…in my life and others’?
My blogging pace has recently slowed down to the point where it is pretty much in line with my walking pace, but I wanted to post this little mini-peak for gorgeous clients whose wedding was the first I photographed, and who asked me to capture their precious first born, and now here they are with their second little man……
Congratulations to all of you, and thankyou for asking me to visit you once again to share in such a special time…
So here are the rest of the W’s as promised, with their true happiness and big smiles…
As I said in my mini-post, a true pleasure to work with.
xxx Sarah
…who have been more than patient (your full gallery, and a larger blog post, will be with you by the end of tomorrow). THis is one of my favourite images, but there are about another 80 to choose from where this came from.
I have loved every minute of working on your photos, it has been an absolute delight. I have never had so many smiles to choose from…..
IMPORTANT NOTE: I have no internet access (still) after our recent house move, and am not able to access any emails to the sarah@sarahblackphotography.com.au email address. I hope to have this rectified by next Tuesday (at the earliest) but this depends on a great deal of digging under our sidewalk by the lovely people at Telstra, so please bear with me on this one. If you have an urgent query, please call me on 0419 444 095.
And now a quick post to introduce the beautiful and totally fun B family, who rugged up on a very cold Melbourne morning in June. Guys your full gallery is ready, I’ll be in touch tomorrow to let you know how to access it. Apologies for the image order in this post,it’s all over the place, but I’m uploading from a mouseless laptop (hey, I’m a mac user, what can I say!).
Take care everyone, and most importantly, keep warm!
xxx
The last weeks of a first pregnancy are so beautifully unlike any other time in a woman’s life. I think (with the benefit of hindsight, lol). In amongst all the hope and expectation and a sort of physical hiatus (while our bodies gear up for the journey that is labour), and even notwithstanding all the washing of tiny little clothes, and making of casseroles, and the detailed examination of the myriad of baby-related products in the supermarket aisle which you’ve never before given a second glance. Despite all this, there is a stillness to these last weeks of pregnancy, the last few moments of a you not yet fully defined by this new role, that will take everything you knew about life and love, and make you look again.
And then there is the stillness that follows, in the first few days of your baby’s life. The one which unfurls at 3 am in your hospital room or bedroom at home, when there are no visitors or presents or jangling phone. Just you, a bottle or a breast, maybe your partner, and the deep deep gaze of your child, drinking you in like milk.
So, I have been thinking for quite some time about newborns, and not just my own little one quietly brewing away in my belly. Thinking and thinking and thinking, and not knowing quite which direction to go in. And then I met Ashley Skjaveland, who probably has no idea of the impact she has had on me, and so many things have become instantly clear.
Firstly, much gratitude is due to those who have entrusted me to photograph your newborn treasures over the past year. I have met some beautiful little souls and their wonderful parents, and have learnt so much about the delicate art of newborn photography along the way. I thank you for your patience and trust, and the love that led you to search out a photographer to capture this fleeting and wonderful time.
And so on that note I am announcing some changes to the way I photograph newborns which will be apply to all newborn sessions I offer when I return from maternity leave in February 2011. Details will be available on my website later in the year, but for the time being I will no longer offer studio newborn photography, and will only be available to offer in-home newborn photography in a new package session to be known as:
new.love.born [storybook session]
Why?
Because just as important, it feels to me, as the toes and the shoulders and the squishy lips, and far more important than the cute hats and the soft toys, are the relationships and connections that this tiny little new human is building in your family, even in the first days and weeks of his life. Each little breath, and tiny finger grasp, is a never to be repeated moment in these precious early days, and when I spend a whole session pursuing variations of perfect curled up naked newborn-ness, I feel like there are other photographs I have missed, and they are the ones that make my heart sing.
So the service I would like to offer going forward, is thus: I will come into your home, with only the simplest of ‘accessories’, and photograph you, your newborn, and everyone else that makes up your home. I won’t bring backgrounds or light stands or 18 different textured blankets, wraps and fuzzy hats. I will just be in your house for a little while, soaking up how it all feels, and photographing your life. The photographs will tell the story of the slow and perfect hours you and your baby spend together, getting to know each other breath by breath, and cry by cry. I do truly feel that the miracle of new life is not only in the perfect curled up limbs, and the tiny details of your baby’s newness, but lives also in the quiet moments of feeding, and the craziness of older siblings, and the simple act of holding and cherishing. This is what I want to photograph, and give, to you.
There will be no time limit on these sessions, and no pressure to ‘get’ certain types of shots. Apologies, but I will not aim to ‘copy’ photographs by other photographers or even images from my own gallery, or achieve certain poses, because I don’t feel that those photos can be truly reflective of your family’s spirit. And if you have found me and called me to make a booking, then I figure you will be ok with that, and we will make photographs that make your heart sing too.
As part of your session fee your photographs will be presented to you in a stunning custom made photographic book, which will become an heirloom for you and your child to enjoy forever. As always, prints and digital negatives will also be available for additional purchase.
So finally, here is a preview of a session recently conducted that reflects this shift in direction. My enormous thanks goes out to J and A who recently allowed me into their lives for a little while, to capture these intimate photographs.
With Much Love,
Sarah
Having just returned from a beautiful and relaxing two weeks in sunny morth Queensland, I spent the first two days back complaining about the cold, and the heaviness of our winter light down here.
But then I opened up the files for this beautiful session, shot before I went away, and I fell in love with the depth and the colour and the weight of this gorgeous Mornington Peninsula location, and the atmosphere that just winds through these photos and is so inseparable from the story of this gorgeous couple. I joined S and B at B’s birthday picnic at Darling Park Winery in Red Hill, a beautiful way for them to celebrate a special day and an opportunity to capture these intimate and loving photos, in preparation for their wedding next year, which will indeed have an Alice in Wonderland theme. S is from Sydney, and flew down especially for this occasion; thankyou so much for sharing this precious time with me.
S xx
Just another mini-post post to share this evening, this time a sneak peek into some recent images shot for Christina at Dollcake, a wildly popular and stunning range of vintage-inspired clothing for little girls, and now babies can join in the vintage gorgeous-ness too! Go check out Christina’s stunning designs here on facebook, and join up as a fan, she also has great giveaways for those on her enormous fan list! If you love these little nappy pants as much as I do, you will need to know that they will not be available via her website, but only in selected stores nationwide, so contact Christina to find out where you can find them.
A huge shout out to my stunning model baby M, and her equally stunning and oh-so-patient mummy M.
The DOLLCAKE STORY….
The Dollcake collection is an array of adorable fashion wear created for girls aged 2-8 years. Each piece is individually designed using adorable fabrics with soft vintage inspired pallets, embellished floral accessories and laces with a touch of elegance. Every piece is unique with a special flair and oh-so-girly. You’ll find just the right outfit for any occasion.
Designed in Melbourne
Just a little bit of self congratulation in today’s post 
I have just returned from two weeks holiday in Queensland, so to my clients thankyou for your patience while I have been lying on the beach sunning myself, I am at my desk again now and fully back into work mode! In my haste to leave real life I neglected to modify my email auto-response, and so apologise to anyone who emailed me and wondered why they received no response at all for up to two weeks. Hopefully I have now responded to everyone.
While away I received the exciting news that I had received a Silver Award at the Australian Professional Photography Awards judging, held this year at PMA in Melbourne. I entered three prints, for the 2nd year running, and was pleased with all final scores, as these awards are judged by the most awarded and highly regarded photographers in Australia. Entering these awards is a fantastic learning experience and a great opportunity to grow skills and be exposed to, and judged alongside, the best in the Australian photographic industry.
I was equally pleased in April to enter the Victorian chapter of the same award process (for the first time) and also received a Silver merit.
Big thanks to the B family for allowing me to submit the following print to the award process…
xxx S
Do you (those readers with kids, anyway) look around your house in particular moments and wonder, out loud, as you open the bottle of wine as fast as your fingers will work, ‘where did those short loud sticky people come from, the ones who’ve just eaten all my cheese and crackers?’.
Well, there was a particular moment during this shoot, when we were trying to get some photos of mum and dad together, you know all loving and romantic and basking in the glow of their upcoming marriage, but then there were these 2 other small people over there on a blanket, eating crackers (and dirt, and just possibly some poisonous berries), arguing over toys, howling just as loud as they could to let us know they photoshoot time was sooooo over, and honestly, you couldn’t have set a more romantic mood if you’d flown Michael Buble in himself. By the time we got to the wee accident all over the cracker box it was all you could do to say ‘how’s the serenity?’.
This was truly one of the most fun photo sessions ever (for me, anyway, lol); S, A, L and M, you are all made for each other. I sometimes/often say to clients that I can only photograph you having a wonderful time, being loving, and relaxed and having fun, if that is truly what you are doing. You guys just radiate joy, I am just in love with your two little men, and I am thrilled to be photographing your wedding next year.
Enjoy!
