Heidi Horton Photography

Today's blog post is a little behind-the-scenes for you. I shared the process of this spring blossom idea on my Instagram story and I received a heap of messages about it so I thought I'd write a proper post on it. I've photographed this beautiful family each year in the blossom since 2016 and I wanted to do something a little different this year.

I had the idea to create a blossom frame to shoot through which would maximise the effect of the blossom for the portraits. By holding the frame of blossom up in front of my camera it created beautiful out-of-focus 'bokeh' to the edge of my images. I love finding foreground elements to shoot through in my imagery as it creates the feeling of looking in on a moment. By shooting through this blossom it also helped block out distracting elements at the location we were shooting at.

I actually had Matt hold the blossom frame up for me most of the time to make it easier for me to shoot with my camera. And I shot with and without this blossom frame during the shoot because I didn't want every image to have the framing, but it was certainly fun to do something a little creative!

Sadly the blossom didn't last long after the shoot but it was super easy to make. We spray painted a bit of cardboard white, cut a hole in it and then I arranged twigs of blossom around the aperture like a wreath, poking the ends of the twigs through the cardboard and using a few cable ties to keep it all in place.

Within minutes of beginning Scott and Ann's engagement session we were laughing. Scott and Ann were just so much fun to photograph!

Scott proposed to Ann on the Devil's Staircase near Queenstown. He got down on one knee and asked her to be his forever after. The location was carefully chosen as it's one of Ann's favourite spots of NZ. Perhaps it reminds her a little of home, in Scotland. The other place I know Ann feels at home is on the farm. Her and Scott are on a dairy farm just outside of Milton. The farm has amazing views in all directions and I was spoilt for choice when it came to locations for their engagement session. Plus Matt and I got treated to an epic farm tour along the way!

How stunning is Ann's engagement ring?!

Scott and Ann totally ROCKED their engagement session!

Scott and Ann, we are SO excited for February! Bring on the wedding! Thank you for being such fun to photograph & for having us out on the farm for your engagement session.x

This family portrait session was filled with more laughs and sweet yarns than you could imagine. But then if you know this beautiful family that might not surprise you! 

Alex is one of my best friends from high school. The McBain's feel like family to me. Getting to photograph them a couple of weeks ago was both a privilege & an absolute hoot! Alex had just finished up a week of night-shift and Matt, well let's just say he'd had a big night too! 😂 I'm pretty sure I did more laughing during this portrait session than any session EVER before. But I expected nothing less & I love the photographs we captured!

McBain family thank you so much for asking me to update your family portraits for you. It was a privilege and good entertainment too! ​😉 Love ya's! x