My first Mother’s Day give-away is an $80 Endota  Spa Gift Voucher for your tired feet. Endota Spa “promise toe-tal relaxation. Slip into the spa. Feed your soles.” – for more information head on over to http://www.endota.com.au

To enter, simply write a quick sentence in the comment box below telling why you deserve this pamper treatment for Mother’s Day. I will draw names out of the hat on Friday 9^th April.

Here is an outtake of my kiddos...Chrissy xo

A few important things…

Firstly, I need to announce the winner of my Pay It Forward Project. I need to start by saying, this was an extremely emotional journey for me and I was touched by each and every one of the nominations. There are lots of people out there with tremendous personal struggles, trials and tribulations. I shed many tears reading through the stories but I have come out the other side totally and utterly in awe of just how strong the human spirit can be. How amazing the Human Spirit is.

The decision was tough.

If I could, I would shoot everyone who was nominated because in their own rights they are each deserving.

However, the Custom Portrait Package valued at over $1000 goes to a deserving Mum of Two: Silvana – Nominated by her friend Stacey Wardrop.

“Silvana has had a very stressful 2nd pregnancy after a trouble free 1st pregnancy.  Her waters broke at 20 weeks and she was rushed to hospital and ordered to complete bedrest in hospital for the remainder of her pregnancy.  Obst and midwives regularly told her to expect the worst.  As you can imagine, it was an extremely distressing time as she was placed in the labour ward for the duration of her hospital stay so she often heard crying babies and saw proud mummies pushing their newborns around. After lying in hospital for 10 weeks not knowing what the result would be she went into labour at 30 weeks and her baby daughter Neve was delivered by emergency c-section.  The baby went to neo-natal intensive care and after a week Silvana returned home to her husband and little boy Logan (close to 2). A few days after returning home Silvana was re-admitted with golden staph and remained in hospital for around 5 days on a drip. Throughout that time Silvana was extremely ill as her body was not responding to high doses of antibiotics.  She had been on antibiotics for 10 weeks whilst in hospital before delivering.  She is now home again.  Neve was doing well and was moved out of intensive neo-natal but still remains in hospital.  Neve is now 35 weeks.  Last week the hospital called Silvana and said Neve was struggling with her oxygen levels and things were not looking good. When Silvana arrived she was again warned to expect the worst.  For 3 days she watched little Neve lying in her crib with tubes and breathing apparatus, limp and lifeless.  She finally improved yesterday.  I spoke to Silvana today and she said she feels totally emotionally and physically exhausted and cries non-stop. I feel totally helpless as a friend.
 Silvana is extremely family-minded coming from a large Italian family.  Along with her own very personal struggle she is trying to be strong for her family and a very close friend.  Her brother-in-law is in palliative care with an inoperable brain tumour and just prior to Christmas her best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Silvana is finding it difficult to come to terms with all the sadness around her and feels guilty that she is not able to be there for her sister and best friend. 
 I know a photographic session with the 3 most important people in her world (her husband David, Logan and Neve) would be a priceless gift.”

Secondly, The Good Friday Appeal is THIS Friday and I am giving away FREE sessions plus a BONUS 8x12” art print to anyone who donates over $60 to the Appeal. What an awesome way to have a complimentary photo shoot with me! Sessions can be booked at anytime however they must take place in 20km radius of the Melbourne CBD. Simply head to http://www.goodfridayappeal.com.au/ click in DONATE and make your donation. You then email me a copy of your receipt along with your details and I will then get in touch with you to arrange your session. Dig deep for this fabulous cause!

So, what would a blog post be without photos? Below is some updated photos of my two special people, Paigey Girl and Koby Monster. Koby had his first shower the other day, he was ever so happy…but more happy to see his Big Sister enter the room. Take care everyone and Happy Easter to you all…Chrissy xo

Last weekend I had the pleasure of shooting Little Miss Ruby! You may remember her Mum Sam from a previous maternity session: http://chrissytorneyphotography.blogspot.com/2009/02/sneak-peek-sam-melbourne-maternity.html

It is so hard to believe that Sam’s maternity session was over 12 months ago and here we were back in the same park to take Miss Ruby’s portraits. Sam, it was such a pleasure meeting your beautiful Princess Ruby! Here is a sneak peek from your session! I will be in touch…Chrissy xo

Rave About It...

Are you a fun, outgoing, Year 11 or 12 student? Would you LOVE to take part in an edgy, urban photo shoot PLUS receive some cool, funky photographic goodies PLUS earn bonus incentives as well?

I am currently casting for both male and female students in either Year 11 or 12 to model for specific photo shoots. The images will be used as part of my ‘2010 Senior Portrait – Celebrate You’ marketing campaign.

In exchange for the photographic session and products you, in turn, will be asked to RAVE all about it as the hand picked representative for your high school.

How to Enter:

·         Please email a recent photo of yourself to info@chrissytorney.com.au along with a brief statement telling me a little about you PLUS why you think you would be a perfect representative of Chrissy Torney Photography.

The Fine Print:

·         You will need to be 18 years of age or have your parent’s written permission to be photographed.

·         You will need to sign a model release form allowing Chrissy Torney Photography to use your images in any online or hard copy promotional material.

·         You will need to be available at short notice to take part in your portrait session.

·         You will be required to link any promotional material on your Facebook or Myspace page to help spread the word.

·         Items will have no monetary value therefore cannot be redeemed for cash.

Just a few fun shots from today. I had some fun playing with my assistant Courtney. Isn’t she gorgeous!! Chrissy xo

Today I thought I had better chance up my friendly neighbours so I could take the next lot of photos of their twin daughters Evelyn and Gaia. I cannot believe these little Princesses are just 2 months shy of their first birthday! Their hair has grown and they are now on the move. Evelyn has definitely blossomed now her exhema is under control, she is FULL of smiles and laughter. Gaia is as cheeky as ever, CONSTANTLY on the go!! The girls are ‘Big Sisters in Training’ with another beautiful baby currently growing away inside it’s surrogate on the other side of the globe. You may have already heard this news from the quick 60 minutes update which aired on Sunday night. I would just like to mention how Trevor and Peter have been working tirelessly with other couples guiding them and assisting them through the surrogacy process. Head on over to: http://ethicalsurrogacy.blogspot.com/ to follow their journey more. OK, enough chatter – here are some sneak peeks from today! Chrissy xo

I am truly so very lucky to be able to do what I do. I am also truly blessed to have a healthy, happy family along with financial security. There are a lot of kind people in my life who have done amazing things for me as well as have been incredibly supportive of all the things I choose to do. This is why I believe that it is important to give back in some way every year, to ‘Pay it Forward’ so to speak. My ‘Pay It Forward’ project for 2010 is this: To offer the gift of Custom Portraiture to a deserving person/family. Do you know someone who may be finding things a little bit tough, who may not, for one reason or another, be able to afford to do something special for themselves? Do you know of anyone, a friend or family member, who may just need a special pick-me-up due to facing a difficult period? They may themselves be someone who gives to their community– someone who simply should be thanked.

Until Friday 26^th March you can nominate anyone who you believe fits the above criteria. Please be considerate of your nominated person’s privacy and if you are unsure in any way feel free to discuss your nomination with them first.  I will be using the trust and honesty system, believing that all nominations will come truthfully.

Just email me your nominations to: info@chrissytorney.com.au.

Please include;

Your name:

Your contact details:

Person you are nominating:

Brief explanation as to why you think they deserve this gift:

I will read through all applications and select the ONE deserving winner and I will announce this person on Monday 29^th March.

The Winner will receive:

(1)    x complimentary session valued at $120

(1)    x session box containing all their gallery images as 5 x 7” prints valued at over $800

(1)    x 16 x 24 wall print valued at $160

Terms and Conditions:

1.       The winner must be able to redeem their prize in Melbourne, Victoria within a 30km radius of the CBD. If they live outside this area they will need to travel.

2.       Regular Terms and Conditions Apply

3.       Prize cannot be redeemed for cash

4.       Prize must be redeemed by December 31^st 2010

Baby Saskia has had a pretty tough journey so far, spending her first week and a bit in the Special Care Nursery. Saskia was born to my beautiful ‘Sunset Maternity’ client Cathy and after needing to reschedule her original session we were finally able to catch up and capture her beautiful little soul. Saskia *thankfully* was quite content with her own Mother’s milk so settled really well for me. FINALLY we have broken the drought of baby girls and I have been able to shoot a teeny, tiny little Princess instead of these active, wide awake boys of late. Cathy, once again it has been an absolute pleasure, I hope that you love these!! Shooting these really did bring a tear to my eye. Ed – hope you enjoyed the Foxtel and Nanna Nap! Chrissy xo