It was a little more than fifty years ago, and she made the first move, well, so I was told.  Daphne quite liked the look of that young man, and was rather determined to go out with him.

It wasn't long before the two fell in love, got married and had children.

Del is an incredibly talented man.  Before I even met him, I fell in love with his handy work!  I pointed at the bench seat he had created "These are marvellous!" I exclaimed as he came out to meet me.  "Oh, I don't know about that.  I needed a seat, so I made a seat." He shrugged off my compliment as if everyone could just whip one of these things up.  His children all attested to his amazing talent, and showed me carvings and all sorts of fantastic ideas he's had along the way.

The Jenkins family got together for their 50th anniversary and the gathering was large, and warm and there were a lot of laughs shared between a family that hadn't been all together for several years.  Here are some photos of just a small slice of that family, the love they have for each other, and the FUN they have together!

Evan and Marie:

And their two children Corey and Tanya.

Gorgeous!

I love how these two interact!

Father and son:

Tanya and Franz.  Loving the gorgeous light down at Karaka Point in Waikawa!

Corey and Gemma.

And just because it's about time I posted one of these again!

 

It was so lovely to see a family getting together and enjoying each other's company!  Thanks so much for inviting me over for the morning!

We have a really old car.  It's really getting past it's used by date.  In fact, we feel like we've won the lotto every time it passes a Warrant of Fitness.  It's really turned into a bit of a joke now, when we turn up to jobs in it.  And yet we can't bare to spend thousands to replace it just yet, especially when a second 5D Mark II would be so much more fun to have.  One day it will just stop going, and then our hand will be forced, but in the meantime, I'm turning up to your photo shoot in the dusty old Bluebird...

It got me to thinking though, it's so easy to become dissatisfied with life.  Always wanting to 'Keep up with the Joneses' (for the record, those Joneses must be another family!) and get bigger and better things.  When the things that are really important are not things at all. 

"Count your blessings name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done.  Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."  (hands up, who remembers that old song?)

So here are just some of my blessings, growing up before my very eyes.

Sophie is about to turn 3.

With her baby sister Charlotte, about 9 months (give or take...)  I know it's a little soft focus, but hey, I'm the Mum, so it's perfect to me!

Charlotte has teeth...

She always has that surprised look on her face!

Sam - the only boy.

Georgia:

Is it just me, or are my kids cuter than anybody else's?  I'm pretty sure they are.  Sorry y'all.

This is Gracie May Dovalaki Van Der Pepper Jones. (yes, that's her real name)  She's mostly a blessing.... mostly.

There are still a couple of kids not in this post... older ones that aren't in a big hurry to pose, ha!

So there you have it, a quick update on my quickly growing brood. 

The moment I met Suzanne and Glen I knew it was going to be good.  Great looking people on a beautiful morning.  Ohhh yeah. 

 

I'm shooting their wedding next year, and so while they were in town this weekend, we decided to hook up, take some photos and get to know each other a bit.  It didn't take long for them to relax and start working it!

I always try to bond with my couples, and find out what makes them tick and what we share in common.  Glen is fully into softball, and Suzanne works in fashion.  So sport and fashion are probably the areas I know least about in life, but when the conversation turned to types of liquorice, I was good as gold.  How sad is that?

My tree.  I love my tree.  Suzanne knew of the tree from previous blog posts, and when we finally arrived there she said it was nothing like she thought it would be.  Once I showed her what I was getting in the camera, she knew exactly where we were!

We worked really hard to try and find some NZ Flax, and make it work in a photo to go with the theme of their wedding.  This is me teetering dangerously down a bank (sorry Mum, it wasn't really that dangerous!)

Suzanne just lights up a photo, she's so natural in front of the camera.  Stunning!

And I'm loving this one of Glen.  I insisted his Mum probably wanted a photo of him by himself for her wall.  Pretty sure this one will get her smiling!

Love this!

Suzanne and Glen, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you both.  I enjoyed our morning together immensely, and can't WAIT to shoot your wedding! Bring on 2011!

We struck up a friendship quickly, chatting away about life like we'd been friends for years.  When the conversation veered towards their upcoming wedding, and getting her photos taken, Robyn quickly declared "I don't like having my photo taken, I don't take a good photo!"  Even when I sympathised with her, and told her that pretty much everyone who sits in that couch tells me the same thing "Ohhh no, but this is for real, I REALLY don't like it!"  I knew that once she was relaxed and happy, like most people, she was going to look gorgeous.

Sure enough, by the end of her wedding day she was beaming about having her photo taken, rather surprised at how lovely she looked!

This is with her bridesmaid, Sheryl.  They've been friends for 20 years, and you could tell how close they are!

Walking down the aisle towards her groom, one of my favourite views of the bridal entrance!  This is the time that even the toughest manly man shows his softer side.  Love it!

Other views of the same time, the guests. 

There's usually a lot of glowing smiles from them as well!

John and Robyn have been together for eight years, and Robyn said that John's proposal came totally unexpected.  Well done John!  It's amazing how often the ladies can somehow 'feel' it coming - it's awfully difficult to keep things a secret from us girls, you know.

Now living in Australia, they returned home to Blenheim to celebrate their wedding with their family and friends.  The ceremony was held at Green Gables.  A really lovely spot for a wedding this size.

This is Frankie, she's the adorable product of a wedding we shot a few years ago, Kirsty and Sean (so far back it's preblog!), she also happens to be Robyn's grandbaby.  She's only three months old, and look at that hair!  Have you ever seen a more gorgeous little lady? Robyn is simply besotted with her.

Robyn's Dad really should get the 'Father of the Bride Award' for this year.  What a lovely man!  He surprised Robyn by getting a limousine for her (complete with drivers hat!) and being her chauffeur for the day.

They didn't expect such luxury! 

He also followed us around the park during the portraits, holding flowers, parasols, cardigans and anything else that needed holding.  I could actually do with someone like him at all my weddings!

Once again, Autumn at Pollard Park is as beautiful as ever.

And John and Robyn worked it!

I love this shot of them!  They were both so deliriously happy all day!

John and Milo were obviously great friends too.

I think John also surprised himself with how studly he could look in camera!

Robyn had been given a prayer and hymns book that used to belong to her mother, and she carried it with her all day.  Such a lovely way of remembering and honouring her Mum.

John and Robyn, what a lot of fun we had with you!  Thanks so much for having us along for the ride!  All the very best, and enjoy your travels!

Vendor Shoutout:

Celebrant: Lurleen Fowler

Hair: Vanessa, Vogue

Flowers: Pink Poppie

Ceremony Venue: Green Gables

Reception Venue: Heartland Hotel

It was a secret, you know.  No one back home knew, except for Sass the dog, and Katrina seemed pretty certain she wasn't going to spill the beans.  She was probably right.

It was an insanely spectacular day, the gorgeous weather was matched only by how amazing Katrina looked.  Not that she needed much help to look pretty, but Deirdre took it to another level, as usual.

They decided to see each other before the ceremony.  Such a lovely moment!

They pretty much spent the entire day smiling at each other.  The day was so full of happiness, no need to force any smiles here!

Loving the beautiful surroundings at Locks and Lashes.  Still loving Autumn.  Just thought you should know.

With the wedding car....

Flowers beautifully done by Nina at Pink Poppie.

Then we arrived at Fairview Cottage, the perfect spot for such an intimate wedding. 

Liz Anderson and Rowan watch as the bride arrives. 

Priceless! 

The ceremony was small and heartfelt.  There were so few guests that I had to be one of the witnesses!  I'm so NOT used to being on that side of the camera!

Rowan was so happy!

Loving the shoes also!

Katrina and Rowan, your wedding was one of the most beautiful weddings I've been to in a long time.  I'm so grateful that you chose me to capture those amazing moments for you.  Enjoy your married life together!

Vendor Shoutout:

Celebrant: Liz Anderson

Hair and Makeup: Deirdre, Locks and Lashes

Flowers: Pink Poppie

Ceremony Venue: Fairview Cottage, Renwick

For those of you who need a reminder, you can come be friendly at my FACEBOOK page, plus there are more of Katrina and Rowan's photos there!

I've been looking forward to this wedding.  Ya see, I bonded with Nadine and Phillip last year when I did their engagement shoot.  Nadine works at Top Shots, and is in charge of printing our photos. She's such a nice girl, we were so honoured to be asked to photograph their wedding!

I love Autumn weddings, I must say.  Well, heck, I love Autumn, clearly.  There's just something about the light, the temperature is crisp, but not too cold.  Perfect for all of the running to and fro that we have to do (now that my shoes are flat, it's that much easier!) 

Nadine looked stunning!

As did the bridesmaids!

And also Patrick the dog, he looked pretty hot too.  He wasn't invited to the wedding though, which was a bit of a shame for him.

Meanwhile Paul was with the boys, while they chilled out before the wedding.  Clearly, something was funny....

Beautiful flowers by Jane Robinson from Mayflower

Nadine had planned a really awesome entrance....

In a helicopter!  (I got to be the one to go for a change, and Paul stayed on the ground!)

Ben from Windhawk Helicopters flew us right over all of the guests....

Who were rather surprised at the dramatic entrance!

But the day was really all about this:

Two people who were promising the rest of their lives together... even if a couple of the words came out a little wrong!

The ceremony was held at the beautiful Pampers Escape.  It was the first time I've ever shot a wedding there, and it really is a great spot!

Loving the crowd shots!

Then off to the farm where we had taken their engagement shots.  Such yummy light!  Gorgeous couple!

The guys looking all studly.

The girls working it.

I do love doing this shot.  Sometimes I wonder what people think of my methods.... "You want us to what?"....

Yup, that's me, lying on my back in the foetal position, while nine people crowd around me.  It gets a few chuckles.

Love love love this one!

Again, maybe I have an odd sense of humour, but you can't just let a 'bathroom' like this escape a photo, can you?  I love how Phillip is just owning this shot.

Then off to Drylands for the Reception.  As usual, Dietmar did a fantastic job and things ran beautifully!

Nadine and Phillip - thank you so very much for inviting us to be part of your day.  It was perfect!  You're both such lovely people, and you suit each other down to the ground.  Enjoy the rest of your lives together!

Vendor Shoutout:

Hair: Cherie and Fiona from Illusions Salon, Springlands

Makeup: Amanda Chapman

Flowers: Jane Robinson from Mayflower

Helicopter: Windhawk Helicopters

Ceremony Venue: Pampers Escape

Reception and Catering: Drylands Restaurant

Milly is not quite two.  But she's as smart as they come, full of sparkle and just OH so delicious! 

Jeremy and Bec are her parents, and couldn't possibly adore her more.  They absolutely dote on her, and you can see why!

We went to Pollard Park to get some photos now that the Autumn colours are starting to appear.  I do so love Autumn!

Haven't done a legs shot for a little while!

Bec is due to have another darling next month, and even though these last few weeks in a pregnancy are always a bit hard going, she's looking absolutely amazing!

I'm pretty sure she could be a model for Pumpkin Patch or something.

Small girls always love swings, and Milly was certainly no exception!

Pure swing enthusiasm!

Thanks Jeremy and Bec, it was great fun spending time with you!  Your little girl is certainly a credit to your great parenting!  See you soon.