Please enjoy some Yates snippets from the last two issues Spring and Summer 2011…

My first cover shot in a random paddock that we found halfway between Forbes and Grenfell. Sarah and her beautiful daughter Layla looking very summery and incredible. Please note the balloons that Sarah has…The things I do for Jacqui..

Fashion spread Summer edition directed by the fabulous Cherie Quade. Shot at the quaintest little blue church just outside of Grenfell. I had been scheming of ways I can make the most of this location and Jacqui and Cherie were very supportive of my crazy ideas.

Love your work Chez.

 Fashion Spring 2011. Photographed in Studio Yates. Love my bricks. Again styled by Cherie.

The ladies sent me on a mission to Naromine to work with lifestyle stylist Kezz Brett and capture a bush beach theme.

The food was incredible, it was really hard to photograph when all I wanted to do was eat. Our models were fantastic and we had a beautiful afternoon on the Macquarie River. I also had another 2 pages of social events but I didn’t want to bore you to death…

A little feature of moi.

Our first lass is Emily, she is a little special to me (she is my niece) and totally gorgeous..of course she gets it from her Aunty…;)

Her partner in crime is Alec

The beautiful India and her partner Luke.

Love this shot below.

Aren’t they cute!

Miss Nicole partnered by Blake.

We like having a laugh. Maybe I have a funny face?

Lauren, looking amazing with partner Matthew.

Love the gloves. I think we are breeding some future models out here!

The fabulous Courntey with Terry.

Love this shot and of Courtney’s family…Aww.

All of the girls were looking for some “non traditional” deb shots, you know the ones were they put the flowers right next to their faces i.e pixie photo style, well they are all no-go poses at Studio Yates. Young Brooke and her partner jason were great examples of the fun stuff we can do.

These two are good examples!

Amy and Phil – IN LOVE!

LOVE the dress. All the girls had such a sense of style that was perfect for them.

And last but certainly not least is the very lovely Holly and Brent.

Rad curls Holly..

A very loving family portrait.

And just to finish there is always a “planker” around somewhere…Oh Dear..

Thank you lovely ladies and your families, we wish you well as you enter the world of adulthood.

X Denise (photographer who remembers her deb with fond memories ohhhh sooo many years ago)

We took a month off from work to settle in and build the chook shed and bring the 5 acre garden back to life, basically switching off which was long overdue for both of us. During this time I was busy scoping potential studio buildings for sale in our historic main street.  I came across the perfect space built around 1900. SOLD. We began renovating in February, I am a sucker for a renovation rescue and this was a challenge on many levels, as there was a few things that I had never encountered before, i.e how do I re-motar a brick wall? Good old Google…(I spent two weeks alone on that brick wall, it nearly broke me!)

Last week we launched our new website (check it out) www.dayates.com.au and  today is May 25,  Our wedding anniversary and a fitting day to open the doors for business.  Welcome to the new Studio Yates + Gallery.

Let the renovating begin. Before shots on my IPhone, I am much more clever on my big camera.

Oh dear what have I done!

And Now…We are so proud of our place.

This is the front Gallery, housing our fine art works for sale, pretty portrait and wedding shots and ample space to chill and enjoy. For those of you that came to the studio in Brisbane this is double the size of the space we had.

A walk through our new hallway and you reach our studio area and client viewing space. I am now very good at white washing floors, Mickey is a master painter and great at hanging art work.

Our huge office. Compete with fully stocked wine fridge, oh yes…

My bricks that I made friends with, and no studio Yates is complete without a blackboard..

So there you have it, I am back. And I cant wait to show you all the new things we have been working on and will be introducing in the future. And sharing with you our adventures with our beautiful brides, families, bush landscapes and the chooks.

x Denise (photographer, master builder, and lover of her new home.)

P.S Happy Anniversary my love, thank you for being my sunshine and such a brilliant painter and plasterer.

Nat had some amazing outfits picked out for the sitting, she is a stylish lady. Trust me if there were any shops open here on James Street, poor Sean would have been in trouble!

I love this shot, they are so open to anything.

I can’t go past a good silhouette.

Completely hot picture of Nat and equal of Sean below.

Nat, I hope you had a wonderful birthday. Sean you should have been a male model… You are both an amazing and gorgeous couple to photograph, and such fantastic clients. Thank you so much.

x Denise (photographer of ridiculously good looking people)

Soooo tiny and adorable.

Joshua having a cuddle with Daddy Bas.

And little Mitchell hanging out on my beanbags at the studio.

Oh gosh its tiring being a model…yawn.

Bas’s family is from Holland and on his wedding day they sent over some clogs for him and Tania so it was only fitting that we photograph the pairs sent over for the boys. Hmmm might be a while before they can run around the house in them, but so cute. Thank you Tania and Bas again for letting me in on your special moments in your lives. I look forward to watching these little men grow. Awww…

x Denise (photographer in awe of Tania and Bas)

Meet Yupin and Glen and their Bump. We had a lovely afternoon at Main Beach on the Gold Coast.

Yupin practicing her Yoga, looking every bit the Earth Mother.

Donna and John came into the studio for a family portrait before the arrival of a special someone for big sister Sarah.

John was making us all laugh.

Donna and her perfect belly. Awww.

And the lovely Christine.

Looking completely amazing and very content.

Congratulations to Yupin and Glen for the safe arrival of their little man. Donna and John who gave Sarah a little sister! And we are waiting Christine and wishing you well. Stay tuned for the beautiful baby pictures to follow.

Thank you all for sharing these precious moments with me.

x Denise (almost clucky photographer)

I suggested that we take the photos on the family farm. Knowing home like I do I knew the light would be incredible and we did the sitting half an hour before sunset. The light just lingers…A dream for any photographer, and a beautiful farm too.

Yes we are not babies any more.

David and Tristen having a laugh.

Yes, it is a big tractor tyre.

Oh the light, the light. And what an amazing family. Thank you Tristen and David, perhaps we wont leave it so long in between photos this time.

x Denise (photographer in love with her country)

Tania grew very fond of my chiffon material, so did the wind, so did my camera.

A bit of romance in the water. I love these guys!

I just applaud you Tania, heavily pregnant and willing and able to do whatever I wanted you too!

Bas got in on the action as well.

Welcome to the world Joshua and Mitchell born this week to very beautiful parents. I look forward to meeting you lovely, little lads and taking your pictures with Mummy and Daddy. Tania and Bas, so proud of you guys and congratulations.

x Denise

Kathleen warned me she hates having her photo taken………Oh sure!

A bit of cheek and spunk is always welcome with me.

We headed across the river the beautiful Siggis restaurant in Brisbane City.

Now the reason for my blog title is this. Every guest at the party received a little red box with Chinese symbols for love and luck cut into the walls of the box and inside were these two little wooden dolls (Little Kathleen and Kierans) I love these!

So little Kathleen and Kieran went for a wander with me all around the restaurant.

I did take the real two outside for some great night shots.

Ha Ha.

Everyone had a wonderful time and their were cameras everywhere.

Cheers to you both to new beginnings, luck and a long, happy life together. That vacant seat was for me which was so lovely of you both to let me join the celebrations and the fabulous food. I look forward to our next project together. To finish I found a lovely Chinese Proverb for you “Kissing is like drinking salted water, you drink and your thirst increases”

x Denise (And thank you for giving Lila a little Kathleen and Kieran to play with she carries them around all the time!)

Tash wanted something a little different and arty so I suggested we head to the Gabba antiques area that provides so many groovy back drops.

How does she manage to look this great in the morning? Dedication!

We both are totally in love with this silhouette shot which I shot a series of.

A quick change in the car and time for some fun.

Tash now has a huge print of this in her wall. I love it.

We headed back to Studio Yates for a coffee and for some more portraits with a different feel. Look at these shoes (Oh Jimmy Choos)…I was green with envy

3 hours later we had amassed quite a collection of photos and each one reflecting what an amazing person Natasha is. It was an honour to have such a creative input and document how incredible Natasha is. Thank you so much for an inspiring morning.

Happy New Year

x Denise ( Crazy creative photographer at weird hours in the morning)