The past few months have been quite amazing for me. I’ve never really been one to have “down time” and during this self-imposed “down time” I’ve done much reflecting and dreaming. Mostly about this precious Pobke baby inside me, but also about life in general. One might say I was on the verge of an existential crisis of sorts. I spent many an afternoon on my insanely comfortable nursing chair, napping and day dreaming the day away, thinking about how special it is that I get to do something this amazing. Like grow a human inside me. Even typing it makes me get goosebumps all over. And this little life that we created is simply an extension of me and my love: how insane is that? I could really go on and on about the thoughts that arose from the deep recesses of my brain but I won’t bore you. :) Beyond the ‘thinking,’ this period of my life has also made me aware of this sudden urge to make, build, create, clean, connect, keep busy. I did sewing classes; learned about candle making; created my own soaps and chapsticks; cleaned the house from top to bottom, inside out; wrote letters; started a blog; set up a new business (which will be launched shortly); went for weekly massages; practiced my Korean (over many many many text messages with my mother); read books upon books upon books; and baked like it was going out of style. And I spent some sleepless nights writing letters to our little one… And it was wonderful and so incredibly special to be able to document my feelings and thoughts on my pregnancy blog… I’m so glad I did it.

So there you have it. What I’ve been up these past eight weeks of maternity leave! Oh and have I mentioned I’ve been getting the nursery all ready to go? :) That was a feat in and of itself, I tell ya. Especially since we live in a small three bedroom home, where space is constantly an issue. Our Pobke baby will be sleeping in a bassinet in our room for the time being (that blanket in the below picture was handmade by my lovely friend El – can you believe that?!), and then move to the nursery when she’s good and ready… so at the moment the nursery is really a nursery / office. :) Poor Pobke baby, she’s gonna have to share the room with my big fat computer desk and all my cameras! (She may as well start getting used to the cameras though…) :) I thought I’d share some images of how the nursery has been set up so far. I was inspired after seeing my gorgeous friend (and fellow pregnant mama!) Kerianne’s post about her nursery (although be warned: her nursery is RIDICULOUSLY adorable and all kinds of gorgeous. And makes me want to start mine all over again. With her help.). :)

Many of the things you see in the nursery were gifted to me by lovely + generous friends, who threw me a surprise baby shower a few weeks back. The video can be seen here! :)

Some of the other things you see around the nursery can be sourced/found here:

Cot: Groyears (bought second hand)
Change table: Stokke (bought second hand)
Lovely nursing chair: Tango and James (designed by the ever so talented Lisa!)
Lampshade: purchased from Tiny’s Green Shed recycling tip on Mugga Lane! (It’s not really so tiny at all.) :)
Fabric wall decals: Love Mae, Charmed I’m Sure
Birdcage: Stitched by me! :)
Pink print of rabbits: Schmooks (an amazing local designer here in Canberra!)
Muslin wraps: Aden + Anais

So all that’s needed is one Pobke Baby. Hurry up, little one! I am awaaaaaaiting! :)

So here we are, five new dates, five cities, and five Pobke Magic Workshops. Visit the Pobke Magic website for more details… And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me: christine (@) pobkephotography (dot) com

Hope to see you there! :)

First up is Diana and Tim, featured in May’s issue of Cosmo Bride magazine:

And Kirsty and Matt, featured in one of my favourite wedding blogs, Green Wedding Shoes:

And finally, Siobhan and Pete grace the pages of the beautiful e-magazine, Mag Rouge:

I’m so honoured to be published amongst my friends and industry colleagues who I look up to very much. It’s such a beautiful way to end the 2011/2012 wedding season for me before I go on maternity leave! :) I’ll continue posting sessions and weddings and couples portraits on my blog here, as well as on my personal blog, Dear Pobke Baby, so no need to think I’m going away! :)

Have a beautiful weekend, and happy Friday!!

The flew to Canberra from Melbourne to meet me one fine day, and we laughed and got along as if we’d known each other for years. They were kind. And so romantic with each other. And loved travel and seeing the world. Truth be told, they kinda reminded me of the relationship I share with He-Pobke. So began the countdown for their big day. :)

Melbourne is one of my favourite cities in the world. Coupled with the fact that I was there to photograph Glenn + Kate, AND the fact that I had one of my besties there helping me (thank you a trillion times, Kelly Tunney!), nothing could go wrong. Or so we thought. :) The day challenged us with a few hiccups (a missing rental car, a faulty GPS, a priest who told me to sit down during the ceremony and stop shooting) but Kate and Glenn, being the gloriously lovely couple that they are, didn’t let a single thing ruin their day. And you know, it’s as if I just absorbed their zen, because none of the challenges affected me in any way, shape or form either.

I suppose that’s just what happens when you’re around positive people who radiate peace, love, calmness. I strive to be that kind of person every day, and Glenn and Kate couldn’t have been better role models to me on a more special day. :) Thank you both for being so amazing. Hope your honeymoon was fabulous and full of R&R. So much love to you!! :) xoxo

Holly recently married the love her life, Joe, at a beautiful service here in Canberra. I couldn’t have been more honoured and proud to be the one hired to photograph their wonderfully intimate day. Family and friends gathered from near and far, and we all knew + felt Joe’s father’s spirit was in the church that day, watching over the two of them. People hugged and kissed as if it were their own wedding days, and it was so so so very beautiful to see.

Holly and Joe, I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and love. Thank you for trusting me to be there on your big day. It meant so much to me and I hope you guys have a wonderful time away on your honeymoon. :) So much love to you both! xoxo

Almost as joyous as big brother Ky was climbing all over dad. :)

Lisa and Nick approached me months after having had their first little boy, and now they’re expecting number two… Excitement! :) Thank you for spending the morning with me guys! So glad we finally got to meet. :)

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! :)