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Shireen Hammond APP.L M.Photog III - 2016 AIPP Australian Professional Family Photographer of the Year

I remember my very first awards, sitting nervously at the back of the room, biting my nails hoping no one could see that I was physically shaking with anxiety and anticipation! Sitting amongst the very people I admired and aspired to be like -  "Next print please"  and there it was... I remember the rush and the thrill as my tummy turned over whilst the judges debated my image.....  would they understand the story?  Would they see the hard work and hours and hours I had spent creating, choosing, re-touching, refining and then printing this labour of love?... Then back to last year, times those "butterflies" by 15 years of entering, expecting nothing but "hoping" that each year I would improve my skills and craft, competing against only myself... When suddenly I hear - "And the winner of the 2016 Australian Family Photographer of the Year is........ "Shireen Hammond" - OK, so firstly I screamed, hands clapped over my mouth with a look of disbelief as I stared at my husband Robbie for confirmation that I had heard correctly - and then, to say it was a "highlight of my career"  would be an understatement!  For me, a girl who dropped out of school at 15...  to choosing this career at 35 years old,  although I have been blessed enough to win many awards statewide and internationally, to win a National category after years of working on and honing my craft and skill, in the country that I love, well, it was one of the greatest honours of my life!   

Learn more about Shireen

Shireen Hammond M.Photog III - Having always been fascinated by relationships and the Art of Photography, Shireen decided to change her life and career and become a professional photographer on her 35th birthday!  She’s a mother of 6 and a grandmother of 4 – at the tender and fabulous age of 53!Shireen and Robert launched Field of Vision Photography with a Bang in 2004.  They are a "dynamic duo" in the Wedding Industry and are an absolute team.  Robert is a brilliant and sensitive Graphic Artist and self-taught 'Photoshop Guru' and Shireen believes it is his wonderful artistry that brings her emotional captures to 'life'. Shireen has traveled Internationally and throughout Australia, training and educating fellow photographers through workshops and seminars not only in the Art of Photography, but also in the Business of Photography in her ‘unique’ way of imparting all of her knowledge, willingly and without reservation – always punctuated by tears and laughter!Her style of photography and meticulous attention to detail is inspiring.  Her ability to masterfully paint with light and capture relationships with sublime sensitivity, elegance and beauty in an often difficult environment with genuine time constraints, is undeniable.Shireen has been honoured to win countless awards Internationally and Nationally - including: AIPP Victorian Wedding Photographer of the Year 2007 2008 and 2009.  WIPM Wedding Photographer of the Year.  WPPI International – 3rd Place Wedding Bride Category. Winner of the International Aperture Awards – Wedding Category, Most recently, she won the 2014 AIPP Victorian Family Photographer of the Year.  2015 AIPP Victorian Wedding Photographer of the Year and a career highlight, currently holds the prestigious title of 2016 AIPP Australian Family Photographer of the Year.   She has been published in various International and National Magazines throughout her career.She is proud to be one of the first women to be asked to be a Mentor by the late, great Ian McKenzie, in the AIPP Mentoring Program and proudly served our members on the AIPP Victorian Council for 6 years.

www.fovphoto.com.au https://www.facebook.com/shireen.hammond

https://www.facebook.com/fovphoto https://www.instagram.com/field_of_vision_photography/?hl=en

Shireen Hammond APP.L M.Photog III - Having captured Melissa's wedding then newborn images of her first child Thomas and now, her little princess Maddi, who would complete their family, was a very special joy, especially as I love capturing the continuing stories of the lives of my couple's. Melissa is a beautiful and artistic soul, in love with her precious children and I wanted to give her something a bit unique. I noticed at only 5 days old, that Maddi already had many little expressions and commented on this to Melissa, I could see the joy and pride that welled up inside her. Later when looking through the images, I wanted to be able to encapsulate this somewhat for her and so by trial and error, this image was born.
Shireen Hammond APP.L M.Photog III - Having captured Caroline and Fouad's wedding, I really wanted to show the close relationship, trust and love between the two of them and now, with the birth of their beautiful little daughter Izzy - completing the family circle in a simple but beautiful way. (The family circle being depicted by the layout and the cropping of the image).
Shireen Hammond APP.L M.Photog III - Having captured Melissa's wedding then newborn images of her first child Thomas and now, her little princess Maddi, who would complete their family, was a very special joy, especially as I love capturing the continuing stories of the lives of my couple's. Melissa is a beautiful and artistic soul, in love with her precious children and I wanted to give her something a bit unique. I noticed at only 5 days old, that Maddi already had many little expressions and commented on this to Melissa, I could see the joy and pride that welled up inside her. Later when looking through the images, I wanted to be able to encapsulate this somewhat for her and so by trial and error, this image was born.
Shireen Hammond APP.L M.Photog III - Luigi and Antonietta, a beautiful couple, still living in the very same house that Luigi personally built himself, over 30 years ago. Working with my friend Tony Knight of This Is My Life, who was capturing their life story on video - we heard many stories this day, but one thing I learned was that Coffee is Luigi's passion. Whilst capturing their formal portraits, we had a break, and as in any good italian family, you must be fed..... It was here, when I quietly popped around the corner and watched them both silently working in unison together, like a well oiled machine that only years and years of familiarity brings, that I realised that this, in fact was the portrait that their children and families would most relate too. I loved the juxtaposition of the house that still remained as is, yet there he was, at 80 years old, with his brand new hi tech coffee machine proudly sitting on the bench... Antonietta quietly preparing a feast for lunch in the background. A lover of trying to understand and record life and relationships.... this was an amazing moment that I feel so privileged to have witnessed and captured. This was also confirmed by the reaction of the whole family through tears, when I presented the finished product to them.