It is school holidays….I think that says it all doesn’t it? I am running around like a chook with my head cut off catching up on orders, returning calls and emails (still not even close to replying to everyone who emailed while I was gone) and trying to spend some time with my gorgeous, albeit slightly neglected, children. Todays request was the art gallery. Can I just say how awesome that was??? Even better…my kids wanted to go and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Afterwards I met Katherine & Chris for their engagement session. You may recognise them as the winners of the wedding photography competition. I personally think they both look AMAZING! Katherine looks smoulderingly gorgeous and Chris is definitely pulling off the ruggedly handsome look. Their big day is coming up and I am so pumped to photograph it in September! Here is your sneak peak guys.

j.

PHEW!!!! What a complete and utter whirlwind the last week has been. On Saturday night after I shot the lovely Sharon & Dan’s wedding I came home and fell in a heap…and then proceeded to get very very very ill. So ill I could barely move. I spent all Sunday in bed, but Monday dragged myself to the studio to wrap up some work.

Tuesday I met Sarah “the work experience girl” at the airport. We hit Sydney just before 2pm and went straight to check into the crack hotel. Ok so it wasn’t that bad….but we did have to haul our own suitcases and bags up 2 flights of stairs!!!! Our window was also broken and the first night we almost froze to death. Thankfully our request for more blankets or a new window was met with yummy warm doonas. After check in we proceeded straight to the gallery as I just had to see it all finished. The second I walked through the door the tears came. It was more relief that it was done and a load off my mind, than anything. It looked amazing and of course the stories from all the families were just so touching. I also met a mum who had flown all the way from Tasmania to see her beautiful little boys images in our Heartfelt exhibition. Then back to the hotel to prepare for Wednesday!

Wednesday morning we were out of the hotel before 8am. A short walk to the NSW leagues club who were kind enough to let us use their conference room for our ACOCP workshops & AGM. The day was not without its curve balls….and considering we started almost 45 minutes late we still finished on time. The guest speakers were just fabulous. All donated their time to talk to our ACOCP members. After the workshops we had dinner, then our AGM. Then back to the hotel where I collapsed in a heap again and was fast asleep pretty quickly.

Thursday morning we held our scavenger hunt. What can I say about that? Well it was awesome fun and I am hoping to have some “real” photos of the day to share soon (would you believe my camera didn’t come out of its bag once?). After the scavenger hunt we went to lunch with everyone. After that back to the hotel to shower (mmmm cold shower….NOT) and wash the sweat off from running around like lunatics in the scavenger hunt. Then down the the gallery to meet with Dawn & Shane. I met Dawn & Shane over a year ago when I photographed their beautiful girls Ava & Briana through the ACOCP. They had flown all the way from Melbourne to be there on the opening night to share the story of their beautiful angels. Before I knew it we were on. The gallery ended up full the the brim with standing room only. We had a social worker speak about the work we do, as well as Dawn sharing her story. I also shared a bit about the ACOCP and the day I met Ava & Briana. There were lots of tears….but good tears. It was a really positive experience. I also got a lovely surprise when Meaghan (our VP) got up to thank me for the work I do and a beautiful book of Elliot Erwitt’s New York photography. It is one of the most thoughtful presents I have ever received.

After the gallery closed we made our way to the seldex & finao party. There was free food, drinks, t shirts, bags & we got to see some amazing albums. Sarah “the work experience girl” got us all t-shirts and bags and here we are rocking our Fiano shirts that say “don’t you wish your albums were hot like me?” We both ended up sleeping in them that night.

Then we crashed out. Friday we checked out of the crack hotel and dropped our bags at a friends hotel. The day we had all been waiting for – PMA BABY! We got in to the trade show at about 11am. We headed straight to seldex to pick up a brand new swatch box. My lovely clients now have a HUGE range of cover options for the wedding albums. Of course I was over the moon as they released two orange cover options…and a brand new box collection that ONLY comes in orange *swoon*. After that we headed to the NIK stand to pick us up a free t-shirt. Then we hit up Adobe where we saw Mike McHugh talking (who also spoke at the ACOCP event) and picked us up some more SWAG. At Nikkon Sarah “the work expereince girl” found the camera she wants (its ok – I dont think any less of her for not picking canon). At Wacom we picked up a new graphics tablet – WOOT! Then we checked out some coffee table albums. I think we may finally have found a new supplier with a good turn around, in Australia, and some new options including LUSH heavy stock paper. YUMMO! While walking the floor Sarah “the work experience girl” ambushed Mercury (see photo below) in hopes of winning a new Ipod…didn’t work. But at least she has a photo with the 2008 Pro photographer of the year. We managed to squeeze in lunch, some more product testing, some APPA judging and catching up with some people I knew from the AIPP council.

One more quick lap around the trade show floor looking for rolling camera bags and then off to the airport. Where I said good bye to Sarah “the work experience girl” (see photo below). Then back to the city for dinner with photographers. By this stage I was back to feeling unwell and I ended up leaving. Netra and I then proceeded to drive round and round in circles looking for my hotel. After some pizza I promptly fell asleep.

The next morning I said goodbye to the lovely Sarah black who let me share her room that night and headed off to my Nanas. I spent the weekend absorbing everything I have picked up at the trade show and trying to decide which items to make available for all my awesome clients as well as relaxing and spending time with my family.

Last night I touched down just before 10pm and was so glad to walk through my front door! Today was spent trying to get through the hundreds (yes HUNDREDS) of emails that arrived while I was gone. I will also be spending tomorrow and the next day returning emails and calls. Thank you all for being so patient with me. It has been a crazy week.

now I am off to wrap presents as tomorrow my husband officially turns “old”

j.

I arrived in Sydney along with Sarah the work experience girl (that’s really should be her last name). After we got checked into what must be the sketchiest hotel in Sydney (its ok guys….over room is safe and secure…pretty much) we went to see the exhibition set up and meet with a lovely mum who had flown from Tasmania to see the photos of her precious boy in the exhibition. Then quickly grabbed some dinner and back to the hotel for me to finish writing reports for the AGM the following day.

Wednesday were the ACOCP “thank you” workshops for our members. We had some amazing speakers come out to speak for free for our members. Mercury Magaloudis (the 2008 APPA Winner) spoke about creating an award winning image, The AMAZINGLY TALENTED (still all b&w film) Nicole Boenig-McGrade flew all the way from Perth to speak about soulful childrens portraiture and the HILARIOUS Mike McHugh from Adobe came to talk about all things lightroom and photoshop. Not to mention the guys at Studio Web Online gave us a demo of their new studio management software and the guys from NIK dropped in to show us there software. I also can’t forget the amazing Netra Chetty (ACOCP Graphic designer & the person who did ALL the work for Heartfelt) did a talk on graphic design a branding.

After dinner we held our AGM for the ACOCP and our shiny new elected board members are Myself (president), Meaghan Cook (VP), Chantelle Bliss (secretary) and Sharon Fanning (treasurer). All positions were elected unanimously…funny that no one wanted my job. Our members have done some amazing work this past year and it was so great to have a chance to talk to them all…but it was also glad for that stress to be over.

This morning was an early start as we held our first even “team building exercise” – a photo scavenger hunt. Can I just say after the stress after the last few weeks this was awesome!!! We didn’t have as many teams as I would have liked…but three teams battled it out. I had so much fun with Sarah the work experience girl and Mel Bright as we ran around like lunatics. SO MUCH FUN! Of course we didn’t win, but that was so not the point (tell that to the 4 people wearing shiny new shootsacs though!).

Tonight Heartfelt officially opens with a launch party. If you are in sydney over the next week we ask you to drop by the MLC Gallery to visit the exhibition. If there are enough people through the doors they may keep it up a few weeks longer. for more details visit www.heartfelt.org.au

Can’t leave you without a pic – The winners of the scavenger hunt with their new shootsacs (taken with the iphone – so excuse the non pro quality!). The winning team were Lee Illfield, Lisa Barnes, Helen Roberts & Loren Ioppolo.

Off to get ready for the opening of Heartfelt!

j.

ps – I think this blog officially has the most links….EVER…in a post!

The biggest week in photography is this week. Well PMA (the photographic convention & trade show) is just the weekend, but with the ACOCP’s AGM, Workshop & Exhibition opening it is going to be a massive week. Of course I am already a nervous wreck and still a million things to do before I leave in the morning. Still haven’t finished packing! I will be checking my email sporadically, but I will only be responding to urgent emails. As you can imagine things are about to get crazy.

I also wanted to say a huge thank you to the Lovely Anne (Check out her Etsy Store for some adorable things) for visiting me in the studio today. I am so lucky to have the amazing clients that I have. Anne popped in to show me some more of her beautiful things she has made as well as dropping off my new drapes for the studio (she sewed them…isn’t she awesome!) and bought me this blueberry…thing (sorry Anne totally forgot what it was called). OMG – it is to die for!!! Had to take some pictures too because it looked as good as it tasted.

j.

ps – only 5 more comments until we hit 300! Special pressie for lucky number 300.

When I met Dan and Sharon last year to talk about their wedding I was so incredibly excited about everything they had planned. It was unique and fun and most importantly….so them! I always ramble on to my clients about making their weddings an expression of who they are as a couple. This wedding was the epitome of Dan & Shar. The day I found out they booked me I did a happy dance around my house.

Yesterday they got Married at the amazing Villa Alba in Kew. I have never seen anything like it. The venue was just incredibly unique. The car was absolutely amazing…a 1920’s one of a kind in the whole world limo thanks to Vintage Fun. The outfits were incredible (need to find out where they had them made), the bouquets and button holes were flowers and peacock feathers and brooches and just the most amazingly original things I had seen. They also chose to have a best girl, instead of best man. Can you tell how excited I am that I got to photograph their wedding?

They also were smart enough to have their photos done before the ceremony…this gave us alot more time given that sunset was suppose to be at 5:10 yesterday. I highly recommend this to all couples as it just leaves the rest of the day fabulously relaxed. These guys made it so easy for us to photograph them and give them spectacular photos.I also want to thank the lovely Sarah Black for coming and second shooting for me again.

Dan & Sharon…thank you for asking me to photograph your day. I know you will have a long happy life together. Enjoy your sneak peak.

j.

Yup thats right. Today was spent running around like a chook with its head cut off trying to not only prep for tomorrows wedding, churn through the back log I have since I was sick and also shoot two sessions!

We start off with Lachlan & Scout for their Urban mini session…Lachlan warmed up to me pretty quickly (even more so when I let him use my camera!) but Scout certainly made me work hard! But I think it paid off in the end….

Then this afternoon I got to photograph the uber cute Ashlinn…can you get much cuter than this???

Now it is time for me to wrap up, head home and get some rest for tomorrows wedding of the amazingly gorgous Sharon & Dan….stay tuned for that sneak peak….it is going to be like nothing you have seen!

j.

I know there has been alot of questions and speculations on the highly classified project I have been working on. I did have a giggle at some of the suggestions of what the project was.

Well finally I can let the cat out of the bag. The awesomely fabulous guys at Living Lens and I have teamed up to offer an amazing brand new way to capture your family. The Lifestyle Fusion sessions are a day in the life of your family a mix of amazing video and stills. A precious snapshot of your family. My Good friend Tuesday lent us her family for the day and we spent some time with the Veldhovens. The finished result:

Veldhoven Family // Fusion Life Style Shoot from Peter Szilveszter // Living Lens on Vimeo.

These amazing sessions are now booking and we will be releasing further information soon!

j.

Have I mentioned I love my job??? Today I met Oscar and his mum and dad for their 4th shoot with us! I first photographed Chelsea when she was pregnant with Oscar, then I photographed the new baby Oscar, and then 1yo Oscar and now he is TWO! We did something a little different this time when we headed to my top secret new favourite location (I love having top secret things….speaking of which the top secret project will be announced tomorrow!). We had a blast and here is a sneak peak. Chels…what can I say, you are just awesome. Thank you so much for continuing to come back and making me feel like I am doing you a favour….I just adore you guys and as always you all looked fabulous!

j.

So much going on here at j [studios]. I am now in the studio most days for work. Now this means that you have my undevided attention when I am working, but when I am home you have no access to me. This is going to come as a bit of a shock to the system for my lovely clients who are used to me responding to emails at all hours of the day and night. It also means that now you may have to wait up to 48 hours for a response as some days if I am shooting all day I may not make it to the studio.

The phone – still not working! I am going out of my mind as my iphone is now just an ipod as I can’t make or recieve any calls. They keep assuring me it will be fixed soon…in the meantime emailing is really the only way to get ahold of me. The studio phone should be connected by the end of the week so if nothing else we will have a new number for you to call.

The top secret project - will be announced in the next few days. The finished product is done….and you will all be wanting to stay tuned for the launch of this baby!

ACOCP Urban Mini Sessions – We still have a handful of spots available for July. If you are interested the low down is a 20-30 minute Urban Mini Session at either Docklands or the CBD for a very small $50 donation the the ACOCP.

ACOCP - we have finally launched the new website & blog. Go have a look and feel free to spread the word about this amazing organisation that gives parents the gift of photographic memories of their precious children.

Heartfelt – The first ACOCP exhibition, “Heartfelt” Opens next week at the MLC Gallery in Ultimo, Sydney. A big thank you to the photographers, families, sponsors & volunteers who have come together to make it all possible. I am beyond excited to see it all come to life and will be in Sydney next week for the offical opening. If you would like further information please visit the Heartfelt Website.

I am off for the day!

j.

Today has been a very very long day. I type this today from the studio….yes, finally! I moved in the last of my home office today including the computers. Today the lovely Sarah also started her 2 weeks of work experience with me….so far I think she is realising the photographers life is far from glamourous. We still don’t have a phone connection…at the studio or mobile and I am ready to scream. The internet is also not connected at the studio yet but thank goodness for 3g wireless broadband.

But today I also got to photograph the lovely little Olivia. Which made the whole day so worth it! She was a star and we got some fabulous shots. Enjoy the sneak peak guys…I am off home (how weird this is to leave work behind….and go home!).

j.