I usually put my camera down on my days off with Poppy and Gus but today I decided to snap some photos of them playing in the alleyway in our street.  Or as they like to call it, the ‘bumpy road’.  I’m so glad I did, as contrary to what most people think I don’t actually take that many photographs of them (once you take my iphone out of the equation).  It’s hard to believe but they turn three this month.  Two has been such a fun year, full of so many laughs and giggles, and although they have always been good buddies the last few months has seen a real surge in the enjoyment they get from each others’ company.   They have a great ability to play and have fun together now without intervention from anyone else, and I love just sitting back and watching them when they do.  Yep, if I could box the last year up and put it on the shelf it would definitely be a keeper.

PS. How gorgeous are those autumn leaves in the background!?  Once you get over the rain, this time of year really is beautiful …

I read somewhere we apparently don’t view photographs as art, we are much more likely to pay for a painting or illustration and put them on our wall instead.  I love art as much as the next person but wonder why we don’t place as much value on photographs, particularly when they have such personal content? Is it because we are in them and are too shy to put ourselves on the wall?  Do we think they will outdate over time?  Are we content to keep all of our memories on our iphones these days?  I hope not!  I’m sure there is truth in all of those things but maybe we just need to start treating our photos more like art – after all, that’s what they are – and along with that think outside the box about how we display them?  I’ve definitely been a bit of a traditionalist in the past and usually printed and framed my photos, but for my last display I wanted to go in a different direction and turn my images into something that was a bit more arty and fun.  What do you think?  Not everyone is going to go for a collage like this, or have the right house for it, but what I love about photography is that there are just SO many different things you can do with it. Definitely have your traditional photos on the wall, they are timeless and always will be, but don’t be scared to mix it up a little and do something different with your images too!  My favourite products at the moment are my images printed on stone and framed in recycled timber.   They are low-energy, eco-friendly, unique, and so beautiful!  Again, maybe not for everyone, but they definitely turn your photos into more of a work of art, and maybe they are the sort of products we need to start thinking about in order to place more value on our images.  I’ll blog about those soon too so everyone can see what they look like.  Anyway, enough rambling – for someone who is a crap writer I hit you with way too many words sometimes, I’m sorry

Has anyone gone outside the box?  Would love to hear about or see what others have done …  Tell me about it here or even better post it to my FB page.  Fi x

PS.  My house is not often that tidy.   In face, I had to photoshop a few cobwebs from the ceiling.  Well I can’t help it if I’m short!

Ooh and by the way, can’t post this without crediting the lovely Laura who took our beautiful family photos last year which I used for the collage.  Love your work Laura!

It feels like ages since I’ve blogged a portrait session, so here’s one of my favourites from late last year.  I thought something bright and colourful was needed after all the dreary rain we’ve had this week!

I was really chuffed when last year Michelle from Sacred Self told me she was flying down to Melbourne from Sydney and wanted me to take some profile shots for her to use on her website and for marketing purposes.  Michelle is an inspiration so it seemed fitting to blog her shots today, on International Women’s Day.  Her business is all about self-love, and her website offers a range of alchemical oils, scents and other products that encourage it (I’m sure Michelle’s website explains it much better than I do so please go see for yourself via the link above).  As a photographer who regularly sees women cringe at photographs of themselves even when they look AMAZING, I think all of us could do with a good dose of self-love more often, particularly on a day like today.  No one is flawless, but we are all beautiful, and we should remind ourselves – and our friends and loved ones – of that every single day.  Happy International Women’s Day everyone!  And Michelle, keep up the amazing work! xo

Kristin and Joel were married last Saturday – yay!!! – so depending on which way you look at it, this post is either waaaaaay late, or timed perfectly!  A few months before the wedding they contacted me and asked if they could do an engagement session for two main reasons.  One, to have some practice being in front of the camera so they would hopefully feel more comfortable on the day, and two, because they wanted to use the images for a slideshow during their signing.  Well, since the wedding has just gone I can happily say that they achieved both outcomes with great success!

Kristin and Joel, I can’t wait to show you your wedding images (sneak peek will be coming soon on FB!) but for now let’s just relive your gorgeous engagement session, which will hopefully inspire other couples to do something similar.  I hope you are both having an amazing time on your honeymoon! x

I photographed this gorgeous little angel when she was just a few weeks old, so it was lovely to see her and her parents for another session 12 months later.  She’s grown into the cutest little thing ever, and has a pair of trainers to match …  

A few weeks ago our lovely, lovely neighbours – who we sadly only got to live next door to for a short time up – up and left to live in Copenhagen.  I love Melbourne but I have to admit I am just a little bit envious!!!  Unfortunately they had to leave behind their gorgeous pup Alan, so we took a few snaps of him with his best friend before they had to part ways.  I hope they are both coping okay without each other in their new homes … xoxo

To all the wonderful dads out there, for every little and big thing you do, Happy Father’s Day. There would be much less joy in the world without you. xxx

Back in June and July I did some mini-sessions with families from Tree House Child Care in St Kilda to raise money for the Mirabel Foundation, a wonderful organisation that helps children up to the age of 17 that have been either orphaned or abandoned due to drug use by their parents.  Please check out their site when you have time.  My words here really wouldn’t do justice to the amazing work they do; reading the stories of just some of the children that they have helped is heart-wrenching and a stark reminder of the stress-free life most of us have. But back to the mini-sessions!  I have a few that I have been dying to blog and I thought I would start with one of my faves.  This little guy totally stole my heart, and no doubt you will be able to tell from the images below how much fun we had and what a beautiful spirit he has.

Speaking of heart-wrenching, some beautiful shots of Ethan with his mum to finish off …

A couple of weeks ago I blogged the first of two posts I have been dying to share with everyone here.  So this is part two and I hope you enjoy these images.  These guys are such special friends of mine, and their little man is going to grow up into a gorgeous, smart and much-loved individual, just like both of his parents.  I really treasured being able to take these photos for them.

I want to give a special thanks here to Sarah for allowing me to share the first few images below.  Even though I have signed consent to post images from any of my sessions I always check with clients first before posting anything of a personal nature, and if they prefer I didn’t well then I don’t.  Sarah however was kind enough to let me share these and I’m so grateful as I think they are beautiful images of a beautiful subject.  I’m sure you’ll all agree!

Fast forward a few weeks and it doesn’t get much cuter than this.