I’ve had an overwhelming response to the Stoffice competition I posted last week. I’ve had lots of emails from people who have trawled the blog to send me a collection of their favourites. It’s given me a fantastic pool of images to choose from and I’m very grateful that people have taken the time to send them to me!

The final images that go on the walls won’t be selected based on how many entries they receive. However, if a certain image receives a lot of entries from a range of unbiased sources, then it clearly has struck a chord with people. Here are two such images that have proved a hit…

There’s still a couple of days to get your entries in. Just by suggesting your favourite picture(s) you go into the draw to win a 12″x18″ canvas from your wedding, or my US Trip. Send your entries to studio@tonisnell.com.au

A couple of weeks ago I caught up with the fabulous Kim & Dusan, who have recently become parents. I made them promise that they would have me over to take pictures of them with their new addition. Kim & Dusan have a special place in my heart, and I would consider it an honour to capture this new step in their journey.

A few days before their first wedding anniversary, Kim & Dus welcomed their son, Kristian, into the world. Now, I’m not a religious person, but this little guy is clearly a blessing, and an absolute gift from god for Kim & Dusan. There’s no doubt in my mind that he is meant to be here.

Born six weeks early, in these pictures Kristian is almost four weeks old, but still “technically” hadn’t entered the world yet! A tiny perfect little package!!

I thought I’d get all formal and use their full names, but we simply know this awesome couple as Arthur & Dana!

Our second three-peat weekend in a row. Thank god we don’t do those too often!! But Arthur & Dana made sure our week went out with a bang! Dana was an awesome bridesmaid of mine last year, and booked me pretty much immediately afterwards for her upcomming wedding. From the word go, it was really important to both Arthur & Dana that their day was filled with love, laughter and friends. And all with a minimum of fuss.

Dana has a Serbian background, while Arthur has Greek heritage. They decided to have a Serbian/Greek/Aussie fusion wedding, combining little traditions from each culture to create the perfect day. We got to the Stamford early to grab some shots of Arthur and the boys before heading upstairs. Dana’s Mum had made trays of the most delicious sweets imaginable that were just begging to be eaten the minute we walked into the suite at the Stamford (It’s a good thing I started my diet the day after their wedding!). Dana had been upgraded to the Plaza suite usually reserved for celebrities, and the plush surroundings made us all feel very much at home.

To say Dana was a knockout, would be an understatement. Her whole ensemble was just perfect, and she looks absolutely exquisite. And boy could she work it. All of the girls were awesome, and the whole feel for the day was already being set right there and then. It was going to be an awesome day.

The ceremony took place at the Greek Orthodox Church at West End, where Dana’s father (also a minister) was able to play a special part in marrying them. Once outside there was some Serbian dancing, before we got into the cars to head over to the city! We started our afternoon over in Market Street, and then slowly waltzed up the Riverside to Customs House, stopping here and there for some photos. It didn’t really feel like we were actually on a photo shoot. We were all having too much fun to notice that!! Once at Customs House we had a few photos outside, and then the crew retired upstairs for a rest before the real party began!

It was sooooo hard to pick the dozen images to show here, they are all so HOT!! I think I’ve got me a few more stoffice contenders!!!

Me chimping with Arthur & Dana…

With my favouritest couple in the whole wide world Kim & Dusan…

I’ve been telling people in person for the last month, but as yet hadn’t made it truly official.

On Monday I took possession of my very own commercial space. Some may call it a studio, but I don’t seeing that I won’t actually be doing any shooting there. I call it my Stoffice. Less than a studio, but more than an office. Kind of like a showroom. It’s where I will have all my consultations, and where clients can come and hang out for our meetings. Travelling around to see people with my massive cases (where I have to carefully negotiate steps in heels) was working well, but it’s time for me to have my own corner of the world where I can have my pictures on the walls, and beer in the fridge.

The new stoffice is at Stones Corner on Logan Road in the shopping precint. I have commissioned Karen Devereux & Penny Toms of KD Designs to do all of my interior design. Karen & I go back a long way, and there’s no one I trust more than her to pull this all together for me. I am so excited by the ideas they have come up with, and can’t wait to see it finished.

I’ve spent the last day or two painting so I can start moving furniture in. The room is in dire need of a makeover. As you can see from the before shot, that lovely shade of yellow on the walls wont do, and that fluro lighting has just got to go…

Part way through day one….

Now the mammoth task begins of choosing what pictures to put on the walls. I find it really really hard to choose my favourites, because to me every picture is like it’s my baby. It’s like telling a mother to choose her favourite child. So I’m going to throw it out to the blog readers to choose the pictures I will be displaying in the Stoffice.

I want you to choose the pictures that are YOUR favourites (you can just right click and save from this blog), and email them to me care of studio@tonisnell.com.au  You can choose as many as you like.

I will then be choosing one entrant at random who will win a 12″x18″ canvas print* from their wedding (for past and present clients). People who are not my clients can still enter purely for the glory, or for a 12″x18″ canvas art print* from my landscape pictures from my US Trip.

I’ll need your entries in by this time next week!

* Prize is not redeemable for any other product or service. Use it or lose it.

Talk about an early morning!! Steve & Claudia chose a morning ceremony, which meant it was around 8am when we arrived at Claudia’s house, where it was a hive of activity. Waking up early didn’t seem to bother Claudia, who was pretty much ready, and raring to go.

The ceremony took place at Boulevard Gardens over at Indooroopilly, and afterwards Poo and I took the couple down by the bridge down the road for a few photos. We got through them in record time in order to get them back for their lunchtime reception. 

That’s a great look for you Poo…

By sheer coincidence, I happened to run into Adnan & Susan whose wedding I shot in January…

It was a gorgeous Friday and a great day for the wedding of Jason & Kylie on North Stradbroke Island.

We got over on the morning ferry and wandered on over to find Kylie at the Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel. Kylie is a no fuss, anything goes kinda girl, and seemed completely at home playing up for the camera, and having a great time.

Downstairs we ran into the boys at the bar, where a few beers were in order, and some chilling out by the pool table. We then got down to Adder Rock where we had a few more photos, and then left the boys to their own devices.

The ceremony was held on the beach, where everyone relaxed in their barefeet. Afterwards we took a stroll up the beach in search of photo opportunities. Jason & Kylie aren’t fans of being in front of the camera, and don’t consider themselves to be very photogenic. I beg to differ…

Kylie and her Blue Steel….

Jason workin’ it…

This actually wouldn’t be a bad photo if I wasn’t in it…

We had some troubles with peeping toms on the beach…

It was the end of an extremely busy week for us as we shot our fourth and final wedding of the week, the wedding of Bojan & Anita.

Having shot a Serbian wedding before we knew we were in for a full on day. Festivities start early at these weddings and they don’t stop all day long. We arrived at Bojan’s house in the morning where we couldn’t get into the front gate without ourselves knocking back some traditional alcohol. Once we had our early morning heart-starter we caught up with the boys who were kicking back and enjoying the entertainment.

Over at Anita’s house, it was organised kaos. Friends and family were arriving to partake in some more festivities, and the traditional “buying of the bride”. After some friendly banter back and forth, a price was set, and Anita was whisked off to the church.

Following the ceremony, we headed into the city for some photo’s in the gardens and by the riverside, the crew causing a stir wherever they went! When darkness fell, we got them back over to the Greek Club where the party went on into the night.

The public have voted unanimously in favour of keeping the blog posts the way they are, so patience will be needed with me over the coming weeks as I try to keep on top of the 10 weddings I have to shoot in May.

Last Saturday we finally got to shoot Michael & Danielle’s wedding. I say finally because they were meant to get married last September, until potential military deployment saw them have to postpone the wedding for a good 8 months. But the day was finally here!

Holy crap. How hot was Danielle’s dress! Danielle was wearing probably one of the most sexy gowns I’ve ever had the pleasure to photograph, made by amazing designer Leonard Derecourt. Mr Derecourt also made my best friend Kelly’s wedding gown a few years back, so I have a bit of a soft spot for his designs. Danielle looked amazing, with a little help from another Danielle, Danielle Robinson.

Over at the Army chapel, Michael was actually a tad emotional. I didn’t expect that from him at all, which was a pleasant suprise. A groom with a tear in his eye always makes your heart melt (but not when they’re crying like a baby!!!). That shot of Michael wiping a tear from his eye as Danielle walked down the aisle will definately be a sentimental favourite of mine.

From Enoggera we headed into the city to get the last of the days light, which was even shorter being an overcast day. After a turn around the gardens and a short stop off at the Funky Col Medina end of the Story Bridge, we made it back to the Mantra on Queen just in time for the reception. 

A self portrait with the groom….

And one with the couple (and I’m already aware I am such a poser!)…

On Friday, Poo & I had the pleasure of shooting Wade & Renae’s simply awesome wedding!!

Renae is a girl after my own heart. Her theme for the wedding was “bullshit free”. That’s my philosophy in life, and also how I like to run my business. So I knew we were going to get along just fine! I knew I could totally be myself around them and say whatever came into my head (as bridesmaid Shannon found out!!) and not have to worry about being prim and proper (which I’m totally not!!).

We had the best day hanging out with these guys. Right from the get go at Renae’s house it was just…I don’t know…easy. The whole day ran that way. In fact Renae was so laid back that she couldn’t stop yawning before the ceremony!

Not only are these guys the coolest couple, but they are also gorgeous, so it was kinda hard to take a bad picture of them. I tried, I really did, but it was just impossible! Happy relaxed people in love just kind of shine. Ok, so maybe that sounds a bit bullshit, but it’s true.

The ceremony was at Rosalie, and we scooted in to Southbank Parklands to get some pictures before the sun went down, and then switched to night mode to get some more cool shots. Once we were all done, they wandered on down to the River Canteen for the reception.

Wade & Renae, thanks for letting us share your day, and I hope you’re having a rockin’ time in Thailand!

In the Friday afternoon gridlocked traffic I grabbed this snap of them…

And they caught the attention of these two blokes at the Caxton who were making a goose of themselves. A word to the public….9 times out of 10 the vehicle behind any group of wedding cars is usually the wedding photographer. If you act like a dickhead, expect to be photographed.

We lost one of our bridesmaids when she had to go look after her baby, so I stood in for the couple shots!!…

I shot four weddings last week, the first of which was Paul & Erin’s on Wednesday.

We met up with Erin at her house, where she was getting ready with her bridesmaid (and identical twin sister) as well as her five other sisters! I thought it was bad enough for my Dad raising three girls, but can you imagine seven???

Suprisingly, Paul was full of jokes and really really relaxed. I thought he’d be a bundle of nerves, but he was handling the pressure like a pro. After the ceremony we battled peak hour traffic to get down to the Powerhouse. By the time we made it down there I literally had about a half an hour to do my thing. But after all that’s my job - to turn out consistantly good images even when time is working against you, and you’re rapidly losing light.

Finally it was off to Eve’s On The River, where a cocktail reception was awaiting the happy couple.

Unfortunately there was an incident with a diahoretic pigeon and Erin’s wedding dress. But Paul was a wonderful husband and went to work on cleaning it up!

Many thanks goes to former couple Stephen & Claire for the referral!

Claire, Erin & Myself…