Here's 2018 Wrapped Up In A Blog Post

20 Babies in 2018 - 10 girls and 10 boys!

This year has been a wild ride. 

I can’t even count the amount of newborn, family and maternity photo shoots I’ve done this year, not to mention working another job (I know, estoy loca right?!) being a mama and juggling on-call life. 

2018 has seen me capture 20 births, 10 girls and 10 boys - how even is that?

Not all were thriving births but all babies have left a place in my heart so deep that I am forever changed. I may not be the most outspoken person on social media but I hope that my work has left a little piece of love in cyber world. I am insanely passionate about shooting my birth and motherhood sessions and I hope you can see how much I love what I do.

• A highlight of 2018 was judging the Australian College of Midwives Birth Photography Awards & meeting the incredible Lacey Barratt - #girlcrush anyone?

• Lacey and I did a podcast together!!! I was shitting myself LOL You can hear me talking shop here

• I was guest Instagrammer (is that even a word?) on Birth Becomes Her - gah I nearly died when I was offered the password to Jenn and Monet’s IG feed

• Cat Fancote and I founded The Birth Femmes and organised an evening chat about birth photography which expanded into an all day workshop - SO MUCH FUN!!!!

• I was a finalist in the WA AIPP Professional Photography Awards in Documentary - sooooo exciting!

• Lacey hosted an Intimate Mother photography workshop in my studio and we had a blast with Krystal Miller & her daughter as our amazing models for the day! I’ve been following Krystal and her journey with a “bag” for years now so it was incredible to meet her in the flesh- she’s a rad human being.

I’m probably going to sound like a bit of a wanker right now but these are the photographic achievements that I received in 2018. It really blows my mind to reflect back on the year!

• 1st Place Winner - Black and White Spider Awards - Photojournalism

• 2nd Place Winner - Chromatic Awards - Photojournalism

• Honorable Mention - Black and White Spider Awards - People

• Nominee - Black and White Spider Awards - People and Photojournalism

• Honorable Mention - Australian Photography Awards - Documentary

• Honorable Mention - Australian Photography Awards - Documentary

• Honorable Mention - Australian Photography Awards - Documentary

• 1st Place Winner - International Photography Awards - People

• 2 Honorable Mentions - International Photography Awards - People

• 3 Silver Awards in the Australian Professional Photographic Awards (APPA)

• 2018 Finalist - Epson Professional Photography Awards (AIPP)- Documentary

• 3 Silver Distinction Awards in the Epson Professional Photography Awards (AIPP)

• 3 Silver Awards in the Epson Professional Photography Awards (AIPP)

• Nominee - Fine Art Photography Awards - People

•  Ranked #2 as Australia's Top 10 Black & White Photographers

• 2 Silver Awards - World's Top 10 Black & White Photo Contest - People

• Bronze Award - World's Top 10 Black & White Photo Contest - People

• Shortlist - London International Creative Competition - Photography

• 1st Place Winner - International Color Awards - Photojournalism

• Nominee - International Color Awards - Silhouette

• Final Round - Birth Becomes Her Photo Contest - Birth

• Final Round - Birth Becomes Her Photo Contest -  Postpartum

And………..

there’s that time I was in New Idea!!!!

My photos of a maternal assisted caesarean birth were published in New Idea!!! Carley shares her birth story and how she came to the decision to have this empowered birth. I’m so proud of Carley rocking her caesarean birth. Go mama!

How can I wrap the entire year up with 9 photos???? Well, Instagram took care of this for me by showing me my most loved/favourited photos for the year from my IG feed - here’s my Best 9 for 2018.

So freaking proud of myself for an amazing wild year! But most of all, I have met some incredible people, photographed beautiful souls and connected with freakishly passionate warrior goddesses who I am honoured to call my friends. Stay true to yourself and the rest will follow.

May 2019 be the year of prosperity and joy for you and your loved ones. I count my blessings every single day. This little heart is happy and full. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and continues to support me. I love you all.

Love Belle x