A day in the studio

The day usually starts at 9.30 in the morning when Anne is photographing newborns. The maximum amount of babies we have in the studio at any one time is six and it all depends on what images Anne wants to achieve that day, often we have less.

Today for instance Anne needs three babies asleep in one image, so we invited six babies in, so there is no pressure on anyone and the atmosphere is very relaxed.

The parents start arriving between 9 and 9.30 am. It’s quite common for new mums to bring, either their mother, sister or husband with them. We have a sitting area with comfortable sofas where the mothers can feed and settle their babies before we start shooting.

There are cakes, pastries and fruit for everybody to snack on, so it’s a very enjoyable morning for all. The babies usually go to sleep after being fed and that’s when Anne photographs them. After the shoot, most of the mothers do not want to leave immediately, so they stay and feed their babies and keep chatting to the other mothers.

We have heard quite a few lunch and coffee plans hatched in our studio. The mothers enjoy meeting other mothers with new babies and all chat about what is going on in their lives. It’s quite a social morning. We receive many letters saying how much they enjoyed being at the studio and what a great experience it was. So it is very rewarding for us too.

the twins come to the studio

The new twins (described in an earlier blog) came to the studio today to be photographed. A boy and a girl, both look quite different. One has fair hair, the other dark.

Anne photographed them both together and then separately. Their mother also brought her mother along to help, as it’s quite a production to go out and about, and as all mothers know, there is always lot of luggage involved.

When Anne had finished shooting the twins were asleep, so they were dressed and their mother popped them in one of the cots kept in the studio. It seemed a pity to wake them to take them home, so Anne suggested that the mom and her mother might like to go out and have lunch at a café close by. The mother hesitated for a moment, perhaps wondering if she was imposing, but to the contrary, everyone, including the nurse we have for all shoots, was excited at the thought of being able to have a set of tiny twins with us for a little longer. We reassured the mother that if they woke up, we could call her straight away or even could walk them around to the café in their stroller.

When the mother returned, she commented what a treat it had been to share a meal together, whilst the twins were still so young. The team at the studio did not have to do anything, because the twins slept for the whole time.

Everyone kept peering into the cot to check on them, but I think that was an excuse to just keep looking at them because they are so tiny and so beautiful.

An interesting meeting

At the studio, we have also become quite resourceful at keeping our eyes open for new babies and pregnant mothers. A few weeks ago one of Anne’s team was buying a tie for her husband at a local menswear store, the sales assistant was a tall man, with very dark skin. We happened to be looking for some babies of colour, as Anne always wants to display diversity in her images.

Before the deal was done on the purchase of the tie, Anne’s assistant told him about the new book and asked if he knew anyone who was perhaps pregnant or had a new baby. The sales assistant pulled his phone out of his pocket and started showing her photographs of his baby son! Needless to say a date was set for his baby to come to the studio to be photographed by Anne.

The twins arrive!

We had a phone call today from the woman Anne photographed last week who was pregnant with twins. The mother called around 3.30 pm to announce that she had given birth to a boy and a girl at 1.30 pm and couldn’t wait for Anne to see them and to photograph them! She told us that she was letting us know before the rest of her family….how nice, and it made Anne feel very special.

How does Anne find the babies?

People often ask how we find the babies for Anne’s shoots. As far as the new book is concerned, we really only initially told around ten people about the project. News spreads very quickly in Sydney, because suddenly after only three weeks, the emails and phone calls were flooding in.

Highlights to come

Right throughout the shooting for Anne’s new book, and the photography of Anne's new pure clothing range, we have a cameraman filming ‘behind the scenes’ footage of Anne at work.

In addition to filming during Anne’s shoots, the prop making and just about everything else that goes on in the studio, there will also be some interviews with Anne explaining the inspiration behind her ideas and how she makes them happen.

So for those of you who are interested in seeing Anne at work, stay tuned to the website for snippets of this footage throughout the year. It will make for some interesting viewing and insights.

Making Progress

The book is taking shape and the images are lovely, as you would expect from Anne. The theme is very organic and like her new “pure clothing”, will have many new and exciting themes to showcase.

Photography of a Pregnant Lady

This morning a lovely lady came into the studio to be photographed by Anne. She was pregnant with twins, very pregnant in fact, as she is 39 weeks.

The shoot went very smoothly and Anne achieved some beautiful shots of the woman’s tummy, which of course will be a wonderful memento for the twins to have in years to come.

Anne received a lovely text this afternoon right after the woman arrived home. She told us what a fantastic time she had whilst she was in the studio, and how for the first time in a long time, the day was all about her and she felt indulged and pampered.

It’s really rewarding to get such good feedback about people’s experiences in Anne’s studio.

Anne Busy with her Photography

This past week Anne had 20 adorable newborn babies into the studio and she achieved, once again, some beautiful images. It’s a very exciting time for the new parents, and particularly exciting for them to see their new babies being photographed by Anne.

Needless to say, there was a wonderful audience of new mums, dads and grandparents proudly accompanying their new babies into the studio.

There are still more shoots to do and Anne is seeking new-born babies and also pregnant women who would like to be part of the project. It is sad that because of the studio being in Sydney, that not everyone from other countries can participate, but if you live in, or around Sydney, do give us a call.

The New Studio

Since Anne last photographed babies at her studio in Auckland, Anne and her family have relocated to Sydney, Australia. Anne still has team members in Auckland, who all help with her clothing range, the web site and the design of the books. (Not forgetting her valuable team members in America.)

The search for a suitable studio in Sydney began in early January and Anne found a beautiful space in a light and airy converted warehouse in a suburb just East of the city, which has now been turned into a purpose-built (for babies) studio.

The photo shows the Sydney team toasting the opening.

Anne will be shooting for her new book throughout 2009 and into early 2010.

The book whose title must remain a secret for now will be available in the Fall 2010. We will keep you up to date on the blog so no one misses out.

Anne's New Clothing Range

Anne has also taken time to design a new baby clothing range called “the pure range” especially for newborns. The entire range is made from beautiful 100% natural cottons and merino wool and is manufactured entirely in New Zealand. We will tell you more about the entire collection as we go forward. It will be released in mid-year and will be available exclusively on-line at Anne’s web site and also at her Flagship store in Downtown Disney, at Disneyland in Anaheim California. Supplies will be limited so we will make sure we keep you informed.

A Great Start to the Year

The start of this year also saw Anne go to Phoenix Arizona to give the key-note speech at the Professionals Photographers of America (PPA) 2009 convention. A audience of over 3,500 photographers attended the speech, and before the event, many were also happy to have Anne personally sign a selection of her books. The signing was held in a special exhibition area sponsored by the photographic printer company Epson. Anne’s speech was very well received with two standing ovations.

A special occasion was when, at the same convention, the PPA honored Anne with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Not given every year, this award is only designated to a select few whose body of work has enriched professional photography. Needless to say, Anne was very pleased and proud to receive such an important award.

A Message from Anne’s Studio

Hi,

Anne is back in the studio and photographing again, so we are going to write her blog for you so you can keep in touch.

The last couple of years for Anne has been extremely busy and have not allowed Anne much time for her real passion, photography.

The writing and promotion of her autobiography ‘A Labor of Love’, her 5th coffee table book, took two years with the writing, followed by a global tour that took in 6 countries and 17 cities. It was very hectic but was lovely for Anne to hear such positive feedback and support.

Late last year, Anne became inspired by a very simple and beautiful aspect of nature and immediately thought of a wonderful idea for a new book. So, after the break from photography, Anne decided it was time to pick up the camera again and begin.