Families « Vanilla Dawn Photography

Hermit Crab’s & Beautiful Skies | Sneak Peek

January 2, 2010

Just before Christmas I had the pleasure of photographing some of my last clients of the year, Trevor, Leanne and their two boys. Wow, what a way to finish up the year! With storms forecast for the afternoon, we were a little uneasy as to what the weather was going to be like and if we should go ahead with the session, but I’m SO glad we did, and I can’t express that enough! The storms building on the coast and around Brisbane made for phenomenal skies, the weather was gorgeous, and I truly love spending time with such easy going clients. Nick and Chris were absolutely wonderful to shoot, they were such sweet boys and gosh they made my job SO easy.

When I look back on this session I’m going to remember searching for hermit crabs, long green underwater millipedes, beautiful skys and watermelons! Thank you Leanne, Trevor, Nick and Chris for such a wonderful afternoon, it was a truly memorable shoot and I hope I’ve given you some images you’re treasure for a very long time – there’s certainly some personal favorites of mine in this bunch!

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Category: Children, Families, Sneak Peeks

Belinda: Wow, these images are simply stunning. The sky in that second shot - whoa!

Nic: Absolutely gorgeous Leen! Those skys made fantastic backdrops ... I bet the family will love them.

Jenny Goddard: Fantastic session! Especially love the last shot - very sweet!

Ash: Very nice, well done Leeny

IamMel: I adore these shots!! What handsome boys they are. Love your colours.

jenny myburgh: excellent photos of the boys.

Sharon Mallin: What handsome young men. These are all gorgeous - and those last 2 are simply divine.

Louisa: Fantastic photos - happiness, love and passion shines through - idn't even think it was possible to capture that!

cally: oh my word Lee!! So so stunning :-) My best are also the last two. wow! Pics to treasure for ever. Can I order actual pics? love xxxx

jen bale: wow - leanne - these are fabulous pictures - you will treasure them for years to come. what a great christmas present to yourselves! lots of love Jen

Jennifer: lovely work leen! .. clearly there is loads of love in that family too - there is an obvious bond between the brothers ..

Heidi: Fabulous photos of two very handsome and happy young men! I cannot believe how they have grown!

nicky mackay: Photos are absolutely lovely. What handsome boys you two have.

Yvonne Mitchell: Absolutely wonderful photo's. But if you have a good canvas you can't go wrong... Then again I could be prejudice having such good looking great nephews.

Miriam & Syd: Absolutely beautiful. The boys are gorgeous

A Golden Summer Afternoon

December 16, 2009

Well, after many canceled dates and a bit of re-organising, I finally got to shoot one of my dearest friends, Nic and her lovely family. They were all so fantastic for me, humidity, itchy grass and all! We got off to a lovely start with my wonderful daughter having the most ridiculous meltdown over bubbles (or lack there of..), but once she got a grip it was full steam ahead! I must say, Sammy was quite the little poser for me last week, and Erin was so wonderful. She done a fantastic job, even though I know the grass was itching her like crazy! Little Bree was her *ahem* moody self, (no surprise to any of us there of course!) but all in all it was a fantastic afternoon, so a big thank you to Nic & Pete for comming out to me, crawling through a barb wire fence, and putting up with the bugs, grass, and perioditc protesting from children (mine included!).

I just adore shooting in this field, the colours are delicious, and a beautiful family just makes it so much better! Thanks again Nic, it was such a joy to finally get to shoot you all as a family!

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Nic: All I can say is OMG Leen! You are fantastic ... thank you so much! I just love the way you have captured my children ... they look gorgeous.

Jennifer: oh wow .. lovely shots leen .. all three children look so happy ... (Nic .. how did Pete cope with all that long grass around him .. ROFL)

Amanda: These are amazing! Beautiful colours and beautiful family

Belinda: Gorgeous! The 5th is my absolute fav. Beautiful.

Mel Faux: Absolutely stunning!! Your family is beautiful Nic. I want some family photos taken there!

Hayley: Eileen.....you are a master of backlighting! These images ar just so beautiful...the family must be thrilled with them! The older girl is so pretty, she makes a great model! Love the series with the little boy and daddy...priceless!

Janet Palmer: Awesome location and that light is divine! What a great session!

gemma Higgins-Sears: what a brilliant session. awesome group of images, the family will be thrilled!

Melanie kellermann: look at that beautiful golden light! Some great photos!

sarah black: These are just perfect. You really are sooo good at backlighting. Stunning.

Mr Personality & Little Miss Serious! | Sneak Peek

October 5, 2009

This weekend I headed out to photograph two wonderful little children who were such polar opposites! Mr Jake was such an outgoing chatty little fellow! Every time I pointed my camera at him, his big bright grin would beam from ear to ear, I don’t think I got one serious shot of him! Little Miss Matilda was such a sweetheart with the most beautiful red hair and porcelain skin, but she was ever so serious! There was no bossing that little miss around, she certainly had no problem asserting herself!

Thanks *K*, I had a wonderful time photographing your little ones, I hope they weren’t too tired and cranky for you afterwards!

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Category: Children, Families, Sneak Peeks

Katie Gibbons: They really are brilliant Leeny. Thank you so much for your time and patience!

Nic: So gorgeous!

Jennifer: oh .. my .. goodness leen .. there are two shots there that actually gave me goosebumps .. fantastic photos :) and jake has the most glorious smile Katie!!!

Nathaniel. | Sneak Peek

September 19, 2009

In August I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Shehana and photographing her for a maternity session and I was so pleased to be able to photograph her new addition to the family as well! This little guy (well, not really, he was actually quite a big little baby!!) made his appearance earlier then expected, but was courteous enough to wait until the day after his Dad was able to make it to Brisbane. This wonderful family made me feel so welcome in their home, and Shehana’s lovely mum even cooked me a fantastic lunch!

Nathaniel was a photographers dream, I think he’d have to be one of the easiest babies I’ve ever worked with (and funnily enough, so was baby Mya, his second cousin who I photographed back in April!), and once again Shehana was a wonderful model, as was her lovely husband. Thanks Shehana, I hope Nathaniel stays as wonderfully easy going like he was this week!

Nathaniel

Update: I just had to add some more of these guys, so I’ve added another post!

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Category: Families, Newborns, Sneak Peeks

Jennifer: wow - with genetics like that - no wonder he is a stunning bubba .. what a good looking family :) awesome shots leen .. my favourites are the first two .... that is a spectacular shot of mum.

Natalie Davies: awww these are stunning! And ditto to Jennifer's genetics comment lol. A gorgeous looking family! That last shot is so cute.

Melissa Stampa: So cute. That little foot poking out in the first one is adorable. And yes, definitely got the good genes hey? Mum is GORGEOUS.

Veronica: Oh my gosh, i love the pics, you did a fantastic job, what a relaxed looking chappy he is, loved the smiling picture too. Just amazing pics Leeny!

IamMel: These are just beautiful!! That last one with the smile is gorgeous!

fiona carson: oh what a little cutie! I'm not entirely sure a new mum should look that good though!!! gorgeous, gorgeous images, Eileen

Renee Bell: gorgeous family!!!! You did a great job :-)

Lisl Croft: Absolutely stunning shots - he is so adorable! I love the bucket snap and the family picture. A million congratulations guys, All my love Lisl x x x

Bogdanka Zec: Dear Shehana, Congratulations,photos is beautiful and baby is gorgeous

Gemma Higgins-Sears: GORGEOUS!!!! that last image is priceless! LOVE LOVE LOVE the ones with mum & dad... what a STUNNING family!

Davor: Congratulations Shei & Jacek. You make a beautiful family.

Ronel: Congrats to the 2 of you!!! He is so, so cute!! And, Shehana you look beautifull, all 3 of you do! The pictures are absolutely stunning!! I love it! Wish I could look so good after just having a baby!

Can’t help myself! | Sneak Peek

August 2, 2009

Just had to come back and add some more of my favorite shots from my last session, I can’t help myself! These guys really were a joy to photograph, and a joy to edit. Aren’t they such a cute family??

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Category: Casting Calls, Children, Families, Maternity, Sneak Peeks

Garden Fun! | Sneak Peek

July 24, 2009

Well! My poor blog has been rather neglected for the last month or two. I’ve recently returned from Melbourne and on my return I had the pleasure of photographing Fiona’s gorgeous family. *C* and *I* both had a shy start but by the end of the afternoon we were chasing them around the gardens, and did they ever keep us busy!. We couldn’t have asked for better weather either, the afternoon was just divine! Anyhow, now that I’m home, I can start updating regularly with sneak peeks again! Here’s a couple for you Fiona!

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Category: Children, Families, Sneak Peeks

Kim: Once again...Beautiful!

Fiona: I'm so impressed. Love these photos, especially *I* by herself, and the storybook. Just beautiful, and exactly what I was after :) You've done a great job catching *C* smiling. Thanks!

Jennifer: I love that shot at the end of the bed - that is just gorgeous

Gorgeous Gardens!

May 18, 2009

This weekend we went to the Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens with some good friends of ours. Wow, the grounds are huge, I could spend days there! Not everything went to plan, the sun decided to go down far too quick for us and we had some very hyperactive children on our hands. So it was hard work, but fun

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Category: Children, Families, Sneak Peeks

Superhero for a day…

April 25, 2009

Today I had the pleasure of photographing a good friend and her boys.. I must say, even after being eaten practically alive by mosquitos, gosh they both did brilliantly.. And both happy to work in return for a lollipop!

One of my favorite superheros (well, not really, but *Batman* didn’t need to know that) even made an appearance! Look at that concentration and batman glances into the distance, keeping watch for the baddies.

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Jennifer: I love these - all of them. Oh so happy Leen

Amanda: Oh Wow Alex just gets cuter and cuter. I can't believe how much he has changed.

Jennifer: He ADORES leeny too .. sigh .. he cried when she left ..

Rachel: They're beautiful Leeny! And Jen - what a gorgeous family!

Tracey: Just Gorgeous ! I have a definate fav myself but would hate to have to choose just one if they were my fam shots ! Beautiful family shot by a very talented photographer in a fab location !

Veronica: Oh wow, wonderful piccies, loved them, just gorgeous, you're gonna have trouble picking your faves there Jen!

Amanda: All the shots are stunning!

Anna: Oh WOW!!! How gorgeous does Jen look here (but don't tell her that! ;) lol) - Leeny you've captured the three of them so well! It's so lovely to see them all so happy!!

Fun At The Beach!

March 29, 2009

It’s been a while since we’ve been out as a family, so today we went down the Gold Coast with our friends. We planned on a nice relaxing afternoon on the beach, followed by a mini photo shoot at sunset.. The weather was terrible! The rain that was forecast didn’t arrive, instead we were caught in what I would describe as a miniature sandstorm on the beach! The wind was blowing so fiercely that the sand was stinging our legs. I didn’t get to try out the ideas I had in mind, but the kids had a blast so all was not lost!

Here’s a couple from the afternoon.. I’ve had a bit of fun and processed these all a bit differently then I usually would.

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