I hope you have a beautiful Mother’s Day with yours.

Mel & Sophia xx

{Image shot at JinkyArt workshop, Canberra 2012}

I’m full of pride for this gentle, sensitive, considerate and loving little person who takes my heart with her wherever she goes.  How blessed we are to have her.

Happy birthday, my darling Sophia!  I hope your every wish comes true.

Love you forever, Mummy xx

……

I’ve had an amazing journey through 2012.  The time has passed so quickly and yet, I feel I’ve achieved more this year than I have in so many years past.  It certainly ended on a high note – with a JinkyArt workshop, held in Canberra, late November.

I honestly could not have been more excited – or nervous – about meeting Barb Uil, and experiencing JinkyArt for myself.  I was fortunate to share the experience with a dear friend of mine, and having booked the workshop a year in advance, we were absolutely ready to go when November came around.

The workshop began on a Friday evening.  After a short flight and drive to the hotel, we joined Barb and a beautiful family in a Bungendore field – with the added bonus of a vintage yellow ice cream truck in true JinkyArt style!  Perfect.  The next two days continued to inspire, with many more shooting opportunities, discussions, demonstrations, and personal critique.  I can honestly say that it has been the most beneficial thing I have done for my photography to date.

To learn from a photographer such as Barb is something very special.  I have long admired her for her inventiveness, creativity, and style (who doesn’t love a zebra?) and she is wonderfully down to earth, generous with the information she shares, and super friendly too!  Her words during our one-on-one time have given me a renewed confidence in myself and my abilities, and I feel a new kind of freedom to follow the dreams I have for my own photography.  To make my own rules.  To do what I love.  I’m armed with a wealth of knowledge and materials that I know will be invaluable.

I met some incredible people at the workshop – friendships made that I know will only grow stronger with time – and I look forward to watching their journey from here.  I loved spending time with such a talented and passionate group of photographers, and it was sad to say goodbye so soon after meeting.  It felt as if we’d known each other so much longer.  The beauty of understanding like-minds, I’m sure.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Barb Uil and to her assistants at the workshop – Alex, Linda, and Shelley.  It was a delight, and I treasure my time caught in the JinkyArt ‘bubble’ for those 3 days ♥

I’ve posted some of my shots from the workshop here, here and here, and I’ll post more in the coming days – keep watching!

……

I’ve worked with some fantastic people this year, from models, to make-up artists & hair stylists, designers, agencies, studios and assistants.  Thank you all and I hope we’ll meet for more in 2013.

And my clients – how fortunate I am to have met you all, heard your stories, taken your photos, and shared in your life for those moments.  Love to every one of you and very best wishes for the new year!

The urge to be the best I possibly can is so strong, and I fall in love with photography each day.  Like the words of Rumi above, I want to unfold my own myth.  Write my own story.  Create something I can be proud to call my own.  The verse that the quote is taken from ends with:

Then comes a moment of feeling the wings you’ve grown, lifting.

And so is the way when dreams come true!

From all of us here, happy new year and we’ll see you in 2013.  Full of endless possibilities and potential.  I can’t wait.

M x

I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas
Is you.
~ Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff

★

I wish you all the most beautiful Christmas time.  I hope it’s spent with those you love the most in the world.
May your holiday be full of wishes granted, laughter, and happiness!

Mel, Andrew & Sophia xx

With love from Mel, Andrew, and Sophia bunny xo

I hope you have enjoyed my posts as much as I have loved sharing them with you.  And I hope you’ll stay for more!  M x

You learned to count, making it up at the start, saying 4, 6, 11, 14, 16.  Goodness knows why you chose those numbers.  Then you made it from 1 to 10 and beyond, and I couldn’t have been more proud if you had flown to the moon.

Your endless chatter every day never ceases to impress and surprise me.  We have lovely conversations over chai and gingerbread at our favourite cafe.  Whenever we pass it, you ask for “coffee man” and I can’t help but give in.

Ballet class is your favourite thing and I’m sure not a day has passed that you haven’t put on your shoes and danced for me, or Daddy, or Nanna.  You have an amazing sense of rhythm and love classical music.

I hear you sing along to the radio when we’re driving and it makes my heart happy!

You started preschool, and you run to me with arms out every time I pick you up.  You bring home the most adorable artworks and we hang them on the stairs so everyone can see.  You are so purposeful and planned in how you do things.

You are super friendly and often adopt other families at the playground, joining in their games as if you always belonged.  You charm everyone with your big eyes and sunny smiles!

We gave you a scooter as an early birthday present, and in just days you went from beginner to racer, going as fast as I can run after you!  Like a skater you throw your leg out behind you and glide along, so graceful and balanced.

You always hold my hand when we walk, and I love feeling you bouncing along beside me.

I say guess what.  You say love you.  I say I love you lots and lots.  You say no Mum, just one.  One love.

You tell me Mummy, I’m so happy.  And that’s all I could ever want for you.

So goodnight my darling, and when you wake, you’ll be 3.  And I’ll love you more than yesterday.  And even more the day after that.

My bestest girl in the whole world.  M x

I hope you enjoy these delicious photos!  M x

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