Just a little update as to what happened on the weekend. More photos going up on the Facebook Page throughout the week, then in 2 weeks time the Wedding Part 2 and Part 3 is happening, so keep coming back! 
Photo by Ferndara Creative
Tag Archive for photography
guess what happened?
happy to have witnessed…
Last year, a couple of friends of mine Kat and Leigh got engaged, married, then pregnant in DIZZYING succession (but most importantly, in the CORRECT succession, nudge nudge, wink wink) – and bad bad me, I had every intention of blogging it all but YOU KNOW HOW THAT STORY GOES DOWN.
Err. Procrastination won the epic battle?
Anyway.
I was looking through some photos whilst convalescing from crazy awful food poisoning, and found their engagement party shots. What I loved about their engagement party was that it was in their family home, with lots of family surrounding them, and was full of culturally significant traditions that included and celebrated both sides of the family. With 2 cultures coming together, it was a beautiful representation of how you can include everyone in your joy whilst remaining true to your families needs and traditions.
It was such an honour to be part of that night, and I particularly love this shot I got (by crawling in front of everyone to make sure I could be paparazzi effectively, coz I’m classy like that).
moment, captured
Leigh and Kat were both my dance students who have become very good friends, so I kinda know them VERY well, and let me tell you, this photo is perfectly how they present to the outside world. Both gorgeously attired, Kat telling some kind of story with her ever exuberant and delighted smile, because she knows we’re listening attentively, and Leigh, ever quietly watching her with a twinkle in his eye, thinking, “that’s my girl“. (Sometimes he converts that to, “that’s my girl?!”, and NOT in the good way, but that’s usually when Kat is telling us something QUESTIONABLE!). Uh huh. It’s true.
Anyway. It’s really gorgeous.
And Kat and Leigh are one of those couples that just HAVE THEIR STUFF TOGETHER, and who make each other happy and are so well suited, that you kind of just think of them as happy ever after people. And that’s inspiring. And wonderful. And nice to think about.
photoshoot with @bythewei
When I was in Singapore, I was lucky enough to once again take part in a photoshoot with the incredibly talented, super visionary and creative photographer Weili. He’s responsible for the picture on the sidebar of this blog.
What makes Weili super good at what he does is a combination of skills that many photographers do not have.
His attention to getting the perfect shot is second to none – he’ll happily take hundreds of shots until he captures the entire package of mood, lines, lighting and contrast.
He also understands vision, and is very much like a magazine’s art director/creative director in that sense – he understands setting the scene, how to make the lighting work like instant real life photoshop (seriously, he somehow obliterated cellulite at one point!) and how to use any space to lighting advantage. The shot below was taken in a room with a BRIGHT blue wall behind me but you totally can’t tell.
Additionally, Weili has people skills – something so lacking in MANY creatives. I don’t know Weili as well as I’d like to as a friend, and yet he has an ability to draw out your emotion and mood and capture the very essence that is in your persona for the shoot. He talks you through, almost coaching you as he yells out things to jolt you into the moment, shows you the shots you’ve taken and guides you through moves and what he’d like to see. I also really love that he allows your personality to shine through, and tries to capture the weird, the whimsical, the intrinsic characteristics that make a person THEM, and isn’t scared to take unorthodox poses. Like so:
my favourite pic of the whole shoot!
Invariably, with all those skills, coupled with his extensive dedication to the technical aspects of photography, he manages to produce shots that are overwhelmingly authentic, real and almost scarily stark. A great piece of art evokes a feeling in you, and I think Weili has this in him as a creative person.
You can view some of the other dance shots in the series here on his site. If you’re based in Singapore and after a shoot, you should totally contact Weili. He’s fab.
melbourne latin festival
Last weekend was the Melbourne Latin Festival, and it was just a wonderful, wonderful weekend. Impressively organised, impeccably run, and most of all, OODLES of fun by all that attended. My school always makes an appearance, and this year was no exception! Firstly, I got to take part in some public relations fun leading up to the event!
I taught the dance class at the festival’s launch party at the gorgeous Tuscan Bar in Bourke St, and also got to partake in a really fun photo shoot:
photoshoot for the local paper with Alex Bryan
Plus, I was on National TV! Only for a brief moment! But STILL! We were on the 7pm Project (Channel 10)!
dancing for Channel 10's 7pm Project
That was just a whole lot of fun, particularly because my whole team got to get decked out in their finest costumes and dazzle the pants off everyone!! Here’s the link to the video of us doing our thang, and hopefully razzle-dazzling the nation.
Look at my team, they are just stunners, the Spin City crew.
My gorgeous team!
During the festival itself, we represented with 4 performances by my student and pro teams, and I also taught a couple of workshops (on2 Mambo and Cha Cha).
getting performance ready!
The atmosphere in the dressing rooms is always electric at these events – 100 performers in a single cramped room, sharing mirror space and adrenaline running through their veins with pre-performance jitters!
great atmosphere backstage
In case you were wondering, we really DO get primped and sparkly from head to toe. Uh huh, TOE.
even our shoes get the bling on!
This was the ready to get on stage team! My pro team (plus James, who kindly jumped into our routine at late notice!!) How gorgeous are they – I’m so lucky to have them represent me!
noice, boys.
Each night, after a couple of hours of jaw dropping performances featuring sizzling style, we then adjourned to a social dancing room with live bands, electric atmosphere, lots of latin flavour, and some amazing dancing!
cuban percussion
Want to see what it was like? The very talented Jean-Luc made a wonderful video that in just 4 minutes, accurately captures the fun, the wonder, and the sheer delight that was the festival. You can view it here.
(PS, I feature in part of it, look out for my bright coral top and slicked back hair!)
And, if you’re upset for missing out, you can always remember to book in for next year (it’s an annual event) – it’s SO well worth it and it’s a real feather in our cap to have an incredible event like this right here in Melbourne, featuring world class dancers and great entertainment!
What I do adore about my life is that I get to be such an integral part of all these festivals, and really feel every moment and aspect of it. They leave me exhausted (and recently, SO SORE), but oh my, how lucky am I, to be able to do what I love and experience these amazing weekends at least 8-10 times a year, and in different states and countries.
*happy sighs*
back to the future
I found this via Zhing, and it’s too good not to post about. It’s a photography project where old photos are recreated, down to the tiniest detail.
What I loved seeing is that in most of these shots, it’s apparent how little people actually change, in features as well as expressions.
Such a heartwarming browse. Check it out here!
a dreamy day
Imagine meeting the love of your life in an unassuming way, having him fall right back in love with you, eventually proposing, and then having a wedding that celebrates that wonderment…
we walked in to see stunning, thoughtful decorations
Imagine having the most stunning daughter imaginable – a girl who is incredibly loved by her friends for her smile that lights up a room, a heart that keeps giving, soothing and supporting, and a wit that keeps us in giggles – and the immense pride you’d feel walking her through a room of the people that adore her.
Liz and her proud father, Trevor
Imagine walking into a room – your beloved parents on either arm, gorgeous husband-to-be ahead of you, a room filled with anticipation and joy for the ceremony about to commence.
Liz being walked down the aisle by Trevor & beautiful Robyn
As you walk in, rays of sun light up your beaming smile, and reflect the joy around you on your special day.
Imagine gazing into your love’s eyes, as a celebrant commits you to your vows, of being by each other’s side no matter what, and meaning it with all your heart.
To commemorate the significance of this day, each of your mum’s present a reading about love and marriage, that moves you and many of the audience to tears.
Imagine the atmosphere in the room – thick with emotion, swelling with happiness, and ready to celebrate this wonderful day of love. Bubbles and excited chatter fill the air.
There is a lot of post-ceremony gushing. And bubble blowing.
The happiness is palpable.
There are hugs and congratulations galore.
And more hugs.
In and amongst all the hugs, imaging peeking over to check your husband out. Oh yeah baby, there he stands, still as handsome as ever. Actually, you are unsure if he has ever been as handsome as he is today.
(Editors note: when us girlfriends first met Matt, he’d walked straight into a dinner party. Us girls may or may not have all rushed into the kitchen and squealed and swooned.)
Imagine the energy in the room – your favourite people all in one place, celebrating it with you.
Imagine having the best bridesmaids in the world, who coordinated a wonderful wedding all whilst looking smashing.
lovely dresses and handmade bouquets! talented!
Imagine the anticipation of being presented, for the first time ever, Mr & Mrs.
waiting to be presented
And feeling like nothing ever felt this right.
One of my closest girlfriends got married a couple of weeks ago, and I was privileged to be able to have celebrated it with her. Her story is truly one that is incredible, one of finding the man of her dreams in the digital age, of meeting someone that made her feel complete, happy, and like it was meant to be. Of course, being a crazy lady and armed with my trusty Sony camera, I ran around taking photos of moments that I hope she’ll be able to smile at for years to come.
Liz and Matt are as much a beautiful couple as they look – and this day was a celebration of how wonderful they are for each other.
I know that they’ll be able to smile together through anything, even when things go slightly awry as life sometimes does. Oh you know, for example when the sound of many many wine bottles clanging and smashing on the ground happens on a day that’s meant to go smoothly!
LA LA LA!
A gorgeous wedding day that made all us girls swoon, all the men smile charmingly, and gave us something to dream about as well. And best of all? It ended like all the Disney princess cartoons though – with a picture perfect kiss!
aww!
Congratulations Liz & Matt – here’s to a lifetime of happiness for two people that so rightfully deserve it. xoxo
