Sharon Manning Photography

I tried to type this post last night after some very long days this week finalising alot of business "stuff" for Sharon Manning Photography. It just wasn't working. Needless to say I am back now after taking a break from the computer this morning and it's all transferring from my brain much clearer now.

This past week has been very exciting for me, I have had a new logo designed by the very talented Shannon Melville of Lemon Zest Design which has resulted in my co-ordinated printed marketing material for Sharon Manning Photography!

Here's my logo Shannon created for me:


And here's the marketing material I have created from the logo: (Notice it matches my office renovation.....pure co-incidence or sub-conscience at work?)


This makes me soooooo happy on so many levels that I now have an identity. Branding is important to the success of any business along with other influencing factors of course but branding is definitely up there at the top of my list. My tree makes me happy, I won't go into why with cliches like growth, new beginnings etc, that's just cheesy, but it symbolises so much for ME!

I have started a new Sharon Manning Photography page on Facebook here so pop in and "like" me and say Hi!

OK back to work for me! I love to read your comments so please feel free to leave one for me.

Have a great weekend everyone.

New Product : Ice Blocks

I know, I know, Ice Blocks are nothing new, all you need is a freezer right? Wrong! These Ice Blocks are a new product from my friends at Fitzgerald Photo Imaging......here's the lowdown....

"Create a modern, stylish look using your own image with this brand NEW and exciting product! Our Ice blocks are 30mm thick, giving your photo a floating, three dimensional effect. Free standing so no hanging required, they are perfect for your desk, bookshelves and are a great idea as a personalised gift. Comes in 4 sizes : 6x4" 5x5" 8x12" & 10x10"

These look very cool (pardon the pun!) and can't wait to see them IRL. If you would like to find out some more then email me sharon@sharonmanning.com.au

Images courtesy of Fitzgerald Photo Imaging Facebook album

I Heart Faces : Photo Challenge Week 16 : Collages

This weeks challenge over at I heart faces is "collages" and I just couldn't resist putting one together of this gorgeous little boy.

Check out some more creative collages over at I heart faces, there are some beauties.

Family Preview : Sugg Family

On Friday I had the absolute pleasure of photographing the Sugg Family. Due to the rain earlier in the week we had to re-schedule to Friday and it was definitely worth the wait!

Here's a just a few....there are so many to choose from.

Check out this little one - all chilled out with his Dad.

He took a while to get used to me and the big black thing in his face every 5 seconds......but we got there in the end.

There was dancing by the girls......gotta love these skirts Kylie bought for them....I might have to steal them for more photo shoots I think.

Love this one.......they were pretty reluctant to have this taken but I'm glad they did.

So cute.....once we cut him loose he was much happier!

Gorgeous girls and so well behaved.....did you bribe them Kylie?

I do hope you like the preview Kylie and Jason, there are plenty more where they came from. The edit is pretty much done so I should have it in the mail to you by Thursday.

This Woman

This woman means the world to me.

Without her in my life I would certainly be a lesser person.

We have travelled through Europe together.

She stood next to me on my wedding day as my bridesmaid.

She witnessed the birth of my firstborn child.

She has listened to me without judgement on more occasions than I care to remember.

She has stepped in and taken over just when I have needed her to - no asking required.

I am Godmother to her firstborn.

We have cried together and for each other.

She knows me better than I know myself.

I am so proud to call her my friend and I love her so very much.

and she is probably going to kill me for posting these photos......too bad, I adore them!

New Kelly Moore Bags

The B-Hobo Bag......


and the Kelly Boy bag

Oh Drool!

You can see more at the Kelly Moore Bags website

All images from Kelly Moore Bags

Bennett Extended Family Photo Session : Preview

I was very honoured (and a little scared) when Vicki, my dear friend of 22 years, asked me to photograph her whole family, all 18 of them, as a birthday gift to her Mum. I have been privy to watching this family grow over those years and now many of them are adults and thinking about creating their own families....makes me feel old!

We had scheduled the shoot back in February but 45 degree weather was forecasted, so sensibly we re-scheduled to yesterday, the only day all 18 could be present! Great job Vicki, I know it was no mean feat to do this!

Just one funny one for now.....


I will hopefully be back later in the week with some more serious ones! Maybe?

She Won!

So proud of our Gemma! She came first last night after performing her Modern Solo in the Intermediate section for the first time. Now comes the Open Section in the June Competitions. We are not allowed to take photos at the Competitions and she won't pose with her trophies for me, so all I have are her two trophies from this week!

Break

Yes I know I have been missing around here - I really needed a break from everything and Easter proved to be the time to do just that. I slept in, I read books, watched movies, caught up on some me time and generally relaxed (so did Steve for 1 day - that's good for him), Oh and I devoured some chocolate too of course.

The first week of the school holidays is over and Gemma is competing in the West Coast Dance Festival at St Mary's twice this week., On Tuesday night she placed 2nd in the Slow Modern section out of a group of 18! I cried the first time she did this routine back in October last year because I hadn't seen it before, this time I was really good and controlled myself. Another trophy to add to the shelf - Steve is going to have to build a new shelf soon I think. We are off there again tonight for her Modern Solo section, she won this one last October so she has moved up to the Intermediate section, wishing her luck!

I have managed to pick up my camera a few times and snap some photos just for me - for no particular reason other than to try new things, new settings etc. Here's just one I have had time to edit....

A 50mm F1.4 lens in on my wishlist so perhaps it would have been a better choice than the 24-105mm that seems to be permanently attached to my camera at the moment, not so good for close up Macro shots.

I have also managed to get some layouts finished off over the last week or so and it has been quite a satisfying experience to get back into scrapping. I always forget to change my lens before photographing them so please excuse the distortion on this one.....

This one is loosely based on Lis' Millions of Photos class from the Wave Rock Retreat last month. I'm a bit rusty at the moment so I'm liking that I have a starting point like Lis' classes and then adding my own little touches - and notice that I journaled too. Journaling I have realised is an important element that I need to add more often to my pages - to tell the story and not rely on my memory, which seems to be getting worse the older I get.

I have a couple of Family Photo Sessions booked this week (one very special family of 18) so I'm looking forward to being back with some sneak peeks very soon.

Take care and enjoy your weekend!