Ryall & Nilesh - Collection

Ryall and Nilesh were married ages ago, but took a while to get me which images they wanted me to work on, and then I took even longer to actually work on them So this is a much overdue Collection, and I did a few variations, but these were my faves. Part of me wants to include the originals so you can see the difference, but if you look at their wedding post, then you can see most of the originals there. I now select the images for the Collection and do them at the time of processing the rest of the blog images so don't have to fall so horridly behind the way I have for a few weddings.

These two were such a fun couple - I just loved them and have since become friends with them - love it when clients become friends. Sadly they no longer live in Bermuda but Facebook works a charm for keeping distances small and people in touch with what is going on in each others' lives.

Ryall & Nilesh - the rest of the images are on their way to you - hopefully they were worth the wait! Thank you for your never ending patience and support - you are the best! xxx

My Day

Today is my 40th birthday. I remember as a teen (for my parents had teens when they were this age!), people getting these decorative pillows saying "It's sporty to be forty". At the time, I thought they were so fun as I saw family friends with an elegant chaise with a worded cushion. If anyone one had given me one today, I would have cringed. But what I have not cringed at today is actually turning 40. Of course, the fact that I have spent the last five years already saying I was 40 has eased the blow, but to be truthful, I do not feel like it is a blow. Of course it is weird to think of those ancient people I remember from so many years ago, and now I am one of those ancients. And of course growing up in Bermuda and being a sun worshipper and always remaining very scantily clad, the sun has done my skin no favours. Nor frankly has my injured back and feet which have prevented me from exercising properly since Indigo was born done the rest of my body any favours either. But the wrinkled skin and extra bits of flesh is a small price to pay for all I have in return. I have lived 40 amazing years - sure a few heart breaks were thrown in there to make certain I appreciated it when I had it good, but at this stage in my life, I have absolutely everything I could ever want - indeed more than I ever wanted. I have the greatest job that is not only fun and creative but also flexible. I know I don't have the work life balance down - in fact, half the time I am disappointing clients and my family at the same time, but the other half of the time, I am making all of those people really happy, which in turn makes me really happy. And I love love love where we live - love the garden, the architecture, the furniture - just adore this house which has become a real home. And then I have these two amazing children. I mean really amazing. And all parents say that, but we have had some bumps along the way, which has made us ever the more thankful for how good it is now. Oslo and Indigo make everything make sense. They say things, do things, are things that make me all gooey inside - even gooier than I am on the outside and that is a lot!

And then there is Ben (sorry - no pics of him for some reason - whoops - need to get right on that!). Ben whom I cannot say enough love bug things about - who is just everything to me. Ben and the kids really are the best birthday present a woman could ask for. And I didn't ask for them, yet here they are. Just loving me up until there is not room left, except for those few wrinkles and some squidgy bits on the edges.

In celebration, the kids said they wanted to have a tea party for me. Which of course meant I had a tea party for them with a few of their friends with loads of treats and lots of pretties too.

Quite smitten with this old fashioned lemonade jar, and my teapot from the auction last weekend! And the chocolate orbs are to die for - will do an entire post on them one of these days - gluten free and full of healthy things but still taste yum - even managed to slip a load of Spirulina in them undetected!

Ben also brought me flowers - can't wait for our hot date tonight! Love me some candle lit romance with cute cute Ben! Add good food into the mix and I am swooning...

My sister and another friend brought me some gorgeous plants - oh how I love greenery!

 My dear friend Susannah gave me the most gorgeous necklace from Atelerie which, although I have never even been there (I really don't like shopping... ever), if I did shop it would be the only place I would ever go. She has a very similar necklace which I always said how much I loved, and here I am now wearing its sister - just gorgeous - thank you Susannah!

So today I am thankful for every single one of my sporty-to-be-forty years. I am so appreciative of all I have been blessed with in this life - my beloved family, my dear sweet friends, my fulfilling work and my lovely home, and even for my very own wrinkles and lumpy bits. Thank you for yet another glorious birthday. xxx

Chandler Family

Meet the Chandlers - not only are they a beautiful family to look at, but the bits you can't see in these photos are even more beautiful. I love this family. Nell and Christophe are dear dear friends but sadly, have left Bermuda now and left a big hole in our hearts. But at least we have these photos to remember what a fun family they are and of course, skype and emails work a charm too for bridging the gap!

This is Felicity, but her nickname is Tussy - not actually sure how to spell it - it is the same sound as the "oo" in foot! Like Toossy - kind of French sounding like the "eu" les Francais use when they can't think of a word and start to fill space with that sound! Are you now saying it in your head now to try get the right pronunciation? Or are you thinking what am I on about? That is what her mama and I did when she first tried to write it - we stood there and kept saying different spellings but none of them loked like how it sounded! Need a little recording add on so I can show you what it sounds like. Anyway - you get the idea - this is Tussy! She is a good friend of Indigo's and is so sweet, thoughtful and gentle.

And this is Rex. Much easier to spell, and only one way anyone would ever think it is pronounced. He is such a little love bug - cuddle and manly all wrapped up in one bundle of red headed gorgeousness!

They are the kids of siblings that I sometimes see in photos and wonder why my kids aren't like that together. Although, my kids look like those kinds of kids in the photos i take too. But these two are really like that. I wonder if it is because the eldest is the girl and so more nurturing, or is they just scored and are just love bug sibs, but they are just too cute together. Nell brought this fabulous chair to the beach - it has a pineapple on the back and is just gorgeous. I tried to steal it when they were leaving the island but they took it with them.

I love shooting at Warwick Long Bay and Jobson's Cove - there are so many nooks and crannies and different dramatic back drops - and such a beautiful reminder of Bermuda now that they have left.

Nell plans on passing this ring down to Tussy when she is older so wanted a special reminder of it on her own finger with Tussy now.

I love this next series of moments...

These are pretty hilarious too - there were some where you couldn't see Tussy at all - just feet and skirt poof!

I adore this image of Tussy - she looks like a Hollywood star in some fabulous dress created especially for her by one the the great designers - red carpet here she comes.

I'd like to claim it was me who was so hilariously funny, but they are not looking into the camera so I am guessing it was either Nell or Christophe doing all the work.

How delicious are these with Nell and Christophe in the background - love these sorts of family portraits.

Oh how we miss you all Nell, Christophe, Tussy and Rex - please come visit us again soon - look at that sea and sky - how can you stay away??? Thanks so much for a great shoot - you were such fun and of course so beautiful. Thank thank you and miss you miss you xxx