Hands down the best looking and fun crowd! Glitter, sun, sand, water, more glitter, horses, great tunes, more glitter, juicy food, fresh coconuts, glitter, pokemon, shot gun weddings, speed dating, floating flamingos and more glitter! This was Lost Paradise in a nut shell.  

I am part of the RAW Artist Family. Below are some head shots I captured during one of the RAW shows. Working with these amazing artists, I consider a true blessing. 

What is RAW? 
'To provide independent artists within the first 10 years of their creative career with the tools, resources and exposure needed to inspire and cultivate creativity. RAW ventures to provide the platform for these artists to be seen,heard, and loved. 

RAW showcases indie talent in visual art, film, fashion design, music, performance art, hair and makeup artistry, and photography. 

RAW is a fun and alternative way for artists to showcase both to their local community and the world-at-large. 
We are not your average art show. We are loud, colorful, creative, and all about our artists. We are RAW.
RAW currently operates in over 60 cities across the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK!"

The History of Raw
"In 2003, a small-town girl graduated high school and moved to Los Angeles. Heidi Luerra's only wish was to pursue her life-long dream of becoming a fashion designer. Not wasting any time, she started her own clothing line. She soon realized that she was just one small fish in a very big pond. She sold her pieces at swapmeets on the weekends while going to school full-time, working part-time and interning in the fashion district. 

After a while she thought ... "there's got to be a better way to get my work out there." 

Surrounded by new friends and talented people in art, music, performance and film that were facing the same plight -- she decided to take matters into her own hands. 

In 2005, Heidi Luerra threw her first multi-faceted showcase in Los Angeles. After much interest from the community, she found her calling -- to create a platform for the many talented budding artists out there. 

In 2009, equipped with a mission of bringing tools and resources to artists, RAW was born. After the first RAW event, a local web developer, Matthew Klahorst approached Heidi about combining these art events with an online community for artists. From this collaboration came the next evolution of RAW --  promoting artists both online and offline. 

In 2011, they decided to take the concept beyond Southern California, to the cities across the United States. In July 2012, RAW made its first international debut in Australia. In 2013, RAW opened additional locations in Canada and the UK. Years since its start, RAW is now hosting events and showcasing independent creatives in over 70 cities across the world."

Full show photos here: 
rawartists.smugmug.com/RAW-AUSTRALIA/NEWCASTLE/RAW-Newcastle-presents-SIGNATU/

"Art Party is a global and multidisciplinary platform for emerging artists, founded in Sydney, Australia in 2012. Art Party began as a monthly event in Sydney, welcoming performances of musicians, poets, painters, magicians, comedians, fire spinners, clowns, rappers, burlesque dancers, VJs, DJs, sculptors,  and dancers with a warm audience in artist-run spaces.
As time continued, Art Party has continued to connect with local businesses, innovators, artists, venues and the public to further facilitate the connection between inspiration and community. Art Party has travelled outside Sydney in a further attempt to create a dynamic, global community, including parties in Brisbane, Byron Bay, Gosford, Canberra, Melbourne, Airlie Beach, Bali, Goa Beach – India, St Petersburg – Russia, Nelson – Canada and London – UK.
All of this has been done on a dime. Crashing on couches and floorboards. Paying for rent with change because we took Art Party away on another road trip, surviving on 2-minute noodles and the grace of strangers. A passion project designed to be a meeting place for all the arts, for collaborative folk and those trying to also pay their rent in spare change.
Coming into our third year, we have built a Sydney-based show that sells out every month, with hands-down the best audience in town, and unique, impressive artists. Friends locally and internationally have been inspired by the events in Australia pledging to carry the warmth from our community onward and open up our humble stage to many more locations.
We are proud to have built a show that pays all contributors, hosts, artists, designers, and sound technicians. Any additional profits are re-invested into the growth of Art Party Australia and it’s international friends.
Let the arting begin!"

Here are some of the photos I captured during the Winter Warmer Art Party held on the Central Coast NSW. 

​http://artparty.com.au/fusion-slider-fixed-width/

Follow the link below to read about the Lost Paradise Festival Debrief.

​ “Back to nature”, the perfect mantra for the Lost Paradise festival. Three days filled with good vibes, sunshine, bright colours, delicious food, creativity and fantastic music in the magical surrounds of Glenworth Valley. Morning mist, fresh, cold water creeks, running horses and smiling faces. What more could you ask for? 

​http://www.breezemagazine.com.au/lost-paradise-festival-debrief-with-nadia-gradwell

Happy new Year  Peeps! Here are a few of my favourite shots of the Lost Paradise Festival! Enjoy Stay tuned for more to follow soon!

The Botanical Workshop team focus with a great attention to detail right from the word go. Based on the Central Coast, Katie Clare (owner) and her team service Sydney, The Hunter Valley and other popular wedding destinations throughout NSW.  
You can feel their love and passion in their creations. Their inhouse stylist will organize the floral arrangements, props and lighting to create the perfect atmosphere for any event.  Weddings, corporate events, birthdays and so much more is covered by this creative team. From place cards, center pieces, napkins, probs, they will give your event the true WOW factor, guaranteed! 

http://www.thebotanicalworkshop.com.au/

I was fortunate to capture Mindy Woods from MasterChef 4.  She cooks from the heart and her unique online production, "Eat Drink, Travel Play" seeks out, discovers and shares unique, undiscovered culinary and cultural experiences around the globe. Mindy has decided to leave her “sensible” career in Physiotherapy behind and turn all her attention to food.
“I want to know I can step away from everything that gives me security.” 

Here is a little snipped about Mindy

"From a very young age I had an innate passion, near obsession for food. My Mum often reminds me of my determination to marry a ‘Chinese man’ from a very young age…so that my dad could teach him how to cook for me.
Soggy lettuce and onion sandwiches and cold cups of tea at the age of four was my first  (not so) memorable attempt at preparing my first meal, breakfast in bed for my Mum and Dad. My culinary skills and abilities have hopefully improved since then.
My favourite pastimes were meals shared with the people I loved. Our family table was one that always welcomed extended family, neighbours and friends. People looked forward to sharing meals with my family not only because of my parent’s generosity of spirit but also because of the ‘exotic’ foods we would often cook and serve. We certainly weren’t your typical ‘meat and three veg’ type of family.
A keen student I pursued a career in Physiotherapy. I truly enjoyed my time spent with patients, learning of their stories and empowering them with the knowledge and skills to optimally recover from injury and illness.  Health and fitness today is an integral part of my lifestyle.
Underlying this desire to connect with and help people was a rising passion for food that started to consume my everyday. It became more than a passion it became my life. Today very much like my Mum and Dad, food is the medium I use to create, inspire, connect with and nourish the family and friends  in my world. I dream, breath and live food my every moment. It sings to me like a beautiful melody of colour, flavour, texture and balance.
My philosophy on food is very much about celebrating local produce, staying true to seasonality, supporting sustainabilityand creating meals that are not only delicious but nourish our bodies and our souls. Simplicity and honesty are the important foundations of the food I create and will share with you.
Join me on my quest for taste and lets discover the inspired flavours of Australia together."

For REALY yummy recipes, hop over the Mindy's website. 
http://www.mindy-woods.com.au/

The below images captured here in action at the Cast Off Seafood and Wine Festival.