Jennifer Stocks Photography – The Blog

I have been an emerging member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography for around 12 months now.  Recently, they held their annual National Awards, and for the very first time I decided to take a chance and enter three prints (more out of interest than anything).

Well, the fantastic news is that it wasn’t such a gamble! I won awards for two of the three prints. A Silver Distinction and A Silver Award! Although the third print didn’t win an award, it came very close and received a merit.

I couldn’t be at the Awards Judging, but I was very lucky to have some of my gorgeous photography friends checking it all out for me. An especially big thank you Kristen for pretty much giving me to-the-minute updates and live coverage of my prints being judged! I will be forever grateful.

Now I need to find somewhere suitable to hang my certificates. I have to admit, these are way cooler than the Principals Awards we used to get at school!

So, for those who are interested – these are the prints that won. The first won Silver Distinction (Portrait category), the second won Silver (Family category). A big thank you to the divine  little Lara, who is the star of the family shot, and of course, my big boy Dusty for deciding to stand on the fence so thoughtfully. xx

It’s already tomorrow, and I need to get to bed! I’ve got to get up with the sparrows and drive to Sydney airport. Why you ask? Well, I am jet-setting to Surfers Paradise tomorrow morning for a photography workshop. My little Mitch will be accompanying me, as I just can’t bear the thought of him not being in my eyesight for very long.  Even Dusty and Beau are excited about the drive to Sydney as they get to watch DVD’s in the car (by the way, DVD players in cars – best invention ever).   I am so excited to meet and learn from some incredible US photographers, and am equally excited about hanging out with some of my amazingly talented photography friends. One of which is kiwi, Fiona Andersen and you can read her post about the workshop here .

But before I leave, I wanted to post a little preview for a tiny little man and his parents. This little fella was so teeny. I’ve been used to gigantor babies since Mitch was born, but sweet baby Landon just seemed so small in comparison. He also didn’t have man-boobs like Mitch had as a wee  newborn!

Stephen and Jane, I had the loveliest morning with your little family. It was such an absolute pleasure to photograph this treasured, loved little dude of yours. Landon is your first baby, yet you make the whole parenting thing look so easy. I swear you’ve been there and done it all before! Jane, you are so perfect with your little guy. The perfect new mother. You are so relaxed, easy-going and take everything in your stride. Landon probably doesn’t realise it yet, but he is one very lucky little baby. One very LOVED little baby.

So, there’s only a few here but I really wanted to post a few before I leave town for the week.

And a bit of housekeeping : I will not be open for business for the next week, however, feel free to slip me an email or a note via the contact page on my website, and I will do my best to get back to you quickly!

Growing up like a little champion – here is our little man! That smile of his just makes me smile. What a perfect little creature you!

So, I haven’t been around a lot lately, but the little man you see below has been keeping me busy. I know… seriously… how could I do anything else when I have this gorgeous little person to stare at all day? But thing will be rolling again soon, and I will have some sessions to share. xx

You know how you can stare at a camp-fire or a fish tank for hours on end? Just watching. Not speaking. Just taking it all in.

Well, I’ve decided it’s the same with babies. You can literally just stare at them for hours without saying a word. I know I do it with Mitchell – especially during his night feed when the house is in a quiet lull (for once) and he’s not quite asleep, but not quiet awake. He’s usually milk-drunk, and rolls his eyes back is head and lets out little smiles from milk-induced happiness.

How it is even conceivable that we created this little person from nothing? This perfect little person that will one day grow up like our other boys? I just feel so happy that we get to experience what it is like to be a parent. It’s remarkable, it’s all-consuming, and is it truly the most wonderful feeling in the world. And when you see the way your other kids love them, you know you have done something right as a parent. Does this sound sappy? Probably. But you know what? That’s how I feel.

Baby Mitch – you had me at “waaaaaaahhh”.