8th April, 2025
Hi everyone,
I am so excited to share a selection of photographs I recently took for Nina. I had the greatest time shooting with Nina – the entire collaborative process was a delight, start to finish, and it really reminded me of all the reasons I love photography.
As a cute birthday present to herself, Nina reached out to me through a Neesh Photography Contact Form, inquiring about portrait photography. She sent me inspiration pictures right away, with a really clear vision of what she wanted. Her very first email told me exactly what she was looking for – a sweet, nostalgic style with a garden scene in mind. I was very excited upon receiving her inquiry and suggested the Wollongong Botanic Gardens as the perfect backdrop.
She had some dates in mind for our photos and shared that she hadn’t spent much time in front of the camera before. I was happy to reassure her, and knew right away that our aesthetic tastes were quite similar, which made it easy and fun to collaborate. She trusted my ideas and experience during our shoot, and I was eager to deliver her photos with our joined vision in mind. In the days leading up to our session, I suggested we put together a playlist. Music can help characterise a portrait session, and I thought it would take the edge off if she was nervous. She was way ahead of me, and had a nice, calm playlist ready to go on the day. Nina also brought some flowers and balloons to use as props, which were even more fun! Nina was a total natural in front of the camera. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have thought she’d been modelling for years. We had a wonderful afternoon, exploring the gardens, finding the light through the trees and experimenting with different poses and angles. I found myself laying flat on the ground at one point, determined to get that perfect shot.
I love shooting portraits, and I haven’t had the privilege of shooting many personal portraits over the last year or so. My photography has leaned further to the side of business-related shoots lately, which is always fun and interesting. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet people from different walks of life and continue to learn through photography. However, a business shoot rarely calls for the same creative, casual and personal atmosphere as a lifestyle session. This job was such a treat and I can’t thank Nina enough for her vision, communication, organisation, trust, time and glowing friendliness.
Nina kindly left a 5 star review on Neesh Photography’s Google Business profile. Feedback like this makes photography the rewarding and heartfelt profession that it is, and I encourage anyone who has hired a photographer to provide honest feedback to the person behind the camera. Reviews can make or break a photographer’s career, and on a personal level, they warm your photographer’s heart, build their confidence and help them keep on keeping on!
I love how the photos turned out, and it’s a blessing to know that Nina loves them too. Happy Birthday to Nina!
