My Wish Came True

 

It's the little things in life that can really make your day.  My home town in New Zealand has a wonderful climate: lovely hot, dry summers, winters that are cold enough to kill the bugs off but very rarely below freezing.  I'd been in snow once, but had never actually seen it snow until I moved to the USA.  

Living in Georgia doesn't exactly offer up many opportunities for snow, but there have been some magical moments for me:  my first Christmas in the US was white (which finally made sense of all the snow-themed Christmas carols) and my husband and I woke on the first day of our honeymoon to a pretty covering of snow at our cabin in the North Georgia mountains.

I discovered that it can actually snow hard - I always thought it sort of floated down gently until I saw big, fat flakes barrelling down from the sky.  And I saw my own, personal warp speed special effect as I tipped my head back and stared up into the falling snow.  I've opened my mouth and stuck my tongue out to catch snowflakes and taste them and I've giggled helplessly while feeling the cold wet seep through as I lay on the ground to make snow angels.  

My manager at the first job I had here was appalled when he found out that I'd never been in a snow fight, so he took me outside and we proceeded to pummel each other and our coworkers with snowballs.  I've had a total of three snow fights in 18 years - which says more about Georgia snow than it does about me.

On Tuesday it snowed while I was working; processing photos and entering bills into the accounting software.  I looked out my window and saw the neighbour's kids lobbing snowballs at each other and all I could think of was Calvin & Hobbes.  Give me a sled, my stuffed Tigger toy (or in this case, Rocky Dog in the photo above) and I'm there.  Time to head for the hills.

Christmas Card Photo - Mini Sessions!

October 1st - today is the anniversary of the day I set foot in the US for the first time.  In celebration of that, I'm opening up one day this month for a limited number of 20 minute mini-sessions to get that special photo for your Christmas or Holiday cards!

When is it?
          Saturday, October 26, 2013.

Who are you photographing?
          Families, children or pets.

Where is it?
          An outdoor location in the local area.

What comes with it?
          20-minute session, 25 folded cards with envelopes OR 50 double-sided flat cards with envelopes.

Call me at 404.583.0659 for more information and to secure your time slot!

Order Your 2014 Dog Calendar Here!

Atlanta's temperatures are surprisingly cool for this time of year, but here on my blog the CAREing Paws Fundraiser Thermometer is heating up!

Our goal is to raise $2500 for Georgia animal therapy group CAREing Paws and we're using the 2014 Dog Calendar to do it!  Each calendar sold earns $5 for CAREing Paws - keep track of our progress on the thermometer at the top right of this blog.  Come on folks - help us help this group of wonderful people serve those in need in our community!

Here's how you can do it:  click on the link below to order your calendar.  At the end of each month I'll place a bulk order for all the calendars ordered in that month and ship yours to you the following month.

Calendars make great gifts and yes, it's coming up on that time of year - it'll be here before you know it!

SORRY, THE 2014 DOG CALENDAR IS NO LONGER FOR SALE.

The calendar costs $19.95 + Tax (GA State: 7%), Shipping & Handling.  Thanks for your help in supporting these 'Four-Footers'.

   

An Unlikely Match

Here's a short and sweet clip to help dispel your Monday morning blues.  I was looking for motivational videos this morning, to kick-start my week and uncovered this little treasure.

I love cats, hedgehogs are cooler than bowties and the videography is lovely.  Enjoy and have a great week!

Dog Therapy - A Love Story

Here's a sweet story to warm your heart.  Mick is a pup born with Swimmer Puppy Syndrome, which means he couldn't stand, walk or even sit.  Instead of being euthanised, which is the usual procedure for these puppies, The Mia Foundation took him under their wing and worked with him daily.

Here's Mick's story - and I double dog dare you to make it through without at least sniffling.

2014 Dog Calendar - The Finalists!

At last, the long-awaited results from last week's 2014 Dog Calendar vote!  The finalists are (in no particular order):

Annie

Bogee

Tebow

Hollis

Raven

Lincoln

Wilbur

Bear

Tara

Cowboy

Bingo

Phoenix

Felix the Cat

But wait, you're thinking; that's 13!  And you'd be right.  Felix the Cat was in the top five, but it's a dog calendar!  So he gets an honorary mention in the calendar for being so bold.

Here's a preview of the calendar lineup:

And here's a link to the video in case you missed it, because I had so much fun photographing these pooches (and cat) and producing the video.  It's been a blast, folks and we might just have to do this again next year for a 2015 Dog Calendar!

2014 Dog Calendar - Thank You!

Thanks so much to all who were involved in this event; from the candidates and their humans to the seemingly endless group of voters, and especially my ever-supportive husband, Steve.  It's been a fantastic couple of months!  And some die-hard voters were still at it last night at midnight, when the poll closed.  You're a great bunch of people and you made this project a lot of fun.

Now it's time to shake it off (I know more than one of you had a less-than-productive day on Friday!), sit back and relax.  Monday will roll around before you know it - doesn't it always, relentless and sometimes unforgiving? - and I'll publish the finalists.

Until then, enjoy the rest of the weekend and have a blessed Sabbath day. 

2014 Dog Calendar - Vote Here! | Pet Photographer

It's time to vote at last!  Over the past two months I've photographed 19 dogs and 1 cat from all over Georgia - ranging from Dahlonega in the north to Warner Robbins in the south.

I've heard all sorts of stories about these four-footers, both heartbreaking and delightful.  But no matter their beginnings, there's one thing they all have in common: they're now loved by some of the most wonderful people in Georgia.

As much as I'd like to put all of these guys in the calendar, there can only be twelve.  And because it's such a tough decision, I'm asking you out there to help me choose!  Starting Monday, 29 July and running through Friday, 2 August the polls will be open for your vote.

Those who are selected for the calendar will win a free copy for their human friends.  And yes, the calendars will be available for purchase, with $5 from each sale going to CAREing Paws; Georgia's own non-profit animal therapy group.

It's up to you how you do it - vote for as many as you like, as often as you like!  Just remember that the poll closes at 11:59pm EDT on Friday.  Thumbnails for each pet are shown below, or you can see them larger in the gallery on my Facebook page by clicking HERE.  And there's a video slideshow of all the candidates plus some bonus images, which you can watch HERE.

Android & iPhone Users:  It's been brought to my attention that you're unable to see the voting form.  Click HERE to visit a page on my website where you can vote.  Thanks for playing!

Poll open: Mon-Fri, 29 July - 2 August, 2013
Happy Voting!

2014 Dog Calendar - The Candidates

Many of you have been following the model search on my Facebook page as it's been happening over the past two months.  It's been a huge amount of fun and I've met some of the nicest people in Georgia.

It's proving to be a tough job to choose which dogs to include in my 2014 Dog Calendar, so I'm enlisting you to help me choose the final twelve.  Voting starts this coming Monday, 29 July and runs through Friday, 2 August.  You may vote as often as you like, for as many dogs as you like!

In the meantime, here's a quick review of all the dogs (plus one cat!) who are vying for their page in the calendar.  Thanks so much to all who participated - it was lovely meeting you and your furry friends!

2014 Dog Calendar - Model Shoots

Just like the little guy in the photos above, we've been looking here, there and everywhere for dogs to grace our 2014 Dog Calendar.  And I've been having a hugely fun time meeting these dogs and their owners.

Since the start of June, four-footed laddies and lassies from as far north as Dahlonega to as far south as Warner Robbins have been posing for my camera.  So far there are 12, but there are more to come.  Soooo... what do I do with so many models?  Only 12 can make it into the calendar.

I'm throwing it out to you to help me decide which pups will be in next year's calendar.  The last shoot will take place on Saturday, 27 July and after that I'm going to open up a poll on this blog.  But you'll have to be quick - it's only going to be open for three days!

UPDATE: THE POLL WILL BE OPEN ALL NEXT WEEK - Monday to Friday!

Watch this space to vote: Mon-Fri, 29 July - 2 August 2013.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CANDIDATE SLIDESHOW!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW!

Model Search 2014 Calendar | Atlanta Pet Photographer

One thing that photographers should do to improve their skill is set projects for themselves.  Last year one of the projects I undertook was a landscape photography series, which resulted in the 2013 New Zealand Calendar.

This year I'm working on another calendar project; dogs.  But I need some four-footed models, so I have a deal for you!

The Entry Fee is $25 and includes:

• Pre-shoot consultation
• 30-minute photo session
• Free $30 credit towards portrait products
• Free calendar if your dog is selected

Plus: I will donate $5 from each Entry Fee collected to doggie non-profit organisation: Canine Assistants.

To take advantage of this great deal (my regular Session Fees start at $75) you need to book your pup's photo shoot by 28 Feb 2013.  BUT - your session can take place between now and 15 July 2013.


Call me at 404.583.0659 or click the Buy Now button below by 28 Feb 2013 to order your pup's photo session.  If you book online, please include your phone number so I can call to schedule your session.

The $25 special offer has now expired - but you can still enter your
dog into the 2014 Dog Calendar Model Search!
Call 404.583.0659 to book your dog's photo session.

$25 Entry Fee special offer valid until 28 Feb 2013 and Session Fees must be paid in full prior to 5pm EST on 28 Feb 2013 to qualify.  All photo shoots must take place before 15 July 2013 at a location to be determined by the photographer.  A signed model release is required to participate in the 2014 Dog Calendar Model Search.  Purchase of Entry Fee does not guarantee model selection for the calendar.

Mum, Dad & the Boys | Duluth GA Family Photographer

This client was so happy with the headshots I took of her earlier this year that she came back for a portrait photo session.  And lucky for me, because I got to meet their pups!  These two guys are a lot of fun - have a look at my website to see the DVD I made of their shoot.

It was a hoot to let the dogs run around and play while I videoed their games.  Now, if only I could teach my dog to play fetch like these two do!  He has the chase part down, but the fetch?  Not so much...

Anyhow, check out these expressions.  They always make me smile :o)

A Time for Family & Friends

Thanksgiving has come and gone here in the USA and Christmas is coming up soon all over the world.  The holiday season is a time when folks spend time with friends and family, reminiscing about past times, planning fun future activities and enjoying each others' company.

But there's allllllways someone who wants to take photos, right?  And don't we just hate it when we're in the middle of a nice meal and someone decides to snap a photo of us while we're attempting to stuff a forkful in our mouths...

Don't do it, folks!  No-one likes awkward photos of themselves plastered all over the various social media sites, no matter how funny it may seem at the time.  But don't put away that camera completely during this season of gatherings - one day we'll be grateful  for those photos.

Do catch people being themselves and enjoying the moment.  Photograph them around the table, laughing and talking with loved ones.  Use a shallow Depth of Field to cut out the background clutter.  Zoom lenses are great for capturing natural, candid moments, but don't abuse it!  Aim to make people look fantastic, not ugly.

Have a look on my website for a short story about a little girl who'd never seen herself in a photo before.  That's the sort of thing we can do as photographers.

Last year I wrote a post with tips for taking posed photos of large groups.  Try them out at your next party - and especially remember the part about not being grumpy!

Pugs Everywhere! | Cumming GA Pet Photographer

Here's a trio of precious pups - Biscuit, Lexi and Binkee!  They just looooove being with their mum and dad, especially when they can go to the park.  Have a look at their video on my website, HERE.

SKP PhotoTips - Shutter Speed

In one of the SKP PhotoTips posts I talked about Aperture and how it affects the Depth of Field in your photo.  Today we're going to explore Shutter Speed.

Contrary to what many people believe, shutter speed is not how quickly the shutter moves when it opens and closes; rather it determines how long the shutter is held open before it closes.  And there are two things that happens when the shutter is held open: 1) more light gets in and 2) the risk of / opportunity for movement blur increases.

Wait - 'opportunity' for blur?  Yes - when done well, blur can create wonderful photos.  Think of images you've seen of recent Olympic track cycling events.  The best ones will show the cyclists 'tack sharp' - as a clear, frozen image - with the background streaked.  In this case, the more blurred the better as it gives a strong feeling of movement.

So how do you achieve this?  By dialling down the shutter speed so that the sensors have more time to capture the image and 'panning' with the subject.  This is also how photographers capture the silky effect on waterfalls (except for the panning part.  That's a topic for another day).  The problem with a lower shutter speed is that you run the risk of unwanted blur.  There's not much point in a nice, streaky background if the cyclists are blurry due to camera shake.

The further you lower the shutter speed, the more you need to stabilise the camera and the most common way is to use a tripod.  But you don't always have that option - some well-visited tourist attractions won't permit tripods, or you might not have one handy.  When faced with this situation, find somewhere stable to place the camera, such as a tree stump or your car roof.  Or, you could steady yourself: pressing the lens against the corner of a wall can stop movement just enough to deal with a slower than normal shutter speed.

Of course, there comes a point when it's simply too slow for hand-holding a camera.  A safe rule of thumb is not to use a shutter speed that's lower than the length of your lens.  Which means that if you're using, say, a 70-200 lens and you have it fully zoomed out to 200, you should set your shutter speed to a minimum of 1/200sec.  Play with this to see what works for you - I've successfully taken photos at 1/15sec and then others that were blurry at 1/100sec.  It depends on the situation - are you nervous about taking the photo or did you just run to catch the perfect spot?  Then you're more likely to have shaky hands.

In addition to bracing yourself, there are other ways of keeping it steady.  Shooting at 1/15sec is about where your heartbeat starts to cause camera shake.  So the one thing you don't want to do (and which you should not do in any photography situation) is hold your breath.  Because holding your breath causes your heart to pound and your hands move ever-so-slightly when your heart beats strongly.

So here's a tip you should use every time you take a photograph:  breathe normally and calmly, then while breathing out, slowly and gently press the shutter.  Continue pressing the shutter until after you hear both the open and close clicks, and continue to breathe out until after you release the shutter button.  Practice doing this and you'll find you're doing it without thinking about it.

What are your thoughts?  What methods do you use to prevent camera shake at slow shutter speeds?

Blitz | Cumming GA Pet Photographer |

When I first met Blitz, I thought he was a very pale Golden Labrador.  (Okay, in my defence, it was a couple of months before the photo shoot and he's grown in a crazy way since then!)  But young Blitz is most definitely a white German Shepherd - which is very clear as soon as he lets out a bark.  There is nothing Labrador-ish about that!  It's a full-throated WOOF that commands attention.

Blitz didn't like me much at first, but when his mum and I spoke about doing a photo shoot, he decided I was the Best Thing Ever and was all sorts of lovey-dovey.  And that was before the doggie treats came out.

Blitz had a huge amount of fun running around the park; so much so that he needed a water-break.  And Blitz loves water.  I mean loooooves water - total, all-out infatuation with the stuff.  None of this standing to drink; he gets right down on the ground and savours every drop.  Just look at that look of bliss on his furry face!

Now that we're in our happy place with water in our tummy, we're ready for the last part of the photo shoot.

What can I say?  Blitz is living in clover.  Okay so it was a bad pun, but you know it had to be said.  Isn't he a great looking pup?

Roxie | Alpharetta GA Pet Photographer |

Here's a gorgeous goldendoodle for you - Roxie!  She's an awesome pup, 9 months old and her feet are HUGE!  She's already taller than your average dog and my guess is she's going to be pretty big when she's fully grown.

Roxie enjoyed every minute of the shoot - especially the end when she *finally* got to play in the water!  I've never seen a dog have that much fun in water.  She's a hoot!

Mutts & More Festival ~ Cumming GA Pet Photographer

Dog lovers!

This coming Saturday, 16 June 2012 is YOUR day!  

Or rather, it's your dog's day.  

The Humane Society of Forsyth County 

(which, by the way, is a No-Kill Shelter) 

is holding its 

2nd Annual

and us lot at

Southern Kiwi Photography

are teaming up with them.

Come on down, bring your pooch and visit us at our photo booth for a photo of you and your pet!

Now, you know that pretty much nothing in life is free...  but we're not asking much.  Bring a can of pet food or something from the HSFC Wish List

and we'll give you a 4x6 print of you and your pup.

If you arrive empty handed, no worries - just $5 will do.

All proceeds, whether goods or monetary, will be donated to the Humane Society of Forsyth County.

Help us help our furry friends!

Where:  Fowler Park, 4110 Carolene Way, Cumming

When:  Saturday, 16 June 2012

Time:  10am - 4pm

Admission to the Festival is FREE!

For more information visit the HSFC Website