A couple of weeks ago I posted the pics from my friend Rousey’s maternity session. We did a few more risqué shots that I haven’t shared up until now. I’ve put the photo’s up below this post, but it is password protected. So unless you know Melissa personally, or happen to know the surname of my alter ego, then you don’t get to look !!

If you’re desperate to see them, then get in touch with me, and I may give you access.

I’ve been a bit slack in blogging this e-session. With just over a week to go before I leave the country, I’ve had a TON of work to do. I do put all of my images up on my Facebook page before they get on the blog, so all my Facebook friends get a sneak peak.

Anyhow, last week I stepped out with Shane & Tiana to shoot their e-session. After doing quite a few e-sessions lately, I was getting a bit bored with the same locations, and wanted to shake it up a bit. Fortunately, Shane & Tiana didn’t argue with me.

So we ventured all over the place. From the rooftop of the Wickham Terrace carpark, to Central Station, Post Office Square, and then the Valley, I got to take in some new locations, and just generally wandering around the Monday afternoon rush to see what was around.

Whilst they started out a little uneasy (I got a beer into Shane and then he was just fine and dandy), they finished up like pros!….

Destiny is a funny thing. Lisa, a city girl, was dragged out to the Roma races by a girlfriend, where she met country boy Scott. From that day onward, both their lives would never be the same.

I’ve loved Lisa pretty much from the day I met her. Lisa was a bridesmaid for Jo, one of last years brides. Lisa and Jo now join the list of a select few who have been both my brides, and bridesmaids. Lisa is the kind of girl who isn’t here for a haircut. She knows what she wants, and she doesn’t mess about. Above all, she gets the job done. She has totally blown me away by being one of the most fabulous brides I’ve ever had! Her dress was an absolute knock-out, she was up for anything (and everything!) and that smile - that smile could light up an entire room.

We were in for a hot day in more ways then one. With a 40 degree forecast, we prepared for the worst. In the scorching afternoon heat, Lisa arrived at the church, and was escorted to her groom by her very very proud father. Scott couldn’t resist dipping his new wife for their first kiss - who said country boys can’t be romantic!

It was around this point that the searing heat was replaced by some pretty forocious winds, not that anyone was complaining. We headed down to a park in downtown Sandgate, and then onto the Sandgate Pier. This is where we really had to batten down the hatches.

Lisa wouldn’t be a Toni Snell bride without having to risk life, limb and dress to get the perfect shot. It was down through the rocks and under the pier we went. Not once did Lisa ever complain. Even through the sand, the mud, the wind she kept on smiling. She just held on tight to Scott, and she went for it!!

Scott & Lisa, you’ve been an absolute joy, and really make what I do so much more worthwhile. xxx

I am very very proud of this collection of beautiful images, of a beautiful couple…

Me with Jo..

And with my three wives, Lisa, Merinda, and Jo…

And finally, a happy snap with one very exhausted (and windblown!) bride and groom!!….

What does an awesome wedding mean to me?? It’s not designer gowns, super expensive venues, or Rolls Royce chauffered vehicles. Sure, the details are nice, but that alone doesn’t make a wedding stand out to me. For me, an awesome wedding means couples who are so much in love it’s like the world around them could fall down, and it wouldn’t matter to them, nor would they even notice. It’s the bride who is so excited she just wants to get to the altar to marry the man of her dreams, and doesn’t care if she was wearing a hessian bag. It’s the love of friends and family that you can actually feel all around you, and you know that these two are meant to be.

Josh & Jodie had an awesome wedding. We knew it would be the moment we arrived at Jodie’s parents house, and Jodie could hardly keep still from her excitement. No nerves, no jitters, she was so ready for this. She didn’t care if the flowergirl wasn’t playing the game, all that mattered to her was walking down that aisle, and seeing Josh at the other end.

A groom who is not afraid to she a tear, always melts my heart. As I swung around to capture Josh’s reaction as Jodie was walking down the aisle, the tears welling up in his eyes said it all. The ceremony was one of the nicest I have been a part of, filled with humour and love. It’s not often I find myself close to tears, but today I did. I don’t know why, but you just felt how enormously special this was.

The wedding was held at Hillstone St Lucia, so we headed out briefly onto the golf course before having to return the buggies to the clubhouse. It was such an enjoyable afternoon with nothing but laughs and good fun! I’d shoot more weddings like this anyday….

This is my favourite, just because of the moment. After their first kiss as man and wife they looked at eachother with such excitement as if they wanted to scream out “WE JUST GOT MARRIED!!!!”…

I met up with Julian & Leanne for a Friday afternoon engagement session. It was the first time to meet both of them, as Leanne booked me over the phone based only on my website, as they were living at Perth at the time.

Julian & Leanne are such a lovely young couple, with a maturity that belies their years. They’re also really really ridiculously good looking. I don’t think it mattered what they did, or where they were looking, they still looked pretty damn good!

As Leanne said herself, she wasn’t into “big smiley photo’s”, which works in her favour, because she has that sly sexy pout down to a fine art!!!

I was so unbelievably dirty about what I found down at my favourite part of the Powerhouse. I think for about 10 minutes, all I could manage to say was “mongrel bastards”. Someone in their infinite wisdom has placed these benches right in the area I like to photograph, and to make matters worse, they’re bolted to the ground. I think this calls for a rachet and the cover of darkness. Anyone with me??

You know the people I’m talking about. You see them driving along the highway, you take a look at their plates, and you think to yourself….what a wanker.

Well, that wanker is me…

On Sunday afternoon, I popped over to my good friends Melissa & Adam’s house, to shoot Mel’s baby bump. Rousey (as I call her) is due somewhere around the first week of March, but hopefully before I go overseas.

As most people will know, with my wedding workload, I don’t take on any new portrait clients. So getting to do sessions like this for my friends, or my wedding clients, I really get a lot out of it. It’s nice every once in a while to get to shoot something different to your average wedding.

The other advantage of shooting for people I know, is that I can pretty much ask them to do anything, and they will happily oblige. Rousey had no fear of me, or my camera, and I can tell you right now, she puts the sexy back into pregnancy.

Here are some shots from the afternoon - well the ones that I can show you anyway!!

With the busy week I’ve had, I haven’t yet had a chance to post about the wedding I did last Saturday.

Years ago, when I was still working a day job, I used to work with Dan. We had always heard him referring to his fiancee Bec, but none of us really thought she existed! So I was pleasantly suprised to finally meet Bec a few months back, and congratulate Dan on a great find!

The day went off spectacularly, starting with Bec getting ready with the girls at the Stamford. We then arrived at Latrobe Chapel in Paddington, and were greeted with a relieved look from Dan. I think Dan was just a little bit nervous. I got a text message from him that morning making sure I was all set, and still coming!! As I said to Dan, you just focus on getting married, and leave the rest to me!

After the ceremony we attacked Roma Street Parklands, before getting back down to the Stamford end of town to deliver the guys to the reception. 

Firstly, a big congratulations to all the happy couples who got themselves engaged today.

If you’re planning on getting married in 2009, then give me a call. Otherwise you’re S.O.L. I’ve gone and hit the 60 weddings mark for 2008, so I’m officially closing my books for this year. Sure, there’s still a few Friday’s or Sunday’s in there that could potentially be available, but my sanity is a precious thing, and I’d like to maintain the somewhat slender grip I have on reality.

So while I’m not taking any more enquiries for 2008, 2009 is wide open and ready to roll!