The curls, the painted nails, the shoes (yes the shoes I immediately ordered for Lily because they were the sweetest darn things I’ve seen in a long time) made for some extra special fun for me – I’m a lover of details!

This is quite a large share but I wanted to let people know the type of images that may be included in a galley for a family session…there are many more images but alas, this is about the limit of what I can share on my blog.

I hope you smile a big smile looking a these pictures because that’s what I’m doing right now…

It was special to be able to finally head out for their first proper family shoot; from now on an annual tradition.  Father’s Day for the grandfathers was taken care of with a number of costume changes (I bet you can’t pick which ones they were), followed by some more just for  some ‘cute’ factor. She’s certainly a cutie pie in my eyes.

And another instalment of Willow and Tilly…

We all know that life in general is a case of “blink and you miss it“. Particularly so, when it involves your own children! Time passes us by so very quickly and before we know it, they are no longer babies. No longer toddlers. About to start school…and so on and so forth. Then there are times we look through our photos and realise we as the adults in the family are hardly represented in any of the photos we happened to capture along the way (what memories are we leaving for our children?).

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 small point and shoot, 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. As it happens I’m off on a family holiday and will be getting my own family portraits in November – what to wear? what to wear? (I’m sure I’ll love being on the other side of the camera….eek!).

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:

Sheer Delight Collection

• A portrait session for up to 4 members of a Family.
• 20 individually processed images on CD presented in a beautiful leather CD case and box.
• Two custom 11×14″ enlargements matted within 16×20″ white mats, ready for framing.
• A beautifully presented handmade leather album containing the 20 5×7″ images from your session.

Total value – $1,745 ($150 session booking fee + $1,595 for the Sheer Delight Collection)

But that’s not all!!!!

All entries will automatically be eligible to receive 15% 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 15% – 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 (1st of September 2010), and close at 11:59pm on 8th of September, 2010.

Voting will commence on the 14th of September 2010 and will cease at 11:59pm on 21st of September, 2010. The winner will be announced by Friday, 24th of September, 2010.

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, 2011.

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

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

So she celebrated on Saturday like any princess would celebrate – with a beautiful party surrounded by all of her nearest and dearest. It was a princess party and she was Cinderella. She looked every bit her royal highness, so perfectly posed waiting for her friends to arrive. I tired my very best to take care of the details of the day. My intention was to ensure it was fit for a princess, and according to Lily and her little friends I was successful (thankfully).

The very first portrait would have to be up there as one of my most favourite so far in her short little life. Her essence is captured so perfectly, right down to the ring she slipped on her finger at the very last moment (these days you won’t find her often without at least one ring on a finger).

…I wonder what she wished for? What ever it was, I only wish it comes true.

A gorgeous, delightful little man with loving, beautiful parents. There is no denying this little guy has a lot to look forward to in life.

Can you believe it’s only two odd weeks until Spring has sprung? It’s my favourite time of year to photograph, especially in Queensland. The sun is shining; the light is beautiful; the birds are chirping and there is the smell of freshness in the air.  The cooler weather is well and truly on the way out and I simply LOVE it!

You’ll also find it hard to believe it’s only 4 months until Christmas!! Crazy I know, but since many of my clients intend on having family portraits and pictures of the kids to use as Christmas presents, I thought I should remind you that Christmas is literally just around the corner. Please note that if you do require Christmas gift portraits, the session needs to take place between late September and (no later than) mid November. I’m going away for 2 weeks of much needed family time in November, which leaves only limited weekend availability for Christmas Family Portraits.

Looking at these pictures of Lily on this cold, wet and rainy day, reminds me of happy days…and it also puts me into a generous mood!! I thought a little special something was in order for those clients who book their session now. If you book your session by the end of August, and hold it in the months of September or October, you will receive 25 custom 5×5″ designer Christmas cards featuring pictures from your session (valued at $150). They’re double sided, printed on beautiful linen card stock with envelopes and come all the way from the USA. Your family and friends will most certainly be wowed by your cards this Christmas season!

Below is a sample of this year’s cards. They are customisable and tailored to each client. I love them…and I’m sure you will love them too. I look forward to hearing from you soon!!!!

Blake’s parents wanted more classic, simple portraits – no props; hats or other bits and pieces. Here are some of my favourites from her session.

How exciting to have another big chubby bub straight after another! Siah was born over 10lbs and 58cms long with the most silky blonde hair! It was divine. Generally, I like to photograph my newborns under 14 days of age, mostly around 8 or 9 days. However, he was a dream baby and slept the whole session…except at the end when it was time for some photos with mum and dad!

I love when siblings come along to newborn shoots. My heart lies in photographing children just as much as it does with newborns, so it’s always fun. It was such a refreshing change having a little kid to photograph since my last 8 sessions have all been newborns. Since, I had the delight of sharing the camera with two lovely subjects, naturally I’m sharing far too many yet again!

Because she was so good to me, there are so many wonderful portraits I wanted to share, but seriously I couldn’t share them all. However, it was just too hard to narrow it down too much, so here are a *few* of my favourites!

I tell myself each day, no matter how rude, emotional or misbehaved they are; no matter how much their fighting and screaming is penetrating to the inner core of my brain, that I am truly lucky. Yes, some days are much harder to remind myself of this fact, but on days like today it is easy.

They are so fun.
So crazy.
So emotional.
So loved…

xxx