It’s blog carnival time again, and the topic this month is Love and Passion. It seemed obvious..create a post showing how passionately my beautiful families love each other. Easy! However this month’s post coincided with something that was about me. A career milestone that I wanted to talk about anyway and one that is the reward of living a life with passion.

Last week, with a group of fantastic and talented South Australian photographers, I went to Perth to attend a national conference and the annual awards judging. This year was special, as I was finally able to submit a portfolio to be judged in order to attain my ‘Master of Photography’ status. It all seemed too daunting though. I had too much on my plate, a newsletter to compose, orders to organise, children to chase around with a camera… but I managed it, pulling together the portfolio of prints required in order to go for my Masters. This process has been a long one, with three years of consistent and nerve wracking print judging, countless prints submitted, a lot of lovely awards along the way and a very healthy understanding of my gifts and failings as a photographer. It wasn’t something I could miss to put the final stamp on it all, and of course I’m very glad I did. We had to submit 12 images, and at least 10 of them had to be awarded a silver merit or above. I’m beyond proud to say I did it and can now wear the mantle of Master Photographer with pride  Below is a selection of the prints entered, with some of them being amongst my favourites ever.

Making your living out of something you’re passionate about can be amazing and enviable (although not without it’s challenges!). I get told all the time how blessed I am, and it’s very very true. I love nothing more than recording an element of childhood that will forever remind that family of what life with young children was like. It’s the most amazing job I can think of, and perfectly tailored to my strengths. My love of interior design, child psychology, art, black and white photography and spending time with lovely people have all converged into this incredible career. I don’t take any of this for granted and can’t wait to see what the next major goal will bring. My thanks go out to the families that are my inspiration, and without this sounding too much like a cheesy acceptance speech, this is for Maria. One of our last conversations was about how thrilled she was for me about my career, and one of the photos of her and her daughters won an award that contributed to this journey. I know she’s cheering me on

For the next fantastic photographer in the blog carnival, head to Toronto newborn, baby, maternity and family photographer – Heather Rivlin’s blog. I’ve always loved her pure and beautiful work

Simone (Master Photographer!  ) xo

As I gently return back to earth after a weekend of tradeshow-ing, award-winning, and socialising with some of my favourite people, it’s high time I do some blogging about what last weekend was about (and why I’ve been a bit scarce!). I’m part of an industry organisation, the AIPP that runs it’s major national awards every June, and it’s always such brilliant fun. Photographers, as a rule, are incredibly social…you can imagine what the awards dinner is like!

We enter four prints, fingers crossed, nails bitten and don’t dare hope that someone will love them as much as we (and our clients!) do. I was particularly proud of my entries though, it felt like a real expression of my ‘voice’. The shot of the kids under the sprinkler was especially important to me, as it’s of the family of close friends. It made my whole weekend that the proud dad of those girls was sitting next to me as that print was judged and won a silver award. Such a gorgeous full circle moment Three of my prints merited, with two silvers and a silver distinction. Woohoo!

So, the prints! I couldn’t be more thrilled. We go to these things hoping…but never suspect what we can achieve. It’s very gratifying after a year’s worth of incredibly hard work. A big thankyou to my gorgeous subjects, Jo, Elizabeth, Max, Bec, Stella, Lulu and Jemima xo

Simone xo

Yep, more awards! It’s been the year for it, and this week saw the judging of the South Australian AIPP awards. I entered the Family Category, and came away with four silver awards for my prints. It’s an incredible honour, so I was thrilled beyond belief.

Christmas is fast approaching, especially with the Pageant this weekend, so if you’re hoping to order for presents, get in fast before I drown in the craziness that ’tis the season and I run out of time! Orders for albums and keepsake boxes close November 16 so if you had a last minute thought that you’d like one, you’d better be fast!

Look out for our new newsletter coming soo, you can send me an email to sign up if you haven’t already, and stay tuned for exciting new studio products and events over the coming months.

xo Simone

with some of my recent award winners. All four of my entries were awarded silver in this round. We do this five times a year, and it’s nerve-wracking (although I was a judge for part of it this time and got to experience the other side!), but it’s so good for growth and keeps me striving to create something incredibly special for my clients each and every time.

A big shout out to my fabulous models, you make it easy

xo Simone

xo Simone

AND…South Australian Outdoor Portrait Photographer of the Year! It was announced on Tuesday night at the AAPP National Awards Dinner in Melbourne, and I couldn’t be more stoked. The competition is one that takes into account a year’s worth of print submissions, so it’s a dedicated process, and very nerve-wracking! I’m so honoured to have won it.

This is one of the images I submitted, the fabulous Giselle and her second baby. For those who have followed my work, Giselle is the gorgeous pregnant mama in the archway with her hubby in my pregnancy gallery, and it was fantastic to get together to celebrate this new baby. I thought it was fitting that one of her images went towards my award too, they’ve been staunch supporters

So, I won’t give an acceptance speech ;o) , but I will say that I’m so blessed with what I do, and the recognition that is flooding in. I’m looking forward to creating more award winning portraits for your families in the future.

Simone xoxoxo

I wanted to show three images I just won silver awards for in an industry print judging I was really thrilled as these images are absolute favourites of mine. For anyone that knows the studio, the baby being held up on the beach was in my Christmas window, and the one of Bree and Cooper lying in the flowers is big on on the wall The last one is an new all time favourite (hi Sacha!). 

xo Simone