new little product

These are too cute not to share.

Little zig zag brag books, with a clear slipcover and a magnetic closure.

when will the studio reopen?

 

Skye Rocket Studio will officially reopen on the sixth of March 2014.

And that will also be the ten year anniversary of when the business started. Ten years. Wow.

The studio will operate on a part time basis with appointments available on a Thursday and Friday.

I'll start taking bookings in March, once I have all those on my waiting list booked in. If you are on my waiting list you have probably been there for quite a while and you should receive an email in the next couple of weeks to get bookings started.

Please keep in mind when you go to book that i often book out three months in advance so if you have a particular date you need let me know as soon as you can. Email is the best way to contact me  :  skye(at)skyerocketstudio.com.au

But first I need to get the studio floor painted, the price lists finalised, new packaging and samples ordered etc etc etc. After having a year off its almost like starting all over again.

almost done

One more week of work to go... if i make it that far. Lets be honest. The past week has been tough, and I just imagine it getting tougher. I am at 29 weeks along now, so its way too early for these bubs to make their entrance into the world, and if i dont take it easy i think they might try to make an early appearance. Its so hard to wind the studio down, but i have to put these babies first. My clients are all mums, they understand. Mums are amazing. It surprises me the strength they can have sometimes. When I ask " how do you cope?" they all say " you just do". We dont know the strength we have until we need it most. And of course chocolate always helps.

At this stage I havent put a return date on going back to work, I might have six months or two years off. I already know I will miss it like crazy, but im pretty sure that when these twins are born, and with jade being her usual hurricane self, I dont think there will be much time for anything else.

Of course I will be posting photos of the babies once I can.

A great big thank you to all the amazing clients I have had over the years, it breaks my heart that so many of you are having babies next year and i wont be able to photograph them. One of my clients is up to her fifth baby and I have photographed the other four... ahhh! But i need to be a mum for a while. I seem to get the most amazing clients and I will miss the stories about your kids, the advice and the ideas on the best places to shop for cute dresses for Jade.

Love to you all.

hugs
skye
photographer and mum.

melbourne trip { a studio update }

Mostly I try to keep my blog about the photography, but me and my photography are so intertwined that sometimes the two become one. So this post is an explanation of sorts.... I am thinking of flying the coop to Melbourne this weekend. This trip has been planned three times. The first it was cancelled when Craigs grandfather passed away, and he had to go out of town for a couple of days. The second time was when my Uncle passed away. He was in hospital for a couple of days in Albury and I made a few trips down to see him, and as with him when he passed away one morning as the sun came up. With the funeral to organise I seem to have lost an entire week somewhere along the way.

I have also had preschool photos to do, plus all the work I am trying to get done before I go on maternity leave. And i have a 16 month old to look after as well. And im 24 weeks pregnant with twins.

So the question i keep asking myelf today is should i go to Melbourne for two days or not? I could stay here, maybe try and look at some new cars, cots and prams, try desperately to catch up on the laundry, the gardening and the editing, maybe try and have a nap? Or do i start packing now because it will take me all afternoon to pack for two days in Melbourne with me and Jade?

I think i really need the Melbourne trip. Get a dose of creative engergy, maybe see if i have enough creative zing to take some random photos of Melbournes amazing laneways, spend time with my baby girl and my fiancee. Just be.

So... lets just say I am a bit behind in editing, and I do apoligise, I am hoping to use this weekend to refocus, recharge and come back on Monday ready to rock n roll. At the moment with my huge tummy there is more waddling than rocking, but thats OK, I can work with that!

Craig snapped the photo of me at Jade's latest photo session, which I havent had time to edit yet.

studio update

So next Wednesday I will be twenty weeks along in this pregnancy, which would be half way if the twins were to go to full term, which I dont think will happen. On Monday I have an ultrasound where I can find out the sex of the babies but I am having trouble deciding if i will or not.

Speaking of confusing, what about twin prams, two cots, two carseats and what new car to buy???

I have already blogged this previously but for those new to the blog, please note that I am now totally booked until i go on maternity leave and at this stage havent set a return date for next year yet. I am planning on working till the start of November but at this stage i am taking each day as it comes and trying to find that balance between taking it easy and getting a lot of work done. If my plan all goes well I will get everything done for clients and give birth to two wonderful happy healthy babies, which will give me three happy gorgeous children.

And because a post on here isnt a post without a picture here are some random shots of Jade when she was about ten months old that I dont think i have blogged before.

Much Love
Skye

road trip { closed for a week }

Im not sure whose idea a road trip with a one year old while pregnant with twins was. Im going to blame Craig. Im sure i said i wanted to fly. I'll be out of the office for one whole week, back on Tuesday the 31st of July. The last day of July, not quite sure what happened to July. Blink and its gone.

Im hoping for a lovley warm spring so i can get out of the studio and get some gorgeous location sessions done before I go on maternity leave. I have a creative session or two planned, but two model shoots on the books too so I have some great blog posts coming up, if i can just find the time to blog.

Hope you all have a lovely week!

latest news at the rocket ranch

Its the middle of the year and i am already booked out for the rest of the year. I normally book out a couple of months in advance, but this is a new record for me. I am not taking on a huge amount of work though, I have jade in daycare two days a week and then i try to do bits and pieces around her on the other days, but as anyone who has kids knows, that doesnt always work. She is also starting to refuse her afternoon naps, so that makes it even harder to find a couple of hours a day to get any work done.

In other news, I am pregnant and due to have twins in December. See how it just got even more complicated? So at the moment I am not taking any new bookings, jade was six weeks early and I had to cancel sessions when she was born, and I am really hoping to not have to do that again. I am also not doing a waiting list for next year, as I am not sure when i am going to be able to go back to work. I will try to make an exception for those who have gift vouchers, but I will just have to wait and see how life with a one and half year old and two newborn twins babies turns out. I imagine its going to be pretty crazy.

bookings for the rest of the year

I know, its crazy, but I am pretty close to being totally booked up for the rest of the year. I have some space available in October and November but thats it. At the moment I cant take any bookings for next year as I need to wait till i get Jades daycare dates confirmed. I am normally closed for the first three weeks of January to rest and recharge after the Christmas rush. Its way too early to be thinking that far ahead, its only May, but I need to be organised!

On a totally different note I think Jade looks cute as a button in her newspaper hat, these were taken ages ago but i only found them recently. Next time i make a newspaper hat I really need to look at the text that is on the edge. In the black and white one it says "$65m boos" on her head!

my email is down... again.

If i dont reply to your email i swear i am not ignoring you!

There are technical problems. being looked at and hopefully fixed as i type!

bookings

I have had a few clients ring me in a panic, as there seems to be a rumour going around that I am totally booked up for the rest of the year. So not true! I am usually booked up about three months ahead, more at Christmas, so at the moment I am booking June. Sessions are done on Mondays and Tuesdays with the odd Saturday sometimes available.

Any queries please contact the studio, the web site is here and has all the contact details on it.

And because a post isnt really a good post without a picture, here are some more of Jade, at eight and a half months old.

Also proof that you dont have to spend a lot on clothes for a photo session, the little suit was $10 from Target and the headband was $1 from Cotton On. I think the apples cost more!

out for a while

Im heading off to Sydney for a portrait seminar so will be back in the office bright and somewhat early on Monday.

Did i tell you i bought two vintage prams over the weekend? Im going to need a bigger studio, and more room to hang all these photos i keep taking of Jade. I have at least two photo sessions planned but am struggling to find the time to do them. Maybe this weekend? Fingers crossed.

mini sessions

In an attempt to get everyone booked in who wants to get booked in, I am going to try a set of mini sessions. What is a mini session I hear you ask? Well its really just a smaller shoot. Normal sessions go for an hour, but a mini session is only twenty minutes.

I am thinking of scheduling the first one in on the 18th of February, and it will be a themed styled shoot on location. For the theme i am loving the idea of "Black and White Circus". Interested? Email for more info!

skye (at ) skyerocketstudio.com.au

Sessions need to be booked by Monday the 30th of January.

Seeing as the mini sessions are only twenty minutes long, they are only really suitable for kids aged from about three and up, and only up to three kids together. Possibly babies who are sitting up really well by themselves too. Not suitable for newborns or a family session. Great for clients who just want a quick session to update their photos.

Mini sessions will be only offered on set days, at set locations, so places are limited.

Although I will have all the props set up, you could decide how much "theme" you want to go, if that makes sense. You could just dress the kids in black and white and meet the criteria. Or you could get all funky and do black and white stripey leggings with a black pettiskirt for girls, and black jeans with a white shirt and black polka dot braces for boys. Add a funky cap and some pretty white flowers and we are set and it will look gorgeous!! Wearing white shirts with black pants is not really the look we are aiming for here. You dont need to go the whole way and dress up the kids as clowns ( although you could, and it would be super cute! ) but a happy fun carnival style is what will work.

Of course I had to blog a picture, but dont exactly have one that i thought matched, so i am posting these black and white mood boards. Yes, its a wedding mood board but its black and white so i worked with what i could find.

Mood Boards from Snippet and Ink.

Top row from left: Donna Karan, silhouette from Karen’s Whimsy, Notte by Marchesa via Something Old Something New, cake from The Knot, Cabernet-Shiraz from Le Grand Noir
Row 2: Cartier Tank watch, blackboard, bouquet from MS, Oreos
Row 3: invitation by Ceci NY, black and white lily, cameo by Tarina Tarantino, Chanel Nail Colour in Black Satin
Row 4: Chuck Taylor sneakers, photo via The Sartorialist, MS button seating cards

 Top row from left: Tim Walker polka dot room via Oh Joy!, silver jack-o-lanterns by Carolyne Roehm, black swiss dot veil via Perfect Bound
Row 2: Elie Saab dress with butterfly sleeves from Brides, mercury glass candlesticks via Paris Parfait
Row 3: black and white cupcake photo by Victoria Pearson, silver glass glitter table number, anemone centerpieces from The Knot, silver leaf staircase via Willow Decor
Row 4: mercury glass pots via Lobster & Swan, commedia letterpress via Moontree, black and white groom suiting photo by Millie Holloman



Also came across this video of a circus inspired fashion shoot on youtube. Just pretend everything they are wearing is black and white.

merry christmas

Jade in her christmas dress that her Nana got for her. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas.

time for a holiday

Thats all folks! I have one ordering session and a pick up this afternoon and I am done. Stick a fork in me.

The Rocket Ranch is now closed till the 23rd of January 2012.

( Except for all the work that i have to do to finish off the new price lists, update the website, paint the studio floor, tidy all the props, paint a couple of chairs, get some new sessions organised and edit two weddings and half a dozen portrait sessions, i should be able to find a bit of spare time to take some photos of Jade! )

( And note to self : the gumball machine looks much better when filled with gumballs, and you really need to return it to its rightful owner one day. )

need a portrait session?

If you are on my waiting list you should have received an email with some detail in it about booking a session for 2012. If you havent received one, and you think you should have, then please email me  ( skye (at ) skyerocketstudio.com.au. You need to put the @ symbol in there but my tech guy says not to type it properly in the blog cause i will get spammed. So take that spammers! )

Sooo.. next year. Wow. Seemed so far away and now its just around the corner. I am still ironing the wrinkly bits out of the new price list and making it pretty. New things are in store! More details to come soon.

next years waiting list

I am pretty close to booking you all in for next year! It looks like the shoot days will be mostly Mondays and Tuesdays in 2012. The emails should get sent out to you all the week starting the 19th of December. I just have to get all these Christmas orders done first then put the finishing touches on the price lists for next year.

 Speaking of which, the cut off for ordering is next Thursday the 8th. I will be away the Friday the 9th and the ordes will get processed first thing Monday morning. This will be the final order for this year and all orders placed next year will be on the new price list.

cut off dates

Print orders must be received by Thursday the 8th of December to be back in time for Christmas.

Orders for blocks must be received by the first of December.

booked and bookings

Booked out for 2011 and a waiting list for 2012.

With only a few weeks left till my Christmas cut off dates, there are no bookings left for this year. I have a waiting list for next year, and as soon as I get daycare dates and such sorted I will start taking bookings for 2012. Keep in mind that i often book out months ahead, so if you have a special date you would like you need to get in early.

I will be working around Jade next year, so I am cutting back on work a bit. I'm not doing weddings anymore, the studio will just be all about the babies and kids.

all systems are offline!

So last week the other computer blew up. The one that runs my email and my slideshows. My email was back up and running, but the slideshows are still in limbo land. The tech guy is working on it!  I also lost about three months worth of my book keeping data. That will teach me to not back up while on maternity leave!

Then i decided that its about time my main computer went in for a service, its getting really slow and driving me CRAZY lately and Im not even at work at the moment! I need to get it all running happy before i go back to work and get hammered for the crazy christmas season. Can you believe Jade will be seven months old by Christmas?

With the main system offline everything goes offline. So no email, no slideshows... no editing ( not that i am doing much of that anyway right now! ) I will add some more info here when its all back up and running.

( As of Wednesday I have email back but the slideshows are still offline, at least until next week... Boo! )

my maternity session

I figured since Jade is ten weeks old today, it was way past time to blog my maternity session. The very talented Briony of Hardinge Photography took the images, and had to put up with me as a photo subject. I am VERY hard to photograph! She did an amazing job with what little i gave her to work with! The bottom one is my absolute favourite. When i look at these i now see why people kept looking at me funny when i was working - i was huge, but still had about six weeks till my due date. Ten days after this was taken Jade was born. No wonder i was tired!