Not Mystery Case competitions but still 'worth casing':
Create your own Great Barrier Reef experience and win a $10,000 holiday! Easy entry via Visit Queensland Facebook page.
Jet Empire Jewellery currently have an amazing 'We Can Get Together' necklace up for grabs. Super easy 25 words or less competition and you will need to 'like' their Facebook page to ENTER. ENDS 27/05/13
While you are there make sure you subscribe because we hear there are more amazing giveaways just around the corner. ENDS 02/06/13
Missy Confidential have a rather impressive Balenciaga handbag with a stash of goodies valued at over $3000 on offer with easy ENTRY via their Facebook page.
SPENCERLACY Styleare giving away the ultimate 'Touch of Luxury' Melbourne experience valued at over $2500! Includes a $500 wardrobe, accommodation and flight vouchers to Melbourne and much more! Head to their facebook page for further details and to ENTER.
If you've spotted a great competition please leave a comment below with all the details and make sure you like our facebook page so you are in the running for our monthly mystery prize draw!
Mysteriously yours,
Mystery xx
PLEASE NOTE: Unless stated these competitions are not run by Mystery Case and we suggest you read all terms and conditions for more information before entering.
Photographer Hazel Buckley offers her expert advice on how to choose a wedding photographer, in her first of hopefully many "worth casing" Wedding features.
We all have an uncle or a 'friend of a friend' who is 'good with a camera', but is it worth the gamble on probably what is going to be one of the most memorable and special occasions of your life, your wedding day. If you value your day and the pictures that will represent the memory give great consideration to using a professional photographer, one that will suit you, and your style.
After all would you let those same friends of friends make your cake, arrange your flowers and or stitch your dress? Just remember after the make up has faded, the last crumb of cake sits on the plate, the flowers wither and the dress hangs in the wardrobe what you have left is of course your love but also your memories recorded on film or sensor to take with you in life, to show your children, your children's children and beyond.
Beautiful, ever lasting pictures of years gone by. Cherished keepsakes passed down through the generations. Have you ever looked at your mums or your grandmothers wedding pictures? Well if you have you will know what I mean.
I think the most important thing to decide on is your style. Whether you have traditional pictures, photojournalism, quirky, the new vintage or fine art you need to find a photographer to do that well.
We are easy to find at wedding fares, on the internet, wedding blogs, wedding venues, and wedding planners and of course through recommendation. Look at lots of wedding pictures and remember how each style makes you feel. If a picture makes you linger and wonder, it’s worth looking deeper into that photographers style. But make sure their style is consistent and they have plenty to show. Experience is also important but saying that new and up and coming photographers without too much experience can still do a great job, again look at their work and talk to them.
If you are from a big traditional family and its important to have lots of pictures of family groups to keep “mum” happy then again you need to find a photographer that shows this in their work. Traditional and creative don’t always go “cap in hand”. If you want a mixture make sure you discuss this with your photographer and make sure he/she has understood. Check your photographer is covered by professional indemnity insurance. Insurance covers loss and damage not style so again talk to your photographer about this. Make sure you meet with you photographer in person so you feel comfortable with them, after all you will spend most of your day with them. The best photographers will treat your day as a special event and not just a job and will endeavour to capture the best pictures they can. I cannot reiterate enough how important it is to communicate your wishes and desires for your day.
Decide what level of service you want from your wedding photographer. Perhaps you only need photographs of your ceremony so having just 1‐3 hours of photography may be enough for you. Other couples may prefer a complete package that may include a pre‐wedding engagement sessions, rehearsal dinner photographs, bridal portraits and newlywed photos. This will all be reflected in the costs, which brings me to …. Yep costs…..
I assume you have heard the saying “you get what you pay for” well this can certainly be the case when employing a photographer. In this fantastic new digital age everyone seems to be a photographer. So be prepared to see some great deals out there, some unbelievable deals even but always remember a well‐trained photographer and a good eye has worked hard and will work hard all day at your wedding capturing images and they work very hard after your wedding editing your images. They use the latest equipment, they pay insurance, and I would say the most important thing is it is their sole and principal way of earning a living. Not a second job at the weekend or pin money. I do at times get frustrated with the amount of wedding photographers that have popped up in recent times that are seemingly taking away work from for what I call “us real professionals”. It’s easy nowadays, equipment is affordable and accessible but you do have to know how to use it. Your photographer needs to shoot raw images and understand why they are doing this. To treat editing in light room as though you are still in the dark room. True professionals charge accordingly and respect their craft.
Lots of professionals will use a second shooter to capture different angels and other moments. And remember good photographers will get booked first. Reserve your photographer a year in advance at least.
Your photographer will expect a deposit to secure the date and for you to sign an agreement. Again this is all part of professional services. It is at this stage you need to make sure that you understand what is expected from each other and whether your photographer is releasing copyright in the form of full resolution images.
Even when they do this most photographers will reserve the right to use images for promotion in the future, but I believe a good photographer even though they reserve the right will still politely ask if an image is to be used.
There is a lot to think about when choosing your photographer and I hope my little input has helped. Finally you might ask why I shoot weddings.
Well I love to create pictures that tell a story. And what could be more beautiful of the story of a wedding. I get to document people in their most honest and vulnerable moments...love, tears of joy, laughter and the togetherness of a bunch of people connected with life. I believe that my genuine interest in people and my dedication to beauty shows through in my pictures. My style is a mix of editorial and fine art photojournalism – some call it ‘creative reportage’. I love to capture emotion and the finer details. My approach is not about endless lists of groups or specific shot lists, it’s about telling the story of your day through my eyes. I live and shoot here in Perth. I travel to the UK and other destinations.
Can YOU come up with a catchy caption for this photo?
Wordless or not, if you have a blog please link up below. We are always on the lookout for new blogs to 'case'. While you are here make sure you enter our easy Mystery Prize GIVEAWAY.
Before Midnight is Richard Linklater's third film following the relationship between Jesse an American man (Ethan Hawke) and Celine a French woman (Julie Delpy), almost two decades after their chance meeting on a train bound for Vienna. Having followed their journey in Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004) I'm really looking forward to this next instalment.
To wet your appetite for Before Midnight's upcoming release in Australia we have a limited edition double DVD up for grabs of Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, together with a rather awesome Mystery Prize.
I must confess as we link up with Kirsty from My Home Truths for another Monday blogging confessional that I don't watch television (this week's topic) Reality or otherwise, unless it can be considered Research & Development or it involves an exercise DVD. It truly is the only way I fit so much into my day.
As a child, the only television I was permitted to watch involved documentaries or sport that my father was interested in, usually boxing. A boxing documentary would have been considered a momentous family occasion and just in case there is any confusion this was though my father's eyes only. As a result, I've developed an allergy to documentaries and boxing over the years!
I must confess when I first moved out of home I became more than a bit TV mad, trying to make up for lost time, even purchasing a video player to record the oddest of shows. I even found myself planning weekly Melrose Place parties with friends in front of the TV.
Luckily my obsession with TV didn't last long as I quickly discovered just how much precious time and sleep I was actually losing. The only time I really miss out from my lack of television watching is when I attend trivia nights and fail miserably with questions even remotely aimed at TV programs. Funnily enough, my hubby rather enjoys watching all manner of TV shows and DVDs starting with sport, followed by a love of documentaries. I do occasionally join him in front of the TV, usually with a ball of wool and a crochet hook because I never have enough time for that either.
My Television Reality Factor
Biggest Loser:
I'd rather exercise myself, even if it's a simple walk or bike ride than watch others exercising. Ideally though I like to go Geocaching with the family where we combine walking or riding with exploring new places and finding treasures along the way!
Master Chef or MKR:
We have our own in house challenge where we pick a theme each week. Everyone then needs to research recipes, shop for ingredients and we have a cook or bake off. Everyone is a winner in this challenge as we share the results for morning and afternoon tea and I even get some time off cooking the evening meal depending on what the girls and Mr C come up with. My favourite so far would be the lemon challenge, given we all love lemons and our "lemonade" lemon tree was in abundance at the time. Miss 12 made a lemon luscious cake, Miss 13 made mini lemon meringue pies and Miss 15 made lemon slice. Lemonlicious!
Big Brother (is that even still around?):
Now I'm sure this show could be considered Research & Development and would be fairly entertaining but I think I'd rather subscribe to Adelle at Where The Styled Things Are both on her blog, Instagram and Facebook page. Only this month, thanks to Adelle, I was introduced to motor boating and a host of other things that you really NEED to see for yourself. I guarantee Adelle is far more entertaining than any reality TV program.
The Block:
We prefer to make over a room in our house or find an interesting piece of furniture to upcycle. Our next project will be turning one of these 'cases' into a coffee table. If I had even more time though I would dearly love to head back to NSW and do up our investment property to sell.
Now if I could find an extra helper for the much needed 'casing' on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter because that would free up even more of my time and I may even get around to writing my first novel, throwing more mystery prize giveaways or possibly discovering a reality show that is actually worth watching. Speaking of GIVEAWAYS, make sure you head back tomorrow as we have a rather impressive DVD giveaway up for grabs and NO it isn't anything to do with documentaries or boxing!
If you gave up watching TV, how many hours a day would that give you and what would you do with the extra time?
Where The Styled Things Are has a fab Tamara Harrison Design Jane Jetson necklace up for grabs. More fantastic photos and details available via Adelle's blog post. 
