Wow, what a turnout at the first Help-Portrait in Port Stephens on the 11th of December. You might be wondering what help-portrait is all about, it’s basically our way of giving back to those in need in the community, by photographing those in need and then giving them a print. We made a short video of the day, have a look to see what some of the participants have to say…

Think of it as giving a picture, not just taking a picture. We are very proud to have contributed to the following statistics for help-portrait worldwide 2011.

• 56 countries
• 67,927 portraits given
• 4,984 photographers
• 8,793 volunteers

Thanks to all those volunteers who helped to make this day such a success:

Rotary Club of Salamander Bay played a huge roll in organising and running this even. Thanks to all of you that volunteered your day and your expertise to give back to those needy people in our community.

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The studio has been a buzz with lovely models having their portfolios updated. With the temperatures getting warmer out there going into summer we have quite a few models come into our studio to have their hair and make-up done and experience what it’s like to be a super-model for the day at capture imaging  photography.

Milly Harrison (16 years old, from Corlette) won our Facebook beauty search competition with the most votes and we had so much fun shooting her model portfolio. Here is a short video interview we made on the day of the shoot.

Here are a few more images from Milly’s model portfolio photo shoot. We started in the studio, and then outdoors in our studio court-yard, and finally we got some great images on the beach at sunset, not far from our studio.

If you think that maybe you would like to give modelling a go, call Karen or Liz on 4981 9659, it’s so much fun! Keep an eye out for our next competition, in the new year.

What is help-portrait?

Help-Portrait is a world-wide collection of photographers & volunteers using their time, equipment, and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate. What does that look like? It looks like photographers taking pictures, printing them, giving them, but more importantly, giving hope.

We need your help

Your partnership as a Help-Portrait photographer or volunteer will find you connected with a special worldwide community who are passionate to see as many underprivileged individuals and families as possible receive a portrait this December that will change their worlds.

No photographers or volunteers involved are paid or are making any money off these photographs. In fact, none of the pictures taken will be used on personal websites or portfolios. That’s not what this is about. What this is about is simply to find people in need and take their pictures in order to give the pictures back. We want to show the beauty held in every person, in every life.

Giving back to those in need

Help-Portrait will be giving a 8×10 photograph to each person. We are hoping you will be able to donate your services and connect with resources in your community of influence in order to make a lasting difference in your community and together around the world.

Please feel free to explore the website help-portrait.com to find updates and see testimonials of how this project has already made a difference in the lives of many. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at brent@captureimaging.com.au

When and Where?

On Sunday, the 11th December from 10am till 2pm we will be photographing those in need at Fly Point, Nelson Bay.

How can I help?

Call me on 0434-140207 or email me at brent@captureimaging.com.au

Brent Mail

More information about showcasing the photos here

I am very proud to introduce my Port Stephens 2012 landscape photography calendar. We have chosen the images that best describe this beautiful area we call home, from the arty image of Zenith beach on the front cover to some of the most spectacular beaches in this area, as well as a sunset over the ocean at Birubi beach, and an aerial view of Port Stephens.

We have delivered to most of the news agents in the area, so go grab one before they are all sold out.

Call us if you would like to stock this calendar 02 4981 9659

This is the first landscape photography calendar that we have produced, and it really is a great present for christmas as well as to send to all your friends around the world.

New Landscape Photography Website:

With the launch of this calendar, we have also upgraded the moodsofportstephens.com website, to reflect the new images I have photographed over the last 12 months. You are going to love it.

 Make sure you check out my landscape photography of port stephens website for photography tutorials and tips.

How would you like to send out your very own custom Chistmas cards this holiday season?

We have come up with a wonderful special for our clients. We will put your hero shots onto these beautifully designed Christmas Cards and get them custom printed in time for you to send to all your friends.

All you need to do is call us on 02 4981 9659 before it’s too late.

Maybe you have not had your photo shoot yet? No problem, we have a special deal for you too.

Give us a call on 02 4981 9659 and book you photo shoot and viewing presentation before the 25th November and we will offer you this deal: Mini Photo Shoot in our studio (15-30 minutes) and a pack of 24 custom designed folded Christmas cards (incl. envelopes) for only $245, with up to 5 hero shots from your photo shoot, and you will also qualify for our shoots and giggles photo packages.

You must call and book the shoot and viewing presentation to take place before the 25 November, so call now.

If you have had a shoot, and want to order Christmas cards, call us on 02 4981 9659

Princing: Pack of 24 custom designed folded Christmas cards (incl. envelopes) for only $185 with up to 5 hero shots from your photo shoot.
Additional packs of 24 cards will only cost $75 ($3.12 each, thats better than the newsagent)

This is a great deal.

Call Karen or Liz on 49819659

Learn the essential photography skills in this fun 1 day workshop. Master your camera & understand the basics of digital SLR photography.

Are you frustrated with the average shots you’re getting with your DIGITAL SLR camera ? Are you stuck in automatic mode? Do the words “aperture”, “shutter speed”, “ISO” and “exposure” sound like a foreign language, but one you would like to speak?

…then this workshop is just right for you!

“Brent’s photography workshop was a perfect introduction to using my digital SLR out of automatic mode.  He covered the basics of photography in a logical and easy to follow manner.  The workshop was fun & hands on, with plenty of opportunity to try out what we were learning.  It was a privilege to learn from such a great photographer.”  Rosie Marley

When: Sunday 18th September

Location: Capture Imaging Photography Studio, 18 Robinson Street, Anna Bay NSW 2316 Tel: 02 4981 9659

What is it? Beginner/Novice level photography course

Price: $150

No of trainee’s: 8

Tutor: Brent Mail

	Essential Skills Digital SLR Workshop 18 September: $150.00 Click “Add to Cart” above and then checkout Once your order has been processed you will have secured your place in this workshop.

What is Essential Skills workshop all about?

This is a hands-on photography workshop. The best way to learn something is to do it! Brent will use his expert knowledge to explain and demonstrate the basic essential photography skills in an easy to understand and fun to learn way. There will be plenty of opportunity to photograph people, animals and other things, indoors and outdoors, as well as some of the local landscapes.

Brent is an easy going professional photographer, who holds nothing back, and is more than willing to divulge his photography secrets. There is no question that will not be answered.

No Prior knowledge is needed for this back to basics photography workshop, just a willingness to learn…so get some sleep the night before.

The essential skills workshop will start from scratch and build your photography knowledge & skills so that you will have the confidence to go out there and shoot like a pro.

What will I learn?

1. You will learn how to be creative with your digital SLR.  You will learn all about depth of field, lenses, aperture, exposure and all that stuff you need to know to get the most out of your camera. File formats (RAW vs JPEG), ISO, white balance and much more will be explained and you will have a chance to test and practice these skills with your own camera.
2. Brent will be covering the essential principles of how to capture great images, that are common to all digital SLRs. Please bring along your camera manual too.

Who should come?

Do you own a digital SLR camera, and hardly ever shoot out of Auto/Program mode?
Maybe it’s been a while, and you would like to brush up on your photography skills. Maybe there are a few areas that are still not clear?
There is no age limit to becoming a great photographer.

What do I get to take home?

1. You get to keep all your beautiful images that you shot, plus the knowledge of how to recreate these images.
2.  Essential Skills workbook, with cheat sheet.
3. You get a free copy of Brent “Essentail Skills Digital SLR” video training series valued at $50 once it’s ready for release.

“I for one, having been interested and involved in photography for over 50 years as a ‘happy snapper’, sometimes serious participant and in my working environment, found something ‘new’ to play with in my DSLR. Your tips and tricks certainly helped me to get out of ‘Auto Mode’ with my camera.”  Peter Drummond

Lunch will be provided too. Numbers are limited, and this is a very popular workshop, so get your booking in quickly!
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	Essential Skills Digital SLR Workshop 18 September: $150.00 Click “Add to Cart” above and then checkout Once your order has been processed you will have secured your place in this workshop.

Cancellation Policy: Just like any pre-booked tickets for flights, concerts etc, we are unable to give any refund in the event of non-attendance, regardless of the circumstances. The exception to this is if we have prior notice and are able to put a cancellation place back online AND your place is resold. In this event we will of course make a full refund or credit to you. We also reserve the right to cancel any workshop if there is insufficient demand, especially if it means that our costs would be higher than our income. Please do not leave it until the last few days if you are interested in a particular date, as you may find that it has been removed!

After we ran our Beauty search competition on facebook, and I entered the image (above) of Macca in his shed (he got about 157 votes by the way, beat most of the contestants), I have had many people ask me about this man.

So, today I went over to visit Macca… with the usual Anna Bay Thai meal (with extra chillies of course) and I asked him a few questions.

Here is his story, but before I start, I’ll include another image from the same shoot…

Macca was born in Garvah – Ireland, and is 59 years old. He is 6″2′ and weighs in at just under 100kg, but he tells me he used to be 113kg in his prime when he was working out with weights.

He lives in Anna Bay with his little dog “Casper”, and loves to build things out of wood and wrought iron in his workshop at he rear of his property. He is a super good craftsman, and I have had many things built by Macca over the past few years, including all sorts of furniture for our home and bit and pieces for my photo studio.

These images I photographed were designed to show Macca as I see him… a great craftsman who loves to work in his shed, and also loves his dog, and does his best to get things done with his disability. I shot them all in his shed, using off camera strobes to focus the light on macca and to give the images a rough, dirty, real feeling. Hope I got that across to you guys? Should I enter one into the next AIPP awards?

Macca loves his mac computer too, he spends hours working in photoshop, taking images of his friends and then super-imposing different “mainly compromising” scenes into the images, and then emailing them back to his mates. He is a bit of a prankster, and loves a good joke. Warning: Don’t get onto his spam list!!!

He also loves a good scotch whisky. I found this out the hard way, when I tried to pay him for a carpentry job with a less than superior bottle of whisky!

Here is a little about Macca’s past:

His family moved to Australia from Ireland when he was a baby and eventually settled in Tasmania. This is where Macca grew up. He joined the Air Force when he was 17 and stayed with them until ’89 when he worked for hunter aviation as an aircraft structural fitter.

Macca tells me he loved the travel and adventure he has when he was deployed overseas. I can only imagine all of the mischief he got up to….well, he has told me about some of it, but I can’t repeat it in public:)

Macca was injured a few times while playing rugby in his youth, and then finally while working on an aircraft. His back has never been the same and he has had many operations and gone through some major pain. He is now in a wheel chair to get around, but can still prop himself up on his legs (he kind of locks his knees in) while leaning against something when he works in his workshop.

I asked Macca how he wants to be remembered one day, and he answered “Getting on with things”. You see, he is a fighter, and no matter what difficulties have been thrown at him in the past, he always manages to recover and get on with life.

Any regrets? He tells me that not having kids is his biggest regret, and maybe his marriage breakup.

Maccas goals are to get his medical problems sorted out, and get some kind of normality back into his life. He is also waiting to win the Lotto, where he will then buy an ergonomically designed house in the country, maybe near montville on the sunshine coast of QLD.

Macca loves to catch up with his mates! Especially over a beer and some pokies.

So, if you spot Macca at the Anna Bay Tavern, buy him a beer (coopers) or a really good scotch, or just say g’day mate.

Here’s to you Macca, (someone I call my friend). Cheers, Brent

Are you beautiful? Do you know of anyone who is really beautiful?

What is beauty? According to wikipedia “…based on some combination of Inner Beauty …such as personality,intelligence, grace, … and elegance, and Outer Beauty (i.e. physical attractiveness) which includes physical attributes which are valued on a subjective basis.”

Capture Imaging Photography is searching for a unique and fresh beauty in the “Capture Imaging Beauty Search“. Anyone can enter between the ages of 12-65! Men and women who live life to the fullest and are comfortable in their own skin. Lets celebrate the beauty that surrounds us.

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
After 1 week, and more than 170 contestants, the winner is Milly Harrison with 825 votes. Well done Milly!!!

PRIZES:
First Place wins a Beauty / Fashion / Glamour Photo Shoot valued at $1520 including hair and makeup, a magnificent leather portfolio and a Moving Portrait CD!!!! Runners up will receive a $450.00 model photography voucher.

The winner will also be featured on our website and in our Gallery on Facebook for all to see.

Call us on 02 4981 9659 with any questions.

Please read the Terms and Conditions before entering.

Check out our facebook page to see who has entered.

Are you serious about finding the best photographer?

Sign-up on the right, and download our FREE report.

Are you looking for a photographer, well sometimes its hard to know who you can trust and who is going to deliver a great result every time. What does it take to identify a good photographer? Is it their equipment, experience, service or are there more important questions to ask?

We have created a FREE REPORT that covers the most important questions you should ask the next photographer you are thinking of working with.

What we cover in this free report – 7 CRITICAL QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK BEFORE BOOKING A PHOTOGRAPHER

1. Do you offer a tailored photography service?
2. Do you have a professionally equipped studio?
3. What is your level of expertise and experience?
4. What is your motivation & passion? Do you love what you do?
5. Do you have testimonials from previous clients?
6. What about a guarantee?
7. What about prices?

We go in depth into all of these questions plus more.

So… if you are interested in having your pictures taken in the future, you should download this report to help you make an informed decision.

The Capture Imaging Photography Team.

Renee is back and seven months pregnant with a little girl, and has come to us for a ‘full bloom pregnancy shoot’.

Renee Warrington has returned to Capture Imaging Photography after she had her fashion shoot with us not that long ago.

Our maternity photography is so special as this is the first chapter in a babies book of life and a very joyous and precious time for every parent. This time goes so quickly and we strive to capture this stage in all its beauty. We take our time to make sure that you are totally comfortable in our cosy studio….and then let the magic begin.

We are so excited for Renee, not only for the prospect of a new baby but she is also registered with Bump Modeling Agency and I am sure she will have lots of beautiful shots coming up!

Renee also brought her own stylists, Dianne Grover from Empire Artistries. Dianne is an amazing artist having worked with Harpers Bazaar and extensively in Dubai.

We wish the best of luck to Renee and her family with the arrival of a beautiful baby girl! We loved working with you again, especially on your pregnancy photography shoot here in our studio in Anna Bay, Port Stephens.

Mattara Festival in Newcastle is hosting 50th Golden Anniversary Charity Princess Ball.

The Ball is a proud supporter of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, for premature and sick babies.

As a Princess contender you will need to raise funds for this great cause, and naturally us here at Capture Imaging are always ready, willing and able to help with fundraising!
To help with the fundraising, Capture Imaging is providing the ball with special vouchers (glamour photography) offering our services.

So beautiful girls, if you think you have what is takes to be a Princess, you love a challenge and a little fun along the way, with the support of Capture Imaging (with our Newcastle Photography service) give me a call and I can email you the information and application form.

Applicants need to be between 17 & 30 yrs old.

Give Karen a call on 02 4981 9659 and check out our blog for images of our beautiful princesses!

You can drop off any undies and new or pre loved clothing at Capture Imaging. Your support would be greatly appreciated for these beautiful kids in Bali !

We are still doing our ever beautiful Lifestyle photography sessions at many of the protected beaches around Port Stephens. We know some secret spots that are quiet and sheltered from the cool breezes and it can be warm enough to run around in the sun with short sleeves on.

We also have a great studio here at Anna Bay and it is great fun to design your own indoor photo shoot. Bring in anything you like toys games and if you are musicians then bring in the whole band !

We have loads of fun props for the photo shoot too, boxing gloves a swing that hangs from the ceiling and a be

d to have a pillow fight on, loads of loud music and yes we will even prewarm the studio for you.

You are more than welcome to bring in the pets too – dogs, cats even your pet blue tongue lizard.

We can still capture the sweet interactions and have some serious laughs with families in the studio

Have a think about it, don’t hide this winter come and have a fun shoot with us, it is bound to be heart warming. Give Karen or Liz a call on 4981 9659 to find out more.

Stacy and I went down to Sydney for the awards presentation on the Monday night, black tie affair. I was presented with my associate honors ribbon from the AIPP, this is part of the process to becoming a master photographer with the AIPP.

Brianna wanted to do a glamour / fashion shoot and we had so much fun in our studio and down on the beach close by.

We are so excited about Brianna’s future and we are really keen to see what unfolds for Brianna, we’ll keep you posted too.

Give Karen or Liz a call on 4981 9659 to book your own model portfolio shoot and give your career a head start.

Every one thinks that they have the cutest baby, but here is your chance to prove that you do!!!

We are after a precious little person to be the “Little Face of Capture Imaging “!

Send us a photo of your little cutie aged New Born to 3 years old (email to production@captureimaging.com.au)  We’ll put your little ones image on our Facebook Page.  Get all your friends to “Like” your image and your friends to vote!!!!  The winner is the baby with the most votes after 6 weeks, followed by runners up.
We have been working hard designing beautiful back drops to coincide with our launch of our Baby photography. We want you and baby to be relaxed, in a comfortable environment and have a fun shoot -recording your memories for a life time.

What is in it for you? For every photo we receive we will donate $1 to Sids and Kids foundation and you have a chance to WIN the TITLE “Little Face of Capture Imaging” and major prizes.

First Place wins a portrait package valued at $2730 including a magnificent portrait Album and a Moving Portrait CD!!!! Runners up will receive a massive $730.00 baby photography voucher.

Your little one will be featured on our website and in our Gallery on Facebook for all to see.

Call us on 02 4981 9659 with any questions.

Please read the Terms and Conditions before entering.

Check out our facebook page to see who has entered.