These two I’ve known since they were babies, as their Mum and I were in the same Plunket coffee group.  They were both born just days away from two of my own children.  They are country kids and have lots of space to run around and wonderful horses to ride.   Lachlan is into science, rugby and music.  Charlotte loves ballet, music, art and writing.  They both have a great sense of humour and you can tell they are both caring souls.

Here are the photos from their shoot.  I especially love the dark and moody shot of Charlotte in the red dress – one of the last photos I took.  She is stunningly beautiful.  Plus I love the photos of them hugging each other, showing their caring nature.  Photos to treasure for a lifetime.

Belinda Lansley Photography is offering one day of mini shoots for children aged 4-16.

• For $150 you receive a 10 minute shoot for one child on 10 February 2018
• a beautiful 8×12 matted fine art print of your child
• $50 goes to the Chalky Car Trust to help the oncology ward at Christchurch Hospital.

Beautiful red dresses available in size 8 and 12.  A red bowtie and red cap are available for boys.  You are welcome to bring your own beautiful red clothes to wear for the shoot.

Give your love to those bound together by cancer, this Valentine’s Day.

Please book your appointment here.  These bookings won’t last long so please be quick:

Calendar
Calendar Item 1

Select date and time

Your phone number:

Your name:

Your email:

Comments/Questions:

Please enter the security code:

Security Code (lowercase letters):

Dad cried when he opened this beautiful print of his Lottie on Father’s Day.  She is wearing her Mum’s beautiful flower girl dress which she wore at age 6.  This is truly an heirloom photo to be passed down the generations.

If you would like a beautifully edited fine art portrait of your child, please visit my website for more information. www.belindalansleyphotography.co.nz

Ok, so it’s official.  I’m a Dollcake addict!  It’s like I’m standing up in a room of other addicts and admitting it!

What is Dollcake you say?  It is an Australian company that makes the most beautiful gowns and dresses for little girls.  They are timeless styles – some like beautiful princesses, some are amazing cotton and lace dresses from the olden days and nearly all of them have lace or pearls or other beautiful embellishments!  People buy them for weddings and events, or some for special daily wear, but photographers also like them.  And I’m addicted to them because they suit my style of photography which is also timeless like their brand.

Check out some of the designs I have now.  Little girls LOVE them.  When I have little girls coming into my studio, I line up the dresses so they can choose.  I have a mix of Dollcake dresses as well as a few from Aliexpress and my own sewing.  The girls’ eyes open wide – they can’t control themselves.  “I want to wear this dress Mum,” they whisper to their Mum, a little unsure.  I say – “You can wear anything you want!”  The girls sparkle!  It is magic.  If it doesn’t quite fit the child, I peg the dress behind them as I know I can hide the pegs behind their back or edit them out of the final photo.

Today they had a big sale at Dollcake and I bought yet another dress – a beautiful red ballgown.  I woke up this morning and my mouth was drooling.  It is gorgeous.  I had to have it for my collection.  It has the wow factor!  However I had to ask my husband first, to justify the purchase.  He doesn’t care about ballgowns and said, it is up to you.  I needed someone else to give me the go ahead so I rang up my Mum at 7.30am and she said, “Only if you can afford it, Dear.”  Can I afford it – of course, I tell myself.  Then I went to my friend Kirsty knowing that she would say “buy the whole shop, Belinda!”  It was a done deal then – I clicked the payment button on the cart!

My friend Kirsty is also a Dollcake addict.  She is currently trying to sell other photography props to try and buy another red ballgown in a different size.  You see her style of photography suits the clothing brand as well.  Check out her beautiful princess shoots at Kirsty-King Turner Photo art.  She just send me a message “I have 2 dresses and 3 hair piece things sitting in my cart …. Waiting LOL . I could do it if I put 1 dress back but which one …”  I’m rolling on the ground laughing about this.  She is a complete addict!

Later on in the morning she sent me another message in a panic because she bought all the dresses plus got me a fascinator to go with my new red gown which I forgot to buy when I bought the dress.  “Oh my now I’ll go and have a heart attack !!!! Got you the hat !  I feel so bad I’m trying to sell a lens LOL.”  Poor Kirsty, now selling a lens!  She has it bad!

Anyway, to show you how worth while these gowns and dresses are to me, here is some photographic proof below:

Yesterday I attended an NZIPP event where you could get a tin type portrait of yourself from the very talented Brian and Jane of Brass and Glass Photographic Alchemy with their replica Victorian darkroom.  You can check out their Facebook page here which shows some of their amazing work.  The photographic process that they use is from the 1850s and they use an 1890s bellows camera to take the photos.

Brian puts a plate inside the camera and then takes off the lens cap to expose the photo.  Exposure times vary depending on the available light.  Then he takes it into the darkroom and coats it using the wet-plate collodion process and then it goes through a couple of baths and gets washed, then dried with a bunsen burner and coated in vanish.  It should last 150 years if looked after.   Brian said, if it doesn’t last 150 years to come back to him for another one!!!!

I had to sit completely still for 5 seconds.  This was extremely hard and my face is a little soft due to slight movement.  I was told I could blink and breathe but I am pretty sure I was holding my breath the whole time.  And my eyes kind of felt like they were popping out of my head – I should have just blinked.  It was a relief when the 5 seconds were up!

Here are some photos of some of the process (thanks Craig from Furtography for the cellphone photos of me) and finally the tin-type photo of me!  I am going to frame this photo and hang it on my wall of family photos.  It is glossy and metallic looking.  It has an old world sheen and it takes a lot of effort to make it – something that I really appreciate.  It is a totally unique profile shot for my website.  Thanks Brian and Jane!

Win a child fine art portrait session and two matted prints, worth $600 with Belinda Lansley Photography.  Click here to enter.

Terms and Conditions:

1.  Entries close 31 August 2017.
2. Winner receives a $600 portrait session.  This is a fine art portraiture session for one or two children aged about 4-17 years of age.  The winner must be in the Christchurch area of New Zealand and be able to travel to the studio of Belinda Lansley Photography for the portrait session.
3. The winner also receives two 8×12 inch prints of their choice with 11×14 matts, ready for framing.  Frame not included.
4. The portrait session must be taken in the months of September or October 2017.

Introducing Meg – she loves ballet, dresses and talking lots! She is bright and bubbly and full of life!

If you would like a beautifully edited fine art portrait of your child, please visit my website for more information. www.belindalansleyphotography.co.nz

This is Jessica – she loves ballroom and Latin American dancing. With her Lebanese and Bulgarian ancestry she has inherited beautiful dark curly hair! Isn’t she gorgeous!!

If you would like a beautifully edited fine art portrait of your child, please visit my fine art child portrait page for more information. www.belindalansleyphotography.co.nz

This is Jesse – he is three, nearly four. His Mum is also a photographer (an amazing one!!) and he says to her about 100 times a day “I love you Mummy.” He loves dinosaurs, cuddles and spending time with his family and friends. Doesn’t he look adorable in these wee braces and top hat!

If you would like a beautifully edited fine art portrait of your child, please visit my fine art child portrait page for more information. www.belindalansleyphotography.co.nz