Sacha Blackburne Photography

Tuesday, 18 May 2010

Flower Fairy

The I heart faces challenge this week is Faces and Flowers. I am mad about flowers, and had too many to choose from as I seem to try slip them in most of my shoots, and wanted to post about 20 of my "favourite and my best" (Charlie and Lola ism), so went for this one of my sweet little Indigo lying in the Fresias. I even had others where there were millions more flowers, but the look in her eyes in this photo makes my heart hurt - my little garden fairy. I could stare at this image of her forever.

Head on over to the I heart faces website and see all the dreamy images of faces and flowers.

Monday, 17 May 2010

This was my third family session with the Southerns and I am always impressed by how beautifully behaved the boys are. Of course, selfishly, it makes me feel rather insecure that my two are so wild, but on a professional level, of course I adore it as it makes my job so much easier! Liz assures me that they can be crazy boys, that most nights they wear goggles in the bath and drag their boogey boards around the floor, but they really are the most sweet, respectful boys, even when they are having fun.

Tim and Liz wanted to capture the fun the family has living in Bermuda, and as a gift for Tim's father's 80th birthday. They know how lucky they are that their children are growing up in such a fabulous environment and what a wonderful childhood they are having - how childhoods should be. They love to have a photo each year to capture how the boys have changed. Liz thinks of when the boys will be older and doing their own thing, then she will be able to sit in her comfortable chair and gaze at the wall with the photos from these times, and always keep the memories alive, no matter what happens in the future.

Alexander will be seven in June. He is a sweet, kind, helpful, caring boy who loves every kind of sport, be it running, cycling, football, cricket, rugby, sailing, swimming, t-ball... the list goes on. He is also a bookworm and adores his bedtime stories. And on top of all this, he is also a wonderful big brother, always helping to build train tracks, race tracks and any other kind of track out there.

Nicholas, who will be turning three in June, is a little character and has been from moment one. He is the snuggle muffin in the family and loves hugs and kisses, and his smile lights up the world for his mama and papa. They call him Tricky Nicky, though they do not divulge why.... He adores his big brother and wants to do every single thing that Alex does. When not learning from his big brother, he loves driving diggers, playing dress up and singing Pff the Magic Dragon at the top of his voice a a hundred times over.

Tim is happiest pottering around inside the reef in his boat with his boys with their rods. Liz is happiest with her boys just being beside the sea - she thinks it is the Essex girl in her!

The boys adore the ocean... just running around in the fresh air and the open space and frolicking in the waves. What better simple pleasure could there be, asks Liz.

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

Celebrating Jen

This image is of Jen. A mother in her element, with her two beautiful daughters, loving them and them loving her. I took this photo several years ago, and I think my photography has improved in so many ways technically since then, but one thing I already longed to do even back then was try to capture love. And this photo is full of love.

I was witness to the motherly love over flowing from Jen just last week in a way I wish had not been necessary. I listened to Jen as she spoke more eloquently, more powerfully, more inspirationally, and more lovingly than I have heard anyone I know ever speak. She spoke at her beloved husband of fourteen years' funeral. But the amazing thing was, it was not a funeral at all. It was a celebration of JP's amazing life, and Jen, along with their family and dear friends, painted an extraordinarily rich picture of the man they loved in a way that made me weep too many tears.

Jen's love for her children is so intense, and this love she has for them has helped her know that she needs to be so strong for them, and this came through in her heart breaking words. I walked away that day a different person. Of course, I am always thankful. I am always aware of how lucky I am. And when I heard the news of JP's tragic death, I felt agony in my heart for dear Jen and their adorable children and remembered once more, in yet another painful way, how grateful I am for all I am blessed with.

But also, selfishly, I felt a coldness rise in me, for isn't losing the one you love most not the worst fear for every one of us? Yet after Jen spoke, my fear released its icy grip on my heart. Jen showed us that she will survive this, and her children will survive this, for JP is living on with them, and although life is going to be too hard to bear at times and indeed for a long time, their memories of JP, and the JP that lives on in each of them, will help them through it.

Jen blew my mind that day, and not just with her own strength and love that she shared with all of us, but in teaching all of us that we each have so much strength and love in ourselves. So today, I am celebrating Jen, and the incredible mother that she is, and all that she inspires me to be.

Please go to i heart faces to see all the other mothers who are being celebrated this week and read about their inspirational stories.

Sunday, 9 May 2010

Bermuda Wedding - Splendido - Keilyn & Damion

Keilyn and Damion were married in March at the registry office and afterward, I joined them to capture some special moments of the newly weds together. The couple are expecting a little girl mid June and she will be named Naomi. I imagine that if she is half as beautiful as her parents are, then she will be a very lucky girl, and if she is a fraction as kind, then her life will be blessed.

Splendido was recommended to them by a friend of the family and although they had never been to the restaurant before, the knew it would be the perfect place for their reception the moment they saw the location and met with Angelo, the general manager.

I cannot get over how utterly lovely Keilyn is. Her dress was by Tiffany Rose and shoes were by Coloriffics which she found locally at Occasions Bridal and Formal in Somerset.

Her gorgeous chandelier earrings were found at At Last Bridal Boutique and those fabulous flowers were designed by Sally at El Shaddai.

Damion's suit, ivory shirt, and satin print tie were all the designs of Louis Feraud.

I just adored the comfortable way that Damion looked into my lens. He had such and easy way about him and that wry smile was such fun and spoke so much.

Ok - there are a billion here that are all quite similar, but you tell me how I could possibly have narrowed them down - I just loved them all!

We then nipped down the hill to the Coral Beach Club where we took advantage of this magnificent banyan tree as a backdrop - just perfect. These two really did the photography well for their wedding. They dedicated longer than usual to the couple shots and as a result, we had the time to capture so beautifully intimate images in a few stunning location.

A few more than necessary here too, but again, could they be more photogenic, or show more emotions in such a short space of time if they tried - just loved all the photos - actually, just loved them!

I also had time to capture the scene at their reception, as well as their rings and the cake. Since I have already gone so overboard with the snuggle muffin photos, I will hold back a little on the details, but here is one of the table decorations which were so simple and elegant.

The cake was equally elegant and in keeping with the theme of the day, adorned with dramatic orchids which set off its simple design.

Thank you Keilyn and Damion for an amazing first wedding of the season - you were a joy to photograph and I wish you both the best of luck with your growing family. Hope to capture baby Naomi in the future! xx