THE RIPPEYS (SNEAK PEEK)

In case you're not tracking with my on Instagram, I've taken up boxing in the last six months. I go three evenings a week and it has been nothing short of a game-changer for me. I am seriously so grateful to have found it. (I realise I sound like I should be talking about a human but whatever, it's a love affair and I'm not ashamed about it). 

But we're not here to talk about boxing today. In the last couple of weeks, I've spent my non-boxing evenings sorting and re-editing shots from the multiple family portrait sessions I've done over the last few months all across New Zealand. 

My time in Redding aside, my family has been based in Auckland, New Zealand for the better part of 18 years now. But since my parents both travelled extensively in their college and working years, and our extended family is in Singapore, any opportunity for a family trip looked like us hopping on a plane with passports in hand. I wouldn't change a thing about it at all. Travel is in my blood and I love it with my whole heart.

What this has meant though, is that we've left New Zealand largely unexplored. We've done a handful of local trips but getting in a car and going on a long road trip to go camping? Nope. No bueno. I am not a camping girl by any means. So getting to do a little travel around the country to meet families for these shoots has been a treat.

Here's a sneak peek of my shoot with the Rippeys, Auckland 2018.

THE DODDS

Hey friends, it's been a while, huh. The photography part of my 9-5 job went from 0 to 100 in recent months as we rebranded and I got to wander around New Zealand capturing families. I'm hoping to get some of those shots up here real soon! In the meantime, here is one of my all-time favourite shoots to date.

In November last year, I flew back to my beloved Redding for Thanksgiving, as per tradition. One rainy morning, I got to hang out with this beautiful family and we decided to head on out and brave the grey skies for a little fun. And goodness, I am so glad we did because just look at them. 

TOKYO | DAY 001

It's been about six weeks since we got back from Tokyo and thanks to it being Easter weekend, I'm finally getting around to getting photos up here. This trip was our first family vacation in about five years. We were celebrating my little brother wrapping up a solid two years serving in Singapore's Armed Forces. 

Tokyo has long-been my sister and brother's all-time favourite city and once we landed, it didn't take long for me to see why. Our AirBnB was in Harajuku and it turned out to be the most convenient spot to have a base - I highly recommend it! Here are a few quick snaps from our first full day there - there a ton more photos to share.

SAM AND SOFIA | WEDDING

One of the coolest things I get to do with my time is second shoot for my legendary photographer sister, Rachel. (You have got to see her work, if you haven't already)! Her off-seasons from tour and music photography happens to be when wedding season is in full swing in New Zealand, and I am lucky enough to get to tag along to a few of these.

She's generously letting me share a few shots from Sam and Sofia's recent wedding, so here they are. I had met Sofia at a BSSM alumni event a few months ago and was so happy when I figured out that it was Rach who would be documenting her big day. 

Near the end of the evening, we hurried our way down to the black sand beach adjacent to the venue. We made two great decisions that night. One, to wait for that moment the sun 'pops' as she set for the day. And two, to take our shoes off and run shortly after when we discovered some locals playing with coloured smoke bombs (what's happening in that first photo there). I mean, just look at these love birds and those colours. 

THE STEVENSONS

It's 2018! It feels right, doesn't it? I spent the holidays in Singapore with my family and extended family and it was wonderful. Days on end spent hanging out, eating, walking, shopping, and eating more. I'm playing catch up on a few shoots from the end of last year so to kick off, here are the Stevensons.

After weeks of inevitable shoot postponing because of weather and sick little ones, we finally made our way over to a local park. I squealed with delight when I saw the flower crowns gently pulled out of their car. My favourite detail? We ended up at the exact spot that Ty and Jess had their wedding photos taken a few years ago. It felt like we had come full circle being back there with their three kids.

SNEAK PEEK: NORTHLAND

A few weeks ago, I got the privilege of hopping in a car with a couple of colleagues and driving five hours up North to beautiful Opononi. Here's what we got to see from a spectacular lookout. Isn't she a beauty? More to come.

SNEAK PEEK: THE SAWREYS

I met the Sawreys for the first time on Christmas Eve last year. We were gathered at my aunt and uncle's, hanging out on the deck, barbeque roaring on a windy summer's day. They are the kind of people you know immediately are something special. So when work was in need of family photos, I quickly lined them up - a great excuse to spend an afternoon with some wonderful humans and their four kids who work the camera like it's their full-time job. 

VALENTINE AND AMIE | ENGAGEMENT

Valentine, Amie and I snuck out on our lunch breaks a few weeks ago for a mini engagement shoot in our neighbourhood park. It's springtime here which means the weather is proving to be rather, how should I put it - irrational. Erratic? Unpredictable? All of the above. In between downpours, we climbed over fences and braved our way (note: I had to be brave - Val and Amie were absolutely unphased) through the mud in our boots and got shootin'. 

These two are getting married in a few months on a beautiful piece of farm land in a tiny spot of the South Island where Val grew up and guys, I got to see it on a recent work film trip, and it is a dream. Congratulations, you two!