Takapuna Beach Workshop Pics

For our workshop 'Photographing Families and Kids Outdoors' yesterday, we had the pleasure of photographing the lovely Frear-Hanson Family.

Thanks Liza, Richard, Zeph and Katelin for being such wonderful models!

On Takapuna Beach some curious onlookers surmised that they must be a famous family since the 'paparazzi' was photographing their every move... Move on over Brangelina!

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The Grand Opening!

We had a fabulous Opening event for our new studio on Friday evening... thanks so much to everyone who attended!

I told everyone about the fundraising we will be doing for The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, and Pam Williams-Jones from The Foundation explained the work that the organisation does, restoring vision to blind people in the Pacific region.

We held a taster of our first Photo Frenzy, 'Drawing with Light', in the studio. I was hugely impressed with the creativity and drawing skills displayed!

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Ballet, Tango and Happy Photogs

We had the pleasure of photographing Irina during our Studio Workshop yesterday.

An extremely talented dancer, Irina made the six workshop participants - and myself - very happy with the wonderful poses, shapes and movement she created for us. We didn't want the session to end!Irina runs her own dance studio in the city, Dance Pro, and I can vouch for her wonderful dance instruction personally as my husband and I are learning Argentine Tango there. If only I had one tenth of her dancing ability :-)

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Along Came Molly

When I first photographed the Jones Family, Samuel was crawling.

Now, adorable Samuel has an equally adorable baby sister, Molly.

Check out Molly pointing her little toe in this pic - I challenge anyone to show me a cuter wee person than her!

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Harris - Wisniewski Family

I love the energy and fun that often flows in an extended family shoot - and the Harris - Wisniewski Family was no exception.

Brothers, sisters, cousins, aunties, uncles, Grandma, and hassling each other- it's what families are all about.

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Announcing... The Photo Frenzies

Starting on December 6th, we are going to hold an open studio event called a PHOTO FRENZY on the first Sunday of every month, from 10am - 1pm. (January is the exception, with the Frenzy being held on the 17th).

It's free and open to everyone, and each month there will be a different theme. Watch out for 'Quirky Characters', 'Hollywood Starlets' and more...

Our first theme, Drawing with Light, gives you the chance to get creative - take a look at Lisa with her flower and Megan licking her lollipop.

The images will be posted online so participants can purchase prints. The best images will be made into a large artwork and exhibited on the mezzanine floor of the Takapuna Library.

See you at the first Frenzy!

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Photography Tip - Horizons

Horizons usually look better in photos if they are straight. And I mean dead straight. There is nothing worse than a slightly crooked horizon - it just looks like a mistake.

Now if I said that I always shoot my horizons straight I would be telling you a giant porker - the truth is, they are rarely completely straight. Luckily, horizons are easily fixed in Photoshop.

Here is an image with the horizon slightly higher on the right-hand side.

First, find the ruler tool (it hides under the eyedropper tool).

With the ruler tool draw a line along the horizon.

Then go to Image > Rotate Canvas > Arbitrary. Press OK.

Your image will tilt. Now crop off the white bits and voila, you have a straight horizon.

Of course - rules are made to be broken. Tilted horizons can be fun but the mood of the image needs to suit - they work best with images with high energy, movement and excitement.

And remember, if you are going for a tilted horizon effect, make sure it's really tilted.

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ImageMe helping to restore vision

I am excited to announce that ImageMe has become an official partner of The Fred Hollows Foundation.

The Fred Hollows Foundation is carrying on the work of pioneering Kiwi eye doctor Fred Hollows. It's a Kiwi not-for-profit organisation dedicated to restoring sight and reducing avoidable blindness in the Pacific, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.

Personally, I was shocked and saddened to find out that 80% of blindness in the world is treatable - in other words, 80% of the people who are blind in the world are actually blinded by poverty. Helping to restore a person's sight through a simple operation is truly a miracle - it brings amazing joy and improved quality of life not only to the person, but also their family and even their village. Here is a wonderful Campbell Live clip showing a grandmother in Fiji, Deonisia, seeing her children and grandchildren again after 9 years of blindness.

Here at ImageMe we will be donating $25 to The Fred Hollows Foundation for every family portrait session we do. $25 helps fund a simple cataract operation, such as Deonisia had. We will also be collecting donations at our monthly Photo Frenzy events - we will tell you more about the Frenzies soon!

Lisa and Megan with Pam Williams-Jones, the Hollows NZ’s Marketing and Fundraising Director.

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Sizzling Hot Salsa!

I was wowed by the skills on display when I photographed the NZ Salsa Nationals recently.

As some of you may know, I am passionate about dance, although not a particularly talented dancer myself.

Congratulations to all the winners and a special congrats to the lovely Kseniya, who came third in the Open section with her dance partner Coco. Kseniya modelled for us during a Studio Portraits workshop, back in June.

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125 Years Of Photography

Recently the Auckland Photographic Society celebrated their 125th anniversary with an exhibition of photographs in the Atrium of the Central City Library.

The images on display represented a huge range of styles and photographers. I was happy to have two of my images selected for the show (the tearful face and the ballerina).

It was fascinating seeing how photography trends have changed and yet often remained the same over time. Who knows where things will be in the year 2134?

Ashlee

I had fun photographing gorgeous Ashlee in the studio today. What amazing eyes!