Monthly Archives: September 2010 Damon is on the cusp. He’s 18 and about to head off into the big bad world and take up his journalism course in Sydney. He’s grown up here in Byron Bay and also spent a lot of his childhood travelling the world with his mum. I photographed this lovely, charming, beautiful young man when I arrived here yesterday,…  Carla and Duncan Oh, it was gold…and now it’s over and I need to post this, then pack up, and head straight to Byron in time for my next photo session this afternoon. We have had a great couple of days. We explored Bellingen yesterday, then went by the waterfront to capture their Family Story for…  Photo wanderings in Newcastle …you just never know what will happen. I had a couple of hours to wander about and explore the place…I must say I’ve missed doing these photo wanderings! I thought, what will I shoot here? I find it hard to think about what’s interesting to shoot in my own country. It seems… Hey yeah I never thought of that really, I could be a tourist in my own backyard…thanks D so much for looking, I really appreciate your comment. Have you been in Newcastle a long time? You’ve probably seen some changes, it’s really a lovely place to go and it’s bigger than canberra which surprised me, at 500,000. Very nice series. You have capture a good spirit of Newcaastle. Would you like to learn to use your camera better? Tired of putting your SLR on auto and hoping for the best? Conquering the Camera Workshop dates have been announced for Spring 2010. Places are booking now, so if you’d like to get your camera skills up in time for taking beautiful pictures during your…  Wow…such a magical time …there’s nothing like new life to give you a new perspective. Baby Xavier is one month old. His eyes are big and trying to get a grip on his surroundings. He eats, poops, sleeps, throws up occasionally, and is busy getting to know his new home. Louise is such a beautiful… I am loving your work Beth – you manage to capture people in a fresh, innovative and very creative way and all the while being very organic and natural. Oh thanks Jules, as ever you are gold! Yes well I guess as you know the said family there’s a layer of knowing what it’s about that other people may not. But even so, humans can read other humans pretty well, we all know what a smile from the heart looks like because it feels right…it’s the vibe, you know? There’s something very tender about early parenthood, so I wanted to try to grasp that feeling, that this little package is very precious. How great were they all though? Just so easy and natural, they were awesome..xxx Hi Louise! I totally understand it takes time to get the time to have two hands free when you’re a brand new mother! Beth! Wow I cannot thank you enough for these stunning photos of our little family! (And I must apologize that it has taken me this long to comment here…but having two hands free at the same time doesn’t come often in these early weeks with a newborn!) I love these images so much, especially as a series. I was so curious to see how this shoot would turn out as too often family photos can turn out a bit cliched and cheesy but I really love what you have captured with us. These photos really seem to portray the way you found us on the day (yes a bit buggered) as a family but they are are also so expressive artistically with the framing, colour etc! You are a true artist and really know how to bottle up a vibe and put in a photo. Such a rare treat! My little boy Xavier is the centre of my world right now and one day I can show him these photos to explain it in a picture. Thank you… Beth, these photos of Lou and Yo Yo speak a million words to me. Lou and I chat often on the phone but I haven’t yet been up to Sydney to meet Xavier or see their new apartment. So until now I could only imagine how Lou and Yo Yo’s new life must look. What a beautiful thing, to see now in your photos a little snapshot of their interactions with each other and with this new little being who is now the centre of their universe! I can see in your photos what I love about my friends – Lou’s ability to really notice and soak up the beauty and detail of any given moment, and Yo Yo’s fabulous laughter… Beth, I think anyone who has seen your work will instantly understand what you’re all about, even if they don’t know the people in your photos. You often expose that subtle layer of a family’s life just underneath the shiny surface, like Giorgio’s simultaneous exhaustion and bliss, and that is what makes your work so exquisite. Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos on your blog – and I hope have a wonderful relaxing time in Byron and get some bikram yoga joy finally!! Mwah xx Kathy! Gosh, I’m blown away!! I’m so appreciative that you’ve taken the time to write this, thank you thank you so much! And I really appreciate your honesty about your trepidation to spend the money, I think that’s the case for the majority and in fact stops most people from going ahead. That’s where I must get my message clear, so people feel reassured to go ahead. Your comment here is what they need to hear, I can shout it from the roof tops but they’ll hear your words far more readily than mine. Generally I don’t hear this kind of feedback, so it’s hard to know if what I’m doing is getting through…but it seems that bit by bit maybe it is…I can visualise that kitchen table you’re speaking of, and yes, I’d be there in Toronto with you in a flash if I could! I just love it that the pictures we created of your family are the last thing you see before going to sleep each night…you are a gem and the world needs more people like you!! That’s really made my day, I’m so pleased to receive this from you Kathy, a million thank yous!!!!!…will have to plan a return trip…when the timing is right…stay tuned As one of your customers (over a year ago now; can you believe it?) I’ll admit that the money we spent on our photos was not easily parted with. I teetered between the excitement of seeing our photos and the anxiousness I felt about the money we spend while I waited for them to arrive but when they did? I knew, without a doubt that I had made the right decision. I have always loved pictures. I love looking back at family photos of when I was growing up and remembering for example, how much I loved the wallpaper in my bedroom. I love seeing things that trigger memories for me. The photos that you took of us are now hanging on the walls – most of them in our bedroom and I look at them every night as I’m falling asleep and think about how lucky I am to have my family and just how beautiful I think they are. The photos of Ben are particularly emotional for me because they were taken at such a great time in his life. He’s struggling to find himself and the photos sort of show that story (to me anyways). I would jump at the chance to have you photograph us again but I would definitely do a different location. Most likey our kitchen table. It’s a weird idea probably but now that I understand better, I would choose a much more personal setting and some of our very best times as a family have been sitting at that big wooden table in the kitchen. I think what you’re doing is wonderful Beth. Keep it up! (sorry for the long blog comment). Hey Tracy! You must know them if you’re calling Giorgio Yo-Yo!! Love it! Are you in Sydney?? I hope they like the images….haven’t heard yet but fingers crossed! Hey thanks Katie, I really appreciate that you’ve said that…yeah it’s like the silence can be deafening at times…so I start to wobble I guess. Thanks tho I really appreciate your support and that you took the time to write this. xx Beautiful images Beth. I totally get what you’re doing and it’s your unique sellling point. Keep on believing in yourself and your vision and it will all work out. xo Beautiful images of such a wonderful and loving family. Sending tons of love to Yo-Yo, Lou and Xavier. xoxo  Do you have happy childhood memories? Forster is where I spent all of my school holidays, every year. Many moons ago my grandparents bought a couple of units in this apartment block opposite Forster beach. Every year, my Mum, Dad, my sister Heather and I would hit the highway early one summer’s morning, and… Kathy that cottage pilgrimage sounds so lovely. I’m trying to draw a visual on it, little places near the waterfront with all that Canadian magic all around. Talk about creatures of habit! You and me both Hey Beth. Your summer vacations remind me of mine. We didn’t go every summer but we went for quite a few in a row – to the beach, rented a cottage for a week, sometimes two. Of course, our cottage was on a lake (Georgian Bay) not the ocean but I remember loving it. The best part though (for me) is that Mark and I have carried on the tradition – finding a cottage that we love and going back every year for a week or two with the kids. Ben has sort of outgrown the whole “hanging out with his folks for 2 weeks” and Jessie is not far behind but we’ve had some great summers there and hopefully, Ben and Jessica will remember them fondly as well. That photo is gorgeous but I have to ask. What is the part in the water that looks like its fenced in?  Ollie with his dad Monty and his mum Catherine … are full of big plans for their growing family for the future in their pad in Roseville in Sydney. A little slice of family magic on a Sunday afternoon. More on this lovely family soon… I’m in Newcastle now, I’ve headed a bit further north…I’ll crack…  Julia and Charis are simply beautiful…I photographed them yesterday for half an hour…we used the soft window light of the pub where we had lunch in Pymble. I’ll admit, not very glamorous. But as you know beautiful connections happen all the time, even in pubs. More on Julia and Charis soon… B - - - - - - …  Sleeping on your own family photo session?! Oh, OK, fair enough, Giorgio is working nights and juggling gigs with different bands with wife and newborn bub at home, so maybe he can be forgiven… More on Giorgio, Louise and baby Xavier from Glebe, soon… Sydney is great…I’ve discovered driving in Sydney is not so bad after… hi Jules! Thanks for your comment, yes I will be putting more up soon, I just wanted to put up a taster, as I am still working on this beautiful session with Lou and Giorgio and their new little package. So cute!! heading to Newcastle today…more from the the other side! xx oooooh, Lou and Yo Yo!! I LOVE this photo, it captures the awesomeness of everyday moments. And it makes me feel a little bit closer to my beautiful friends and their baby who I am yet to meet. Thank you, Beth. Are you putting more photos up soon??!  Hours spent Sitting at a computer processing images, answering emails, reading blogs. Reading self help/career/finding your unique voice books. Planning and plotting for the future. and then a bright idea came…time to change it up…time to move my ass. …and then I saw this and this and this My challenge at the moment is to step away from the…  Last night I contributed photography coverage to the Autism Asperger ACT ‘Singapore Sling’ Gala Dinner, raising much needed funds. It was held at the Hotel Realm, supported by lots of businesses that contributed goods or services to the silent and live auctions and raffles. It was a fabulous night, the Singapore Sling theme added another… Thanks so much Julian, so muchly appreciated! It’s such an amazing venue, with all the red flag thingys hanging down. thank you!! cheers Love that first shot! Awesome perspective / architecture shot. Nice, candid shots, too! Yeah, it really was Brianna, thank you, where did you spring from? Looks like such a fun night Oh thanks Jennifer!!! You did such a great job on Saturday, every time I saw you, you were hard at it, sorting everyone out and making sure everyone had what they needed. Stellar performance!! I’m here anytime you need photography done…well…except for the next two weeks maybe!! Exquisite photography Beth! Love the framing, composition and the energy you capture. Will certainly talk to you further about future opportunities for professional (and personal) work in the future. Regards  Yay, a road trip! When I arrived back in Australia last year people were saying to me so where are you headed next? I was like, hold on, I just unpacked my bags!! I really wanted to stay put in Canberra for a bit, and spend some time thinking long and hard about my work,… 
time out?…well, I do have a special day coming that I’ll probably spend hiking somewhere random or on the beach at Byron…and looking forward to that…too much to do and cool people to meet for time out tho!! xx oh Beth, what an awesome trip you have planned – I have done this journey many a time, and love it. Have a wonderful time photographing loads of gorgeous families. Take some time out for yourself to – hugs Hey thanks sandra, I’m so happy you’ve let me know what you think, yay!! I can’t wait to show you images from the trip. I hope it makes for good reading and that the pictures will be inspiring and offer something new. I’ll make sure to get something bewdiful up at byron, just for you!!! xxx Sounds like an awesome trip Beth. I found Byron Bay and the hinterland especially beautiful – your photos of the area are bound to be amazing! I’ll look forward to your updates Sandra |
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thank you so much Angela. I’ll keep going and trying to bring out something special in each and every one of the people I come to photograph. It’s such a rush when it works!! your turn next my dear!! xx
A capturer?! Yeah not a word according to Collins dictionary, but let’s run with it!! thanks for your thoughts Angela xx
Beth – you most certainly are a capturer (which apparently is NOT a word) of the essence of people. The photo of Damon looking at his dad is exquisite
Oh thanks so much Tracy!! it’s been a great day, thank you!!!
Happy Birthday for tomorrow