Just announcing Jess Lewis & Grant Houston are the winners of my Bridal Expo prize draw!! Who-hoooo!!
This is a totally FREE engagement shoot, with a 20×22″ matted frame, that includes 10×15″ photo, valued at $500.
They were just two of the couples who came to Addington Raceway for the annual Bridal Expo. It was a busy day, with mammoth interest right from when doors opened. In fact, I would have to say it was probably the busiest one I have attended in the last ten years.
I was passing through Victoria St last week, and saw what was left of the Crown Plaza, now on its last legs. I got quite a surprise as only a week prior, the entire structure was still standing. Just goes to show that once stripped of fittings and interior linings, that structural demolition can be pretty aggressive.
I’ve just finished a great day’s seminar at Newbery Lodge with Jerry Ghionis.
This is the second time I have heard Jerry speak. The first time in Tauranga a few years ago blew me away. I’m equally impressed with the second.
(Though I did not succomb to upgrading my video light, bought after the first seminar!)
His photos alone are an inspiration, yet combined with such astute business acumen, it is obvious his success has in no part been due to luck. More importantly for someone so esteemed, his presentation style was both honest and respectful. To have someone rated amongst the world’s best wedding photographers come to town, is much appreciated. To think it was nearly cancelled early on when most people did not know about it. I’m glad word got out and numbers rallied. Phew!!
To get away somewhere new, mid week, for such an intimate celebration, is one of the joys of my job. Ray & Rhian flew in from the States, to be married in Napier.
Add in beautiful autumn light, great people, and no stress, what more could you want. Always a pleasure to share New Zealand with overseas guests.
Mention must also be made of the great job by Minetta from the Wedding Company, and Bev Kerr (Celebrant), Kelly (Hairdresser) & Vania (Make-up Artist) Pure Hair.
I took a day out on Sunday to head to Auckland. Rode mic’s kindly sponsored Philip Bloom and Ric Creaser on a workshop tour of Oz and Auckland. Was a long but enjoyable day at the Auck Library theatrette.
You don’t get much more knowledgable than Philip on matters to do with dSLR filming, and I did manage to scribble quite a few notes. In fact the hardest part of the day, was lugging Jared Waddams speakers. He won a spot prize – a pair of 20/20 studio speakers. Good work Jared.
I managed to get a night away in Tekapo this weekend. It was a bit of a push given the busy month at hand, but worth it. I was keen to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Australis, and pretty much gave up hope. Despite a big solar flare on Wednesday, it seemed that cloudy skies and a full moon would have prevented any sign of this being seen. Well, so I thought until I took a good look at my photos. Low behold, there it was! Not huge admittedly, but just imagine what it would have been like without the clouds. I’m keen to keep an eye to see what develops in the coming months, as we peak in a 18yr cycle of solar activity.
Kind of the way things go sometimes I guess. You win some, you loose some. This weekend I think I was lucky not having a wedding during during the weather ‘bomb’!!
I really felt for folk whose special day was met with gale force winds and horizontal rain. It really does make a difference photographically when folk are cold and you are forced inside the whole time. For me, it was rare two day weekend with family.
I have spent the day today in Wellington on NZIPP duty. Along with the NZIPP Board, and the annual Policy and Planning meeting with all regional reps, Honours also met to co-ordinate the annual professional photography awards. Until now it has been a process I have participated in as an outsider, and have not been party to the decision making behind the scenes. Certainly, it doesn’t happen by magic, I can now assure you!
Yet we have had a great day, & laboured hard over our direction with awards this year. There have been some really positive outcomes, with some equally positive changes in the pipeline. This is not the forum to announce such changes, but it would be sufficient to say the awards process constantly evolves, and we listen hard to the requests of members.
Overall the aim is to encourage the highest standard of professional photography in NZ. With judging in CHCH in mid Sept, I encourage any fellow photographers to look ahead to their entries now.
Late last year, I was fortunate to hear that I had won a bronze place for a landscape image in an International Competition. Actually, my first ever international entry so I was pretty chuffed to get that feedback.
Though I have often say to students and clients alike, that awards themselves are funny things. Quite often photographers are intrinsically motivated, and can be sidetracked by how many awards they have, what sort, by who judged them etc…
The results can sometimes be several steps removed from ‘real’ or applied client work (not always I realise). The time and effort involved far exceed what is commercially necessary or what has been budgeted for.
Yet I am a firm believer that the benefit of awards lie not just in the cudos associated with individual images, but the wider intent demonstrated by the photographer. A photographer who is passionate about awards, is also passionate about their craft. Awards are a vehicle for creative exploration, and a practical demonstration of both vision and technique. Therein lies the benefit to clients, knowing they have an individual serious about their profession.
