First Time Parents
This topic is something very close to my heart having just experienced it 14 months ago...
I had a rush of chills come over me when I walked into their hospital room... I have a rush of chills right now as I begin to remember my own experience and this beautiful couples.
New parents, Fleur and Brad welcomed their little baby boy Louis (pronounced Louie for all of us Australians) into our big wide world May 30th, 2016. To say these two parents are so proud of their little creation is an understatement. Fleur and Brad have had their fair share of trials and tribulations. To those who say that falling pregnant is 'easy' can almost be laughed at... but not laughed at for long! It's a ridiculous thing to say, especially around our generation of women. But they got there in the end and did they deliver a beauty!?
The 'in hospital' photography sessions are up there with one of my most favorite sessions to photograph, even more-so if you are first-time parents. There is a total mix of raw emotions that come over you when you meet your child for the first time... excitement, nervousness, anxiety, happiness, exhaustion, overwhelmed, utterly in love, tired, adrenaline rush.... the list can go on and on...but you get my point - it's an experience that totally messes with your emotions in every way possible. And all of these emotions can happen in a very short space of time! It's insane! BUT, nevertheless, the best experience anyone will ever experience in their life. The In hospital sessions are shot with more of a documentary approach, rather than posed portraits. They tell a story in hope that the person viewing them will have an idea of just how these two were feeling on day 3 of becoming new parents.
It's crazy... one day you are a couple who depend on each other, and then, the next day you are a couple who has a child that now depends on them. What a responsibility! So much to learn. But the best advice does not come from a text book or blog, it comes from you - the parents - learning about your new baby. Being able to trust in your own instincts more than ever before. It takes time. Some days are great days where you want to sing to the world and show off your newborn to everyone and be social... and yet some days are so bad, you want to curl up into a ball and hideaway from the world. Welcome to parenthood. But as the days go on, you get better at it, you are more comfortable with it, you become stronger, and you embrace it!
I'm wishing Fleur and Brad and little Louis all the happiness in the world! You have taken on parenthood with guns blazing you two and I absolutely admire you both! Fleur, you are a warrior 👊 and that is how I will finish! Big Love, Sal xxx
Bath Time Fun
Bath time is always fun in our house hold! This photo was taken using the new 50mm 1.2 lens. It would be fair to say, I absolutely love it! Why has it taken me so long to add this bad boy into my photography kit?!
The Big Upgrade in Gear
It has been about 6 years since I last bought any camera equipment, and although I keep all of my equipment in very good condition, I was lacking a few special items. I am currently shooting only with zoom lenses. Mind you, my Canon 24-70 & 70-200 L-series lenses are nothing to sneeze at... it's any photographers dream to own such quality lenses... but I felt like my photography was lacking something and needed a little bit of a boost, creative change if you will...
So after much research and searching for quotes, I decided on purchasing some prime lenses. Which ones? I went for Canon 50mm 1.2 and a Canon 85mm 1.2. Why? For many reasons... but the two main ones were to create better quality, more crisp photographs for newborn & portraits (50mm) and to be further enough away from guests at a wedding to be able to capture those great candid/documentary style photos without having a massive lens in their face (85mm) and while I was at it, I decided to upgrade to the 5D Mark III from the 5D Mark II.
I've only played around with the 50mm and I love it! It will take me a little getting used to by not being able to quickly zoom in and out by a twist of the wrist, but to start stepping in and out from the subject. Sounds like an easy task... not so easy... but I am enjoying learning and getting used to the prime as I get to photograph our little munchkin Tasma!