The Batblog by Photobat | Portrait and Wedding

Hmm, Holga…. real film, real processing cost and real scanning costs, ans then I still spend time working on them after that. It’s good to take a shot and not know what it is going to be like untill you get it back from the lab.These are some shots from a walk last Sunday, using V’s Holga, i bought her one at the same time I bought mine. Hers is better, so she will have to keep a close grip on it or it may get alot of use.

Last Saturday, Myer in Hobart bunt down. It’s still unknown what caused the fire, but it completely destroyed the historic building right in the center on the city. I’m amazed that it didn’t spread to more of the surrounding buildings, if anyone knows central Hobart, you would be amazed too.

Since the fire i’ve heard stories about people who had their bags left in the building and lost all their cards, phones and other personal things. I’ve even heard a story that a person lost her keys in the fire and the person with the spare key happened to be overseas, so the car is till in a parking lot unable to be moved.

So the building is coming down, this was on Tuesday at about 4pm, a heap of spectators at the bottom of Criterion Street, where I just stopped by to have a look myself and took all these shots. The fire brigade there hosing down the wreckage incase it sparked up again.

 I’m sure something will rise from the ashes soon, Myer will live on in Hobart. And it’s fantastic that only the store was lost and that no one was hurt.

I’ve bought a coupleof suits from Kent, infact i’ve bought all my suits from Kent! (so if you have seen me at a wedding, this man is resposible for my clothes)  He’s one of the men who work out of Neil Pitts in central Launceston and is probably one of the best customer service people i’ve met. Always cheerful, interested and just great to have a chat to. I draged him out for lunch the other day with the plan of shooting him for my portrait of the week. But we sat and ate our sandwiches together first and discussed a great deal of things and I learnt some things that I would probably have never known if we hadn’t had lunch. Kent is into his motorbikes and is working on a sidecar so him and his other half can ride from Tasmania up to Darwin next year, he;s sold bikes and as part of that actully handed Michael Doohan a trophy early on in his career. Plus has a grat story about when Bob Dylan and his minders dropped by the store he was working in to buy some jeans.

I guess Neil Pitts is really one of those old fahioned stores, and along with it comes fantastic people like Kent who have spent a life in retail, but unlike a kid who does it on the weekend for pocket money, they have lived and breathed it their whole lives and really knkow how to make you feal great even when you have left the shop.

If you are in Launceston, go to Niel Pitts and buy a tie or shirt from Kent, i’m sure he’s love to meet you!

Christine is the voice at the end of the phone who i’ve been talking to about her wedding to Michael. we had never met due to Michael and her being based in Melbourne but are coming to Launceston to get married because its Christine’s home town. They were down a couple of weeks ago to meet up, talk about the wedding and take some shots. All the shots were taken while wandereing around the block looking for great backgrounds. we were all on the same wavelength which is going to make the wedding day alot of fun.

So more shots of this great couple in a couple of months after the big day.

Holyman House, Launceston, Circa 2007
Holga

There are heaps of great last minute Christmas presents, but unfortunately great portrait photography isn’t one of them! If you are thinking about giving a Photobat portrait or wedding reprint as a present this Christmas please take note of the dates below. These are in place so you can be guaranteed to get your photos to give on Christmas day!

I’ll still be shooting after this time but will not be able to guarantee that you will have delivery for the big day, but I will try my hardest to get it to you.

High school comming to a close and the leavers dinners are the next big thing. Girls in dresses, guys in suits and all that fun stuff!

Everyone goes to so much effort, and it seems a waste that you get lined up like cattle for a quick photo in front of a boring background for a photo that shows little personality.

So I’m on the look out for school leavers and their families who actually want natural, relaxed and fun shots of their leaver all dressed up. The shots will be taken on the night of the ball at a location that has some meaning, adding another level to the photo. (Think outside the square, Parks, Inveresk, The Gorge, there are so many places!)

In addition to the leavers dinner shoot, I’m also throwing in a family portrait session. This session will happen on another day* and will be very causal and natural.

Normally 2 sessions including pre consultation, information pack on how to get the most out of your session, the shoot itself and a viewing session are $195 each, but with this offer you get both for $66.

I’m also putting together a package to go along with the leavers dinner part which will offer terrific value for money and also provide some great Christmas presents.

Be quick, there are only limited times available. Fill in the Enquiry form and I’ll get in touch with you really soon!

Please get in touch with me and let me know if you are interested, or pass it onto someone who may be. Only available in the Launceston Area (sorry)

*If the photos are taken on the same day it will look a bit odd with only one person dressed up and everyone else in regular clothing.

I took these shots of Girl Friday last year for the promotion of the show. No idea who Girl Friday is? Go over to www.girlfriday.tv to check out what it’s all about.

It’s a great concept and is getting some great support with Bigpond jumping on as a supporter. This shoot came about because one of the creators, Kyle Robertson happened to do the same degree as me and was bought in to do a presentation. After the presentation we met up again in Hobart where we were both presenting at a conference where I managed to convince her to be my portrait of the week. So a couple of years later I recieved an email from Kylie again filling me in on what’s happening with her and she got me over to do some promo shots for Girl Friday. Check out here to see an spot with Kylie and co creator Kala on A Current Affair

I’ve just confrimed my order for some really cool Photobat bags, so in a month (or 2) i’ll have some bags for people to take away their prints and albums in. I’m very excited!

I overheard Georgie talking about baby names in the York Town French Bakery and decided to ask if she was up for having some photos taken, and as you can she she was.

We did the shoot at Georgie’s place where her and her dad were in the middle of repainint her room, and of course it happened to be the best spot to do the shots. We were helped along by Cosmo the dog who insisted in getting in some shots.

And how can I not take a shot of Miska the cat, who appeared as I was walking out the door. Stay tuned because in the next 6 weeks i’ll be off to do another shoot with Georgie’s little baby girl.