutes long.
• Entries must be received by 11:59pm EST, Wednesday 14 Nov 2012.
• The two winners will be announced on Thursday, 15 Nov 2012.

Thanks for playing!

Videos Are All the Rage!

Here's a fun way to view photos from your session: DVD slideshows. Set to music and animated, this is a much better way of showing off your photos to friends and family than static images - and it sure beats the old carousel projector!

I've just added a new page to the website, showcasing some of the videos my clients are requesting.  Have a look - click the button at the top right of this blog, or click HERE to go to the Southern Kiwi Photography website and select "Video" from the menu.

What's your favourite way of presenting your photos?

2 Photographers. 3 Dates. 2 Great Causes.

The weather's cooling off and leaves are looking pretty - what better time to hold a family portrait fundraiser?!  I'm teaming up with L&A Photography to help out two families; one dealing with ALS (also known as Motor Neuron Disease or Lou Gherig's Disease) and the other Leukemia.  In both cases it's the husband and father of the family who has been diagnosed with the condition.

We'll be holding 15-20 minute 'mini-sessions' over three days:

3 Nov

L&A Photography

9 Nov & 10 Nov

Southern Kiwi Photography

The mini-sessions cost $25 and include a free 8x10 print.  Additional prints may be purchased at the special rate of $10 each for sizes 8x10, 5x7 or 4x6.  And if you're looking for Christmas or Holiday cards, we've got you covered!  $35 for 25 cards (including envelopes) is your deal.

Lee Dawkins Agency, American Family Insurance is covering the cost of the free 8x10 print which means 100% of the $25 mini-session fee goes to the families.  All profits from the purchase of additional prints (e.g. after the cost of printing has been deducted) will also be donated.

Please help us to give some relief to these two families in our community.

We look forward to your support!

Note:  The mini-session fee is required to book and guarantee your session day and time.  Please arrive on time for your session; if you are late you will be asked to wait until the photographer has an opening in her schedule.  No-shows will forfeit their session fee and no refunds will be given.  Consider it a donation kindly given and gratefully accepted!

Times Are Changing

Atlanta doesn't see much in the way of snow, so when it happens you take advantage of it.  But you have to be quick because it doesn't hang around for long.  While most folks were hiding out in their homes after the most recent snowfall in Georgia, I got up early and drove around taking photos of the transformed landscape.  There was very little traffic on the road which was a good thing, because in all honesty Atlanta drivers can't drive properly in the best conditions!  You know it's true...

So why am I writing about snow scenes at the tail end of the Southern US summer?  Because I recently drove past one of the places I photographed that morning - the pretty little lake shown below:

I liked the monochromatic feel of the foreground, with the blue of the shadows in the background.  The overhanging tree had prevented a small patch of lake from freezing over, leaving a nice reflection in the water.

But when I drove past that same place last week, to my surprise it was gone!  The little lake has been drained and a number of earthmovers have taken up temporary residence.  I'm sure that whatever takes its place will be lovely, but it made me realise how quickly and easily things change.

With that in mind, don't pass up any opportunity to capture the world and lives around you with your camera.  Places change, people grow and all you have left is memories and photographs.  That is, if you remember to take them.  What was it like when you were newly married, planting a garden, welcoming a new child or pet into your home?  What does the home you are growing up in look like?  It's never too early to start and your children's children will thank you for these precious images one day.

My brother has been scanning old photographs into digital format so that he can share them with the family.  Earlier this year we were looking through the dusty albums, remembering the times that went with the images and laughing at the goofy ones.  Now I thank my Mum for making us all pose for yet another photograph and also the people who took photos of my grandparents and great-grandparents, extended family and friends.

The holiday season is coming up, with friends and family gathering and spending time together.  Are you going to get out there and record some memories of people, places and fun times?  Because you never know when things are going to change, like 'my' little lake.

Senior Photos: Ambassador Programme

Class of 2014

It's not long now and you'll be looking at having Senior Photos done.  Time flies...!  How does a free photo shoot, free hair & makeup and free prints sound to you?  

We are now accepting applications from Juniors for our

Ambassador Programme.

Interviews will be held in Dec 2012 / Jan 2013.

Applications must be in by 31 Dec 2012!

Call us now for more information and to request an application form.  Or click HERE to send us an email.

Blue Moon 2012 - Another View

I had so much fun taking photos of Friday's blue moon over Lake Lanier!  Steve and I took dinner out to the lake and I spent time playing with exposures and composition, just to see what my camera and I can do.

Although it appears that the moon doesn't move very quickly, you don't need a very long exposure before it goes out of shape.  Knowing this, I experimented with different shutter speeds and found that at 2sec the moon is slightly oblong and by 4sec the distortion is very noticeable.

Here's another shot, taken at 0.5sec; zoomed closer and sitting in a soft bed of clouds.

And below is a shot taken about 10 minutes later, with a 15sec exposure.  The sky is a lot lighter but the moon is completely blown out and so has lost all definition in the craters.  In addition, it's creating a definite smudge across the image as it moves.

Blue Moon Aug 2012

Did you catch the blue moon last night?  For us there was some cloud cover low on the horizon, but luckily the moon came out of it before it lost the pretty yellow colour.  And the remaining streaky clouds made for a pretty scene over Lake Lanier, near Buford Dam in Forsyth County, GA.

There were a few folks out on jet skis and boats out on the lake, which left nice patterns in the moon's reflection in the water.

I've always been told that a blue moon occurs when you have two moons in one month.  This is what occurs, but the original reason it was given that name was to keep the standard full moon names from getting out of whack.

There are 12 full moons in a standard year (three for every season), however roughly every 2.5 years there are 13 moons, giving four full moons in one season.  When this happens, the third full moon in a season with four is called the 'blue moon'.

So when's the next one?  Not until 2015.  But at least that's not as long a wait as the next Transit of Venus.  And in 2018 there will be 14 full moons: two each in January and March.  Poor February loses out and won't have a full moon at all - the trouble with having a short month!  Were you out moon-gazing last night?  I hope you had good weather for it.