I had photographed most of the house in May this year: http://www.calicojo.co.nz/2/post/2013/04/a-photo-shoot-for-an-interior-designer.html
Now the interior design of the house is completed and I got to photograph the new extension and updated dining room and study.
It is still being decided whether this home is going to be sold,  but if you have an offer, I can pass it on!

Here are some of the new pics.

Calico Jo

'Tis a cold morning me hearties!

Grabbed the camera for some frosty photos.

Must be Irish Coffee Time!!

Calico Jo

I was 8 years old when I knew, that when I grew up, I wanted to be a storyteller. 
I always enjoyed Creative Writing, and I always enjoyed Art.
  
In my first year of college, I was one of a small group of students who were chosen attend a special 'Creative Writing' day, and the next year I was really excited to be chosen to attend a week long 'Art' course.  That was the same year I joined the school camera club.

Instead of doing a photography degree at University, I did a Batchelors in Business Studies, majoring in Business Development.  This was all about being an entrepreneur and thinking innovatively.  I also did a Certificate in the Arts, and did papers about 'Creativity' including, Creative Writing and Story Telling. 

So did I grow up to be a Storyteller?   I believe I did.  There is so many similarities between Creative Writing and Photography.

• You do tell stories through pictures.  
• You need creativity and imagination to visualise and implement photo shoots and the finished edited result.
• I've used 'Brainstorming' to create stories in writing and photography shoots.
• The same goes for 'Stor boards'.
• In Creative Writing, you're encouraged to write something everyday, even if you don't use it, even if you don't feel like it.  It improves your skill level, keeps your brain ticking over with new ideas and plots.  I find that's also true in photography.  I encourage my students to do a photo a day, as it really improves your skill level, how you view your surrounds, and how you compose and take your photos.  Plus it's a great visual diary. 
• In Creative Writing, you're encouraged to always carry a notebook, to write down ideas as they come to you, because later you will forget them.  I carry a notebook to jot down photography ideas also.
• When writing a story, sometimes the characters or the plot take off in a direction, different to what you had originally planned and you just go with it to see how it plays out.  A photo shoot always throws in the unexpected at some stage, and sometimes it produces something better.
• In Creative Writing, when you think you have finished a piece, you leave it for a time, (sometimes days), and then you go back and look at it again with fresh eyes.  After I have downloaded my photos from a shoot or wedding, no matter how much I'm tempted, I don't started editing them until the next day at the earliest.  This is so I can view them objectively with fresh eyes and fresh zeal.  If time allows, I do this again after I have finished photo editing them all.   There is usually one or two I like to tweak or cull the next time I look.
• In Creative Writing, editing is vital!!  Your first draft is always rubbish.  In photography when I hand over my finished product, I always feel I'm judged by my worst photo.  Don't be afraid to cull!  I think as an artist, a smaller amount of beautiful pictures is much better than a whole lot of mediocre.
• In a story, sometimes it's the unexpected twist or different writing style that makes it memorable.  With the billions of photos taken, it's that something different, that unique style, that catches the eye and makes a photo memorable.

Calico Jo
A wannabe photography storyteller ;)

Here's how to do a "Spin the Bottle Photography Road Trip".

Get together a bunch of camera buddies, a spinning bottle, your camera kit, cars, good music, a thermos, picnic hamper, a bit of dosh in case you spot a place that sells giant ice-creams, and in my case a GPS.

My first attempt at a stop motion video using the still photos from the camera.  I got my boys to act... well to be themselves really.

Calico Jo
www.calicojo.co.nz

One of my first blogs was about the photo that has always inspired me and helped me set and stick to my style.  
It is this photo of my Mum and me.  It was taken by my Uncle on the steps of our front door.  It's not just a photo, it's a memory, and it makes me smile everytime I walk past it.  The door is open and I can see the wallpaper of our home.  I can also smell the wood polish and incense and hear the record player playing Pink Floyd.  This is Mum, the way I remember her, a cool lady, who did things her own way, including letting her only little girl go around topless in boy shorts.  She died of cancer in her mid thirties and these photos are really special to me.

I also have studio photos of Mum and me.  We are dressed in our best clothing, sitting against a brown background with forced smiles on our faces.  These are stuck in an album somewhere, and they do make me laugh because we look really uncomfortable and crazy eyed.  

When it comes to family photography, Calico Jo's endeavours to capture pictures that make you smile for the right reasons.  Photos that will provide and spark happy memories by showcasing your family personality, interests or that special family treasure or location.

Here is a list of family photo ideas to consider for your next family photo shoot.

AROUND YOUR FAMILY HOME

• Using your washing line.  Drape or peg some material/blanket over it for a fun background or play tent.  Peg up some baby clothes for a maternity shoot, or peg up photos, things you love, and sit/stand under it.  If you have a round, rotating washing line, hang things and  spin it, or walk through it.
• A photo on the veranda.  Casual, natural.
• A photo by the gate with the house in the background.  
• Wood piles make cool photo settings and old sheds.
• By the window looking out, or other dreamy shots like lying in a hammock on a tree branch.
• Fireside reading.  Parents reading to kids, even acting it out.  The teen with their feet up on the couch or wrapped in a cosy blanket.
• Jumping on the bed, Pillow fight.  We can do this in our studio too.
• Turn the sprinkler on or the hose and some fun wet family photos.  (your just not allowed to wet the photographer)
• Around the games table.  Pool table.  Play Poker and everyone put on their poker faces.  Play cluedo and everyone look suspicious, play jenga, etc etc
• Put on a family dinner and get photos of everyone around the table, laughing and enjoying themselves.
• Coffee/Tea mugs, Mothers/Daughters/Grandmothers chatting and laughing coffee mugs in hand. (if there is cake for the photographer, even better)
• My Wheels.  Everyone poses with what wheels they are using right now.  Even better if you can include everyone's wheels in one photo.  Wheels = prams, trikes, scooters, skateboards, bikes, cars, trucks
• Family bake off.  Photos with everyone in aprons, baking up a storm, envisioning flour everywhere and lots of bowl licking.
• In Daddy's/Mummy's shoes or clothes swap.  Kids dress in their parents clothes, or everyone just swaps clothing.
• Pets.  Pets are part of the family too.
• A few of my favourite things.  Photos with your fave things. Or get everyone on the couch (the bigger the family, the better), everyone has to bring to the couch something that represents them.

OTHER FAMILY FUN SHOOTS

• Photos of the family playing some kind of ball game.
• Playing hopscotch.
• Playing jump rope.
• Using hoolla hoops.
• Balancing on a log or beam and everyone trying to push each other off.
• Apple bobbing
• Sack race.
• Bull rush, tag, Royal Rumble, Stuck in the Mud
• Stick play (in a pretend non hurting way), swords, bow and arrows
• Go carts
• Wheelbarrow racing.  Either real wheelbarrows or where you grab someones legs.
• Piggy back.
• Make a Mess. Paint fights, waterfights, flour fights, cream, confetti, silly string (again, your not allowed to get the photographer)
• Family interests or sports (go out to the location or get into gear)
• Photo booth, silly faces, wigs etc
• Grass sliding, (oh the stories I could tell with this.... handle this one with care)
• Camp fire and marshmallows, fireworks.
• Tree climbing (just not too high)
• Forts, tents,  made from branches or blankets
• Kite flying
• Dressing up as super heroes
• Picnic lunch out on location
• Photos in the back of the station wagon, ute, camper, van, trailer, cart
• Teddy Bears Picnic
• Fairy lights
• Face paint
• Pick an era and dress up
• Bubbles
• Balloons
• Bubblegum or lollipops
• Framed - using picture frames as props
• Cardboard Boxes, big ones the kids can play in.
• Acting out your theme song, or movie, or story book.
• Reenact an old oil painting.
• Stripes, dots, patterns, clashing colours
• Ice cream sundaes - the bigger and the more colourful the better - (and you have to make one for the photographer too)
• Dressing up in your national costume
• Reenact childhood photos, wear similar clothes in a similar place with the same pose and facial expressions.
• Umbrellas and gumboots, photos in the rain and mud.
• Rock star poses on the road (a quiet road)
• Straight faced, straight up and down poses.
• Go to the Grandparents house and have photos around them and the things you remember them by.
• A walk in the park
• At the playground.  Everyone on swings, down the slide, in tunnels, on the ropes etc
• Long grass. Sitting in it, playing peek a boo, just walking or standing in it.
• On the water, boats, jetties, surfing, fishing, tyre tubes.
• Chalk. Draw signs or scenes.
• A baby photo shoot based on the baby's name.

So theres a few ideas to consider :P

We would  love to capture your family adventures!
Calico Jo

With a lot of studio shoots and photo editing the last month, I've been getting a slight panicky feeling of wanting to bust outdoors.  So today (even though I still have photo editing to do :P), I announced to the family we were going for a family walk to explore Centennial Park, Tree Trust.

I was only recently introduced to Centennial Park when I did some wedding photos there in April this year, and I had only seen a small part of it.  So there was definitely a need for more exploring.  We spent a good hour walking around and still only covered a third of it.  There are tracks everywhere!  It is really pretty.  I'd love to do more wedding and family photography here. 

Here are some photos from the stroll.

A slideshow of the rest of the spots I thought would make awesome portrait locations.

There is also a bbq area with cool rustic seating.  It is free to use the bbq.  There is tap water near the bbq and toilets a bit further down.

The lads did enjoy themselves.... really...

Calico Jo

Yeah Baby!!
Favourite dessert: Lemon Meringue Pie
2nd Favourite dessert: Cheesecake

This is a Lemon Meringue Cheesecake I made this weekend.

• with my own lemon curd from the lemons on my tree
• meringue made from the eggs from my chooks 
• cream cheese made from the milk from my cow......

 Okay I lied about the last two.  I don't have chooks or a cow, but I did do the lemon curd from my lemon tree :D