Michelle Armour Photographer

Kids in the Studio

2011-12-30T21:27:00.000-08:00

In the Studio with Sonia & Jazzy!

Bridal Boudoir Intimate Portraiture

2011-12-29T01:18:00.000-08:00

Boudoir sessions are a fantastic way for anyone to create some romantic images to share with someone special. Do it just for you or as a special gift for a special someone. Some brides are choosing to create a little black book of their images for "his eyes only". This gift is always very well received by their husbands to be with many choosing to deliver the gift at the beginning of the honeymoon. Of course it would also make a great 1st anniversary gift. Or any other anniversary!

Boudoir photography can be more than just lingerie. Old fashioned pin-ups, art nude and swimsuit shoots provide alternatives. Poses and props are used to ensure that every woman feels and looks wonderful. While many women arrive at a boudoir session feeling apprehensive, when they leave, all assure me they were made comfortable and it wasn't nearly as scary as they imagined.

How it works! Make a booking and at this time we decide if you would like to use your home, my studio or a private beach or be part of a boudoir marathon at a nice motel or B & B. Before the day choose your outfits, they needn’t be expensive and remember less is more, even a white button down shirt and cute knickers can look great. If you are thinking of going nude remove any tight layers of clothing a couple of hours before the shoot (you can do nude shoots and not show very much). This is to stop any marks from your bra etc.

It can be a good idea to organise a hair appointment before your session if you colour your hair as it can't be retouched effectively in photoshop. Before the shoot you will be shown examples of images to help me get an idea of what you are thinking and this also gives us some time to relax, if at your home I will set up lighting and do some test images before we begin. Once I have an idea of the type of images you wish to create I can help you to pose and find your best angles. I am also happy to discuss any ideas you may have. I retouched your images for absolute perfection. If you are ordering a book and need it ready for a particular date allow at least 6 weeks from shoot to finished book delivery.

FAQ

 What if I want to order enlargements? Use your disc to choose which images you would like to have enlarged then the cost depends on the type of enlargement you choose. Photographic prints are reasonably priced, check my portrait pricing for more information. As an example a 20cm x 30cm print (approximately A4 size) is $30. This is a nice size to put into a frame and matt boards of any size can be professionally cut in house to fit your frame so no one else needs to see your finished print until you want them to.

 Can I bring a girl friend? Absolutely, you could both do a session and help each other through.

 Will there be anyone else involved in the shoot? Only you and me and a friend if you choose to bring one, at boudoir marathons there will also be a make up artist / hair dresser but the shoot will be just you and I.
 This isn’t just for people who look like models, this is for everyone, every woman is beautiful!

Drown the Gown

2011-12-28T03:24:00.000-08:00

Trash the Dress, Drown the Gown, Rock the Frock and Fearless Bride
No matter what you call it, everyone should try it! While this idea began with girls having messy fun in their prom dresses it has evolved into an art form. Why would anyone do that? This shoot is an opportunity to get relaxed, fun, stunning images you just can’t do on your wedding day. After location photos you still have the reception and most brides opt to continue to look as perfect as possible. This means you can’t really get down and dirty in your wedding dress so some of the shots that look so great can’t be achieved at that time. The solution is to come back at a later date, with or without your husband and have a bit more fun creating stunning images you will be proud to display.

It is an opportunity to get wet, or to take some photos particularly relevant to you as a couple; the only limit is your imagination. I have lots of ideas to work with and I am always willing to try new ideas. I can even do underwater shots in a pool or the ocean. Perhaps you were not 100% happy with the photographer you chose for your wedding images and would like the opportunity to add some more glamorous or creative images to your album, or maybe it was raining on your wedding day and you always wanted sunny images? Cried so much your makeup was ruined? There are plenty of reasons why you might like a redo without all the stress.

Do I have to ruin my dress to get theses kinds of images? No, the amount of trashing you do is up to you. You could swim and run on the beach in your gown, dry clean it and not know it had happened. Dry cleaning is quite expensive for wedding dresses so you might as well get your money’s worth. Some brides do opt to destroy their dress but that is a very personal choice. It is also another opportunity to wear that dress again, feel like a princess again. What I like most about these shoots is that all the stress is gone, and you can see the relaxation in people’s faces. I have seen dresses look a lot cleaner after a ‘drown the gown’ than when the reception finished. A quick rinse in the bath tub and it was ready to be dry cleaned without any damage.

When you book your shoot we plan one of the many idyllic location options. I offer a discount to all brides who have booked me for their wedding but these shoots are open to anyone who would like to give it a go.

Book a Bridal shoot session

These sessions are great if you have less than perfect weather or some other misadventure on your wedding day, they can also be used as a Drown the Gown shoot or to visit some locations you didn't have time to get to on the day. The session fee is $400 including a full resolution disc of your images. 1.5 hour shoot in up to two locations. Stop animation, slideshows (great to share with friends & family) and DVD's also available as well as prints, canvas and albums. This is not available for wedding day coverage and is generally not available on Saturdays.

Time for a couple of landscapes

2011-12-18T14:52:00.001-08:00

Boydtown, the beach in front of the Sea Horse Inn

Bermagui's Blue Pool

Road through Angeldale

Heartfelt

2011-11-26T17:30:00.000-08:00

http://vimeo.com/21748441

Heartfelt : giving the gift of photographic memories

Heartfelt is a volunteer organisation of professional photographers from all over Australia dedicated to giving the gift of photographic memories to families that have experienced stillbirths, premature and ill infants and children in the Neonatal Intensive.....

Spoiler Alert: Bella’s Wedding Gown in Breaking Dawn

2011-11-25T16:55:00.000-08:00

Spoiler Alert: Bella’s Wedding Gown in Breaking Dawn

On the beach

2011-11-22T23:43:00.001-08:00

Tina at Mogareeka, I have begun to do more simple, coulourful landscapes in my portraiture.

New code for mobile phones to direct people to my website

2011-06-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

Cool Technology!

Autumn in the Southern Highlands

2011-04-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

What a magical time of year in a scenic part of the world, unfortunately the weather meant some of the time the lighting was a bit flat but still I really enjoyed photography what I saw on my little trip away. It is such a romantic area, I can see why so many couples have weddings here.

I am not sure why this was ever built, it is located near the top of a hill with a lookout but is not really useful for that, there is nothing around it but this platform with stone seats set into it and covered with lichen set on the corner of two rural roads with nowhere to park nearby. Strange and kinda cool.

Fantastic Autumn leaves colour the landscape.

Great coloured ivy covers the Burrawang pub

The natural bushland is easily accessible and abundant with waterfalls, views and great examples of native plants.
Bonnie View in the Morton National Park (via Bundanoon)

To see more go to www.michellearmour.com.au/souhigh/index.html

Robert & Samantha Mallinson

2011-04-24T23:03:00.000-07:00

A Beautiful day for a beautiful wedding in Narooma

The headland at the Narooma Golf Club is one of the most scenic places to get married with views to Montague Island and Narooma beaches with their disctinctive rock formations. Destination weddings are getting more and more popular all the time and with the long weekend guests chose to make the most of a long weekend.

More images from this wedding at

www.michellearmour.com.au/samrob.html

Another fantastic local wedding, Tathra and no rain!

2011-03-29T04:24:00.000-07:00

Rachael and Marcus married at the Catholic Church in Tathra, with location images at the Memorial Park, Tathra Wharf and then back at Kianinny Resort before the reception at the resort. Such a romantic destination wedding especially as Rachael and Marcus met at Tathra and have spent holidays there ever since. Family and tradition were important on the day along with a healthy dose of fun. The bride wore an Armani dress with diamante detailing and the guys wore 3 piece suits.

Beautiful ceiling in the church with sky and clouds Views over Tathra Kianinny Resort offers a great location for photos you might not expect Cattle loading ramps at Tathra wharf offer a rustic option

Jacqui & Will

2011-03-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

Jacqui & Will's Wedding day on the beautiful South Coast, Narooma and Dalmeny

What a glorious day for a beautiful wedding on a headland overlooking the ocean. the Eurobodalla coast is stunning and what a great way to make the most the most of it. I have always loved the area around Narooma, the views over to Montague Island, the colour of the water and amazing relaxed atmosphere all add up to a beautiful destination for a wedding. The bride and groom are locals who got to know each other at the Olympic Swimming Pool in Narooma. A few images to share.

I really love it when bride's do it their way. The bride chose a knee length dress to compliment the relaxed beach theme and the guys opted for no jackets. The whole day was such a lot of fun and the reception at the Narooma Surf Club had amazing views.

Drown the Gown session in Tathra

2011-03-11T23:28:00.001-08:00

Sandra didn't have the smoothest running wedding day so it was great to get some more shots and then some fun on the beach as well!

Kanoona Court in the Spring Open Garden Day Nov 2010

2010-11-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

While there was a little cloud in the sky the rain held off. I had a wedding on Saturday but managed to get down to Kanoon Court Bed and Breakfast briefly on Sunday and also had the priviledge of returning on Monday to take some more promotional shots for Jenny and Phil the owners of this beautiful property. The Open Garden was enhanced with lots of local artists working in the garden and Jenny Collins playing Violin to provide an amazing atmosphere for visitors to relax and enjoy!

My Jazzy (Aka Hooch)

2010-10-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

Yep, she dribbles A LOT!

Such a cute smile, that comes so easily, when she was first born she was so cranky, cried for the first couple of hours and just had the grumpiest look on her face, now she is crawling, sitting up and just loves smiling. Now she is ultra cute!

I love bumps!

2010-10-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

Baby bumps and toddlers! Thanks Nat for allowing me to share such a precious time. Newborn baby pics soon.

Sunny, snowy, Thredbo

2010-10-11T03:44:00.000-07:00

What a great wedding in such a beautiful place. I really like quirky images that really show the personality of the couple.

Congratulations Rachel and Scott!

Bella and Nic just for FUN!

2010-09-28T03:47:00.000-07:00

Today I tried to go to Eden to get some images of big seas and cloudy sky, the seas were dead flat, it would have been quite good for water skiing! The Sea breeze website appears to be inaccurate. So we had a bit of fun with Bella and Nic, just for fun shoot! They are either running away from each other or he is carrying her.

2010-08-12T23:40:00.000-07:00

Exciting Projects underway.
Digital Wedding Fusion Albums
The first one is available on Youtube

My first go at embedding a video at Blogspot so if it doesn't work go to

Wei and Sanjay's Wedding

Relaxed winter wedding!

2010-08-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

I was able to share a lovely winter wedding in Canberra this weekend where the high priority was family with many visitors from overseas including China, Fiji, New York and around Australia. A pretty mild day for Canberra and a fantastic view at Regatta Point.

A sneak peek can be found at http://michellearmour.jalbum.net/Sanjay-and-Wei

Taking photos of a child's birthday

2010-07-07T21:19:00.000-07:00

This article was written for a blog all about Children's parties done ecologically!

Before the party, make sure the rechargeable batteries are ready, the cameras cards are empty and assign an additional one or two people to take lots of photos in case you get too busy.

What shots to take
The kinds of shots to get are guests arriving, group shots, cake shots, party games, kids just being kids, any and all human interactions, present opening, blowing out candles and don’t forget the small details of the day. Also watch the adults for their reactions. Kids love to see the images on the LCD, some will pull faces which can be fun and if you are not really well known to the kids it can be a great ice breaker. They will often try to out do each other.

Take along some bubbles for some fun images, use more depth of field to show the bubbles well or focus on a bubble and have the kids blurred in the background for an arty effect. Many little kids around 3 months to less than a year old respond well to peek-a-boo from behind the camera. Little kids in prams are a captive audience and if you get in close you sometimes can’t even tell they are in a pram!

Point of view
Changing your angle of view can make images more interesting, try to get down on the kids eye level for lots of the shots you take. Lay on the ground and look around, this can be a great angle with kids running near you. Get up high if there is a balcony or something to climb on safely, do anything you can to mix up your point of view; even standing on a chair can be good.

Technical tips
When taking photographs of a cake with candles alight raise your ISO and turn off the flash to capture the ambient light. When taking candids watching for the critical moment can be more effective than sports burst mode. Set your focus to follow the action as kids can move fast, sports mode can work for this.

Basic photography tips that always help
All the basics that can improve your photography still hold true. The best tips are to simplify your background. Get in close and fill the frame. For almost every portrait focus the camera on the eyes. Get to know the settings on your camera to get the most out of it and let the photojournalist in you come out to tell a story of the day with all the emotion and interaction you can get.

Most importantly remember to have fun and smile a lot!

I have been doing lots of shoots and have been too busy to blog, so more coming soon including couples shoots, surfers and babies.

A cut down version of my website

2010-06-26T01:37:00.001-07:00

is available for people who have trouble viewing my main site. This might be due to slow internet or the use of java in the website. Let me know if this one is difficult to load and I will attempt to fix it.

http://www.maphoto.110mb.com/

Yay! Photoshop CS5

2010-06-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

My CS5 finally arrived, all installed and it works so seemlessly with my PS Lightroom 2, I will save heaps of time processing now. It makes me want to go back and reprocess some of my past shoots! I have recently created a bunch of presets and I am loving the effects but I always seem to want to adjust them a little.
If you haven't had a look at what presets can do have a look at the tutorials on Marcus Bell's website.
href="http://au.photographersresources.com/tutorials">

A few of my favourite photos that don't have people in them!

2010-06-24T02:36:00.000-07:00

A Morton Bay Fig Tree at Iandra Castle

Mumbulla Falls

We have some great models in our local area

2010-06-07T00:49:00.000-07:00

Test shoots are a way for people who want some great images to see if they can find work as models by developing a portfolio. I thought I would share with you some images from a recent test shoot. We have lots of young women in the area that are able to model. We probably need some more guys!

Pelicans and Mogareeka

2010-06-04T18:08:00.000-07:00

I have always been fascinated by Pelicans, such big clumsy birds that can be so very graceful gliding on water or flying through the air. It didn't hurt that one of my Pelican images won me a nice prize in a photographic competition about 12 years ago. That was back in the film days and I used a star filter to make the water really sparkle, must try that again soon!

Fun at the beach!

2010-06-02T23:53:00.000-07:00

It was great to catch up with a young family at Pambula River Mouth this morning, it was a bit chilly and overcast but that didn't stop us chasing seagulls and playing on the slide. It was a very relaxed shoot with plenty of time for some fun!

Angel Themed Shoot

2010-05-31T03:55:00.000-07:00

After the wild weather eased we headed out for an on location Angel shoot.

Some of my initial favourites (I tend to change my favs) More on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=368396963676#!/pages/Bega-Australia/Michelle-Armour-Photographer/368396963676

Ink This Body Art Studio

2010-05-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

I spent some time at Ink This Body Art Studio today and got to learn a lot about tattoo's and the artists who create them. To see a small business in Pambula with three people working on Body Art is fantastic to see. It was such a great opportunity! My Thanks to Mo and Adam.

Some new images from my recent trip to Sydney

2010-05-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

This is a link to my fb page which has lots of images from my recent trip to Sydney. My thanks to all my brides, hope you like the images!

My very first entry into my new blog.

2010-05-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

I thought for the very first post I would share with you my current two favourite images. These change all the time and they appeal for different reasons. The first is taken under a wharf and it appeals because of the colour of the water, the expression and pose as well as the soft light.

The second one is a romantic image from a wedding on Aspen Island.