Middle Earth in the Adelaide Hills

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This family is a little bit special to Head in the Clouds.  And especially to me.

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Angela and Luke have been clients of mine since their eldest daughter was a newborn.  And we were so excited when they won our Head in the Clouds launch competition and we got to photograph them again. So last weekend it was time again for another installment of this little family of four who have captured our hearts and hold a very special place in the Head in the Clouds family.

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If I could choose any piece of land to build my dream home on, this would have to be it.  This place is amazing.  You can tell why Angela and Luke fell in love with it.  As you walk along the terraces, creeks and stone stairways you feel like you are on the set of a movie.  It is just incredible.

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Yes. This is all in their backyard. Magnificent.

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xx Merryn

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‘Memories come flooding over me as I look back on the years.

I want to hold on to you and at the same time watch you fly high and free.’

- Vicki M. Worsham

A ‘little’ big brother

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I met this absolutely gorgeous family through our wedding winners John and Michelle.

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From the moment I entered this house I felt a calmness that I can not explain.  This family were just so relaxed and happy and…. content.  It was a pure joy to photograph such love in a relaxed home.  I was mesmerised by Mr L who won my heart with his bowling elephants.

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Thank you again for a lovely morning filled with giggles and fun.

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xx Merryn

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PS – You may have noticed that we have changed the name of our blog peeks to ‘First Glimpse’.  You may also have noticed a few other changes to our blog and our website over the past few weeks.  There are a few more to come, many of which we are bursting with excitement about sharing with you!  Stay tuned!

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PPS – We only have 2 spots left for our Winter Mini Sessions – Do not miss this opportunity – be quick to reserve your place!

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‘I looked at you today and saw the same beautiful eyes that looked at me with love when you were a baby…..’

- Susan Polis Schutz

Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Mini Sessions …

It has been a whirlwind few weeks here in “the Clouds” … and a huge highlight has been the amazing success of our wonderful mini sessions … Held just last weekend at the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, we met so many new Adelaide families as well as caught up with past clients and of course our families who book their mini session in every year to keep their portraits up to date.  Mini Sessions are a fabulous, convenient and affordable way to update your family photographs regularly and capture some fun moments for you to display on your walls!

Here are just a few of the absolutely gorgeous families we met on Saturday……..

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If you are still thinking about booking in for a Mini Session in Pt Elliot THIS SUNDAY, be quick as there are only a couple of spaces still available – we would love to meet you!!

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‘These are the gifts that are far above priceless.

These are the memories that are made of pure love.’

- Douglas Pagels

Family Photographer

I’m feeling reminicient today.

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My baby girl turned three yesterday (yes, three!) And as the years quickly slip by I feel more and more of that ‘happy/sad’ that you feel when you know your babies are growing up in the blink of an eye. Is it melancholy? not quite … because I can now leave the house with just one nappy and some wipes (yes, she’s still in nappies!), instead of the truck load of gear I needed only 12 months ago … but when I work with our client’s I remember (with fondness) the totters and smiles and giggles and determination of the very early years.

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These two totally gorgeous girls I worked with on Friday reminded me very much of my eldest daughter when she was little … if she wanted to go in a particular direction, nothing .. I repeat nothing … would change her course of direction. You run after her, turn her around, and immediately she turns again and is on the same course … with a determined (and surprisingly fast) totter – to reach ‘over there‘ which is far more interesting than ‘over here‘ …!

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We headed to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens for this family photography session … a gorgeous day, with just a hint of sunshine and a few last leaves on the ground …

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These two little ones certainly keep their gorgeous mumma on her toes! lol …

Thanks so much for a great morning Claire! Your girls were great! I’ll have your full gallery up very shortly

Kate xxx

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“Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.”

~Richard L Evans

I spent last Saturday morning in the lovely winery town of Langhorne Creek.  I have very fond memories of this town as my Auntie and Uncle once owned the General Store and together with my brothers, cousins and their friends we got up to all sorts of mischief (all of which I should really not write about here!).  If you have not been to Langhorne Creek you are crazy.  Get in the car this weekend and go for a drive. Not far from Strathalbyn, where you can stop for a delicious coffee at Appleseed Cafe (make sure you tell Jo we sent you!) you will find Langhorne Creek filled with vineyards, shady parks, a very cool pub and lots of friendly locals (unless football is an ‘away’ game, then the town will be empty!).

I had to giggle to myself when Sue said to me ‘I hope you can find a suitable backdrop around here somewhere’ – It was more a case of deciding between them! It is just such a beautiful beautiful little part of the world.

Then I met Sue’s family – WOW! That is just about all I can say about this totally gorgeous family. WOW WOW WOW.  How much cuteness can be squeezed in to 3 children?! I could have chased them around photographing them all day!

What a morning! I can’t believe you went and played netball afterwards!

Long Live LOLLY DAY!!

xx Merryn

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‘Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy’

- Benjamin Franklin

I just love arriving to a clients home ready for a shoot to the sound of little footsteps running around and laughter and singing bouncing everywhere. Just LOVE it.  This family made me smile for so many reasons…

Meet the two older children who were so well mannered and just absolutely adorable….

They helped me to get the twins playing and giggling… however this little lady was not having a happy day… but doesn’t she just have the cutest little pout ever?!

It was so sweet watching these two follow each other around, they seemed to share the same area of personal space. So so cute. And I can tell them apart – can you?!

Thanks for a wonderful morning and for sharing your family and your stories of travel and adventure with me. Adelaide would be very lucky if we got to keep you!

xx Merryn

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“In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play.”

Friedrich Nietzsche

This little lady was surrounded by giggles and cuddles and so much love!  The moment I stepped inside their home I could feel the excitement in the air!

And have a look at how proud her two big sisters are. A relationship lives here which will be treasured always.

Thank you for sharing a fun afternoon with me!

xx Merryn

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‘Other things may change us, but we start and end with family’

- Anthony Brandt

It is always so wonderful to be invited into client’s homes to photograph their beautiful families. And such a delight when the door is answered with “I’m sorry about the state of the house, we are currently renovating” … which, of course conjures up images of dust and dirt and demolished walls … well … I must say it was like I’d died and gone to heaven! …. beautiful empty rooms, painted white, glossy floorboards, and light bouncing around and filling the rooms …. ahhh …. perfect ….

and talk about one happy little 9 month old … they are just SO gorgeous at this age ….

Thanks for a delightful morning Ivan, Alicia and Audrey. Your home is going to look sensational (already does!) when it is finished  …

Kate x

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When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses.

~Joyce Brother

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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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