Just a few of my own Miss P.

It was such a beautiful afternoon yesterday, so we went in search of cows and horses.

Oh My Goodness - The Eyes!! {Melbourne Child Photographer}

I am sure, just like myself, this Mum is always inundated with comments about her children's eyes. They are just pools of blue and reflect everything!
This family won my complimentary voucher through the Western District Autistic School's raffle. I have photographed a few of their students now and I always find these kiddos to be the most amazing and well mannered of all my clients.
Mr H loved the camera and I am sure he would still happily be outside posing for me if I didn't tell him I had enough georgous shots of him but Miss A was over me quite quickly as young diva's usually are!
We were very lucky that the Melbourne weather held off long enough for us to get outside this morning, I hope there were not too many soggy mud patches on the kids clothes.
Here are a couple of sneak peeks from this morning's session!

Dear Rebecca and Family,
Thank you for opening your home up to me, a complete stranger this morning. I love your children, they have such wonderful personalities! I hope you love these and there will be more to come!
xo
Chrissy

Cake Smash Sessions - Coming Soon! {Melbourne Baby and Child Photographer}

I had the pleasure of borrowing little Miss Bella for a promotional shoot for my Cake Smash Package which will be available from September 2009.
Thanks to Bella and her mum Nat for offering up your time for this photo shoot!

My Girl - {Melbourne Child Photographer}

I have been using this down time in shooting toddlers to concentrate on capturing my own little person more. These are some captures taken over the last week of the school holidays. I have definately decided to commit to making sure I take more photos of Miss P - as time really does go by so quickly. Soon enough she will be telling us how she has met the man of her dreams - and in the blink of an eye we will be planning a wedding for real. We best start saving now I think!

Blasts from the Past - {Melbourne Child Photographer}

These two pictures are very special to me...they mark the start of my journey torwards becoming a professional photographer.
I had only been shooting in Manual for around a month when I took Paigey into the Botanical Gardens for a mini photo shoot.
This was my first time shooting in RAW and I had no idea what I was doing.
These photos are special to me, because they were the first series of images I shot that looked something like what the 'Pros' would take...they were also the first images that were commented on by other artists.

What's on my walls? - {Melbourne Child Photographer}

Two things happened today with Paigey Girl.
1. She was dressed before 9am without the need for chocolate bribes.
2. She actually let me brush her hair and put it up without the need for chocolate bribes.

I find it so hard to choose images of Paige to go on our walls here at home, I am ashamed to admit there are none other than some baby photos...so today I put an order in to have this image printed as a 20 x 20" mounted print...just because I felt that I needed to take off the perfectionist photographer goggles for a while and just wear my Mummy ones and see this image for what it is...even with it's technical imperfections.

It's simply a beautiful capture of my own child which shows her cheekiness, her smile and her spirit.

Love you Paigey Girl!!

Sneak Peek - Rachael {Melbourne Maternity Photographer}

*Squiel*...it's so exciting to have some colour to work with again!! I have shoved Rachael out the door and begun editing her session straight away. I hope I didn't bruise her!
Beautiful light, awesome location and a STUNNING mum-to-be.
And of course, Rachael was also very, very tall. I must be destined to shoot maternity from a step ladder!

Dear Rachael,
Thank you SO much for a wonderful afternoon, I had so much fun hanging out with you. You look georgous and I think the decision to head outside was a good one. Now, I know I said I would only edit 3 images before picking Paige up - but I couldn't choose...so here's 5 quickies for you!!
xo
Chrissy

Sneak Peek - Tracy and Family {Melbourne Family Photographer}

A while a go TRacy lent me her youngest so I could work out how on earth you shoot older boys! You can see his photo shoot here: http://http//chrissytorneyphotography.blogspot.com/2008/09/sneek-peak-matthew.html Today I had the pleasure of meeting some of the other 'boys' in Tracy's life as I took some portraits of her family.
Dear Tracy,
Thank you for trusting me with creating some lasting memories of you and your family. I hope these are what you had in mind. Your Mum is adorable and yes, your sister is the sporty one! I now have to work out how I explain to my husband why I smell of men's aftershave - do you think he will believe me when I say it was an innocent hug goodbye from your dad?
I wish your dad all the best in his return to good health and I will speak to you soon!
xo
Chrissy

Paigey and the new blue chair.

Paigey decided today that she would be my 'supermodel' and model my new $30 bargain retro look blue chair. I love her to pieces - take a look at the posing!! It really does feel like I never get a chance to photograph her anymore, so today was a wonderful experience for us both. Maybe the break did us both the world of good!
xo
Chrissy

Just one for the Cute Factor - {Melbourne Child Photographer}

Because we all love a little fairy! Aaaah, sweet Lulu!

Sneak Peek - Melanie & John {7th March 2009}

I officially shot my first (and probably my last) wedding on Saturday. I thought it was tiring chasing around little ones during a photo shoot - seriously, I had to end up leaving the party early because I was so very tired after ducking, dodging, running, climbing and somehow moving my 22 weeks pregnant body around the place. All complaints about my fitness aside it truely was a lovely day and I felt so honoured that Mel and John had asked me to do this for them, afterall, I was the one who handed John Mel's phone number on the school bus that day!! Who would have know that a few years later I would be photographing their wedding day!

Mel and John - thank you again! The experience was wonderful. Your love for each other truely shone through on the day and is evident in every photo I have looked at so far.

I hope you like your sneak peeks - I will no doubt add more as I get through them all - so keep checking back.

Enjoy being Mr and Mrs!!

xo

Chrissy

2009 Blog Competition Winner!! {Melbourne Child & Family Photographer}

Firstly - let me say how completely overwhelmed I was by all of your entries. Choosing a winner was a very technical and scientific process!!
Due to having no printer ink I wrote all of your names out onto slips of paper (Fiona Brink - you are responsible for my RSI)...popped them into a tupperware container - then asked my very cute assistant Paigey Girl to stick her hand in and get me one little piece of paper.

So...I am so pleased to announce that the winner of the $975 Custom Portrait Package is:

VANESSA DIXON!!

Congratulations Vanessa - I will be in touch with you shortly to organise your portrait session.

Thank you to everyone who entered...I wish you all the best and look forward to your bookings in the future!!

xo
Chrissy


Haylee - 2008 Competition Winner

Sneak Peek - The Aldridge Family, Kinglake West Residents {Melbourne Family Photographer}

Copyright Getty Images 2009 - Kinglake West

I drove home from this session wondering how on earth I was going to blog this session as I had so much I wanted to write, say and do.

On Saturday, February 7th 2009 I had two Maternity shoots lined up for my portfolio, inside out of the expected 46+ degree forecast. However, one of my clients had to reschedule due to having a prior engagement in Yarrawonga.

My first client Megan arrived and the temperature was already souring above 30 degrees. The usual 'Werribee Winds' were extremely dry and hot.

I commented to Megan that with the forecast for the day, it was not going to be a good day. I had no idea just how devastating the day was going to be. The worst bushfires in Australia's history had hit our beautiful, picturesque mountain villages claiming well over 200 lives.

Sadly, Victoria had lost too many lives to comprehend...families had lost loved ones, friends and property as well as pets, livestock and livelihood.

Images and stories flooded the news bulletins and all Australians shed a tear for the toll and felt the need to help out in some way.

What I didn't know at the time, was that the client who had to reschedule actually resided in Kinglake West (picture above) - and if she had of actually been at the shoot in the morning- then she would have been at home later that day with her beautiful daughter when the Kinglake West fire swept through.

You could imagine the multitude of 'what if's' that have been going through my clients mind about that day.

There is so much more I want to say...the Aussie Spirit is alive and well. This family will be ok, I know they will be...they are true survivors because after all is said and done...they are still here. They are looking forward to moving back into their home and welcoming their new baby into the world.

Most clients will rock up to a shoot with a few changes of clothes. Ang rocked up with a basketful of clothes apologising for not having that much to bring. We joked about the fact that well, that that was pretty much all she had left to wear as most of her wardrobe had been either scorched or smoke effected.

So, let me introduce my beautiful client Angela. Her home has been severely effected by the bushfires. She has lost her belongings, beloved pets, livestock and her town and fellow towns people. But you wouldn't know it when you meet her.

She exudes vibrance, friendliness and excitement and I was so very honoured to have been able to capture these images for her today. It was meant to be a maternity shoot, but after I had seen her facebook images of her burnt and scorched home, I insisted we made it a family session.

You may also notice Glen's red wristband - all permanent residence of Kinglake West are required to wear these now so that they may enter their town and property.

This is Angela laughing at me for being unable to tell a joke to get her to laugh for the camera - I did a great job at non-joke telling ;)

Angela, Glen and Lulu,

Thank you for sharing today with me, I hope today was a little bit of a distraction and time out for you all. I look forward to hearing all of your good news in the next few weeks! Take care of each other!

xo

Chrissy

Sneak Peek - Sam {Melbourne Maternity Photographer}

Right - next time I put a call out for Maternity I am going to include a maximum height restriction. When Sam arrived today for her session at Willy Gardens all I could think was - "I'm going to need the step ladder again!"
Sam was another tall and georgous Mum-to-Be which I had the absolute pleasure in photographing today. The sky was tainted with bush fire smoke and it was hard to not think about all those people still in danger and those suffering loss from the devastation. Our hearts go out to you all.

{Sam - it was great getting to know you this afternoon - I hope you like what you see so far - especially given you are someone who never has their photo taken!}

xo
Chrissy

Sneak Peek - Megan {Melbourne Maternity Photographer}

There are two things you notice about Megan immediately; 1. Her height and 2. Her stunning blue eyes. It's ok - I had a step ladder just in case!
Megan braved the 44+ degree temperatures to drive into Werribee to have her complimentary maternity session. She was a photographer's dream allowing me to try some new things. What a difference it makes photographing an adult!
{Megan - thank you so much for your time this morning! It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope you made it back home safe and sound. Maybe even a little bit quicker with the Werribee Wind behind you! Make sure I get a text once this little one arrives xo}
Chrissy

Free Maternity Sessions - Offer Extended! {Melbourne Maternity Photographer}

I have decided due to such an overwhelming response to the February special - to offer up the discount during each Month until June (March, April, May and possibly early June - see how I am going).
Being pregnant myself - I am finding it easier to shoot maternity and I really do enjoy doing these sessions.
So...

* You need to be 34+ weeks at the time of the shoot ( earlier shoots available for Mums carrying multiples).

* Booking Fee is waived (Session can include hubby and children although expecting mother must be in all shots).

* 1 x Complimentary 8x10" or 8x12" print.

Additional prints and products available at regular prices.

Please email me at chrissytorney@hotmail.com for pricing information!

xo