Hi all...I have a few more Waitomo pictures I want to share with you. I have gone on a hike every day and it's just so refreshing to be in nature again (and in the warm sun!) I am currently in Taupo and then eventually on to Rotorua. I will be posting updates as much as I can so check back soon!

These horses greeted me every day when I would venture out on my hike

The last Waitomo sunset.

I have been doing "heaps" (as the Kiwi's say) of hiking and shooting so much every day. I think I'm getting a tan line from my camera strap around my neck and I'm still waiting for my legs to get used to the hills around here!:) Also, I've been helping my students out with their cameras and offering helpful hints along the way. I am really enjoying sharing my passion with them and hope they come home with photos they are proud of after this adventure! Below are just a few of the sights from yesterday. It was a blue-sky day until evening when some gorgeous clouds rolled in. I went with some locals and some of the students to go bouldering in the New Zealand hills. The colors at dusk were a photographers dream!

These first two photos were taken on the hike

Bouldering at dusk

As I mentioned yesterday, I picked up a macro lens prior to my trip and I've been having so much fun with it.

Everything is in bloom here and its amazing!

I finally found an internet cafe with wireless!! New Zealand is about 15 years behind the U.S. (according to locals), so this is a big step that I'm able to post photos! I have been shooting every day and loving that I've been given this opportunity to spend so much time doing what I am truly passionate about. (Oh yes, and it's summer here so that's just a little added bonus):)

I am in Waitomo, NZ which is on the north island, and staying in a Marai, a traditional Maori (native New Zealanders) building, with 17 students. It's quite the change from my nice cozy bed back home and I must admit that I've had a bit of a hard time sleeping, but I'm sure i'll start getting used to "roughing it" again. I was here 7 years ago as a student and it's amazing being back - everything looks just as I remembered it. New Zealand is so natural and organic and people live basic lifestyles - not materialistic in the least and such kindness - when someone is honking their car horn, for instance, it is to say hello or to see if you'd like a ride. Very different from the U.S.!

I will be staying here until Saturday (Friday in America) and then heading to Taupo for the Tongariro Crossing (a 9-hour hike). Here I will be staying in a hostel and then heading down to the Able Tasman where my tent will be my abode for about 1 week. Stay tuned!

This is my new "home away from home"... my bed on the right - 3rd from the front. (how cozy!) :)

It has been raining off and on the past few days and I have seen the most beautiful rainbows. The sunsets are breathtaking

Carvings on the Marai

We went rappeling down into a river gorge the 2nd day here. It was quite intense!

We landed in the river and it was so gorgeous and peaceful

Check back tomorrow as I will be uploading some photos I took with my new macro lens!

Hello everyone...I have a little downtime before blackwater rafting so I'd thought I would provide a quick update. I am having an amazing time so far - just got done rappelling down into a river canyon. It was pretty intense and my hands are still a bit shaky.

I know everyone is patiently waiting for some pictures but turns out wireless internet connections are few and far between. (FYI I am writing this update from a non wireless computer) I heard a rumor that the local Starbucks, yes you read that right, has wireless access so I will make my way over there as soon as I can.

Now I am off to prep for my first class. Check back soon!

Hello everyone...I just touched down in New Zealand a couple hours ago. I will be uploading some photos shortly. :)

I think I have 2 (or possibly 3) new little apprentices - my 5-year old nephew and 2-year old and 4-month old nieces! The older two LOVE taking pictures (especially with my old camera phone.:) It works great when I'm taking their pictures because they are involved too - and telling me to smile.:) Most days they love HAVING their picture taken as well. Although April (2 yrs.) only works with me for about 1.3 seconds and then she's done with the whole thing. She'd rather brush my hair.:) Adam (5 yrs.), on the other hand, LOVES it! He says "Take a picture of me like this Auntie..." about 50 times and I'm in all my glory! Erin (4-months), well, she smiles when she hears the "click", so that's all I need! I went over to their house today to say goodbye before leaving for New Zealand (TOMORROW!!) and it was so great. Those kids take all of my stress and worries away...And they just melted my heart when we said goodbye. I got the longest, tightest hugs from them and the sweetest "I love you's".

My entire family met me for lunch today which was such a treat! They were my "farewell party" when I went to New Zealand 7 years ago and having their support through everything that I do-big and small-is indescribable. I am so blessed....have I said that before??:)

Here are some photos of my sister's sweet kids today...

The 1.3 seconds of April looking and smiling for me:) My buddy Adam Erin being way too cute April taking a picture(We'll work on her technique:)) "Take a picture of me like this Auntie!" My amazing sister/mother of 3! Apprentices taking self-portraits

Last night was quite the adventure at the McCauley household...our heat stopped working and the temperature dropped to 44 degrees inside! Luckily our pals over at the fantastic Kalmes Mechanical brought over 4 space heaters and worked arduously on our heating system until 1 a.m. when it finally started working again. (I'm officially Kalmes Mechanical's #1 fan!) I know if your a Minnesotan reading this, you can sympathize...it was FREEZING last night!! All is well now and thankfully the house was once again warm and cozy for when my 7 photographer friends came over to "talk shop" this morning. It's wonderful being a member of a group who all share the same passion and who are all fulfilling their dreams as business owners of their own photography companies. But more on that later...:)

Somehow I have spent almost the entire weekend packing for New Zealand and, even more shocking, somehow I ended up purchasing ANOTHER camera bag for my gear!! This might not sound like a big deal to most of you, but this is my 7TH CAMERA BAG...and my 3rd camera backpack! I think I need more backs.:) It's absolutely ridiculous...how many bags does one girl need?? In my defense though, I needed to do some creative packing for this trip...or I needed to buy a donkey. Since I probably couldn't get a donkey through security, I needed a camera backpack that could also hold all of my carry-on necessities for the loooong flight. (12 hours I believe, but I don't want to think about it). I also need to bring all of my backpacking/camping gear since I'll be living out of my tent for about a week (I think). So, if you happen to be at the MSP or LAX airports on Friday, don't mind the girl dragging 18 bags behind her with 25 backpacks strapped to her body. I'm kidding of course, but I'm predicting that this is going to be quite the adventure and I can't wait...despite my packing woes.:)

I just finished Jamie & Jeff's wedding from last weekend and I can't wait for them to get home from Maui to see their photos! :) I struggle putting into words the relationship I develop with my clients....(I really wish I would have taken more English classes in school!!)...but to say it simply, they truly become my friends. By the time the wedding rolls around, we know what to expect from one another, which is SO nice - not only for me, but I believe for them too. Then, after the wedding it feels like we've known each other forever. It's crazy and it's beautiful and gosh, I feel so lucky!! I'm incredibly blessed to have them in my life. Jamie & Jeff are amazing. Here are a few pages from their album I designed. I hope they like it and I can't wait to catch up with them to hear about their honeymoon!

There are only 9-days left before I leave for the beautiful country of New Zealand and I'm still in disbelief that this adventure is almost here! I'll be teaching photography to about 30 students while traveling the North and South islands of New Zealand. Am I dreaming!? I will be gone for just about 1-month and although the thought of leaving my husband for that long makes me incredibly sad, I know this is going to be one of those lifetime experiences that I will cherish forever and could be the start of something really wonderful.

Yesterday my sweet 4-month old niece was dedicated. My nieces and nephew are truly my joy and it's so precious watching them grow and develop their little personalities.:) Erin was just as perfect as ever on her big dedication day!

Yesterday's wedding couldn't have been more perfect! Jamie and Jeff are such a wonderful, amazing couple and their friends and relatives - so welcoming. They made me feel like part of the family! We had a blast together and it was so much fun and non-stop that I didn't even notice that I was shooting for 13 hours straight! From the salon in the morning to the packed dance floor at night - every moment was electric! The reception was at the beautiful Rush Creek Golf Club where I always enjoy working because not only is it elegant, but every reception there is flawless! Below are just a few of the many amazing moments captured yesterday (make sure to leave a comment to let me know what you think!)

I just finished cleaning my cameras and lenses and I can't wait for the big day tomorrow! It's been a few weeks since photographing a wedding and this one is going to be amazing - I just know it!:) This is what I do before every shoot - I lay everything out, clean it perfectly (just ask my husband...I think I spent about 30 minutes on my 5D tonight!) and quadruple-check everything. Check back to see highlights from Jamie & Jeff's wedding!

Photo taken with my IPhone

Welcome to my new blog and website everyone! I'm so excited that this project has launched! It has been many months in the works. I am thoroughly amazed by and thankful for the people who have supported me along the way. My clients are seriously the best!! Here are just a few of the amazing "thank you's" I received in 2007. I absolutely love photography, but it's because of you that my love for the art grows each and every day! I can't wait to see what 2008 has in store!