From the streets of Rio

catbrownphotography.co.nz
Just fresh back from a month soaking up the sun and family goodtimes in Rio, my buddies from Brazilbeat Soundsystem caught up with me on Friday for a photoshoot prior to their long hot session of music and touring which will be coming up for them this summer 2011/2012.
I've known DJ Mara and MC Nego Beto ever since they started coming to NZ back in the late 90s.
Back then I was a baby newspaper reporter and they were both still living overseas, but came to Gizzy to visit family in NZ.
I was sent out to write a news article about them: Beto had set up Reggae MTV in Brazil and had done lots of cool stuff like touring with Bob Marley's Wailers as a percussionist which I thought was pretty rad. At the time Beto spoke practically no English and Californian Mara, who had done a peace corp mission in South America when she hooked up with Beto, did all the translating.
At some stage I threw a cockroach at Mara because she was asking all the questions instead of me!
I was never a very good journalist and I'm surprised she still talked to me after that. What a cheek.
Since then BBSS have played all over in NZ touring regularly up and down the country at heaps of festivals, playing at Rhythm and Vines and Homegrown and keeping themselves sane with the occasional stint back in the US and Brazil!
If they're in your city this summer go and check them out. Brazilbeat.org
Big thanks to the super Becks Burt who was my photo assist extraordinaire during the shoot and also  Jasmin Weiss dos Santos who took our group piccie! Thanks Jas!

Here's a couple of my fav pics from the shoot:

How big is that smile! MC and percussionist Nego Beto

the perfect innercity backdrop - DJ Mara and MC Nego Beto

MC Beto and DJ Mara

The crew!

SOULIMAGES:: photographs of beautiful brides and babes!

www.catbrownphotography.co.nz

Some of my beautiful brides and babes are currently on display at the most fabulously re-invigorated and rockingest cafe/restaurant/bar/all-round fabulous hang-out - Villaggio.

The poster stars one of my favourite ever brides, the gorgeous Allanah, who wore the most spectacular daisy yellow 50s inspired wedding dress. I love a girl with individual flair - and couples that do things differently and completely their own way!  After all, your wedding day is all about celebrating the things that you love most!

I hope you enjoy the photos on display.

x Cat

Pip and the happy chickens!

  The Howe/Faulkner family

 Tom is a farmer in the making

 Gorgeous Pip and baby Lochie

 Cait, Lochie and Tom...I couldn't resist a blank wall!

 Chickens and kids!

Tom and the most peaceful lab I've ever met!

It was so great to do a photoshoot in the weekend where not only I was taking photos of some truely beautiful people in the fresh country air and 'spring on it's way' sunshine, but we were also surrounded by lots of lots of rescue chickens!
Rescue chickens, if you're unaware are those that are taken from the cruelty of caged battery farms - usually in an unrecognisable state, without feathers and pecked, moulting and rubbed from the stress of caged living - and brought back to life by the kindness of people, like my friend Pip's parents who have had many of these chickens you see for over a year. In that time the chickens have been able to range around freely, exercising and eating in the sunshine and enjoy relaxed living. Their feather's have grown back, and they have started laying again! And beautiful eggs too I can add. I was given a dozen as I left and Ali and I had them scrambled the next day - bright yellowy orange yolks. Definitely happy chickens had made them!
Thanks Pip and co for making us so happy! And I hope you love these photos as much as I loved taking them!
x Cat

Annika and the boys, NZ ... the video!

What do give a visiting doctor from Sweden who's been living with her family in Gisborne, New Zealand for a year and is now going home to the Northern hemisphere again? A photoshoot of course ...!
I think this was one of the kindest gift's ever ... how to nice to be given a gift that will mean so much for the rest of your life.
It might sound like cheesey cheese - but photos really are one of those gift's that keep on giving and that will evoke really amazing memories forever. Good on you Sari and the rest of the crew at Gisborne Hospital for choosing something so special for Annika and her lovely family. I had a blast shooting them and I know they'll have a blast remembering the good times here in Gisborne during the very special year they had in New Zealand with you all.
x Cat
 
See the video:

All my favourites in one little good vibes package

.... If you haven't seen it already, this is my new collection of a whole bunch of weddings we've shot over the last year and a bit.

I don't know why but there is just something about watching two minutes of smiles and laughing that just makes you feel so good!
I'm super proud of all these piccies and I love all the brides and grooms who Ali and I have worked with since setting up cat brown photography.
If you feel good watching this please share it - maybe you'll give someone else a smile by passing it on :)

x Cat

Weight-lifting advice

I hardly slept last night because I was feeling a tad overwhelmed!


I have just moved into my new office digs, and from the outside it looks very professional ... but on the inside (and definitely inside me at the moment!) it's feeling totally the opposite...painting to be done, stuff everywhere and mostly a pile of photo work to do. Where are my one hundred oopa loompas to help me when I need them!


Ordering coffee early this morning, James (who owns the fabulous cafe 1874 downstairs), made the mistake of asking me how I was...


CAT:: (In a high pitched slightly desperate voice)
'James. I am sooo busy, too busy, I have albums, photoshoots, editing and requests for more work and hellloooooo my office is only half set up with boxes and half painted chairs and $@%$ EVERYWHERE! I'm feeling swallowed up!'


James listened and didn't say anything.
Then he served the next customer.
In about a minute as he was running a pile of fresh muffins and coffee to someone sitting outside he stopped by me and whispered in my ear:


JAMES:: (whispery and kind of Yoda-ish)
'Cat, just write absolutely everything you need to do down and then start with ONE thing.
Do that ONE thing then cross it off. Then do the next ONE things. That's all'.


Such simple advice - but such perfect advice!


I find it such a strange irony that the MORE we have to do, sometimes the LESS we manage to do because we're trying to do everything at the same time.


Ever since bumping into James this morning, I've felt so much better.  My work load and the unfinished space hasn't actually changed thaaaaat much (I have written the list and have managed to knock off two items so far) but his one tip has made me feel like actually it's do-able.
A weight has lifted off my shoulders.


My coffee was good too ;) Total double rainbow. Thanks buddy you rock!


cat brown photography upstairs @ the PBC .... work in progress!

a pile of mags which pretty much sums up how I was feeling this morning!

work chaos!

the only tidy area in the entire room!

me looking strangely like Justin Bieber (shame) and the super cool retro magazine holder that my clever mum restored for me and gave me as a happy new office present! Awwwww thanks mum :)

Lead interior stylist Rustyroo ::  hard at work checking out the carpet...

Box Brownie Love

I love getting a little bit obsessed about things....and my new obsession is the box brownie camera.
So boxie, so perfect!
I have TWO so far..... so it's a very very small collection so far, but I want to build an entire wall of them!
This one is my beautiful 1956 Brownie Flash II.....oh little boxie I love you!
I promise to let you all know how my wall is growing!

x Cat

my first box brownie.....little flashie I love you!