Gibbs Family

By far the tallest people I've ever worked with.

Ever.

He's like 6"7 and she's 6"1. And their 9 year old is taller then most 12 year olds. I told you. TALL!

Thank goodness for a new wide angle lens. :) (Yey tax returns!!)

But I really really enjoyed this shoot.  Just really great people.

It was my pleasure to shoot you (that joke never gets old for me).

"Who wants a lolly Pop?"

Lesson Learned - It's important to look at the pictures after taking them, on the spot, to check that all is well.  The first two sets of poses had a sandfly on the lens = black smudge on faces = no good pictures.  And I can't always trust that just coz I took 20 pictures in the same position that one of them has to be ok; if someone's hair is in their face, it doesn't matter how many you take, their hair will be in their face in all 20.  Post-checking on the spot can also help with this.

JAH

Last time I took their pictures, Hannah didn't have a whole lot of hair and was not interested in looking at the camera, let alone smiling.  She has pigtails and I got a few grins. We're making progress.

Lesson Learned - With little kids its a game of give and take, sometimes you gotta let them run around and play for 10 minutes to get a smile out of them.   And sometimes those smiles don't come in a nicely composed frame, they come mid-jump or post-spin. It also helps to check your camera settings before your shoot to make sure your ISO is right......

Seen them before

If your sister took pictures, wouldn't you be asking her all the time to do some of you?

I know I would.

My sister.

Again.

Lesson Learned - I want need a wide angle lense. And babies do not listen to bribes.  And my version of "smile" is very different to a 3 year old's version, hers often resembling pain/digust/rage.

Tiffany

The boarder staying with my brother, who turned out to be an awesome girl too.

Congrats on your upcoming graduation!

I hope your stay in New Zealand has been awesome.

Lesson Learned - Every set of subjects, a couple, a family, an individual, require a different set of skills, positions etc. I need to be better about studying my art, looking at other photographers work, figuring out what works for one person, what works for a group. And practice. Practice, practice, practice.

Naomi n Nela

Some of our best friends from our short stint as Wellingtonians.

What better way to celebrate your anniversary then to document your love through pictures, right?!
And how refreshing it was to have the GUY be the one instigating the shoot!!

They have since found out they are expecting their first child - yey!!
Perhaps a maternity shoot is in order?

Good luck with everything guys.

oxo

Lesson learned - I need to learn to use the light instead of hiding from it in the shade or late evening.  I love Leeyen's work with that amazing sun flare.  I need to work on that.