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Family Portraits At The Beach - Sydney Northern Beaches

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Nothing like a cool Winter's Day in Sydney for a photo session at the beach. Actually our winter's are amazing and I much prefer shooting at this time than those belting hot summer days. My light is soft and the sand is still warm. I only need the slightest fill to get a good exposure.  The family was moving to the USA and wanted a memory of the Northern Beaches, where they had spent their time so I also didn't mind a bit of contrasty sunlight here and there as a reminder. I really liked the outfits chosen by the family.  They complimented each other whilst not being too "matchy". I have a Pinterest Board that has fabulous clothing suggestions for family portraits that you are welcome to follow. The family was extremely relaxed even though their house was being packed up as we were shooting. They were very committed to making it a great shoot and that makes all the difference.  We wanted Manly in the background of a

How To Setup a Remote Triggered Photo Booth

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These are the most fun shoots! Even better than an actual booth because you get to use awesome equipment and hang out with fun people! To setup my Photo Booth, I used the following gear: Canon 1D X ProFoto B1 Octabox with grid 3 x Pocket Wizard Plus II's 1  x Flash Sync Cable 1 x Remote cable Lightstand Tripod 32GB Memory Card 1. LIGHTS - I setup my light or lights, depending on the scope of the backdrop and the look I am going for. I have previously used my Alien Bee Strobes and more recently, Profoto B1's. You could probably use Speedlites too. I've just never found them reliable or battery efficient besides, the quality of light from the Profoto or even the Bees, is infinitely better. Besides which, you would need two to get the job done nicely. 2. TRIPOD - I setup my camera onto a Tripod. A good sturdy tripod is useful, especially if there is going to be alcohol at the venue! 3. POCKET WIZARDS - I hook up my remote flash/camera trigg

Your Profile Photo Is The Most Important Thing On LinkedIn

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You know yourself when looking over someone's profile on LinkedIn, the first thing you do is check out their photo.  I personally get messages and requests daily. If there isn't a photo, I delete it immediately. If it is a bad photo, I think about it a second, then delete it. If it is a nice professional photo showing a confident business person, I definitely check out their profile and most likely add them as a contact. Don't just take my word for it.  The Ladders research into recruiter behaviour proves it. As shown in the heat map below, whilst looking over profiles, the first place the recruiter looked was the photo and they spent 19% of their total time looking at it. That's a lot of heat! Business Insider has some great tips on the do's and don'ts for you profile photo. And as it isn't that expensive, I would say it is an easy investment. My basic headshot sessions are only $175 and this image should last you a good couple of year

Vivid Chatswood 2015

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A few people have asked what Chatswood Vivid is like seeing that I live here so i thought I'd walk you through. The story begins at The Interchange. The Jellyfish Chandeliers and light display definitely make this the prettiest train station I have ever seen.  Look all around, even at your feet. There is a great light story happening as you walk. There are three levels you can get to, so try viewing from different angles.  If you get hungry, stop by The District on the top level. An upmarket food court serving wine as well as great food. Although the light displays are wonderful, it's the atmosphere that is vibrant!  Walk through The Mall and you will mix with a bustle of people meeting, mingling and having a great time. You will meet Norbert, The Nautilus and see The Aquarium on your way to The Concourse. Norbert The Concourse Head down to Chatswood Chase for a quick look at Lieutenant Angler.   You can get a bite here or head back t

Profile Portrait, Drama Therapy & Play time in The Studio

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Amanda is a Dramatherapist currently based in Sydney but shortly making the move to Darwin. She was in need of a profile portrait for her soon to be revamped website. At the end of the portrait session we decided that it was time for some Dramatherapy! Following success in the UK, USA & other countries, Dramatherapy supports people in connecting with the playful part of themselves in an environment free from judgement. Clients are invited to connect through movement, voice, improvisation, role, character and story meanwhile promoting therapeutic results in addition to psychological healing, insight , growth and well-being. Playing With Spirit specifically explores the connections between the Sesame Approach and the culture of the Indigenous Australian people so the move to Darwin will be entirely amazing for Amanda and look forward to hearing about her results... If you would like to contact Amanda, here website is Playing with Spirit .  Nina Beilby is a pr

Willoughby Symphony Orchestra & Choir

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Music was my entire life for about the first 20 years. It saved me from insanity. It was my escape. I played piano, pretty well. Violin not so well. But singing was where I won accolades. Music enveloped my life. For my High School Internship, I worked at The Sydney Opera House as the stand-in for the Ethiopian Princess Aida whilst the lighting guy worked his magic. I bumped into Sir Robert Helpman in the Greenroom and most remarkably got to hang out listening to Dame Joan Sutherland whilst she rehearsed. I credit this as one of the most memorable experiences of my life. As part of my photography degree internship, I worked with the MHCC Theatre Company so this was all very comfortable and exciting  and a great job for me. Doctor Nicholas Milton made me feel extremely comfortable in his open, genius Conductor kind of way. So creeping around the stage during the performance, with the occasional curious glance from Dr Milton, this is what I came up with. The

Photography Causes Shoulder and Neck Damage - The Treatment

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I have carried neck pain and tightness in m y shoulders for years. Carrying heavy camera and studio equipment around in addition to 10 hour shoots running around the pool with a 300mm lens eventually took its toll. One time too many, I picked up a large load and sent my rotator cuff into unbelievable pain. I literally cried all night and carried my arm like a broken wing the next day. It was time to get it sorted. I called Physiotherapist Dianne at  Lindfield Physio  who gladly fit me into her schedule immediately. Through ultrasound, electro treatment, massage and strapping we were able to get some relief.  Dianne gave me a number of stretching and strengthening exercises that have become part of my daily routine. Assistant Grace kindly offered to demonstrate for you. Firstly is the support strap. It brought an incredible amount of relief. Ensuring my shoulders were pulled back, not hunched and well supported. Worn over a t-shirt with a cardigan or sweater over that

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