Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 11:02 AM
We hoped on a plane on Sunday morning and ended up in the land of OZ on Tuesday. Yes, we time traveled. It was a long flight but worth every moment of being stuffed in the middle seat for 20-something hours :) Chris and I had the opportunity to meet some of the most beautiful and inspiring people at our workshop in Australia a few weeks ago. It was such an exhilarating experience. I feel like I grew more than I ever thought possible right along with 17 of my new friends. I am so so grateful to my friend Christine Pobke for making all of this happen. She emailed me over a year ago telling us we should come do a workshop in Australia.  She promised to pull everything together and work out all the details on the ground floor. We had received e mails like this before, but for some reason her note just connected with me. It was like I knew in my heart we were supposed to be there. 

The beautiful attendees truly changed my life. It was an absolutely INCREDIBLE group of people. All of which are very talented photographers that came from all over the be a part. I was truly humbled. At the welcome dinner I looked around the room at all these beautiful faces and I literally just started crying. I was overwhelmed with how these incredibly talented people would want to come and hear from us. It was such a testament to what happens when you follow your passion... doors open, people come and love wins. My life was changed from my new Aussie (and American) friends who came out. 

And a HUGE thank you to my amazing friend Samm Blake who was a guest speaker for us at the workshop... she is just utterly lovely in more ways than I can begin to count.

A couple of attendees wrote some little reflections on their blog that you can check out here: 

*If you would like to be added to our mailing list for upcoming workshops you can e mail us at consulting@sarahrhoads.com with the subject line WORKSHOPS







Thoughts
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samm blake says: Sunday, December 5, 2010, 03:27 PM

words can not express how grateful I am for this experience. It was an absolute honor coming to guest speak at your workshop. a true honor. my november was truly amazing, life changing. so glad we got to spend so much time together. you are both such amazing people and I love you both so dearly! xoxo

Dan O'Day says: Wednesday, December 1, 2010, 05:01 PM

Wowsers.... You gave us so much of yourselves and you should know that took a piece of our hearts back with you. You are both such an inspiration .. Thank you Thank you Thank you for coming to the other side of the world to give... Cant wait to see you again in Vegas! xx

Christine Pobke says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 05:10 PM

I can't express how much you've both changed my life and filled my heart... I'm so grateful to the universe for allowing souls like you to have become aware of your gift for teaching and sharing. It was rewarding, humbling, amazing, inspiring, wonderful, goosebumpy, lightbulby, everything i could have dreamed a workshop to be. Love to you both and i can't wait to see you again in just a few more months. Thank you for sharing what you've shared, and for showing us what "following your heart" really means. Love you!!!!

Gemma Carr says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 04:15 PM

Oh yay - look at all those wonderful faces! Oh I miss those wonderful faces.

You guys were brilliant, from start to finish.
My brain was full of photo stuff and my heart was full of inspriration.
Thanks for coming all the way to Aus to see us!

James Moes says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 04:11 PM

Samm! Blake!

hailey says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 03:59 PM

whahahah! how fun! Love all the fun pics! Loved your workshop too!! Thanks for flying all that way... so grateful!

Robyn Geering says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 02:14 PM

To Sarah and Chris, you guys are utterly awesome and if I could have taken you both home with me I would have. Thankyou for sharing so openly. And didnt our models take and awesome photo :-)

todd hunter mcgaw says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 02:13 PM

there's something about you Sarah and Chris.. you guys are magnetic.. it's like you guys are where awesomeness lives..

alyda says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 02:10 PM

hahhahahahahahah dance off!
Thanks again for coming Sarah & Chris, you guys are out-of-this-world awesome! Can't wait to catch up in Feb :D

Kelly Tunney says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 02:00 PM

Thank you for sharing so much of yourselves.....please come back now :)
LOVED IT LOVED IT (but you know that already). See you in Feb x

Marryam Lum says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 01:44 PM

Loved it, thanks so much to both of u! xo

Kelly says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 01:42 PM

Looks amazing (and Canada is calling : )

johnna brynn says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 01:35 PM

this is just Fantastic! you are fantastic. chris is fantastic and everyone that day in Canberra are beyond fantastic! thank you again and can't wait for more... ;)

Lisa says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 01:30 PM

Laura's words are a perfect sum up : ) Such an awesome time! And that photo of Samm is just beautiful! You guys were amazing! xo

Tracy Wallace says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 01:05 PM

glad it was all worth it. Im sure you inspired everyone who attended.

Steve Gerrard says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 01:05 PM

So it's the UK next then Sarah, yeah? ;)

Laura says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 12:00 PM

Looks like an awesome time! Wish I could have come!

Alex says: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 11:26 AM

Looks like you all had a great time! I hope one day I'll be able to attend one of your workshops :) :)

Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 10:00 PM
She said we could just 'jump the fence and climb up the cliff' like it was no big deal. The adult in me was freaking out.... I haven't jumped a fence since I was maybe seventeen..and even then I think my pants got caught on the fence because I'm a giant klutz. But I had to keep my cool, after all, I was hanging out with a couple of really cool high schoolers and the child in me was screaming... 'do it, do it!' So despite all of the many "No climbing on Rocks" signs, we went for it. There were moments I could picture myself falling off the 40 foot cliff and meeting my death with a tiger shark at the bottom. But as I saw the girls blaze by me with zero fear, I was reminded that that used to be me, completely fearless and fiery in my youth. And then I had to smile because I know that me is still there, it's just a little more inhibited... but I can access it at any time.  It was such a beautiful reminder that those parts of us only cease to exist if we allow them to.

I took this frame of Bela a couple days ago in Maui when we climbed up a big rock & she went cliff jumping while I tried to balance on a tiny rock & take this frame. This moment will forever serve as a reminder of how incredible it feels to tap into that fearless youth that resides within all of us. The antithesis of fear is freedom, and to me that is what this moment is all about. Freedom is one of those beautiful qualities I love to dig for in the heart of people and pull out in my imagery. Freedom is such a radiant energy and it is absolutely exhilarating to capture in people. The amazing thing is that freedom is accessible to us at all times, after all, (in the words of the band, Elizabeth & The Catapult) "we're all just taller children." 



Thoughts
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Lydia says: Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 05:45 PM

The perfect family portrait session!

Allison says: Monday, November 29, 2010, 09:50 AM

I love love love this photo and can totally relate to the you "now" saying what happened to the fearless me of then... She's still in there and waiting to jump off a cliff...

Marryam Lum says: Thursday, November 25, 2010, 07:10 PM

Love this shot sarah :) and your inspiring words as always!

Patrina says: Thursday, November 25, 2010, 01:13 PM

Wow, spectacular!

Tiffany Lowry says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 01:55 PM

awwww:) sooo great!

Alex says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 01:20 PM

Awesome post, I love the message and I love the photo.

Alex says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 01:20 PM

Awesome post, I love the message and I love the photo.

Celine says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 08:33 AM

amazing shot! I would be quite scared!
there are children taller than me! I can blend right in...

Rich Park says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 07:05 AM

it's a great feeling when i can let go of the fear and just go for it. - reflected perfectly in this picture. great shot!

millie holloman says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 04:48 AM

AMAZING! Love it and love what you wrote, a great reminder to constantly live in the moment and truly LIVE!

Brian Crofts says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 11:35 PM

I'm right behind her! Great shot. Love your work.

Annie says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 10:59 PM

Amazing... wish I could access my inner child again :)

todd hunter mcgaw says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 10:23 PM

great frame and wise words Sarah.. I totally dig your skills..

Kevin Wrenn Photography says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 10:15 PM

So did you jump...off the cliff that is? Great frame BTW!

Monday, November 22, 2010, 12:01 PM
This is what we lived & traveled in last week while we traveled around the south island of New Zealand. We had no showers, no luxury, no cell phones and we pulled off at campsites and slept in the back of the bus every night which turned into a bed, it was a much needed escape. The VW Kombi was a 1966 whose gear box was a bit "special" and needed some extra love. Chris was not only driving on the wrong side of the road, but when you are driving a 1966 VW bus there are no power breaks and no power steering. It was pretty funny, Chris was such a trooper, that thing was the antithesis of easy to drive, but we had so many laughs.

New Zealand was nothing short of a scene out of Lord of the Rings, just replace all the hobbits in the movie with sheep. They had more sheep than I had ever seen in my life. I'll do a post just on New Zealand later but since I'm traveling right now this is just a frame from the adventure. 

We're currently in Maui getting ready to shoot one of our favorite little families, the Odette family. We woke up and looked out the window to sandy beaches and sunshine. I'm pretty sure it is dumping snow in Seattle right now... oh the irony! 

Thoughts
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Danielle Snelson says: Sunday, November 28, 2010, 08:40 PM

Girl-You KNOW we are loving this. Please say we can plan an amazing road trip together someday. That would be bliss!

Sarah Danaher says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 12:10 PM

I just got back from 3 weeks in New Zealand (just, as in last night). I, too, spent a week driving around the South Island, except I was in a camper van instead of a VW. It was epic, nonetheless. And I'm relatively certain that I saw that Kombie while I was there. Can't wait to see your shots. I'll post mine soon. =)

JP & Ashley Post says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 04:06 PM

We're on the South Island of New Zealand right now! :) - in Nelson. You pretty much described our lives right now... except we're in a sedan :)

Jen K says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 01:40 PM

Sarah you two are awesome! Matt and I have been planning a similar road trip of our own around the states this Spring...should be pretty wild!

ajja says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 11:14 PM

great picture/adventure(: just wanted to thank you because it was through one of your blog posts that i ran into the making things happen tour last year. i just got to go to the one here on maui last week. thanks for being the connector!

ajja says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 11:14 PM

great picture/adventure(: just wanted to thank you because it was through one of your blog posts that i ran into the making things happen tour last year. i just got to go to the one here on maui last week. thanks for being the connector!

Mary says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 08:37 PM

Those vans are awesome, this brings back happy memories of my last southern hemisphere summer. At least the South Island has more sheep than it has people on the roads :) Look forward to your NZ pics!

Allie says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 07:50 PM

Not bad, not bad at all :)

Annie says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 03:03 PM

So glad you had a great time! Road tipping in a Kombi is a dream of mine, and your trip sounds amazing! Can't wait to see photos! :)

Greg Hoskins says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 02:26 PM

Beautiful scenery! And a sweet ride :)

alyda says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 02:24 PM

squeeeeeeeeee!!! so cute

Rich Park says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 02:02 PM

wow, sounds like quite an adventure! can't wait to see the new zealand post!

Alex Beadon says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 12:54 PM

Amazing :)

Dennis Bullock says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 12:38 PM

I am sure it was a blast!

Joshua Mahar says: Monday, November 22, 2010, 12:13 PM

This is dope!

Friday, November 12, 2010, 05:00 AM
Kayko & Doug took all of their friends and family on a One Day anniversary cruise the day after their amazing wedding in Mykonos, Greece. It was such a fun way to celebrate on the water, soaking up the sun, playing, jumping out of the boat and just enjoying life. The boat was a 90 foot sail boat that looked like a pirate ship. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. The weather was gorgeous and I think everyone was grateful to extend the experience and not have it just end with the wedding, but to have yet another unique experience the day after the wedding. Kayko & Doug did everything in their power to make this an incredible experience for their friends and family who were able to be a part of their wedding in Greece.

The cruise was beautiful. Seeing Mykonos from a boat was a whole new perspective of this beautiful little island. Everyone had their binoculars out and a glass of wine in hand. What a perfect way to spend the day! My favorite thing about shooting destination weddings is how it is more than just one day... it is about an EXPERIENCE. It's like living in a utopia world for a few days... you have all your favorite people in one place on one little island to celebrate. It doesn't get much better than that if you ask me.
 
At the end of the cruise, after about four days of shooting I handed Chris my camera, and dove off the boat into the Aegean Sea with the rest of the guests. It felt amazing. I was so grateful for this whole experience. 

p.s. on a totally different note- Australia is amazing! Our workshop went so well.... we are in Sydney now but are heading to Melbourne tomorrow and I cannot wait to experience that city. If anyone has any favorite places in Melbourne hit me up in the comments! :)

**This wedding will be featured in Destination Wedding Magazine and will be on stands in March**


Thoughts
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JasonG says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 04:32 PM

Wow... so much fun!!!

Meaghan says: Monday, November 15, 2010, 12:31 PM

Coffee, coffee, coffee! You've got to drink a gazillion cups of day in melbourne, then you'll experience it just right.

Meg says: Sunday, November 14, 2010, 10:55 PM

My favorite thing to do in Melbourne was philips island! You can go to a reserve and get close to all the animals and feed them!

Braeden says: Sunday, November 14, 2010, 07:06 AM

So good Sarah. So so good. PS are you going to be at WPPI this year because I've a feelin' we need to do photo shoot round 2 if you are :).

Rensche Mari says: Saturday, November 13, 2010, 11:11 PM

I L.O.V.E this whole series of images! What a lovely couple and oh my word, the stunning atmosphere you captured. The colours are so awesome, I just want to get on a plane and go to Greece! PS. I'm green with envy ;)

Lesley says: Saturday, November 13, 2010, 04:33 PM

Ohh, Saint Kilda, and see if you can see the penguins! I totally missed them when we were there and was quite sad. All the lanes and alleys are super cool full of fun places to eat and have coffee at as well as graffiti art. It's to die for! Oh, Grill'd burger!
Have fun, Melbourne if fantastic!

Laura says: Friday, November 12, 2010, 08:38 PM

Awesome photos! Love all the pictures of Greece, somewhere I really hope I can go someday. Keep up the amazing work!

Annie says: Friday, November 12, 2010, 03:39 PM

Who better to photograph a pirate ship in Greece!? You guys rock and I hope you are having an amazing time here in Oz! :) :) :)

jen says: Friday, November 12, 2010, 11:25 AM

stunning, just stunning

Justin James says: Friday, November 12, 2010, 11:17 AM

Favorite shoot you've done to date Sarah. I'm a HUGE fan of both Greece and nautical things, especially old wooden boats. This really just kicks me into gear today and inspires me. Thanks for sharing, and this is just awesome.

In a month or so, check out my site, and you'll see my love for boats and all things nautical!

Jeff Marsh says: Friday, November 12, 2010, 07:57 AM

awesome post! i want more!

Rich Park says: Friday, November 12, 2010, 07:53 AM

wow, amazing wedding and afterparty that's just as good if not better! great job with the shots!

anda says: Friday, November 12, 2010, 07:15 AM

WOW! so beautiful -- all of these images.

Kip says: Friday, November 12, 2010, 06:30 AM

Holy cowzers! Great post.

Bistro Guillaume on Southbank was one of my top culinary experiences of all time but alas, it's currently moving locations to inside the Crown. Bummer!

Bear Brass at Southbank has a great patio for people watching and nice pizzas.

Great gelato shop upstairs next to Scusami.

In the CBD there is a great little street called Hardware Lane that is lined with restaus much like Europe. Camera shop across the street too.

Caffe e Torta in the Royal Arcade off of Little Collins Street has bomboloni and great espresso.

Oh... You said places. I guess all I ever think of is food. The Docklands are pretty cool.

Have a great time!

Briony says: Friday, November 12, 2010, 05:56 AM

holy wow.

Dennis Bullock says: Friday, November 12, 2010, 05:43 AM

What an amazing trip!

Pobke says: Friday, November 12, 2010, 05:18 AM

you do greece so perfectly. absolutely gorgeously. amazing work, rhoadsies... you guys should be oh so proud. :) ps miss you two SO much. :(