A certain photographer is having a birthday tomorrow, and one of the sweetest, and most talented cake decorators around, Gail Gough, made me the coolest birthday cake on the planet! Check it out:

Its a replica of a little “box brownie” camera, what else are you going to make for a wedding photographer!! Gail also does wedding cakes, so check out the “Favourite Things” section of the official site for Gail’s details!

Today was one of the hottest days I think I’ve ever shot in, in my entire life. Mick & Tammy’s wedding was in Ipswich, and being from these parts myself, you can bank on it being a few degrees hotter than the average Brisbane temperature, and even that was scorching!

If the heat was bad enough for me, spare a thought for all the brides out there today who had to swelter in the weight of their dresses! Not to mention the poor groom wearing a suit! But Mick and Tammy handled it so well. The ceremony was at the historic St Mary’s church in Ipswich, after which we took the bridal party to the much shadier Nerrima Gardens in Queens Park.

Hats off to these guys for still maintaining their concentration when I’m sure they were “over it”, but they humoured me anyway!! I then quickly stole the couple away to the Workshops Rail Museum to grab some shots with the railway line.

And the action shots. Watch this kid, I think one day he might make a good wedding photographer…

Poo making himself useful…

My best friends’ brother Paul is also a wedding photographer, and we ran into him at Queens Park…

I love getting down low to shoot, you see things from a whole different perspective, although you can get pretty filthy as a result….

Mum and Poo have been down the river at Fernvale camping since Tuesday, and Poo left for the day to come out with me. I dropped him back at camp, and seeing I was close, dropped round their house to cool off in the pool. The water was beautiful, and it was so relaxing to just float around and watch the sun setting over the hills comforted in the knowledge that in a few short weeks I’ll be returning permanently to this place I call home.

Blog readers may remember my girlfriend Natalie (the one who got married in Vegas last year). Well, she called me at 5pm this afternoon to tell me that she had quit her job. It was really quite the milestone for her because she had been working at Telstra for the last 13 years. On my last night at the Big T a few years back, Nat was right by my side as we went to have a few celebratory drinks. So tonight it was Nat’s turn to celebrate her newfound freedom.

So Natalie, Courtney and I met up at Jo Jo’s for dinner. I know the relief and excitement that she is feeling right now, but also the sadness of losing the colleagues that become like family. It was unlike any other place I’d worked before, where it really did feel like home. You shared experiences both good and bad there, and over time you invested a serious portion of yourself and your life and relationships in the place, that to leave truly was like walking out the door of your own home.

Nat, I am so very proud of you for this step that you are taking, and know that you will reap the rewards ten-fold. I am very lucky to have shared in many of Nat’s milestones since I have known her. I got to be present at the birth of her second child (the most AMAZING photography job I’ve ever been employed to do), and I am so blessed and honoured to call her my friend.

Nat & I…

Courtney & I…

We took in a spot of shopping after dinner…

Yeah right….

The girls…

We then met up with another former colleague, “Uncle Ray”. I haven’t seen Ray in at least 2 years, and its good to see that some beautiful things remain. We love you Uncle Ray!

I had the most lazy Sunday yesterday, and it was wonderful. I got up late, and went out to Mum and Poo’s house for a visit. I had probably been there all of half an hour when I lay down in the recliner and drifted off to sleep. I haven’t had a midday Nana nap in such a long time, I’d forgotten what a luxury that was! After spending the rest of the afternoon and early evening there, I went home and watched the end of the cricket - how good is that Mike Hussey saving the day for us yet again!!

So how does my lazy day relate in some way to photography? Well, I took my camera out with me to go on a little bit of a field trip. My job requires me to find art and beauty, where you might not often think you’ll find it. It’s really important not just to look, but to see. To be able to see something extraordinary in the ordinary.

So I took a walk around the paddock, armed with my 50mm f1.4 lens and went in search of art amongst what my Mum considers an eyesore!

People ask me how the cows are, so I got a quick one of one of the girls…

and Croyden…

Hopefully in the future I can make this a monthly venture to spend a little bit of time taking non-wedding related pics. I thoroughly recommend getting out amongst your own back yard and taking the time to see, not just look. You never know what you might find.

Back in October I posted that one of my dearest friends, Stevie-Poo, announced that he was getting married! Tonight, Steve and Amy had their engagement party at Amy’s parents house. I hadn’t seen some of my friends in nearly 12 months (one of the downsides of being a wedding photographer), so it was lovely to catch up, and shoot the breeze.

 Mel & I…

Lesley & Jerry…

Matt & Lisa…

Chris & I…

We got on board Amy’s Dad’s boat for a quick look around, and I immediately felt at home as Skipper from Gilligan’s Island…

And I don’t think this one even needs captioning…

The cake ROCKED!!!

The happy couple…

and with me…

Watch this space on December 8th for Steve & Amy’s wedding. I can’t wait to share in your day, and wish you all the best for your future together. xx

I found myself with a hankering for Chinese last night, so I got on the blower to my best friend and her husband and convinced them to come out to our favourite Chinese restaurant…

You simply have to check out King of Kings BYO Restaurant in the Valley. The food there is always superb. We love the fact that they bring out oranges after your meal - it reminds us of half time when we use to play netball at school!!

Kel and I…

After dinner, the 3 and a half of us popped over to Gloria Jeans in the Valley Mall for a nightcap. I checked out the cricket results on my mobile (Mike Hussey rocks!!!), and Kelly entertained me with her pregnancy stories, mostly that of what once were her ankles, are now known as “cankles”. Little “Doris” is certainly making life difficult for Mum. After all, they do say the first nine months are the hardest… 

I have been experimenting on building my skills with glamour retouching over the past few weeks, and I like the results I’ve been getting. Then my sister, Cherie, came around to visit me this afternoon, and she is always complaining about how she has no good photo’s of herself. I told her about what I had been doing thanks to Photoshop, and she didn’t believe me. 

Game on.

So, with NO makeup on, I took her into my backyard and ran off a few shots. By her own admissions she’s not the most photogenic person in the world, and being her sister, I’m allowed to agree with her. So here are a few before and afters. The before shots are straight out of the camera with NO post processing applied.

She won’t mind me posting the before shots, because she knows she looks smokin’ HOT in the after photos. Best lookin’ police officer this side of Warwick I’d say… 

BEFORE..

AFTER…

BEFORE…

AFTER…

BEFORE..

AFTER…

and my favourite

BEFORE…

AFTER…

Its important to note that Photoshop doesn’t make you beautiful. The beauty is already there, and it truly is the beauty that comes from within that counts the most. I already think my sister is beautiful, no matter how pretty I made her look. (And that’s not just because it’s my birthday in a couple of weeks!!!)

It was October of 2003 when a girl named Belinda came to live with me. She had just moved to Queensland from Sydney, and on the advice of a wise gentleman who told me to ”always go for the out of towner” I took a chance and turned my solitary existance upside down.

In the 3 years that we have lived together we have endured houses burning down, both losing loved ones, and moving house less than one metre from our front door. She watched me start my business, put up with me bringing endless clients into our home, and never complained when I left laptops and album plans all over the living room. And all without us ever having a cross word.

I know Belinda will agree when I say that I don’t classify my relationship with her as a friend. We intentionally kept our own separate social circles, and rarely, if ever, were together outside of our home. That way there was always someone to come home and talk to. Someone who hadn’t heard it all before, and was eager to listen and to give advice. And to that end, in every sense of the word, she has been the best flatmate I could ever have asked for.

So tonight we went back to where it all began. On Belinda’s first night in Brisbane we went to Sizzler for dinner. It was only fitting that on her last night in Brisbane, she see’s it out the same way.

Mmmmm, desert bar…

Belinda with her friends Janelle and Andy…

Bel & I…

Belinda is beginning an exciting new chapter of her life. After returning home to Sydney she is heading to Prague to live, for how long we don’t know! I am so very proud of the person she has become since I have known her, and I wish her all the best with this exciting new adventure.

But watching Reno 911 and Crank Yankers will never be the same. Nor will Domino’s Bacon Double Cheese Burger Pizzas….. xx

One of my closest friends, Juvena, has recently accepted a six month position with her company in North America. So last night we had a little family get together at her Mum & Dad’s to send her on her way. I say family, because Jev’s family is like my own extended family, and I always feel right at home in their household.

Jev & I…

You may remember Jev’s little sister Tabitha and her husband Mathew from my October 21st wedding. It was a great opportunity for me to make Tab pull her finger out and work on selecting images for her album…

Even with Mathew proving more than a distraction…

Tab & Mat have two gorgeous little dogs called Frank & Paris who stole the show…

Congratulations Jevy on this wonderful opportunity! Make the most of it, and don’t forget to email!! 

I guess technically today was the first wedding of the 2007, and as I told Melita, she would have to be the most stunning bride I’ve had all year!!! Everything about Melita today was classic elegance, and she wore it so well! And Steve didn’t scrub up too bad either!!

The ceremony and reception were held at Brett’s Wharf, kicking off at 5pm. I love late weddings in Summer. The afternoon light is so tasty, and you can stay out close to 7pm. This bridal party were absolutely hilarious, I think we did more laughing than taking photos, but it was a great afternoon.

When I first started blogging my weddings I would post maybe a half dozen images. Slowly, over time, that number has certainly grown. I just can’t help it - when you’ve got such great people, you get great photo’s, and I want to share that with the world…

Special thanks goes to Paul for being such a fabulous model….

And for being shade boy when we needed him. High 5!!!

And a very special moment when Dad stepped in to be the partner of one of the groomsmen…