The speech Mike gave at his wedding reception was one of my most favourites I ever heard. I think I will remember his speech for the rest of my life. His words resonated with me. His speech was about luck, how he once read a paper on the characteristics of lucky people and how Lizzy defined all of these traits. After I finished the wedding, while Michael was driving home, I got out my iphone and I started searching for this paper Mike had talked about. You see, I always thought I was a lucky person, Ive had a pretty amazing and fortunate life and my friends even know me to have a magic finger, because it seems, I can fix anything it touches. Ive been very concious of my luck from a young age and Ive always been scared (actually terrified) my luck was going to run out, like one day out of the blue it all of a sudden was going to stop working. After much research and ive read a few books on luck since then, Im confident to say, Im not worried about my luck disappearing anymore, you create your own luck. I have to agree with Mike, in that Lizzy holds of all the characteristics of a lucky person but I hope Mike realizes, he has all of these characteristics too. Lizzy and Mike are the two of the most loving, sweetest, genuine and authentic people Ive met. The world would be a better place with more Lizzy’s and Mike’s in it.

How to create your own luck:

1 – To be one of the “lucky” people, you need to share their amazing ability to focus. Clearly define your goals. Make them so vivid and real you can taste them. Regardless of the distractions and small detours, staying connected to your dreams is crucial.

2 – In order to arm yourself with the same advantages as “lucky” people, you need to become an ardent student. Lucky people thirst for knowledge constantly. Be prepared. Be determined to be ready when the opportunity presents itself. Only then will you be able to recognize it’s potential, while others ‘just can’t see it”.

3 – Motivation is a difficult task it seems for all of us. We’re either motivated or we’re not. But how does one become motivated? No “lucky” person lives by “Murphy’s Law”. When faced with a challenge, obstacle or downright failure, instead of being depressed and lose your motivation, do what the lucky person does. Become even more committed to try a different approach, a new way, but try again. Failure can actually be a motivator to the lucky person.

4 – Attitude and motivation go hand in hand. One acting as a catalyst to the other. No matter how dyer your circumstances, never let on by your demeanor and displaying a negative “oh, poor me” attitude. You can be a “glass half full” kind of person, but how about being a “How can I keep this glass refilled?” type person? A lucky persons attitude is contagious.

5- Expectations can be a tricky thing. Most of us are dosed with well meaning remarks like, “Don’t get your hopes up” or Don’t expect too much”. Lucky people were either never told or didn’t take it to heart. They DO expect much. Not as in a spoiled child throws a tantrum to get what they want. Rather they believe they WILL receive! Any great sales leader will tell you, “always ASSUME the sale”. It’s not a matter of IF, it’s a matter of WHEN and how much.

{Instructions from How to Be A Lucky Person}

Ive just had the most amazing last two days… I’ve just finished up teaching 3 photography workshops down in Albany.  I put on two small workshops yesterday and today was an all day workshop for professional photographers. I feel like I only started scratching at the surface of the things I wanted to share and met such an lovely group of people. I really enjoyed teaching and its such a nice feeling being able to share and encourage people to find their unique voice as a photographer. I get a lot of emails from other photographers asking if I offer workshops. After much umming and arring for the last 12 months if this is something I am actually capable of and if I have something unique to offer, I think I proved to myself today, that the answer is yes. What city should I come to for my next workshop?? :)

My films from Europe have finally been developed and scanned! Nothing is more exciting seeing images appear on my screen that I took months ago and reliving it all. I love that mystery about film and something I definitely miss about the days when I just shot film. I just saw these few frames on one of the rolls from when I went to Exmouth back in May. I really enjoyed exploring a little more of my own backyard of Western Australia. This trip sparked the idea of traveling around Australia someday soon to document it all through my camera.

Ursi and Michel contacted me to see if I would do a beloved session of them when I was in Europe last month. Of course I said yes! We spent a few days with them in Switzerland, they took us to many amazing locations and we had the loveliest time with them and their two beautiful dogs. Shortly after I took this photo, I thought to myself “I am standing in a field in the middle of nowhere in the Swiss mountains doing ‘work’?!?!” One of my all time best moments :) This is one of my favourites from the shoot :)

I first meet Reshma and Ben three years ago when they booked me to photograph their wedding in 2007. A few weeks before their wedding I went to their house to do their engagement portrait session. Almost three years on, they invited me over again to photograph them a few weeks before the arrival of their baby. I love photographing people in their homes. I greatly enjoyed photographing Reshma and Ben in the same space three years apart, documenting the growth of their family.

A baby girl arrived 4 weeks later and from the few photos I have seen on facebook, she is absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations guys! xo

“In this exciting and inspiring workshop with Perth photographer Samm Blake learn how to find your own artistic style, how to shoot manually with a camera, how to use different lenses, work with natural light, learn all about displaying and sharing your images and much, much more. Taking part in these workshops will inspire you to find your own voice as a photographer and explore your own creative style.

You will also learn the art of storytelling using your images so you are able to create great images that ultimately are a collaboration between the photographer (you!) and the subject. You can bring your own camera too, however this is not a requirement. The Info Session and workshop is being offered through GSFI’s SCOPE program for young people 12-25yrs, parents and members of the community are also invited to attend on Sunday August 22nd.”

12 – 25yrs Group
Info Session – 10am – 11am
Workshop – 11.30am – 1.30pm
Cost – $15 pp (inc GST & Administration costs)

Parents/Community Members Group
Info Session – 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Workshop – 3pm – 5pm
Cost – $35 pp (inc GST & Administration costs)

These sessions will be held in the Museum of WA’s old school rooms.

For more information or to secure your spot, please email admin@gsfi.org.au.

(just to add a note… these photography workshop are not for professional photographers, I am not covering anything to do with a operating a wedding photography business. Im not earning any money from this, I am doing this to give back to community that I grew up in and hopefully be able to inspire some young people to become photographers, cause really, its the best job in the universe ;)

Rosa and John make me smile :) I had photographed their wedding a few weeks prior to this beloved portrait shoot. They had not seen their wedding images yet and asked if they could book in a portrait session. That made me smile :)

Rosa and John asked if they could do their portrait shoot in John Forest National Park. That made me smile too. I live in Darlington and this place is my backyard. (Now you are probably confused by the fact I live in Darlington and have my office in Fremantle (45kms away). I think have the best of both worlds. I love the hustle and bustle of Fremantle and I love hanging out with the trees, birds and kangaroos in the hills :)

Another reason why Rosa and John make me smile is that everybody in their bridal party gave me a hug when I left their wedding. They say you can judge a man by the company he keeps. Its true :)

their wedding will be posted soon! xo

I got back from Europe a week ago and just realized my blog has been a little neglected for the past 4 weeks. Europe was completely amazing…!! more to come on that soon :)

I shoot with film cameras whenever I travel so im waiting for my films to come back from the lab. Until then, a favourite from Rosa and Johns portrait session :)