Finally! The day of John and Michelle’s wedding arrived… it felt like it took forever to get here – we were so excited to be able to give our competition winners their wedding photography package and they were the perfect couple to win such an amazing prize!

Saturday was very different to the ‘almost to bright to shoot’ day of their Engagement session at Henley Beach…. rainy and cloudy – the perfect backdrop we kept telling them…. John and Michelle did not let a silly thing like the weather spoil their day…

Sometimes people ask me if it is stressful being a Wedding Photographer…. Yes, it can be stressful… but it is also fun and rewarding and you get to meet so many wonderful people and see each couples individual touches to their wedding day.  But when you arrive to photograph the groom and you find this, you know that there will be no stress in the day at all……

The boys all looked gorgeous (can I call boys that?) in their shirts and a little fairy sent them some flowers to pin on as a surprise.. how nice…

Just as we were leaving the boys, the first drops of rain appeared on the windscreen…..  their last words to us were (regarding the location of the ceremony….) ‘You’ll find us’ LOVE how relaxed they all were.

And on to the girls…. where we found another house filled with beautiful, happy, relaxed people just getting the final touches ready…. and trying to be a little bit late to allow the boys to organise somewhere undercover for the wedding!

Kate and I headed to Henley Square, not entirely sure where the boys had relocated to…. and we found that they had cleared out the pub and had the verandah set up, guests and all, ready for an intimate wedding…. and intimate it was.  Having planned the ceremony to be outside, it was so lovely to see the owner of the local pub happy to empty out his venue so that John and Michelle had somewhere to have their wedding.

It was refreshing to be reminded that a wedding ceremony is not about the location or the weather but about the two people coming together in marriage and celebrating it with their family and friends… and from what I hear, getting married in a pub is perhaps more their style anyway…..

Seriously… how lucky were we that the rain held off for long enough for us to get outside for a few shots…. and then a mad dash inside as the rain came down again!

We headed to the Sandbar which was upstairs (closed – thank you!!!) and scouted out some great indoor locations…. it was a real challenge to not be able to go outside but we used every bit of light we could find!

How stunning are these two? They compliment each other in every way and are contagiously fun to be around. I could tell it was going to be a big night for the wedding guests!  The sun peeked through the clouds again for a very short time and we snuck out for a few more shots. So glad we did.

Thank you John and Michelle for a fabulous day – we loved every moment.

xx Merryn

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…and here is a special quote for a lovely lady I spoke to today – you know who you are….

‘To love means to never be afraid of the windstorms of life:

should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never see the true beauty of their carvings.’

- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

ahhh … the East End of Rundle Street … I’ve always wanted to do a contemporary shoot here, using the wonderful laneways and old buildings, but more often than not people look at me as though I’m crazy … so when this wonderful client actually suggested it I was blown away! Yay!

And to top it all off, the Fringe is in town! …

It was an early 8 am start, on a cold and (almost) wet morning. But it was a great shoot and little Nikita was an absolute delight! When I first met her, she jumped out of dad’s arms and gave me a big hug! Talk about getting the photographer on side!

check them out!

We found the most fabulous doors! (anyone who knows me, understands my obsession with feet and doorways!)

and I also have an obsession (which I try very hard to control) with the colour Red … *ahh bliss*

talk about gorgeous!?

Thanks for a great morning! I hope Iggle Piggle still has batteries left after we nearly wore him out!

Kate x

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The fundamental job of a toddler is to rule the universe.

~ Lawrence Kutner

We are so excited about this Expo and all the new Adelaide families we are going to meet!

It is certainly the place to be if you are expecting a baby, already have one or are a family with small children.  Plus, we are giving away our biggest prize yet so do not miss it!!

Pregnancy, Baby and Children’s Expo

Date: March 19-21

Times: 10am-4pm

Location: Adelaide Showrounds, Wayville (fully air-conditioned Goyder pavillion)

Cost: $12 (Kids under 14 free)

Would you like a VIP ticket?

We have been given a bunch of VIP entry tickets – each ticket giving you free entry for two people!

Click here (download and print) …. and be sure to stop by our stall and enter our competition that is so BIG the prize wont fit into our stall!!

See you there!

Merryn & Kate

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Talk about chilled out! ….

This little guy did an awesome, awesome job of reminding me why it is so important to have your newborn photographs taken when they are super, super tiny – Oliver is just 2 1/2 weeks old, and that is considered ‘old’ in the newborn photography world … but he still did a fantastic job of sleeping the day away, with just a couple of quick feeds from his gorgeous glowing mum, and a few cuddles from doting dad … he was a delight to photograph …

Enjoy ..

What did I tell you!? divine or what!? …

Thanks so much for a great morning, I’ll have the rest of your gallery up shortly.

Kx

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“A newborn baby is like the beginning of all things – wonder, hope, a dream of possiblities.”

-Eda J Le Shan

I love Facebook. It is true. My name is Merryn and I am a Facebook junkie. What I love about it most is that it puts you in touch with people from your past whom you may otherwise not ever cross paths with again.

Rhiannon and I grew up in the same little town.  We went to the same school, played for the same netball club, drank at the same pub and knew all of the same people.  She was someone whom I was not very close to but always admired – intelligent, friendly, good at EVERYTHING and kind to absolutely everybody.  So I was so excited when I received a Facebook message from Rhiannon asking me to photograph her (absolutely stunning) new baby girl, Zahli.

Introducing 5 week old Zahli….

Thank you Rhiannon for choosing to share this time with me. Zahli is a true angel.

Merryn xx

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‘Some people move our souls to dance’

- Unknown

You know its been a great wedding when your feet are killing you from standing/running/walking, and your cheeks hurt from smiling!

This beautiful Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens wedding of Jo & Michelle was just that!

We started in the beautiful South Australian country town of Balhanna, where ‘the boys’ were getting ready … when we arrived Jo had on not one, but TWO ties … ! … (don’t ask why), but soon Jo’s wonderful mum Michelle (yes, that’s right Jo’s mum’s name is Michelle too!) arrived to save the day !

‘the boys’ looking, in their words, ‘dapper’ – all suited up …

the great men who stood by Jo’s side …

We left the boys to their beer and antics, and headed off to Woodside to photograph the girls … and WOW. Stunning.

and not forgetting Michelle’s totally gorgeous mum, Helen.

some little details before we headed off to the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens …

As you can see, I’m already going totally overboard with this so called ’sneak peek’ … but hay … I’m allowed to get excited!

During the ceremony, the breeze caught Michelle’s hair, and Jo gently tucked it behind her ear …. *shucks* too sweet …

they are just seem so totally relaxed in each others arms ….

and finally … just as we were getting kicked out of the gardens at 6pm … we captured a couple more …

You can see Jo & Michelle’s Engagement Session also at the Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens here.

{Thank you so much for a great afternoon full of fun, laughs, gorgeous people and fabulous locations! We’ll have your full gallery up soon! Enjoy your honeymoon }

Kate (& Merryn) xx

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I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another in a lovely constellation, where we will sparkle in the heavens forever.

~ Amy Tan

Do you know what I love about Grown Up children? Particularly children who do not all get together very often…..? I LOVE that they do this….. they turn into little kids again… playing and mucking around like nothing has changed….

… and when I look at this image I can hear Suzie (the youngest and the only girl of 4 children) saying to 2 of her brothers ‘Nah, it has to be all in or nothing’ just before they attacked their 3rd brother!

The whole family flew in from around Australia and New Zealand to got together in the gorgeous country town of Mount Compass on the Fleurieu Peninsula for some family portraits to celebrate a very special birthday.  It was the first time the whole family had been together in four years and you could see Pets and Grae (mum and dad) just oozing with joy to have not only all of their children but also their grandchildren filling their house with chatting, giggles and the sounds of childrens tv shows!  It made me so sad to think that within a week they would all be gone again.  Here are a few favourites from the shoot, which I have to add, was so much fun! (And Auntie Suzie was GREAT at entertaining my subjects!)

The image I am about to show you was not set up. It was a matter of being in the right place at that exact moment.  This image reaches into my soul and pulls on all strings possible.  It makes my heart burst with love and with sadness.  This very special woman has experienced the worst loss anybody can experience and from that she see’s her children in a way that we should all try to. Love this.

xx Merryn

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‘A grown up is a child with layers on’

- Woody Harrelson

John and Michelle won our competition to win their complete wedding package.

I can not think of a couple more deserving or more grateful for this prize.  These two have been known to hang around a certain Adelaide western suburbs jetty and it seems that the photographer for the social pages of a certain Adelaide newspaper likes the look of them!  So it seemed fitting that we get some shots around their favourite beach…

These two crazy cats are fun all over, inside and out. I see their wedding as being filled with close family and friends, laughing and drinking and talking about the silly things they have done.  It will be relaxed and entertaining and so very ‘them’.  Ceremony in Henley Square, photos around Henley Square and Henley Beach and then reception at their favourite restaurant.  It doesn’t get more personal than that. Perfect.

Want to know a secret? They are getting married early March and haven’t bought their wedding rings yet!  This is how relaxed they are!  I love it!

xx Merryn

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‘Love is friendship, set on fire.’

- unknown

Oh how time flies … it seems like only yesterday she was bouncing in her jolly jumper, wearing the knees out of all her pants, toddling down the drive way to help collect the mail …

Now she is 6 … and as clever as clever …

I must admit, that our idea for a garden tea party was inspired by non-other than the ubber talented and gorgeous Jessie Broome at J-Studios.

When I first asked Morgan what she wanted to do for her birthday party, she initially said she wanted to have an ice-skating party in the back yard. I said it was a good idea, but probably not something mum and dad could organise before next century … “what about a tea party?” I said … “yep” said Morgan, and the rest is history …

So on Friday all three kids and myself jumped in the car and went op-shopping … we were on the look out for vintage cups and saucers for the girls and little crystal sherry glasses for the boys (for apple juice of course!) … we looked for vintage dresses, long gloves, pretty hats, lacy scarves …. we looked and we looked and looked and …… WE FOUND THEM! yay!

We found some tomato stakes at the hardware store and made colourful swags full of treats for the guests to take home. We filled the pinata with sherbert bombs and boiled lollies. We baked a scrumptious chocolate cake and decorated it with spots. A wonderful, wonderful friend made little tea cup biscuits. We set a craft table for the guests to make little wooden peg dolls, and we made little name tags and tied them to the teacups and sherry glasses for place settings …

So on Sunday morning, at approximately 8 am, Morgan insisted she got dressed into her ‘pretty stuff’ as she called it. She put on her dress, her gloves, her hat, brushed her hair … by 9am she was sick of it, took it all off and put a t-shirt and shorts on! …

Thankfully she decided to put it all back on just before the guests arrived!

We had 18 children in total, 7 boys and 11 girls all ranging from 20 months to 6 years … and they were so well behaved, I was amazed! They played, and played and played …

The ‘wonderful aunty Merryn’ (who must also be thanked for these wonderful photos! – I love you!) hid cut-outs of cups and saucers in the back yard, and the guests had to find at least one and bring it back to have their names written on it ready for ‘pin the tea cup’ … Morgan’s expression is just priceless!

Lipstick was applied, the pinata was a hit (pardon the pun), and pass the parcel went down a treat …

At the end of every day, when we all sit down at our rambling, raucous, messy dinner table we always do “what was the best part of your day?” …

guess what Morgan said?

.

“oh … just …. everything” ….

.

.

Mum (Kate) x

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When I was one, I had just begun,

What I was two, I was nearly new,

When I was three, I was barely me,

When I as four, I was one year more,

When I was five, I was just alive,

But now I am six, I’m as clever as clever.

I think I’ll stay six now, for ever and ever.

I have to tell you … this couple have won my heart …

Since I first met ‘A’ at the very end of last year, this couple have moved house about 6 times, started on the slog of building a house, and completely organised a wedding! Not to mention working and dancing and going to the gym! …

I am so completely excited about this wedding … a gorgeous church, a gorgeous reception, and some AWESOME locations along the way! …

We met up on Friday for their engagement session at their beautiful tree filled block where they are building their new home …

You can just tell that these two enjoy each others company so much … ‘A’ has an contagious laugh, and a smile that brightens your day. ‘M’ is quietly observant … but completely in love!

we went for a wander on their block … down to an old fallen tree, amongst platypus ponds, the butterflies danced as the sun set behind the trees …

Thanks for a beautiful afternoon guys … we can’t wait to share your wondering day in April!

Kx

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“You don’t marry someone you can live with, you marry the person who you cannon live without”

~anonymous