There we sat at dinner, Jon on one side, me on the other, and we chatted and bonded over being American, mutual friends, and our fond individual memories of Japan. He flew back to Salt Lake the very next day to shoot a big commercial job in Hawaii, and I left Melbourne feeling rather inspired, extra tanned (thank you outdoor tennis seats!) and excited about film.

That was all without having attended Jon’s FIND workshop.

You see, some people have an uncanny ability to leave a great, lasting impression on you in a matter of seconds. Jon is one of those people. You spend a second in his sphere and suddenly you feel inspired to write a book or pop out a few kids or run a marathon or cross off any number of things off your “To Do Before I Die” list.

So when I received an email from the very same Jon seven months later asking me to help him organise a FIND workshop in Australia, I didn’t even bat an eye. OF COURSE I’D DO IT. Are you kidding me? Three days of spending time with Mr Inspirational AKA Mr Human Light Meter AKA Mr Film himself? Heck yes. We emailed, we talked about food and film and locations and models and weather and accommodation and babies and light and Japan. And from there, a beautiful friendship blossomed and I counted down the days for his arrival to Canberra the following January.

Film Is Not Dead came and went a month ago. JC and his awesome assistant/buddy/mentee/student/possibly-my-brother-from-another-mother Joe came and stayed at Chateau de Pobke for five magical nights and it is with great sadness that I cannot seem to come up with the right possible adjectives for this whole experience. So instead I shall gush for the next few paragraphs about FIND and all of its glory.

FIND is unlike any other workshop I’ve ever been to. First of all, it can’t really be summed up in a matter of words, nor can it be described as a “photography” workshop. It’s an experience that has to be felt firsthand, as it’s one of those all-encompassing, slap-in-the-face kinda workshops that can’t even be described as a “workshop” per se. (Wow, for someone who claims an inability to describe it I sure have been quite wordy already!) :) FIND is about film, yes. It’s also about shooting. It’s about being a photographer. But moreover, and perhaps more astoundingly, it’s about a lifestyle, a motivation, an aspiration, a balance. It’s about treating yourself right.

Jon came and went like a tornado that shook up all my insides. My brain felt like it was dislodged and shaken about and then placed back (albeit gently). I see things differently post-FIND and I treat people around me differently. I don’t discriminate between “personal” and “professional” work anymore. I have an open heart and try to fit everyone in. I have taken judgment and thrown it off a cliff. I laugh more and want to be a nicer person. And I want to live and breathe film like it’s the last remaining bit of oxygen left on this planet.

You see? An all-encompassing workshop that can’t really be surmised in a matter of words.

If you have a chance to go to one of Jon’s FIND workshops, I urge you to please go. I mean, I STRONGLY urge you to please go. The friendships you make at FIND are just the icing on the cake. Because when you have an inspiring mentor who walks the walk and talks the talk, it’s hard not to absorb that positivity and energy and re-radiate it to those around you… and that’s precisely what me and the rest of the FIND – Canberra group did.

Jon, thank you for your friendship and kindness and warm heart and beautiful soul and inspiring nature. Thank you for being such a great house guest and for making me and Clinton feel so dang comfortable around you. Thank you for laughing at our not-so-funny jokes and for always being a ball of positive energy and hope. Thank you for staying over at our home – you made it a warmer and lovelier place. And thank you (a billion times over) for the photos of us and our little growing bump… they’re images that will be framed around our house and moments that we will never ever forget. You captured such a special time in our lives and it was such an honour being photographed by you. Thank you doesn’t seem to quite cut it but… Thank you. :)

And Joe, dear darling Joe: thank you for being YOU. You are hilarious and awesome and strange and lovely and like my brother. :) I heart you and can’t wait to hug you again, awkwardly. :) Thank you for thanking me and for being such a great wingman to Jon. And for being such a clean guest! You are both welcome at Chateau de Pobke, anytime!!! (You know where we hide the key!!)

I’ll end this rather wordy summation with a few images I took at FIND… All shot on my Contax 645 + Kodak Portra 800 or Kodak Portra 400 films.

[PS If you're interested in signing up for FIND, Jon is coming back to Australia in three months (MAY!!)... Check out all the FIND - Brisbane details here. Good luck getting a spot!]

[Thank you both for taking the time to come out and shine for us on that rainy day! Lots of love to you!!!!]

Thank you gorgeous Baxter family for modeling for us at our recent Pobke Magic – Melbourne Workshop. We were oh so lucky to have had you! :)

Pregnancy is such a beautiful thing. :) So many happy thoughts go out to Leah and Trist as they await the arrival of their darling baby boy or girl. :)

To help you get on top of all of your holiday shopping, I’m offering the very first ever Country Sessions. All the details are in the flyer below, but put simply, it’s the best way to (a) update your family portraits and photos of your little ones; and (b) get the Christmas shopping over and done with. :)

All Pobke prints are printed on archival quality photo paper and are delivered to you in ready-to-frame beautiful white mattes. In addition to lovely prints, we are offering our Country Session families the following gift options to purchase for the holidays! [These products are only offered to Country Session families as they are in limited supply.]

Personalised + framed annual calendars, ready to hang in 11×14 pine wood:

Personalised notepads (front page and inside, seen below) + personalised necklaces:

I am so excited to be able to offer these beautiful products to my Country Session families. The sessions are only available on Sunday, 9 October and Sunday, 16 October, to ensure that all the participating families receive Christmas orders in time! They are limited to the first 15 families to book, so if you’d like to reserve your spot, please contact me via email (christine@pobkephotography.com) with the title, “Country Sessions” as soon as possible.

I can’t wait to see you then! :)

I ran into a bunch of friends, new and old. We brunched. We walked. We ate. We laughed. It’s always great to reconnect with people who you “get” and who just “get” you, don’t you think?

[Places below: Capital Hill, Tacoma, Ballard]

[Friends below: Sean, Sergio, Kristen, Julia and Yuriy, Ben.]

PS. You may have noticed that the blog has gotten a bit of a facelift! :) It’s all thanks to the talented crew at Inklab, a design studio based in Canberra. Not only are these guys supremely talented, they are seriously the epitome of NICE. Which made my whole experience with them all the more fabulous! :) All the coding is done by the lovely Kelly from Ekcetera, who was very patient with me from beginning to end. :)

In case you hadn’t heard of the Kaisers before, they are the creatives behind The Image Is Found, a wedding photography studio based in Oceanside, California. They are an insanely smart duo that constantly think-outside-the-box, and remain two of the most inspiring (and level-headed) people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. But extending beyond the photography world, these are the kind of people you’d want to know and be friends with. You see, from my brief 30 hours spent with them, I learned a few things about life and priorities and art and fear and passion and joy. And anytime a new friend can be in a position to inspire or teach… well, that friend is a friend for life.

My Sleepover Sessions have been magical thus far, and have taught me so much about the human condition and family love and blessings we have in life. And when the Kaisers booked me in for one during my recent stopover to Seattle, I knew they “got” me and understood the philosophy behind why I loved them… because I sincerely love everything about this family. It’s one of those 30 hour moments I’ll never forget.

Meet the Kaisers. They’re fun. :)
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But after having spent a full day with them and their adorable two sons, I realised that it’s not just luck and talent – they work incredibly hard. They’re giving people. They teach their sons patience and kindness. They never expect anything from anyone. They just live and treat others as they want to be treated. So it makes sense that the universe rewards them in leaps and bounds. The most precious thing about this family, however, is how just being in their presence allows you to see the world differently. You see, a few personal things happened to me while I was in Adelaide to photograph them. Things that, in other circumstances, may have made me quite upset and sensitive and angry with the world. But seeing the way Bree and Anton live their life and treat others made me realise so much about the human condition: we’re resilient. And kind meets kind; lovely meets lovely. Always. :)

So Bree + Anton, thank you so much for letting me spend time with you and your beautiful family, and for reminding me to work hard, play hard, and love hard. :) Big hugs to you and your beautiful boys. xoxo

[Yes, we slept at a fire station. And then we went and picked strawberries. And then we went to have a picnic in the Adelaide hills, all styled beautifully by Emily from White Room Events. It was an AWESOME day!!]

[And no, Bree and Anton don't have a third child; the cutie pie is the daughter of Bree's bestie, who both joined us for the strawberry picking! :)]

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Aaaand, leaving you with a quick preview from a recent family shoot in Adelaide… how fun does this family look? :)

Have a wonderful weekend!
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- they’ve been married over ten years;
- they have two beautiful children;
- they have the utmost respect for one another and cuddle like they’ve been together for ten days (it’s really very cute to see);
- they raise their kids to be respectful and lovely and responsible;
- they’ve been building their dreamhouse on a gorgeous plot of land (and I got to see it!);
- they’re worldly;
- they have generous souls and beautiful hearts;
- they know how to be the hostesses with the mostestes. :)

I got to experience another Life Story session recently, and boy am I thanking my lucky stars. If these are the only types of family shoots I get to do from now on, I would be one lucky chickee. Truly. I mean, think about it: I get to pack up my bags, have dinner with a fun-loving, beautiful family, and experience a day in their life. Together. The best part is when the kids just take to me… Jaedon + Alicia-Rae and I were like three peas in a pod. So much so that I woke up in their cosy home with a quiet knock on my door: Jaedon wanting to climb into bed with me and just “hang”… such a sweet, awesome way to wake up, I say! :)

Narrelle + Matt, thank you thank you thank you. You welcomed me into your lives, allowed me to observe and document and get to know you and your gorgeous family. I had the most wonderful day, and hope that this glimpse helps you realise (if you don’t already) the preciousness of life you possess + live. It was an absolute pleasure to really get to know you all, and I hope you had as good of a time as I did. :)
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