I don’t often post about my personal life. In fact kate and I made a new years resolution to publish more personal posts on this blog but we have not done so yet.  This week I experienced a new level of emotion and feeling that I had not yet experienced. I shake as I type these words. still drawing up the emotion involved in this post.

When I think about ‘Life’ and what it means and why we are here I always come back to the same thing. Love. And when I think about ‘Love’ and what it means I also always come back to the same thing, or the same person I should say, and that is my Grandpop.  He loves my Grandnan at an astronomical level. Like nothing I have ever seen. This is a photo of that gorgeous woman he fell in love with so many years ago…. the first time they met she was collecting money for a charity and he gave her his last penny to be able to speak to her….

A few years ago my Grandnan began to suffer from Dementia. At first it was silly things she would forget, like how to switch on the tv or someone’s name. And gradually it became worse. Now she does not know who I am. She asks me ‘who is the little girl’ about my son and she looks at my husband in a way that I know she is wondering who this strange man is with his arms around me. It is absolutely heart breaking.

My Grandpop is a very special person.  He is not just ‘my’ special person but he is everybody in our families special person. He is there for everybody and would give the shirt off his back. He has worked hard his whole life to give his family opportunities that he never had.  I can talk to him about anything and I share with him everything.  He is 83 years old and he is my Grandnan’s full time carer.

When Grandnan first started changing, Grandpop and I were talking about ‘Love’ and he told me he has never loved her more than he does today. I know that he still feels that right now, right this second.   The next day I was driving down a busy road when I saw out of the corner of my eye an old couple walking hand in hand down the street and I thought to myself how beautiful that was. As I got closer I realised it was them and a tear slid down my cheek as I realised how happy they were just being together.

Almost 50 years ago they made the decision to leave England and everything they knew to live in Australia. They did not know a single soul here. Together they raised their two children, my mum and my uncle and were rewarded with seven Grandchildren, one of whom sadly passed away shortly after she was born. Today they have four Great Grandchildren who absolutely adore them and one more on the way.  Grandpop’s heart is bigger than anybody I have ever known. I sometimes wonder how he has room to fit it all in but I resolve that his heart just keeps growing bigger and bigger.

This is my Grandnan and Grandpop on their wedding day.

Last week my Grandpop was rushed to hospital. This left the family to care for Grandnan. It was very clear that Grandnan needed to be somewhere she could have access to 24 hour care and that Grandpop’s enormous heart overflowing with love was not enough to care for Grandnan anymore.  He was becoming sick too.

Grandpop is out of hospital now and Grandnan has moved into a Nursing Home close by.  A Nursing Home filled with staff who are passionate about their work, who are kind and gentle and soothing.

I can see that this the most painful thing Grandpop has ever felt.  60 years of marriage and they have shared almost every single minute together.  He visits her every day and talks to her about life. He tells her stories about their life together and about our family. He is her best friend and she is his.

Im not sure why I felt to post this.  It was certainly not easy to write. I think I just wanted to share their beautiful never ending love.

Grandpop you are amazing.  You have taught me a new level of love, respect and compassion and I admire you more than anything or anyone else on this earth. I love you and Grandnan with all of my heart and will never, ever let either of you forget it.

xxM

I met Lauren and her gorgeous family last week when I photographed their Portraits as a part of the Australian Community of Child Photographers.

The Australian Community of Child Photographers (formerly known as the Australian Charity of Child Photographers) is a volunteer organisation of child photographers from all over Australia who have come together to form an organisation dedicated to giving the gift of photographic memories to families that have experienced stillbirths, premature and ill infants and children in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units of their local hospitals, as well as children with serious and terminal illnesses. The ACOCP is dedicated to providing this gift to families in a caring, compassionate and heartfelt manner.

Lauren stole my heart instantly. She giggled. She played. She was slobbered on by a Newfoundland, nipped at by a Border Collie puppy, she argued with me about where to have the photos and she giggled some more. Then she made me giggle.  She bossed her teenage brother around, she cuddled her mum and teased her dad.  She made us all giggle.  She was cheeky, gorgeous and an absolute delight to photograph.

She reminded me one single an hour what life is all about. Making the most of every moment. Laughing out loud. Being with family and friends.

Thank you for sharing your family with me.

xxM

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‘Happiness or unhappiness is often a matter of choice’

- anonymous

November and December were so busy we did not get a chance to share everything we had hoped with you from all of the incredible weddings we were lucky enough to be a part of in 2009.  So stay tuned for some updates to come… starting with David and Jo who clearly had the hearts of all their family and friends…

I have said this so many times – the Adelaide Hills are truly magical and we get so excited when we are asked to photograph weddings in the Hills.  And we know them inside and out.  If you are planning your wedding and would like some recommendations on Adelaide Hills locations flick us an email.

xx Merryn & Kate

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‘Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly!’

- anonymous

At the recent Bridal Expo at Wayville Showgrounds, these new products stole the show!

The beautiful Acrylic Block Tiles come in three sizes,

mini (10 cm x 10 cm x 2 cms thick) set of three square

small (10 cm x 15 cm x 3 cm thick)

medium (20 cm x 30 cm x 3 cm thick)

large (30 cm x 30 cm x 4 cm thick)

They are gloriously heavy and beautifully crafted here in Australia. What a refreshing way to display your images in your home!

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“Today I will be happier than a seagull with a hot chip”

- anon

Photographing these two absolutely completely stunning girls made me want one all of my own.  First I met Matilda, 2 years old and cute as a button. She greeted me at the door a little shy but we soon became great friends… this little angel is so super sweet….

It didn’t take Matilda long to start chatting away, deep in conversation at one point she picked up a cushion and said ‘Mummy, did we buy this at Harbour Town?’ – LOVE it! *giggle*

Meet Matilda’s little sister Harriet, the reason we were there for the shoot… simply perfect in every way….

And mum and dad in awe of their newest addition. Of course I had to sneak another one in of my new friend Matilda – too cute!

Adelaide is a funny little place, I just love the way that in Adelaide you can always make a connection with someone – turns out I went to Primary School with these guys – and I have to say – what a beautiful beautiful family you have created, I enjoyed every minute I shared with you and your very special girls. Will be in touch!

xx Merryn

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‘In our life there is a single colour,

as on an artist’s palette, which provides

the meaning of life and art.

It is the colour of love.’

- Marc Chagall

When you drag a couple into the scrub, ask them to walk through waist high weeds and climb half way up a hill next to Mount Lofty, wondering ‘am i pushing the boundaries here’ – it is so refreshing to hear them respond eagerly ‘of course we can’, ’sure!’  I think if I had asked them to walk all the way to Mount Lofty they would have and all in the name of capturing a great photo – so Thank You for being explorers with me, we found a great spot and had many laughs chatting away as we went.

Don’t forget that the Summer Bridal Ideas Expo is on this weekend at the Wayville Showgrounds – be sure to stop by and visit us!

xx Merryn

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“My night has become a sunny dawn because of you.”
–Ibn Abbad

oh … the places my camera takes me …

I seriously have the best job in the world. The locations I get to photograph at are extraordinarily beautiful, and todays shoot was no exception … a gorgeous property perched delicately on a hill in the middle of a paddock, surrounded by grasslands and overlooking what seemed like the entire Lower Murray Lakes and Wetlands … we could see Currency Creek, Goolwa, Finnis, Clayton, Lake Alexandrina and beyond …

And this family were just sublime … a perfect little knit of personalities, sharing little private jokes, and smiling that ‘I am surrounded by the people I love’ kind of smile …

Thanks for a great morning guys … I could sit in your lounge room and look at that view all day!

Kate x

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Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.  Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.  ~Jane Howard

Planning weddings can be a stressful task. There is so much to do and so much to think about …

I met with an awesome couple on the weekend who are getting married in February at the beautiful Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens … they are so relaxed … honestly, I don’t think I’ve met a couple who seem so calm about it all … and that’s how it should be, your wedding day should flow and feel comfortable and unforced and be a reflection of ‘you’ …

This couple also seemed so comfortable in front of the camera … I can’t wait for their big day, a beautiful setting, beautiful people … a sensational day!

Thanks for a great morning guys – your day will be sensational and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Kate x

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The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

Allan Chalmers

What a beautiful family to photograph. Every time I photograph this clan, they are always the same – welcoming, lovely, relaxed.  They are so easy to work with, it is a wonderful experience every single shoot.  The newest family member Luka is way too cute – I could have photographed him all day. (You can see Luka as a bump here) The thing I love most though about photographing the second child is witnessing the interactions between siblings – Erika was so gentle and calm, just like her mum, running to the nursery to get nappies and cloths, just adorable.

Enjoy these moments. They just do not last long enough.

xx Merryn

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‘Every child begins the world again….’

~Henry David Thoreau

SEE YOU THERE!

Kate & Merryn xx

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