Which brings me to the reason I adore my photography…simple memories. I have this innate ability to freeze time. I am fortunate to be able to capture my own children, in all their glory, just as they are, as often as I like. I am truly blessed to be able to do this. Whether I use my ‘big’ camera or my iphone, I do my very best to try to capture something every once in while. But what about me, and my photos? Again, I’m so very fortunate to have such wonderful friends (who also happen to be photographers) that I can call on to capture some memories of me and my family. We probably don’t do it near as often as I would like but at least it’s been done.

Anyway, I digress, I’ve been thinking about the fortunate position I find myself in and about those that are not. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to ‘pay it forward’. I wanted to create some lifelong memories for someone special and in doing so decided that I didn’t just want people to win a ‘few free prints’. I wanted to properly give someone the chance to capture their newborn, baby or child/ren and create some life long memories.

So, I’d like to announce that I am running an amazing competition – the chance to Win a Complete Portraiture Experience!

THE PRIZE:

“Colour Me Happy” Collection

• A portrait session for up to 5 members of a Family.
• 15 individually processed images on CD .
• Two custom 11×14″ enlargements matted within 16×20″ white mats, ready for framing.

Total value – $1,295 ($150 session booking fee + $1,145 for the Sheer Delight Collection)

But that’s not all.

All entries will automatically be eligible to receive 20% off of their session fee and Collection of choice, now or in the future (that is of course if you chose to book a session). So, even if you don’t win, you can still have a photographic session discounted by 20% – just because you entered.

HOW TO ENTER:

- Read and familiarise yourself with the Terms and Conditions for this competition.

- Email me a picture of your baby or child/ren to nicole@nicoleramsay.com (if you are pregnant, I’m happy to receive a shot of you/your ultrasound/your bump!)

- In the subject of the email, type “Competition Entry”.

- Provide your full name; your contact telephone number; and the name/s and age/s of your child or children and your location.

- Once entries have closed, each photograph will be displayed on my blog (watermarked with an entry number). The competition will be run by public vote, so you will need to spread the news of the competition far and wide to your family and friends, so that they know to come and vote and give you a better chance to win!

Entries are open as of this evening (8 May 2012), and close at 11:59pm on 15 May, 2012.

Voting will commence on approximately 18 May 2012 and will cease at 11:59pm on 24 May, 2012. The winner will be announced by Friday, 25th of May, 2012.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

- Winners will be determined by public vote (an online poll). The winner will not be chosen by Nicole Ramsay Photography.

- By entering the competition and providing an image for this purpose, you are giving permission for this image to be used by Nicole Ramsay for advertising and promotional purposes. All valid entries will be made public on the photography blog for the competition.

- This competition is only available for residents of Brisbane or the surrounding areas. However, should you reside interstate or do not live in the metropolitan or surrounding areas of Brisbane, but are willing to travel to Brisbane for the photographic session or alternatively meet the travel and accommodation expenses of Nicole Ramsay Photography in traveling to your destination (within Australia), you will be eligible to enter.

- The prize is not redeemable for cash, nor is it transferable to any other session or person.

- The prize is not valid for Maternity or Wedding Photography.

- This competition is not valid for clients of Nicole Ramsay Photography who already have a current booking.

- Entries are limited to one image per family.

- The photographic session must take place before 31 March, 2013.

- The winners of the Photographic Session agree to any images resulting from the photographic session to be used by Nicole Ramsay Photography for promotion and advertising purposes.

- The winners will also adhere to conditions as outlined in the Portrait Agreement, as per any ‘normal’ session held.

I thinks that’s everything, so GOOD LUCK!!!

So here we go in an attempt to catch up…

You might recognize the beautiful girls below. I have been photographing them for the past four years. Every year around November (and yes this is November), I have the wonderful pleasure of capturing their lovely faces. They have grown into the most amazing young ladies who are poised, beautiful and well mannered (on account of their equally wonderful parents). It’s amazing to look back each year and see how much they’ve grown.

Little Jacob, created his on story the day we went along to the beach. You see, he had never been to the beach before. He loved the sand, but when he spotted the water he was off and no matter how many times we turned him away from the water, he walked right back. According to him, that’s where he wanted to spend the afternoon. And that’s where we spent a good portion of it. I feel so privileged to have been along for the ride, capturing his first real experience at the beach, in the waves. How cool to have that documented for prosperity.

I’m an avid blogger and always try my best to keep up to date but it seems I have failed dismally these past few weeks *cough* months. I do have a good excuse I promise. See, this time of year is normally busy to say the least, but add on to that, lots and lots of newborn babes arriving left right and centre and it becomes chaotic. Which, is case in point here.

That’s ok, it just means I have so much more to share soon and I will – lots of newborns and beautiful families. In the meantime, enjoy a Beloved session I had the pleasure of experiencing back in September. How lucky am I to have captured this family for the second time…the first when little Will was just 9 months old. He’s now a beautiful, energetic toddler.

Another beautiful family I saw dance on the stage of life. A witness, through the eyes of my camera.

Enjoy their beautiful song.

Her name is Leisa and we’ve been friends for 20 years.

She makes me laugh, now more than ever. We can talk for hours, but unfortunately as time and life would have it, we don’t do that enough. I fondly remember her wedding and the birth of her first-born and all the others that have followed; five beautiful babies. She is an amazing mother. One I can only aspire to be like. Her family is beautiful. Full of laughter, a great deal of love,  and so much more. They are truly together.

Meet my friend and her beautiful family.

You’ve got to laugh a little.
Cry a little.
Until the clouds roll by a little.
That’s the story of; that’s the glory of love.

As long as there’s the four of us,
We’ve got the world and all it’s charms.
And when the world is through with us.
We have got each others arms.

You’ve got to win a little.
Loose a little.
Yes and always have the blues a little.
That’s the story of; that’s the glory of love.