In December I got an email from another Rachel, but that Rachel goes by Ray.
Ray told me about a little sock monkey named Alfie.
Alfie took lots of trips, but his last was a very important one.
It was filled with lots of adventures and it was also the final voyage Alfie would take with Paul.
Paul was Ray’s fiance.
Last January, Paul passed away.
Stupid cancer.
Alfie is set to take some more adventures, but this time they will be with Paul in spirit.
These very special jaunts are submitted by readers for (a minimum of) $1 each and will be illustrated by some truly amazing artists.
This illustrated odyssey will come to life in an eBook that will be sold to raise money to help others.
Those others who helped Paul take his last road trip with Ray and Alfie continue to help people in need.

Ray, you live up to your name by being a beam of light and carrying on this project in Paul’s memory.

Alfie, we think you have done a lot for being only a 6″ tall little monkey that you need to have a vacation sipping a banana smoothie on a beach somewhere warm and sunny.

Read their story in their words on Alfie’s Adventures webpage and send in your own idea for a fantastic journey.

Cradle Rock (Australian) Winter 2012 featuring multiple designers!
Test your Australian kid fashion designer knowledge with a great contest to guess which ones are which on the Cradle Rock Facebook Page soon!

Full shoot released in the coming weeks.

People often ask me about the kid fashion and advertising campaigns that I shoot and why it rarely ends up on the blog. There are a few reasons that there is so much daily family life here on the blog. The main explanation for (at least) this commercial side of the business is that the images are shot with sample designs long before the actual garments are sent to retail stores. We get a really early look at the clothes when we use these manufacturer samples for the shoot and by the time the actual line is released, I am on to other projects. When I get a handle on my blog’s slight tidy-up/redesign, I will consider doing some scheduled posts to go live live at a later date so that I don’t forget. It is when people message me on Facebook with images they have taken of my work out in the world that I remember the things I forgot to post!

I have to say though, these might just be my favorite kids of shoots!

Peta Mazey and I are creating our photo workshops this year around the commercial/advertising field within kid photography. Protecting designers from the quick turnaround ripoffs in chain stores is just one rationale for holding shoots from publication and we will be talking about the details of the business with a kid fashion rep, kid retailer and more industry insiders! There is a lot to consider from bidding jobs, translating client briefs, casting and scouting, shoot production, labor laws, turnaround time and licensing of the images for a start. All of the information we will provide can be used from jobs ranging from small Etsy lines on through editorial spreads and even creating lookbooks for kid fashion lines. It is a lot of fun and something that we both love, so we are excited to share with you.  The three locations we have planned are Melbourne, Los Angeles and New York City. Melbourne dates have been pushed back due to various work conflicts, but the new dates will be released soon. The information on the actual workshop remains the same though and you can read about it on the Camera Therapy page. We do have a waiting list started for the other cities, so if you are interested, email and we will notify you of the developing details!

Now to take an evening off to celebrate my 8th wedding anniversary!

This year I am joining some wonderful photographers in a blog series that is all about photographing life as it happens on one day. The project is called 10 on 10 and this post is my first go.

10 lines of images posted on the 10th of the month.

Every month.

These were from camping over New Years. I loved the challenge of taking images over a ten hour period. It was wonderful to work in such different lighting situations from bright sun to campfire. The hardest part…only picking ten to show here!*
Good thing diptychs count as one line!

Explore the whole series and maybe even find some new photographers for inspiration by following the links. Next in line is Gretchen Davis | Portland Lifestyle Photographer

*The rest of the camping images are going into an album on the Facebook fan page!

Exactly two years ago, Peta and I had a book deal and also absolutely no idea what we were in for. We announced our big idea and got to work. It was a case of me actually getting a contract before I had time to think better of it. Had I taken a moment to consider of the logistics involved, I really believe that I would still be sitting here with my (unpublished) great intentions kicking myself for being scared. Don’t get me wrong, I was terrified, but I could not do anything about it at that point as the legal papers had all been signed. One night while searching for reassurance that I could actually do this thing, I was reading Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott and she related some advice that I immediately tattooed on the inside of my mind:

“E.L. Doctorow said once said that ‘Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.’ You don’t have to see where you’re going, you don’t have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just have to see two or three feet ahead of you. This is right up there with the best advice on writing, or life, I have ever heard.” 
― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

That was it. That was all it took. The next morning I began to do just what needed to be done as needed (little by little). Two years on and we have a book. It is something that I am immensely proud of…not just considering we actually did it, but because the content is thorough and helpful and positive. These years later, I still passionately believe in the idea that you don’t have to be a pro to take great photographs and even more to the point, if you take great photographs you don’t have to go and become a pro. There are a lot of people who want to take better pictures merely because they value and enjoy fabulous photography. They see art they would like to capture in the world all around them. With the advance of digital photography, they can finally afford to let the photographer that has always been inside of them come out and learn.  These last few years I have been fortunate to meet more and more of these people who share my love of exploring daily life through photography. We are building a community where the simple moments are celebrated. A place where pros who don’t can’t put the camera down between paid shoots and regular folks who photograph their own daily life in between their yearly sessions with a professional portrait photographer can come together. It will be wonderful to be able to feature some of their work in a new series over on the new and improved Beyond Snapshots blog. Please join us.

Just this weekend I watched the twins face some fears. Clover and Kieran are finally big enough to get on their balance bikes. They are hesitant and frustrated, but clearly yearn to be zipping off down the sidewalk. They know what the bike can do, they just need to figure out that the pain of crashing along the way is worth the freedom of the ride.

Today the Beyond Snapshots book is featured on a post on The New York Times.

The ride is worth it.

and that more was a chance to really get to know some amazing people, come away with a whole new group of fascinating and brilliant friends plus experience a fantastic city that I had only ever seen pictures of in travel magazines.

Air Asia X was our official travel sponsor for this trip and flew us from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur and back again. I have never flown a budget airline for a long haul flight before and I have learned from this trip that there are a few things one must do to make the journey comfortable. If you are planning on flying Air Asia X (or any other budget airline, I suppose) take note. Fork out some cash for the pre-booked meal, the comfort pack (aka: a blanket, pillow and mask), extra baggage allowance (because they even weigh your carry on) and if you are feeling spendy, book the “hot seat”. Those are the ones with extra leg room. Make sure your own personal entertainment is sorted or bring cash money to rent one of theirs. All in all, do as much of what you can online at least 4 hours ahead of your flight (including check-in) or it will cost you extra on top of the extra it is already costing you. If you really want my advice, unless you are a 19 year old back packer on a super tight budget, consider keeping your budget airline flights 4 hours and under. While I am grateful for the flights they gave me, I have to be honest, I think my joints are a bit too old at this point to be shoved into those tiny budget seats for a 9 hour red eye flight ever again.

After the flights arrived, we were met by someone from Nuffnang Malaysia and taken to the Marriott with enough time to kill in the spa (heaven!) having some wonderful tea and getting my nails done.

Followed by a quick bite to eat with a cute and tasty lunch companion.

Back up to the room with a great view over the killer pool. That is what I want my back yard to look like, ok?

Since we flew the red eye and were there first thing in the morning, I had time for a nap before our big night. I love naps and luckily my darling roommate for this trip is halfway into her pregnancy and was more than delighted to have a nap too!

I woke up to a thunderstorm that signaled the arrival of late afternoon in the tropics. It was time to get gussied up in my Hen’s Night dress of 8!! years ago (it was touch and go for a minute there) and head down for pre-awards show drinks with the team from Nuffnang Australia. I had not yet had a chance to ever meet any of them in person before so it was great fun. They are all great fun, and gorgeous and young…so freaking YOUNG. I digress.

Insert the Nuffnang Asian Pacific Blog Awards night here. I did not take my real camera down with me and just enjoyed being one of the five finalists for Best Photography Blog! While I did get one shot of the category board in the lobby with my phone camera, I will have to hunt down a picture of the GIANT panel photo they projected on the stage during the category announcement. That was cool. Also, I think I may have to borrow some wording from the sign as I have decided my new blog tagline should be “gorgeous photos of the mundane.”
Fitting, don’t you think?

The following day we were treated to a bus tour of Kuala Lumpur by Tourism Malaysia. What a gorgeous city and there was so much to see and do that I know I could easily have spent a week just beginning to scratch the surface. I also know for sure that I will be back. I think the kids would love it.

Some of the dedicated were a bit tired still from the previous evening’s protracted festivities.

but everyone rallied in the end. Beyond the monuments and palaces, there was shopping to be had…

That shot of my feet is for Sarah.

These Petronas Towers at night are something else…they look like they are made of sparkling crystal.

Right on cue, the late afternoon showers started to roll in and we headed back to the hotel.

All too soon, the day was over and it was time again to get ready for an evening out. Let me just say that Nuffnang knows how to throw a fantastic party. What a wonderful trip it was.

So there it is, my first ever blogging awards trip recap in pictures (and just a few words) because that is what I do…I am a photoblogger. And after this weekend, I am even more proud to be able to say that. Thank you for coming back week after week to celebrate the mundane (yours and mine) with me. Sometimes it is just a simple change of angle that makes something so little like moments from our daily lives seem grand. Often you just need to come back when the light is better to capture the diamond sparkling in the dirt. I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be a great year…after all it is only how I look at it that matters.
It is a wonderful thing to be able to appreciate the ordinary as extraordinary through photographs and I am grateful for your support. I look forward to following the beauty you find in your daily lives as well, so make sure you link up your blogs in the comments so we can all find our way. I will be joining a great little blog round-robin of like minded lifestyle photobloggers who, once a month, pick a day and then shoot pictures of their life every hour for 10 hours and post the resulting photos on the 10th of that month. Look for my 10 on 10 starting in January!

Photo information: I only took my D3 and the manual focus 35mm f/2 lens. I was hoping to pick up some new camera gear while I was there, but I just did not have the time I wanted to make my choice. I take that as a sign that it is just not the right time to add/change equipment and maybe one of the rumored new Nikon bodies due in 2012 is actually what I have been waiting for. Once again, I enjoyed the challenge of having to shoot all manual (including focus) and in the end the plenty that I already have is well…plenty.

I got an amazing phone call today that my blog has been chosen as one of the five finalists in the Best Photography Blog category of the Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2011!

I am so honored and proud and excited. My camera is my therapy and being able to share the world (and even just my little home and backyard) through my lens is good for my soul. Photography helped me climb out of my postpartum depression and then through the unexpected valley of infertility. It has allowed me work through so many of life’s ups and downs. Blogging those photos has brought me in touch with people who needed to hear my stories and those who had lessons for me to learn. I know what photography can do and I am grateful for the opportunity to share those joys, simple to profound with all of you who keep coming back to look.  Sharing my photos with the world was something I only dreamed of when I started taking pictures age 14. I mean, in 1984 I thought maybe if I was lucky,galleries and magazines…never did I imagine coming into people’s lives so intimately as blogging does.  Knowing that I am connecting with others is amazing. Being recognized for that with an award nomination…I don’t have words yet.

Really, thank you for the nomination and support! The voting is opened up to the public from the 15th of November through the 27th.

VOTE HERE

Winning or not, I am off to the awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in December.

EEEP!

I have had a few requests lately for the ability to right click and save images off my blog. I have that feature turned off for a few reasons and while it does say to ask nicely, I will not be turning the feature back on. However, I love the idea of collecting inspirational images so please, Pin anything you want from here.

Pinterest is the best way to keep a collection of your favorite images from the web from decorating ideas, recipes you may want to try and fashion tips. Anything visual, Pinterest is your personal catalog. I can’t imagine that there is anyone left who has not already heard about this awesome site, but if you have not…check it out, sign up and get pinning!

And Halloween is coming…Australia, we are trick or treating this year whether you like it or not.
Knock Knock, the Americans are here.

Gemma will be a witch, Clover will be Snow White and Kieran…a Fireman. He did not get the family theme memo.
What will your kids be?

I think I dragged out these posts because I just wanted to make sure I could relive a little bit of the trip once I was back in Melbourne.

Tomorrow I will finally be able to write about my Camera Therapy workshops, introduce you to the one app that changed my business and let you know about what is in the works for Melbourne in February!

Thanks for sharing the wedding with me through my lens and this was when I put the camera away, fed my kids some much deserved ice cream (vanilla so as not to stain the dresses) and got myself a nice glass of red wine. Parties with my family are epic and this was a gorgeous one that I will not forget. I am a bit proud to say that I pushed myself creatively not only shooting a wedding (and liking it) but doing the majority of it (all of the images on this page) in complete manual mode…I mean white balance and manual focus too. What a thrill. It really does go to show that putting yourself outside of your comfort zone can strengthen your abilities. And I have fallen in love with this old 35mm lens.

This post is all about the horses because when you are part of a horse loving family and get married at The Black Horse Inn, you can’t forget the horses!

Back to the typical bridey stuff in the next wedding post!

We made it back to Australia and our luggage did too…just not on the same plane as we were on. Now I am sitting in a fog of jet lag and happy memories of the trip. Since I can’t quite pull myself together to write my thoughts on the trip and the workshops just yet (they were more wonderful than I even imagined they would be and we are now planning many more), I wanted to share more images from my niece’s wedding. I will blog about the rest of the trip as soon as I can think again!

There are so many photos in this post. I can’t believe how many more there are left after this. The wedding goes on and on. Thank goodness I put my camera down after they said “I do” or the blog might explode.

Enjoy the love:

I am working on a post about The Camera Therapy workshops that I ran this past weekend in the DC area. I will be announcing plans for the next ones and I really want to share the experiences of some of the people who came to these first ones in the states. I just need the jet lag to lift. Next installment of the wedding photos has horses and the beautiful bride all beautiful and bride-like!

Again like the majority of my work, these were taken in jpeg on the Nikon D3 without much post processing. A lot of these were taken with the old manual focus 35mm f/2 lens.