Beyond Snapshots

I get asked a LOT by friends, family and clients about taking photos and recommending places to learn. I am primarily self taught having taken classes in photography at highschool, uni and tafe over the years but most I have learnt myself by reading, practising a lot and trial and error. There are some great books out there to read and learn the basics but you can learn a lot by reading online, for FREE! Check out this site which is set up by two female photogs to teach people how to take great photos themselves....

.... and here is my entry for their competition to win a GORGEOUS red (my fav!) bag from Epiphanie... photo from my January photo a day series of my youngest in a bit of a red mood having an outdoor bath.

2010 - already!

Well 2009 most certainly flew by. I had a good year, it was very busy for photos especially heading towards Christmas as the Perth weather warmed up and people got moving out and about. Personally, I tackled the greater portion of a Graduate Diploma in Education this year which was incredibly interesting for me as a parent and nice to be back studying again despite the overnighters to get assignments in on time. 2010 will be spent finishing the one year long practical component unit and the ATP in term 3 - NOT looking forward to that one bit and may put it off another year. I'm in no hurry it was mainly for my own personal interest that I decided to do it. My three kids all grew about three inchs and for the most part it was the first year of having all my children at school but although I had more time I just crammed it full of more work and study. It was fun, challenging and tiring in equal portions. I also missed my kids.
2009 saw several beautiful friends of mine go through some extremely challenging times. Some I was able to be there for and others I wasn't although my heart was always with them. It was hard emotionally watching on from afar yet there is nothing you can do to really change anything. I hope 2010 sees good health and happiness for all my friends and family.

For the summer holidays I am going to attempt a personal project taking one photo every day. In reality I take photos several days a week and usually hundreds at a time, but this usually isn't of my own family. I have a little point and shoot Olympus that I take the happy snaps of my family life with nothing flash just capturing the memories and then once or twice a month I drag the gear out and take some photos of the kids. For January I plan on taking at least one half decent shot every day - simple just one photo of my life that makes me smile. I will post them here in batches. Pretty sure it won't be every day that I post but I will at least take that photo every day.

Newness...

I love seeing repeat clients - this little guy will be five months old already and I get to go play with him tomorrow!

Happy Easter

I have had a very long week cramming in as much processing as possible to make sure everyone has their galleries up by easter. I hate being behind with work so here I am at 3am and nearly up to date - hurray!
For your viewing pleasure here is the stunning Bella - an amazingly gorgeous little soul that I photographed along with her siblings a little while ago. I am heading down south for a few days R&R and my phone doesn't have range where we are staying so please shoot me an email if you have any questions or need help with gallery access.. davinahurst@yahoo.com
Here 's Ashton having his own bit of R&R complete with mummy getting in his space! Wishing everyone a wonderful easter break, please travel safely.

Leukaemia Foundation

The great thing about never updating the blog is that I have so many beautiful images that I get to revisit with when I do. I have just prepared about 30 images for posting from the past months that never made it to the blog, the plan is that now I have them ready I can do some regular posting ;)

So a few weeks ago I posted about my participation in the Leukaemia Foundations Worlds Greatest Shave. I am very thrilled to have been able to raise just under $3.4K to provide practical care and support to patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders. I have yet to update my official 'portrait' but you can view photos of me with my new 'do' on the Leukaemia Foundations website taken by photographer Lauren Parlet who was roped into the job on the night - thanks Lauren!
Leukaemia Foundation

These photos are from quite a while ago but the one below just makes me laugh, I feel like I am being told off by a little Cabbage Patch Kid!

Baldies [child photographer perth]

So what do I and this little guy have in common...
well its soon to be our hairstyles!

On March 14th I am being brave and participating in the Worlds Greatest Shave in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. The funds raised will help the Leukaemia Foundation to provide practical care and support to patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders. To celebrate and help raise much needed funds I am donating ALL session fees for bookings in March direct to the foundation. This cute little baldy above was the first client of the month and the first to donate $100 direct to the foundation on my behalf - what a great feeling that is!

So if you have a session booked for March or would like to make a booking in March please visit
http://my.imisfriendraising.com.au/personalPage.aspx?SID=53309 and donate today. As a special offer for all clients that take up this offer I will give you a free 8x10 print. How good is that?

*Blink* [Davina Hurst - Perth newborn photographer]

Well you blink and it is February and all that is here is the echo of my own voice.

So yes, I'm still here. Yes, I'm still working. Yes, life is crazy busy.
Yes, I have about a gazillion sessions to post.

For now I promised my friends I would share the gorgeously beautiful babies that I spent my weekend with. You could not have asked for more perfect models, they ate when they were told, slept when they were told and let me do my thing. What bliss.
I mean really could it be any sweeter than this! I photographed this little chick when she was a newborn and her older brother when he was a newborn too. What a privilege. They are all the most awesomely sweet - and well behaved children. Good work mum & dad :)

Pre-Kindy

Ohh this is late all the parents will be hunting me down!! This ones mum reminded me!!

For the last couple of years I have had the pleasure of photographing the local pre-kindy kids, they are mainly three year olds and almost always an absolute delight. As a special offer to the first parent to hit on my comment button below you will receive a complimentary photo shoot and 8x10 print to be used in the first half of 2009. For everyone else I am offering half price sitting fees, thats $50 and an entire shoot devoted to you and your loved ones if you book a photo shoot before the end of the kindy term! If you loved what I captured in 5 mins with your child, imagine having two hours worth.

(p.s. booking before the end of term is just that 'booking' sorry but I am full, full, full for pre-christmas shoots)

Summer's coming!

How beautiful the last few days have been, just devine weather. Yesterday the kids had the very first swim in our new pool which was super exciting. Summer also means Christmas is coming and bookings have officially closed for October and November. A couple of spots left for early December but photos will not be ready in time for Christmas. Newborns are always an exception and I will try to accomodate any new ones as long as you get in touch with me before your due date.

Special little girl

I have been a member of the ACOCP (http://www.acocp.org.au/) for a while now but the organisation has had a slow start in WA with getting the message out there. The community is a group of dedicated Australian photographers who donate their services to give the gift of photographic memories to families with seriously ill children. Spread the word!

This shoot involved capturing some memories for this little one who is travelling to Sydney this week to undergo amputation of her foot with the hope that this will allow her to be able to walk. She was full of spunk and energy and was incredibly mobile so no doubt nothing will stop her from getting up and going. Please keep her in your thoughts that this transition goes smoothly and allows her to make the progress in life she deserves.

School holidays are FABULOUS, no morning rush makes me a happy girl especially after nights like tonight where I am catching up on processing till the wee hours of the morning. Birds were twittering when I finally went to bed last and if those crazy friends of mine going to the gym wonder where I am - I'd hit my pillow only two hours before your alarms were going off! Kids in pjs till late morning and playing with all the kiddies in the neighbourhood, bring on the summer holidays I say!

Still enjoying the newborn boom with another two little newbies to photograph in the next week. Lucky clucky me :)

Really nearly just about closed bookings for the year. IF you have spoken/emailed me already I have accounted for you so dont stress if we haven't firmed up dates yet. I know I always get a spate of emails and calls after I post these posts, I haven't forgotten about you and if I have well then I will just feel extra guilty and fit you in anyway.

fresh babies

SOOOOOoooo many fresh little babies to photograph, lucky me! I love a newborn cuddle and this little baby boom has given me my fair share of newborn love. Aren't they just perfect?!

.

:)

A friend of mine just emailed to ask if I was ok as she has been checking every week and I haven't posted!

So here I am. Admittedly the old blog is very far down on the 'to do' list every day especially since I have decided to go back to uni and do some further study. So now the list of evening jobs after the kids go to bed at night goes like this

1. clean up the bomb that has exploded in the kitchen and organise lunchboxes
2. catch up on photo processing, emails and ordering and then finally
3. try and cram in some study.

Tonight I have only made it to number 2 of course and as per my first degree I am dutifully avoiding number 3!

Photo wise things are busy and in the next few weeks I will have encountered a total late August baby boom. Not sure what was going on last December but judging by the amount of babies my friends and clients have been having there wasn't much on the telly.. or perhaps there was a blackout?!? Two born last week and two due this week :) YAY! I can't wait to meet them all.

I've had the pleasure of photographing a couple of little families in the past two weekends who were just gorgeous to watch. I love being able to view the photos at home after and seeing all the little family interactions that I have captured. Just so special...

Oh and for Christmas photos PLEASE take me seriously when I say YOU NEED TO BOOK NOW! I am booked heavily for September already and I will be finishing photos for Christmas orders in early November which means I really only have about a dozen spots to fill before I will close bookings. Email me : davinahurst@yahoo.com to reserve a day.

Mish mash

Just catching up on a few shoots to add to the blog and send the images off to all the clients who are patiently waiting. Check your inbox because I AM UP TO DATE! Ok well not quite, this little guys mum has to wait a bit longer but getting there and this is a little sneak peek to tide her over.

The hardest age to photograph without a doubt is from about 14months through to whenever they become 'reasonable' ... perhaps 21? No seriously 3 year olds are genuinely great fun to photograph but that doesn't mean the terrible 2s are not doable. Its a great age to capture their personality and enthusiasm for doing what THEY want to do!