Marina & Jhan - Day After Session - Warwick Long Bay, Bermuda

Marina and Jhan decided that they were keen to get some romantic and unusual shots to remember their wedding in Bermuda, but they also wanted to be able to spend as much time with guests as possible at the actual event so a day-after-session was the perfect choice. Marina hoped to capture something funky that summed up their sense of adventure and love of Bermuda so the idea of riding horses in their wedding outfits on the beach seemed ideal. The couple love to go horse riding whenever they are on holiday and the bride remembered there was a stable nearby Warwick Long Bay. It was such a gorgeous shoot - such a joy to photograph and hopefully some special memories for the newlyweds.

I adore these images - it looks like the horses are nuzzling. As it turned out, they were just baiting each other. But I don't mind - the feeling is the same and it is such a dreamy location. The couple just loved this location and this sort of setting was what brought the couple to Bermuda in the first place. They find the rocks so full of mysterious spirit and the colours of the water just so enchanting.

This one below is out of focus, but I love the romantic feel...

Marina's necklace was so unique - it was lots of little atlas type maps that you could spread out into a fan or be worn totally closed up. Such fun. And there are her gorgeous rings again.

How hot are Marina's cowboy boots with her wedding gown - I am smitten!

What a gorgeous, glowy afternoon it was...

They rode their horses to the top of the ridge where the view is stunning - feels like you are on top of the world up there.

Down on the beach the newlyweds had a chance to properly ride. Jhan's horse became a bit frisky and started to buck while I was coming down the hillside so sadly I didn't capture the frightening moments on film, but Marina was terrified she was about to lose her new hubby. She had noticed the brown one was a bit wild earlier and so had swapped onto the spotted one and she was so glad she did, for she was sure she would have flown off while Jhan's strong marathon legs held tight and he refused to fall.

On the ride back to the Spicelands stables, the two wished I had been with them to shoot as well, for as they were crossing the road, they loved the expressions of the stopped traffic as they watched the fully kitted out wedding couple ride so confidently. And then the landscape down to the stables was lush and wild and Marina felt so out of her element in her dress. She kept glancing down at the very muddy trail and thinking that if she did indeed fall, that would truly make this a trash the dress session!

Marina and Jhan - thank you thank you. This was such a fun shoot - this is why I love my job - because I can capture real people making real memories in a beautiful way. I loved how this is what you love doing and that you did it in your wedding outfits. It was so relaxed and just made you happy which was so wonderful. You look utterly beautiful - especially so without hair and make up done - love love love. Hope you have an amazing honeymoon in Australia and I am so sorry I can't be there to capture you both on your camels at Ayers Rock! xxx

Spring Flowers

It really feels like spring at the moment. I nearly crash the car the whole time as I am leering enviously at all the floods of freesias in everyones gardens but my own - how do you get freesias in your garden anyway? And then I did a shoot of a darling family yesterday in their own fresia patch (of course!) and it was just so glorious that I thought I would repost some images I shot of the children last year in all the flowers, be it the freesias, the nasturtiums or the wild flowers that seem to appear in all the farmer's fields. Perhaps a few of you may get inspired as it is a short window...

This one below is probably one of my fave images I have ever taken of Indigo. I had it blown up on canvas for Ben for Christmas and we are going to hang it in the stairwell where we can pass it a thousand times a day. It turned out she descended into a fever of 105 that night, but the moments before she took ill, she had this dreamy glazed over look in her eyes which I am ashamed to admit but I adore!

These were in my parents garden, but sadly they have moved from this house so now on the hunt for a similar patch - if anyone has one and is willing for my children to trample your beautiful blooms for an afternoon, please let me know!!

I shot these for our May Day party invite last year. The party never ended up happening as we moved that weekend instead, but love that I do it every year anyway as a document of the children - sometimes need a fire under me to get out there capturing them in all their adorableness - are they not the most edible little squidge muffins you have ever seen?

And of course dandylions are year round and never cease to bore me... how can making wishes on pretty floaty spinnie seed-petal thingies ever get dull?

And the burst of colour from a nasturtium patch is just breathtaking. And they grow so wild and anywhere - always easy to find a spot to roll around in.

So have a happy spring - enjoy the bursting blossoms and drop me a note if you want to capture some spring magic! xxx

Baby Somers

Beautiful baby Somers was born shortly after her daddy, Kenyon, leapt off a plane. Poor Amanda was heavily into labour by the time her beloved hubby landed but she refused to go to the hospital until they were together - she was not going to have this baby without him! By the time they arrived at the hospital, the mama to be was too far along in her labour to receive pain meds. Being a natural birth advocate, I was secretly pleased to hear this, but I am pretty sure Amanda could have done with a wee epidural given the chance. But shortly after arriving, they couple had a beautiful healthy baby girl. And the new parents love being her mummy and daddy more than they ever could have imagined and love every snuggle bug moment they spend with her.

With Amanda being Bermudian, and with Kenyon having a funky name, the new parents were keen to sure their baby girl would not only carry a piece or her heritage with her always, but also have a name that stood out from the crowd. They wanted a name that was different, but had meaning so Somers was the perfect choice. Admiral Sir George Somers was in the navy, as was Kenyon and the admiral found Bermuda during a hurricane and given Somers was born shortly after Hurricane Igor, it all just ties in perfectly.

You may remember this beautiful couple from their wedding last year!! And of course, my sofa!

I think I am in love with this image... or more likely, the babe in the image!

Look at all that heavenly hair!

It is quite important for newborns to sleep during their session, but Somers woke up and was not giving up until she had some milk.

Ahhh...

 Amanda and Kenyon - Somers is a little love bug - so happy for you both and indeed, to have been able to document these first days before Kenyon disappeared on a plane again. Hope life is dreamy as can be. xxx