The Cokaynes are regular clients.  Gaelyn (my sister) adores her family and takes any opportunity she can to document their lives together.

I'm a bit bored of photographing them all in a tight squeeze, smiling at me through the camera - so decided to do something more active.  I had seen this rock pool in Salt Rock some time ago and was waiting for the right opportunity to use it. 

The idea was to just photograph them doing what they do. What any family would - play, chat, enjoy each others company. 

We woke up at 4am, got there at 5am and started shooting immediately. YAWN!! Chris and Zoe are NOT morning people and both struggled to keep their eyes open. Until they leaped into the water! It was wonderful, it was warm, there were fish swimming around our toes. I got a little creeped out when I stood on something slimy so spent the next 10 minutes treading water, trying to keep my camera dry - those years as a synchronized swimmer paying off!

The early morning was so worth it and I'm pleased that they have a different kind of family portrait to add to the Cokayne wall.

Thanks for brekkie guys.
Xx

View The Cokayne Sunrise Motion picture by Charity Sarah.

Kendra and I were waiting on the bridge yesterday for a friend who we were meeting for dinner...and I could not help but pull out my camera and start snapping.  Dusk is the most beautiful time of day for me - when the sky is darkening and the lights are starting to come on....that sort of in-between time, is just magical.

I am really lucky to have such a photogenic sister who is willing to pose for me and on occasion, do silly things.  Kendra constantly nags me to take more photos - which although slightly annoying, I guess I'm grateful for. Thanx Kendra.


Lucy wasn't too excited to have her photo taken, but I hope that once she sees how beautiful she looks in these, she becomes a little less resistant to the camera. :)

Yes that's me - Kendra snuck one in when I put my camera down.

I love re-experiencing old photos.  I was fishing around to see what I had brought with me to Singapore on disc and I found this beautiful photo of my sister and her daughter.  (If anyone is interested - I did a blue, a yellow and a pink fill layer - set the blending modes to 'overlay' and then played with the opacity until I was happy).  

It's lovely going back and applying new techniques to old photos.  I can't believe that this special moment between mother and child almost went lost between hundreds of images on a random CD.

I am so privileged to have photogenic and willing family who are prepared to pose for me...I am just waiting for the day that one of them turns around and gives me a big fat NO.  Camryn (my neice) came close as you'll see by the sulky face in one of the photos below.  But I love it, I think it's so typical of a 2-and-a-half year old. Camryn, you can thank me in 14 years time when you're a famous model due to this early age practice.

As I type this, Tanille is about to pop. It's times like these that I wish that I was a writer so that I could adequately describe my excitement!  I've already got 2 beautiful nieces and in a few days time I'll have another, or a nephew.  My money is on a boy, but we'll see what happens. ;)

Dale - take care of my sister please. She's been making a baby for 9 months, you owe her. (and I'm sorry that you don't feature in this post, next time we'll do a shoot just for you, OK? wink wink!)