Picture Australia video

A very worthwhile project I am a part of.
Add your photos to Australia's largest image database.

http://www.pictureaustralia.org

Baby Portrait photography prop ideas

Professor Ken Kobré's LightScoop

I just purchased this wonderful diffuser tool. It just sits over the camera's pop-up flash and helps soften the flash, reducing the glare and that's always a good tihng. I found it online at http://www.lightscoop.com/ and can't wait to try it out. I have been using home made flash diffusers for several years - everything ranging from empty yoghurt containers, white measuring cups and even big plastic noodle bowls. The difference between with and without diffusion is like night and day.

Here are some photos taken with the bowl diffuser

With on-camera flash:

With on-camera flash and diffuser:

Cost of photography

Today I caught a bus to Shellharbour Stocklands to meet up with my Sister and little Levi, my Nephew who is now two months old and grown so much. At 10.30am Renee and I went in to view the photos from the Pixifoto session that little Levi had done a few weeks ago. He had been a little grumpy at the time and there was only one photo that we liked - with lovely brown teddy bear- so I purchased a composite for $85. Yikes!

I had forgotten how expensive photography sessions can be. The composite - which included a 5 x 7" and several 4 x 3" smaller photos - was at best $20 worth at a quality processing place for $85. They only took five photographs in all. Does the price really justify the studio time? I'm not too sure. I know there are overheads to factor in but I do not think that the prices need to be that steep. With my portrait sessions I will be offering more reasonable rates for prints, with a CD of the best photos from the sessions included in the price of sitting. Families have so many expenses I don't think prints should cost more than three times what they cost to print at your local Fuji or Kodak store.

Hold on tight to me when there are no seats available

Hold on tight to me when there are no seats available, originally uploaded by Vanessa Pike-Russell.

Cote and Cutler Outfitters at Wollongong Medieval Fair

Cote and Cutler Outfitters at Wollongong Medieval Fair, originally uploaded by Vanessa PR.

Today I went to the Wollongong Medieval Fare at Figtree. It was the second day of the fare and unfortunately there were no jousting tournaments due to the outbreak of equine flu.
Thankfully there were still many stalls and demonstrations to enjoy. My favourite stall was the Cote and Cutler Outfitters.

http://www.coteandcutler.com/