Last photo shoots of 2015!

It has been an exciting and busy end to the year, with what felt like an endless flow of photography work!
I feel so lucky and grateful, to have such a wonderful network of friends, that have come to me to capture their special family moments.
As always, for me, the nerves are always there, but it feels great to work with new situations every time and come away with great results that my clients treasure and love.

Peace to the world, and here's to a prosperous 2016!

Dream a little portrait

My first business card!
I wanted it simple; as in my view it is just a method for people to contact me. It has my Facebook page URL (https://www.facebook.com/dreamalittleportrait) on the back with my phone number and email address. Currently, Facebook is my online gallery.

I've been very busy doing family portraits and a bit of commercial/ graphic design work.
It is amazing how life turns out. Back in high school I wanted to be a graphic designer. To get into the course I needed a portfolio, but I didn't have one, so I chose my second preference which was Information Management (Information Technology as a study path was in its infancy back then).
They offered photography at my school, but I was scared. I wasn't confident speaking English and I thought it would be an extra study burden I didn't need. My goal was to pass, and excel if I could and go to University. And so I did.
I set out, almost 3 years ago now, to master the craft of photography, and it is getting done. I am going out there, fear and all, and making good stuff.

+Sue Bryce is now presenting 'Portrait Startup' and I continue to learn so much. It is helping me find the value of what I do; what I create for families, businesses, people.

Think it, make it, show it

As an introvert/ creative it is sometimes difficult to surpass my own blocks, so I'm constantly getting in my own way.
But time and time again, when I do get out of my way; things happened. Stuff has been made. The 'stuff' may not be perfect, but it is crucial for it to be out there. If nothing else, you feel a great sense of accomplishment.

Below is the result of an idea I started pondering on over a year ago: show 'behind the scenes' and showcase local businesses work through photography and video.
It is always nerve wracking to walk into a new situation, start a new project; but it is all part of the work, the process.
Special thanks to Marden Continental for being part of this idea :).

Documenting home rituals

This week we were able to take some time off and I took advantage of this to execute an idea that has been tickling my brain for the last year or so.
In my attempt to capture as many memories as I can for our family, I've been wanting to document some family rituals or traditions, such as those that happen in the kitchen.

In our new home we have an 'open plan' space, and the kitchen is at the heart of this space. This is also true for past generations, and in our families, our mothers have been at the centre of these spaces.
So this week I documented the ritual of making gnocchi!. I filmed and photographed the making of this wonderful dish.

Our daughter (who gave me this idea) joined in and it was great to see her connecting with her grandmother and doing what she could around the kitchen. The end-result was a beautiful slideshow piece with photos and video, oh, and beautiful home-made gnocchi :).
Here are some of the images of the event.

Creating virtual identities

Head-shot photography is something that's been at the back of my mind; an interest I've wanted to explore. In the last couple of weeks I've been experimenting with some head-shot photography, and I've enjoyed the experience :).

In this digital age we all seem to need a digital 'shop-front'; every time I look for someone to come a do a job at my house, a product or a shop, I google. I also google the business names, etc to see if they have a website, to see examples of their work.
So I think it's becoming important to present a good image of yourself; to along with the body of work we do.

My setup is quite simple: large glass double-doors let the light in, and I use polystyrene sheets that act as v-flats. One side is white, the other beige. I'd like to get black ones in the future as I think they would look great. I am making notes on the things I need to work/ improve on.
Here are some of my favourite shots so far :).

Make good art

 
"When things get tough, this is what you should do: Make good art. I’m serious. Husband runs off with a politician — make good art. Leg crushed and then eaten by a mutated boa constrictor — make good art. IRS on your trail — make good art. Cat exploded — make good art. Someone on the Internet thinks what you’re doing is stupid or evil or it’s all been done before — make good art. Probably things will work out somehow, eventually time will take the sting away, and that doesn’t even matter. Do what only you can do best: Make good art. Make it on the bad days, make it on the good days, too." - Neil Gaiman

This quote by Neil Gaiman has resonated with me, time and time again this past week.
A lot of people in Adelaide are now counting their losses due to the terrible bushfire in the Adelaide Hills. We never thought we would be caught up in such a thing as we only ever think of these disasters happening in the hills or out in country areas. But a lot of us live near vegetation and in our case, where the suburb meets the outskirts of the hills, we had visited the area where the fire started just a week ago! And here we were, evacuating our home.

We managed to collect the important documents we could think of, data, cameras and computers. We left in the middle of the night, and it was a surreal experience to watch people leave. It was like peak hour, with some people just trying to get pictures of the glow you could see at the back of the suburb.
Overnight as we waited for news, all sorts of things went through my head. I was checking my tweeter feed for any (bad) news, but that never came. The next day we were able to go back home and everything was intact, with just the smokey air.

I had booked a shoot for the next day, but I managed to reschedule it for the following day (Sunday). We went to a park in town and we made it for early morning. The temperature had dropped and the park was cool and peaceful. I watched the family I was photographing and they reminded me of my own. I felt nothing but gratitude for having passed this hurdle; all we lost was a bit of sleep.
I'm now working on a series of mini photo shoots, with the proceeds going to the bushfire relief effort.

Nine months in the making - part 11

Over a year ago, I embarked in a photography project in which I wanted to document a baby's first year through photography. So I wrote a post in our local community on google plus.
Shahy and Haythem responded and the rest is history. :)

Their beautiful baby girl Haya turned one today and I was fortunate to be on holidays, so we spent a relaxing afternoon at a beautiful park.
It was the last shoot for the project and the year, so I would like to thank Shahy and Haythem for being part of the project. May you continue to enjoy this beautiful journey that is parenthood :)

Amazing what can be achieved when you dare greatly. - ("Daring greatly" by Brené Brown)

Beyond the alphabet

You are on your way

To a future

That although unknown

Is full of dreams

And hope

The pieces of a puzzle

Are scattered

Still being made

They will come together

In chunks, step by step

There are gaps

Many gaps

In your learning

But you have arrived

And you are showing up

We'll be there for you

In good and bad

Both must co-exist

But you will find your way

Just like we did

© Maria Mastrogiuseppe - 2014

A Christmas Shoot

Wishing everyone a safe and happy festive season.
Below is a small compilation of my recent Christmas shoot.
We all need a Silent Night.

xx

Nine months in the making - part 10

Conducted my final photo shoot for Stefania at her birthday party!
A long, yet short journey comes to an end in what has been an amazing project.
It has been incredible to see her grow, from stage to stage.

You experience a feeling of accomplishment, when your children get over the hurdles life throws at them. And slowly you do less and less for them, which brings about a kind of baby nostalgia; missing the time when they were little needy bundles. But, it is life, which grows, adapts and changes. Changes all the time.

I've learned lots from this experience and would like to thank Maria Jose and Carlos for allowing me to photograph their story.

Seasons Greetings

The streets were decorated by chalk scribbles and the city was invaded by children, clowns and bubbles!
This was our first Christmas Pageant as we hadn't had the opportunity to attend one in the past; we also thought our little one was not at the right age :).
The morning was cloudy, perfect conditions for photography :), so I took way too many!

When we were little (back in El Salvador) my Mum dreaded going out. We didn't have a car, so we had to travel by public transport. Third world conditions means anything can happen along the way, and unfortunately it is very unsafe for children. Nevertheless my Dad persisted in taking us out whenever he could.

Such a contrast here in our beautiful city! We had the best time and made a day of it. It felt as if children had inherited the earth! The streets were closed for them, police and organisers stopped to hi-five them and volunteers dressed up to make them smile.

So here is an avalanche of colour and good wishes!
May our children inherit a better, safer and happier Earth.

Costumes and eucalyptus oil

Spring is in full swing and with it hay fever.
I love the great weather we've been having but allergies tend to flare up around this time of the year, which is tiring and very annoying.

Our little one is currently dealing with a disruptive cough which, as we know, tends to hit the hardest at night. We use eucalyptus oil during the night to help her sleep. During the day it doesn't bother her too much, which means she is her usual cheeky self!

As such, I decided to get her a Halloween costume and do a mini photo shoot; which entertained both of us. I was over the moon with the results. I am currently experimenting with a 'film' look to some of my images and I'm liking the results.
Some of the images I captured I believe to be some of my best and favourite work to date, we will probably end up doing some large canvas prints of a few of these :).

Become like children

I am really enjoying photographing families and children. Children especially, bring such dynamic attitudes to each shoot; it is an incredible energy that makes you forget the woes of this world.

Whether they are happy to pose, shy or cranky, their worlds are black and white. They only reflect back what they see, hear, experience. They happily dress up, try new things; slowly getting over their fears, they try, fail, and try again.

Bellow are some images of a Halloween shoot. It was a warm day and the sun was quite high up still. But I got some nice shots in a short period of time. Needless to say the kids were incredible and very minimal direction was given. I'm learning so much from little people. :)

Family is bliss

Exactly a year ago I photographed our niece and her young family. Samuel is now one year old and on the verge of walking!
No matter how much we try to slow down, we seem to comment how 'fast' time passes by quite often these days :).

Our young children encompass so much of the past, present and future. Often times it feels like we are being returned gifts that were once lost; they travel with us filling our lives with a mixture of experiences, but mostly joy. The feeling of gratitude is never far away: for these blissful moments that are our lives together in family.

Love in black and white

While in Mt Gambier, I had the honour of photographing my niece and her new baby boy, now one month old.

No planning prepares you for a new baby! and I speak from experience :).
But these young lives are not only the source of great energy, but also great inspiration.

Kelly Brown said during her Bumps to Babies workshop: "Nothing smells better in this world than your own baby". My Mum once sniffed my little girl and said "You smell of life!". All so true.

Welcome to our family baby Samuel, we love you very much!