There is a park next to our house, and in that park, hidden among a bunch of pine trees is this really cool rock formation.
When my niece Jade said she was coming for a weekend, I knew this was my chance.
I sewed up a tutu and use florist wire and beads to make a crown.

The day was freezing and raining, but I only had her for the weekend!  She was very brave.
Here a few of my favorite photos of her.

"What we play is life" -  Louis Armstrong

Stella Maris is so multi talented.  She has rising music/singing career and also does modelling.  When I wanted to do a vintage jazz singer shoot, I could think of no one else, but Stella to model for me.
I also knew the perfect location was the Princes Gate, an historical building which is a hotel and restaurant in Rotorua.  They also have a grand piano.

Lighting was a speedlight in a softbox to get  a music spotlight effect.
Camera was a Canon 70d with a 24-105mm lens.

A Day of Whimsical Happenings was a day of a limited number of mini creative sessions.  Each session had props and a setting that catered to each child and what they liked.    

Tui has an artistic soul and her colouring really suits the autumn, colours of nature.  I chose to do a Steampunk theme based on one of my favourite books as a child, The Faraway Tree, by Enid Blyton.  

The Faraway tree was located in The Enchanted Wood as was full of fantastical creatures.  Through the Enchanted Wood ran a train that went all the way to Toyland.  I think trains and Steampunk go well together, so that became the base of my idea.  A Steampunk creature waiting at a train depot in the Enchanted Wood.  A little Steampunk Fairy.

I made a no sew tutu made from coloured cheesecloth and lacy fabric.  I had a leather top to go underneath.  The wings shape was based from a pattern OxEyeDaisy.  To make them more steampunk I added a tie up corset/harness.  These were made  from a vinyl from Bunnings Warehouse with nuts and bolts.  The embellishments were from A Dozen Ideas.

On the day my husband asks,
"Why are you taking our clock down?"
"Because I'm going to nail it to a tree.  Where's the hammer?"
"Why are you nailing it to a tree?"
"Because that's where the train stops".....
Husband's face is comical with his 'shouldn't have asked look'.

These 2 sisters like pink and purple, tutus and butterflies.
I made heaps of butterflies from scrapbooking papers, and put them on wires, buntings and bluetack.  I made no sew tutus and I had coloured cheesecloth as tops / underdress.  The headpieces were from Cotton On.

Ngawai is friends with the Butterfly Sisters, so she wanted to do something similar to them.  Next to the location of the butterfly tree was this pretty flowering nook.  It reminded me of the story "The Secret Garden" which was my inspiration for her.  To top it off a little NZ native bird, a Fantail, kept chatting and flying around us for the photo session.  It was very sweet and magical.

As the flowers were purple, I put her in the purple cheesecloth and tutu.

For the 3 year old boy who loves pirates, my son and I had great fun making things for his shoot.  A raft made out of pool noodles and little cork boats on string.  My son had to try out everything to make sure they worked.  There were a few fails.  We found out paper boats look great in the sand but flop very quickly in the water.  We also found out that pool noodle rafts will barely hold up a big 12 year old lad in the water.  It may have held our 3 year old pirate, but to be safe we kept it on the sand.  We gave the pirate boy choices in pirate hats and patches, and the ones he is wearing is what he chose.  Also had to throw in some pirate balloons and chocolate gold coins.

I enjoyed this day so much.  I do want to do it again.

To see where I get help in photo prop creating, go check out my Pinterest board :  Calico Jo's Photo Prop creating board

xox
​Calico Jo

PHOTO SESSION BRIEF: To get some lifestyle family portraits to showcase a bit of Rotorua.  Photos to be sent to family overseas.
LOCATION: Lake Tikitapu
​CAMERA: Canon 50d with Canon 24-105mm lens and natural lighting.

Also did some photos in the Redwoods, Waipa Mill side.

"Families are like fudge - Mostly sweet with a few nuts"

xox
​Calico Jo

THE BRIEF: To get some promotional photos for the Japanese Summer Festival, and I wanted to do some portraits with the Wisteria covered bridge in Kuirau Park while it was still flowering.

CAMERA: Canon 70d with 24-105mm lens
LIGHTING:  All natural light with a sunny day with cloud, Spring.

Settings: F/4.5 - 1/200 - ISO 160

Below camera settings: F/5.6 - 1/200 - ISO 160

I really enjoyed this photo shoot and am totally in love with the Kimonos I've seen and the fabrics they are made in.

xox
Calico Jo

PHOTO SHOOT BRIEF:  Full length and head shots, vintage pin up style for Amanda Miles portfolio, (actually a Mrs Amanda Miles).
Photos will be used in vintage pin up competitions.

CAR: Rebel Rambler owned by Amanda and husband Phil
HAIRSTYLE: By Miss Jessica Mae of Kulture Shock
MAKEUP: Shaquille Baker
LOCATION: Hamurana, Rotorua, New Zealand
WEATHER & TIME: 1-2pm on a hot sunny day
LENS: Canon 24-105mm
​

NOTES

​Photos below with Canon 50d and reflector 
F 4.5 - 1/250 - ISO 160

Photo below with Canon 70d
F 4 - 1/1250 - ISO 125 - natural light

Photos below with Canon 70d and natural light
​F 4 - 1/200 - ISO 500

Photos below with Canon 70d and natural light
 1/250 - ISO 400
​full length F 14 - head shot F 4

Photo below with Canon 70d
​f 4.5 - 1/250 - ISO 400, natural light with reflector

xox
​Calico Jo

The Sea Maidens photo shoot was almost a year into the making.  Conflicting schedules and a busy summer season, meant it was towards the end of winter before we could all meet up.  We made a date and said rain or storm we were still going to do it.  The location was Mt Maunganui, the place that is always bathed in sunshine and warmth..... except the day we were there.  The weather called our bluff and it was so stormy!  I had them in their winter coats huddled under a tree until I had them in front of the camera.   My camera was enclosed in a plastic grocery bag, and it was so stormy I didn't even attempt a lighting setup.

The dresses were inspired by the ocean.  They were made of cheesecloth that I bought on a roll.  I like using cheesecloth because it is already a cloth tube, so it is just a matter of cutting holes and ties in the right places to make a no sew design.  They were also embellished with seashells, twine and beads.

Here are some notes and inspirations for each of the designs.
The camera used was a Canon 50d with a 24-105mm lens.  Natural cloud storm lighting around mid day.

Makeup was done by Danielle Sutton.

Amy was my most experience model, so she got the most difficult outfit to model.  She was my Queen, with a big crown, and her dress was inspired by the waves and whitewash with a big long trail.  I also designed some twine netting to represent fishing nets.

Camera was set at 1/250 shutter speed, ISO 250, with F stop either f/9 or f/5 depending if was a scene or more cropped in shot.

Judea's dress was inspired by sea creatures, squid, jellyfish.  She had to be plaited into it with a french braid all the way down it's back.

This was Preslee's first modelling shoot.  Talk about baptism with fire with the weather, but she did really well.  Her outfit is inspired by nets.

A family lifestyle photo session, is a very personalised photo shoot.  It is about who you are, where your heart and homebase is, what you love, and a showcase of the family bond.  The clothing you wear, should also reflect you and you should be comfortable in them.   Here are some pointers to help bring those styles and personalities into a cohesive family portrait.

Matching outfits can look a little contrived and unnatural for a lifestyle type session, unless it's a multiple birth scenario and wearing matching outfits is the norm.  You don't have wear the same colours, but it is nice to have clothing from the same colour pallette.  In the photo above, everyone wearing their style, and the colours are in the greys, and blues range.

There are things in a photo that catches the eye and can make an individual stand out from the rest.  
Sometimes this is wanted if there is person the family session is based around, e.g. Grandma and Grandad are celebrating 60 years married, the family get together at the family home to celebrate and have a family photo.  If everyone was dressed in plain muted coloured clothing, the Grandparents could be wearing something more colourful or more patterned, so they stand out more in a family photo.

Generally though most lifestyle family photos are about the whole family, so here are some things to be aware of.

RED in a photo catches the eye.  If there is red in a photo, your eye is drawn to it and it becomes a focus point.

Writing on T shirts, signage in a setting, will draw the eye because you automatically go in to read it.  Home names and welcome signs are okay when they are part of the family story, but a slogan on a T shirt can be distracting...... Unless you are all Dr Who or Star Trek fans and then you have my understanding and blessing.

Bold contrasting colours can work if everyone is wearing mainly one particular colour.  One person wearing bold contrasting colours will make their clothing stand out.
Heavily patterned clothing can also draw the eye.  It is usually okay if the colours and pattern don't clash and blend in with the rest of the family.  There are some patterns that make the camera go a bit crosseyed, you know those 'I'm going to hypnotise you with my eyes can't settle anywhere' type patterns.

I take a lot of black and white photos in my lifestyle family photo sessions too.  In black and white there is no colour to contrast, so sometimes  the clothing can blend in with the background.  That should be something the photographer will pick up on though.  Just if you a planning a black and white lifestyle session in the snow, don't wear all white.

Feel free to add any pointers in the comments you might have, on what to wear in a  family lifestyle photo session.
xox
​Calico Jo

Some notes on a recent photo shoot in various locations around Rotorua, with singer, songwriter, columnist, Lizzie Marvelly.

BRIEF FOR PHOTOGRAPHY FROM DESTINATION ROTORUA: Images promoting the region.  Home grown celebrity, Lizzie Marvelly, incorporated into the scenic shots. 3 hours, 5 locations, including a coffee/cafe location.
Images will be used online as well as publications.

TIME: 2-5pm, daylight savings hours, early Spring.

FIRST LOCATION - THE REDWOODS - Extra shots here to get coffee / cafe images
​

Image includes cafe, plus tree top walk in the background.
Canon 70d with 24-105mm lens at 105mm
F 7.1 - 1/160 sec - ISO 320
​Natural lighting

 Wide angle lens used with this shot.
​Canon 50d with 10-22mm lens at 15mm.
​ISO 400 - 1/160 sec - F 7.1
Natural lighting

This tree fascinates me the way it grows... it's sideways and the branches are new trees?
​
Because of the tree canopy, there is low lighting within the Redwoods.  Used Rich, the human tripod, to hold a speedlight with very small softbox.  He did a lot of hiding behind trees with arms outstretched.
Canon  70d with 24-105mm lens
​ISO 500 - F 6.3 - 1/100 sec

Canon 70d with 24-105mm lens at 105mm
F 6.3 - ISO 500 - 1/125 sec
off camera speedlight and small softbox

Canon 70d with 10-22mm lens at 19mm
F 5.6 - ISO 640 - 1/125 sec
off camera speedlight and small softbox

 Canon 70d with 24 -105 lens at 105mm
F 5 - ISO 640 - 1/125 sec shutter speed
Natural light through the tree canopy.

Natural light coming from the space in the tree canopy.
Canon 50d with 10-22mm lens at 10mm
​1/160 sec - F4.5 - ISO 640


SECOND LOCATION - Larch Rd Mountain Bike track

​

Otherside of the Redwoods, same lighting conditions with the tree canopy.
Canon 70d with 24-105 lens at 105mm
F 5.6 - ISO 250 - 1/100 sec
Off camera speedlight, to light up the background.  Some sunlight coming through trees.

Canon 70d with 24-105 lens at 28mm
ISO - 500 - 1/100 sec - F 7.1
Natural lighting.

LOCATION THREE - Centennial Park - Maple Grove

Canon 70d with 24-105mm lens at 105mm
F 7.1 - ISO 320 - 1/160 sec shutter speed
Natural light - cloudy day

Canon 70d with 24-105 lens at 40mm
F/8 - ISO 3230 - 1/250 sec
Natural lighting


LOCATION FOUR - Lake Okareka
​

Settings the same for both this image and below, except this image was at 82mm, the one below at 60mm
Canon 70d with 24-105mm lens
F 7.1 - ISO 160 - 1/160 sec
natural lighting, cloudy day

LOCATION FIVE - Kuirau Park to get thermal activity, steam.

Canon 70d with 24-105 lens at 105mm
F/8 - ISO 250 - 1/160 sec
natural lighting, cloudy day and steam

Canon 70d with 24-105 lens at 67mm
F/8 - ISO 320 - 1/200 sec
Natural lighting, though was fighting with the steam a bit.  The steam gave a nice natural diffusion to the image though.

Being driven around to capture beautiful scenery, the conversation never ceasing with the lovely, Lizzie Marvelly and Rich from Destination Rotorua.  An afternoon to remember.

xox
Calico Jo

FASHION DESIGNER - KHARL WIREPA

BRIEF FROM KHARL: Photos with clean simple lines.
FASHION LINE KEYWORDS: Royal, Glamorous.

Hair and Makeup done by models.

Some of the shots with photography notes.
​

LOCATION: On top of car park building.
TIME: 8 - 9.30am Winter

MODEL: Promise Royal

​CAMERA : Canon 70d with 24-105 mm lens set at 45mm.

LIGHTING: Back lit with early morning sun, 2 speedlights with softboxes angled in from either side, plus on camera flash.

SETTINGS: ISO 250 - 1/250 sec shutter - F/10

Liked the warm morning sun colours in this image.  

MODEL: Hine Uea

CAMERA: Canon 70d with 24-105mm lens set at 55mm.

LIGHTING: Natural, full sun to the left front.

SETTINGS: ISO 250 - 1/250 sec shutter - F/14

Liked the playfulness of her shadow in this image, like a different person, holding her arm.

MODEL: Hine Uea

CAMERA: Canon 70d with 24-105mm lens set at 40mm.

LIGHTING: Natural, full sun, almost directly in front of her.

SETTINGS: ISO  250 - 1/250 sec - F/14 

I liked this tree, and how we are high enough to be in front of it's top branches.  Also Hine's posing is BA BA BOOM!

MODEL: Hine Uea

CAMERA: Canon 70d with 24-105mm lens set at 70mm.

LIGHTING: Natural, full sun to left.

SETTINGS: ISO 200 - 1/250 sec - F/7

I did love playing with shadows in this spot, especially with the black dresses against the white wall.

MODEL: Hinea Uea

CAMERA: Canon 70d with 24-105 mm lens at 32mm.

LIGHTING: Natural, full sun in front of model.

SETTINGS: ISO 100 - 1/250 sec - F/10

I like how she off the ground.  I admire anyone who can jump off a step in heels.

LOCATION: Lake Rd - outside of industrial building.
TIME: 2.30pm - 4pm Winter