Creatives Call Out - Outdoor Winter Shoot

Outdoor Winter Shoot - I'm looking to collaborate with other creatives for this exciting project!

- Make up artists
- Hairdressers
- Florists
- Designers
- Models
- Wedding dress stockists and/ or designers
- Other beautiful clothing, accessory and homewares designers

Email for more details at seaandsaltphotography@gmail.com

In exchange for your time and creative flair, I'm offering a free photographic portfolio to share your business - gain exposure and showcase what you can do!

Models: Please email recent photo.

Bella x

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Thoughts on Blogging: Embracing my Fears

When I first started my blog around six years ago, I imagined making it big in the food blogging world. I passionately cooked successes after failures and documented my favourite recipes on Sea and Salt to share with the world. At the time I felt trapped in a job where day after day I felt no spark but was too frightened to leave. In every spare moment I was trawling the internet, feeling inspired by Aran Goyoaga from Canelle et Vanille, Molly Wizenberg from Orangette, Ashley Rodriguez from Not Without Salt and of course, Julie Powell's expired blog The Julie/Julia Project made even more famous by a certain movie...

In retrospect, I can see how many others shared the same dream. That doesn't mean mine was any less important to me but it certainly did make me feel that this space was some how diluted in the world of food dot coms. This feeling was compounded by the reality that I tightly held my fears close and the idea of navigating out of the darkness seemed unobtainable as those fears had become so frighteningly comfortable.

I eventually did move on from that exhausting career with the support of my partner and the possibilities that fell before me seemed to awaken my silent potential. To describe that inspired feeling I would say it felt like I was more open to change, more open to love (including self-love) and open to nurturing my small ideas into something more tangible. I began to meditate, practise yoga and manifest the things I truly wanted to learn and achieve. We even started our own business, Sea and Salt Photography.

As my life has changed, so too has this space. The evolution of Sea and Salt has grown from food blog to travel blog-come-family blog and more.

What it has always been is a space to share my creative writing, thoughts and personal photographs. To date, my most viewed post is my recipe for baked camembert cheese with honey, followed closely by the posts I have shared over the years containing my most honest writings on trying to conceive, parenthood, the odd giveaway I share (funded solely by myself) and one particular creative piece I wrote about a Hendrick's gin and tonic (not surprisingly, it also contains a cocktail recipe)...

This space will continue to change as I collaborate with other creatives on a new venture to help connect with others in new and exciting ways. Sea and Salt continues to grow because I face my fears head on, I lean into them with hope and gratitude for the freedom and lessons I experience along the way. Surrender and be open to new possibilities. This is my mantra.

To those of you who have commented and visited over the years, thank you.

Thank you for the words of encouragement and support. Thank you for sharing your own stories and thank you for being here.

It means the world to me.

Bella xx

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Beach Scenes on New Year's Day

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On New Year's Day, we ventured down to Red Rock beach, where we relaxed in the shade of tropical pandanus trees. We snacked on fresh mango cheeks, sweet strawberries, bursting lychees and sticky nectarines that had warmed with the hot sun. A considerable amount of snacking involved biting into juicy, sandy fruit.

Love splashed about in the shallows, sharing natural treasures of bird feathers, smooth yellow pebbles and broken shells. After lunch, we climbed to the top of the windy headland to admire the choppy waves, salt spray and distant islands before returning to the scorching car.

Most of the cafes on our drive home were closed, except for one tiny corner cafe, where we were able to order some chilled sweet slices of chocolate, pear and pistachio cake, gluten free caramel slice and berry cheesecake.

Today I felt very happy to sit and be. I was thankful we were able to relax and play as a family. Today was the first day in quite some time where I have felt like I could enjoy the present, without the unsettling feeling that I needed to rush off to the next gathering or appointment.

We didn't make personal New Year's resolutions, other than a playful joke where Byron suggested I should be more patient and I laughed, before adding that he should 'be more prompt'.

2016 will see us travel to New Zealand in the summer, embark on more exciting family adventures, move into our own tiny beach house, push ourselves to be more creative with our photography and hopefully much more.

Whilst we wonder about the possibilities, we mindfully savour the present.

May 2016 bring you joy, good health and a refreshing appreciation for living in the moment.

xx

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On Being Quiet and a Little Announcement

Isn't it always the way when your favourite blog is quiet, it's usually because the writer is very busy in real life; taking photographs or writing for another publication, having babies or preoccupied living in other ways. Travel. Adventures. Reflection.

We've been busy here too. At the beginning of 2015 I had grand hopes of documenting Baby Love through a portrait series, one or two shots per day. To my surprise, I completed the entire month of January however, as usually happens when I am distracted by other tasks, the portraits fell by the wayside during February as we pursued another dream that has been brewing for oh, I don't know, the past few years...

We've recently launched our own photography business, Sea and Salt Photography. You can view the website here. We still managed to take daily photos of our little Love however, these remain untouched and therefore, unedited on my external hard drive until I can gather a few undesignated minutes here and there to actually sit, alone, to edit and share.

In more personal news, Byron's mother, Letty, has returned from Dubai to share the next two weeks with us and of course, her darling grand daughter. We will embark on a road trip to Byron Bay and spend the next week dining on gluten free tacos at Miss Magarita and heavenly falafel, sipping coconut water on Main Beach and exploring the tiny stalls and boutique stores that line the streets of the sunny seaside town. I'm particularly keen to visit Spell Designs after seeing the beautiful Jodi of Practising Simplicity in one of their gorgeous ankle length summer dresses. Those photos were taken by my talented friend, Katherine of Lamb Loves Fox and Lamb and Fox Photography (if you don't know about her yet, you really should visit her blog, it's well worth the time). Hopefully I can find something breastfeeding-friendly to laze about in as the cooler Autumn air settles over our beachside bungalow.

When we're finally home, rested and recharged, we will finish some renovations on a house we purchased last year. The private sale was finalised when Love was barely days earth side; a blinking, tiny warm bundle of sweetly scented newborn wrapped and nestled close to my heart.

When I think about it, I'm not too disappointed with the interruption to my Year of Love 365 portrait series. It's challenging enough trying to renovate with an almost mobile baby and to start a family business whilst remembering to dip our toes into the sea of wanderlust and adventure- I'm feeling rather proud of our efforts.

Remember to check out our website if you're interested in viewing some of the natural, spontaneous moments we've captured for local families. Those of you who follow me here will probably recognise a few of the locations along the Mid North Coast and the good news is we're happy to travel to take photos.

seaandsaltphotography.com

Thank you, dear blog friends for the love and support.

Bella xx

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