WYNYARD | PERSONAL

Last Friday was a great example of what Fridays should look like - chock full of delicious food and time with friends. I finally got to mosey over to Olaf's in Auckland's Mt Eden after hearing rave reviews of their pastries. I ordered my go-to flat white (skipping the soy this time) and a lemon curd tart to share. Zesty, punchy and pastry layered with a thin sweep of chocolate, that lemon tart was exactly how I liked them. The sprinkle of chopped nuts was a nice touch too. 

After that was a reunion with the ever-photogenic and well-documented Wynyard Quarter and Silo Park. Being away for 10 months made it surprisingly refreshing looking for new angles and trying new techniques to capture one of my favourite places in this city. 

10 MINUTES | PERSONAL

The sun is setting at 5.22pm around here at the moment. That's right. 5.22pm. Today I dashed outside just before night set in and created my own reason to get behind my camera. While I much prefer to shoot people, my trusty film camera did just fine for a few minutes of experimenting.

NEWMARKET OUTINGS | PERSONAL

After two weeks of rain, wind and storms, it was such a welcome relief to see blue skies and the sun today. I've never been happier to wear sunglasses! Even better, one of our favourites, Melody, has just returned from her American adventure. So to eat our way through our Auckland food staples, we ventured to Newmarket today for Crazy Chicken B at Bruce Lee. Oh my goodness. Just as delicious as I remembered - cream cheese, cucumber and avocado sushi topped with teriyaki chicken strips, Japanese mayonnaise and deep fried crispy bits. Satisfied tummies all round. 

With the weather like this, it's definitely time for a little wander around this city, camera in hand. 

SCHOOL OF CREATIVITY | EVENT

Playing major catch up here with some photos I took at this year's annual School of Creativity at Bethel. I and a few other photographers volunteered to capture the event and so many times I found myself looking at the back of my camera, totally messed up that I was living my dream and taking photos of some of my greatest heroes. If you'll remember, this is where I got to shoot that dreamy enchanted forest set-up with Heather. 

There was such a buzz being around hundreds of creative from all around the world - learning, chatting and creating together. There was something energising about the whole atmosphere. One of my favourite moments was listening to Darren Wilson, director of Finger of God, Furious Love and Father of Lights share his thought process behind the films and the decisions he made to come to the final films. 

I love when creatives are championed and released to be who they are. The creative world is saturated now and I love that it's a reflection of the increasing number of people who are realising that they have the ability to create. It does mean that competition and comparison is introduced and there is the tendency to start creating, start comparing and then shutting down. I, myself, find myself in that thought space often and I work to get myself out of there pronto. That moment when someone realises that everything they create is uniquely incredible and valid simply because of who they are, is one of freedom and even more creativity. So. Good. 

SAN FRANCISCO | TRAVEL

Sitting here freezing in Auckland (thank you, winter) - think scarf, multiple layers and a fluffy blanket aka fluffy cape with snowmen on it, thinking of wonderful San Francisco. So I thought I'd finally get round to editing some of the snaps from the few days I got to spend there last August. Someone fly me back right now? Please and thank you!

CHECKING IN

As it turns out my poor body took a beating from the extreme change in temperature from Singapore to New Zealand and I ended up at the doctor's for the first time since 2009! Drama drama drama. So after laying low for a week and binge-watching Suits (Donna for president!), I'm finally back to being slightly more productive. 

These are a couple of shots from Maeghan and John's wedding last month where I had the incredible, blow-my-mind privilege of second shooting for Heather Armstrong, who I've bragged about endlessly here. More to come.

ZACH AND XANTHE | ENGAGED

Zach and Xanthe are two of my favourite people in Singapore. They've known each other more than 10 years and are the perfect balance to each other. As their friend, I've had the exciting privilege of watching them move over the years from friends to dating and now, almost-Mr and Mrs Young. To top it off, I got to squeal in anticipation all the way in Redding, California while waiting for Zach to pop the question after they had flown from Singapore to Queenstown, New Zealand. He got down on one knee right after they had sky-dived and she said Yes! Xanthe is now rocking one beautiful sapphire ring and a fiancee. Oh, and a reference in a newspaper article too! Score.

While in Singapore last week, we got together and these two rocked their engagement shoot - total troopers in the ridiculous, blazing heat that is Singapore in June. (We're talking stand perfectly still and turn into a sweat puddle in all of 60 seconds.) At one point we snuck on to the colourful floating platform currently being prepped for National Day, much to Zach's excitement because it was an unchecked item on his bucket list, and much to my excitement because we caught some stunning light up there. 

Z and X, my fellow introverts, thank you for letting me capture the two of you and for obliging me by standing on mint chairs while people were staring, twirling even though it was cheesy and being a steady supply of tissue. I am, as I've said so many times now, so honoured. Also, please teach me your ways - how on earth did you not break a sweat while we were shooting? Dang. You guys? Too awesome. Sending love from here to there!

GRANDMA | PORTRAITS

My apologies for the radio silence. This is me checking in. In the last four weeks I've flown from California to New Zealand to Singapore and back to New Zealand. Phew. It's most definitely rest time. Yesterday was my last day in Singapore and I grabbed the opportunity to snap some pictures of my beautiful Grandma before she headed to church. Isn't she stunning? My family and I would not be where we are today if not for her and I am so glad I got to spend a couple of weeks with her just chilling and watching her watch Korean dramas - no joke.

While I was in Singapore I got to shoot an engagement shoot for two of my good friends and I can't wait to share it here!