Extreme Bridal 2

Here's the next section of images from the lush extreme bridal session with Kaylia (first section posted here).

I don't have many words today ~ my fingers are itching to paint... so I will let the images tell their own story about beauty and promise and truth and puppy dogs.

Wishing you the very best of light ~
Leonie

































And one to make you smile...

Kaylia patiently explaining to Spiral Puppy why she can't come photoshoot-canoeing with us...

Extreme Bridal

After picnicking in a cowshed during a storm, we headed out onto the farm to take some extreme bridal photos of my dear friend/supermodel extraordinaire Kaylia.

The gift that is Kaylia: not only is she a talented writer, a dear spirit sister, a healer and my crazy adventure accomplice, but she is startlingly beautiful with Raven hair, Pacific eyes and Dove skin. And she has one of those wild woman hearts who will climb water towers in high heeled cowgirl boots just for that one shot. Or drape herself over a fallen tree in the middle of a lake. Or canoe out into the lake in gusty mad wind just to stand up for a photo.

And did I mention she is beautiful?

*happy sigh*

My friends are the very best.

May these photographs fill you up with beauty, truth and peace.

Cow Shed Love Peek

This afternoon we went for a crazy little picnic in the pouring rain to our favourite cow shed on a friend's farm.

And really, what's cow shed picnic without some photoshoot fun...

More to come... but for now, here's the lovely Angel and Connor!





I couldn't decide between this beautiful portrait...



and this one...



*happy sigh*

Such beautiful days...

Celebration of Freya

A year ago I met a beautiful soul named Freya.
She was in her mama's belly at the time, and we made friends with each other through skin - I would tell her stories, and she would wave at me making Angel's belly ripple. She is growing into the most precious, soulful little one. Her laughter has evolved into a loud chortle and her eyes shine love and truth and beauty.

To celebrate her birthing day, we gathered to eat and watch a puppet show and bless and photograph Freya, her mum Angel and brother Connor...

I hope these photos make you giggle, gasp and make beauty flowers blossom in your heart.




Looking all Hepburn-ish :)






Connor is going to be a photographer...
Here he takes a picture of me taking a picture of him...



And photographing his mama...




I think I need shoes like this.


Miss Freya and her gorgeous grandma

Now that you are one, you can put your own hat on...


almost...


there!





"The happiest moments of my life have been
the few which I have passed at home
in the bosom of my family."
~ Thomas Jefferson



"You don't choose your family.
They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."
~ Desmond Tutu

Shannon and Paul Wedding

Earlier this year, I had the delicious pleasure of photographing the wedding of my dear friend from high school, Shannon, and her dream-come-true Paul.

The wedding was held on the beautiful cattle property of Shan's family: picture meadows of long grass with slender eucalypts, magical riverbeds, a lake brimming after recent rains and red dust roads to walk on at sunset. They were surrounded and supported by good people - SUCH good people - all with their own gifts, all with warm smiles and huge hearts. I spent a week out there, mostly alternating between huge gaspfuls of laughter and deep conversations with the myriad of lovely souls who were there. (A special shoutout to the River Girls, Magnificent Moira, Hot Bachy and Shan's parents for the most precious times possible).

Paul and Shan promised to love each other for this lifetime and more by the lake near sunset. Shan rode in to the sweet, emotion-filled ceremony on a palamino stallion, looking every bit like an etheric fairy princess coming to find her fairy prince.

I hope you delight in these photos... I hope they document the joy, love, magic and light that was there that day and always.




Fairy Shan and her fairy cousin...


The bride's dad




































Their first dance...
just as they will dance for the rest of their lives...


Rings on table decorations...

And my favourite image of the day...

The lovely Paul - rough, funny, country boy Paul - broke down in tears during the ceremony and couldn't finish his vows. Shannon would wrap him up in her arms, and they would giggle together as tears streamed down his face...





You know you are in love
when you see the world in her eyes,
and her eyes everywhere in the world.

- David Levesque