Tuesday 27 August 2013

 
Professional Achievement
(Artistique Photography by Nicolette)
 
27.8.13.
 
 
Accredited Professional Photographer
 
 
Today I became an Accredited Professional Photographer with AIPP (the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers).  I started my business (Artistique Photography by Nicolette) as a wedding and portrait photographer on the Central Coast, NSW in March 2011 and joined the AIPP as an Emerging Member after my formal training in photography.  After a period of two years, as an Emerging Member, you are then able to submit a portfolio of images which goes before a panel for critique, so I decided it was time I submitted my portfolio and had an attempt at becoming an Accredited Professional Photographer.  I really didn't think I would pass such a rigorous judging process of my wedding photos, but I did, and tonight I will celebrate!  Here are a few of my favourite wedding photos from over the last couple of years.
 

 
 














 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 









Wednesday 21 August 2013

Tanya and Gary's Pre Wedding Photo Session
 
(Artistique Photography by Nicolette)
 
16.8.13.
 
Tanya and Gary chose to have their pre wedding photo session in the late afternoon sun at Watkin's Jetty. I must say, I love the light at this time of the day and I would like to share a few of the photos from their photo session with you.  Tanya and Gary will be marrying in October this year.
 
 

 























 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 








Looking Your Best for Your Wedding
 
(Artistique Photography by Nicolette)
 
HAIR
 
 
Brides are choosing classic, soft feminine styles for their hair this season and it's popular to have the hair down in soft flowing waves, a style which goes well with feminine, simply wedding gowns.  Brides choosing a more traditional wedding gown are opting to have their hair up, but not with wispy pieces of hair hanging down.
 
 
















MAKE UP

I always advise my brides to seek out a professional make up artist who will use a foundation which is suitable for photography, like Napoleon Perdis "Camera Finish".  The trend these days is to look as though you have no make up on at all and to highlight either your eyes or your lips, so if you choose to highlight your eyes, then you would go easy on your lips and if you chose to highlight your lips with a bold red for example, then you would go easy on your eye make up keeping if soft and simple.
 


 
You will need to remember that you need to look your best on your wedding day and this goes beyond just wearing a good foundation, good eye make up and lipstick.  Planning your wedding can be a stressful time and the last thing you want is a break out of pimples on your wedding day.  However, if the worst happens and you get a pimple or two, don't stress about it because Artistique Photography by Nicolette will remove these from your photographs for you.  You need to relax and pamper yourself, go easy on the amount of coffee and alcohol and remember to drink lots of water.  It is also important to get into the habit of cleansing and moisturising daily and most importantly to arrange a make up trial in the weeks before your wedding.  I am so pleased that I arranged this before my own wedding because the eye make up and mascara caused my eyes to stream - not what you want to have happen on your wedding day!
 
Also a good idea is to pack a little Emergency Kit, which should contain concealer, lip colour/gloss, translucent powder, mascara, make up remover and moisturiser.  Also include eye drops, safety pins, breath mints and pain killers for headache etc.
 
I am always happy to talk make up and hair with my brides and offer some good contacts on the Links page of my website. www.artistiquephotographybynicolette.com.au

























Thursday 8 August 2013

The Wedding Bands, significance and selecting - Artistique Photography by Nicolette

The Wedding Bands
 
 
The wedding ring has symbolised love and devotion throughout the ages and has changed over the ages so that it looks more beautiful today.  The circle of the ring means “forever” and often a marriage celebrant will explain the significance of the wedding ring when it is being placed on the ring finger during the ceremony.  Many couples will have the inside of their wedding rings engraved with perhaps initials and a date, and my wedding ring has our initials and date engraved inside. 
 
You may wonder why the third finger of the left hand is the traditional finger for the wedding ring to be worn and it is because of a belief that the vein in the third finger of the left hand moves straight from the heart, so women would wear their rings close to their heart.
 
 You may decide as quickly as I did when I chose my wedding band on a trip to Hawaii three months before we were married.  I went into Na Hoku Jewellers in Maui (fabulous shop – Google it!), and my eyes immediate fixed on a beautiful gold wedding band engraved with the Maile vine leaf.  I asked the significance of the leaf and was told that it symbolises “respect and honour” and that the vines were often used to bind the hands of the bride and groom at the marriage ceremony symbolising their commitment to each other. 
 
There are a variety of choices when you decided to select your engagement and wedding rings, ranging from Gold, White Gold, Platinum, Titanium.
 
 
I have listed a few tips to consider when selecting your rings:
Gold
Gold in its pure state of 24 caret, is thought to be too soft for every day practical use and is often alloyed with other metals which increase its durability.  Gold rings when manufactured are coated with rhodium, another white metal and this is similar to platinum and also includes its white colour.
 
Titanium
Titanium is very strong and there are three colours available which are silver grey, blue moon and sunburst.  Often you will see titanium wedding rings with a striped inlay of either silver or gold and perhaps diamonds added.
 
Platinum
Platinum is very long wearing and is a white metal and is made in approximately 95% of its pure form, it does not need to be rhodium plated like Gold.
 
Finger types and what suits you best
Long fingers will suit a flowing design, not being too restricted and if you have short fingers then a slimmer straight wedding band would best suit you.  I have noticed that white and gold wedding rings are becoming more popular with men’s rings.   Yellow or white gold looks good on olive skin tone and white gold looks best on very fair skin.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Lyn's Christmas in July Lunch - Artistique Photography by Nicolette

Lyn's Christmas in July
 
 
I think this year has been very popular for Christmas in July events and I went along to Lyn's lunch to capture some family photos a couple of weeks ago.  Here is a selection of photos:
 
 
 








 



 
 
 
 

Lisa and Jared's Family Photo Session - Artistique Photography By Nicolette

Lisa and Jared and the boys
 
 
While on a trip to New Zealand I took the opportunity to photograph Lisa and Jared and their three boys.  It is always very special photographing this beautiful family as I have known Lisa since she was a little girl of 8 years old, and now, she has her own family - don't the years just fly by?  Here are some photos to share with you.
 













Kimberley's Birthday Photo Session - Artistique Photography by Nicolette

Kimberley's Birthday
 
 
 
Kimberley celebrated her birthday with family recently and I captured the lovely relaxed atmosphere of the day.  Here is an assortment of photos from her special day.
 
 

 






 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Amanda and Scott with their Great Danes - Artistique Photography by Nicolette

 
Amanda and Scott with their two Great Danes
 
 
 
 
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with Amanda and Scott for a relaxed photo session with their two beautiful Great Danes recently.  I first met Amanda and Scott for their pre wedding photo session and then captured their wedding day for them.  Here are some photos from the most recent photo session with them.
 




 
 










 

Lyn's Family Photo Session - Artistique Photography by Nicolette

Lyn's Family Photo Session
 
(Artistique Photography by Nicolette)
 
 
 
Recently I had the opportunity to photograph Lyn's beautiful family which coincided with a birthday celebration.  Here are some of those photos from the indoor photo shoot.