Right now, as we speak, I’m sitting airside at the Brisbane International Airport with my beautiful friend Justine, awaiting our flight to New York City!!
What began as a simple idea, has now become reality, as we head off for two weeks in the Big Apple. No plans, no agenda. Just two chicks, their cameras, and their dancing shoes!
Unlike previous adventures, I will not be blogging the trip whilst I am away. Reflecting on my last couple of holidays, far too much time was spent in a hotel room working on the computer so my mother could get her latest updates on what I was doing. I figure the odd mobile upload on Facebook or Twitter here or there should keep her happy.
See you in two weeks! In the meantime, the cool stylings of Mr Billy Joel are here to keep you company….
Towards the end of last month, Poo and I stepped out, and photographed the wedding of Karl & Kylie.
Our day kicked off at the Treasury Hotel where the girls were getting ready, although hair and makeup had other ideas, running well behind schedule. It was a tense time, we cut it very very fine, but fortunately my ability to lace a bride into a dress in under 3 minutes gained us back a bit of time!
The ceremony was held at the Pacific Golf Club at Carindale, and Karl was waiting for his bride albeit very very nervous. However, once Kylie made it to the end of the aisle, there was no sign of the nerves that had bothered Karl earlier. Just a massive grin.
With an already overcast day, we had to move quickly, and head into the city for photos at Captain Burke Park and Kangaroo Point. There was champagne, laughs, and fun in the sand. Just how an afternoon should be!
As quick as we arrived, it was straight back in the limo to return out to Carindale, where the party was waiting to happen!
A year ago tomorrow, I was so fortunate to photograph the wedding of two very special people, Mark & Ashlynn. Since then I have been taken into their lives, having family dinners, going away for the weekend, and being there as Ash joined a family very close to my heart, the Queensland Police Service.
Ash’s parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in October, and of course I jumped at the chance to be able to capture the celebrations. The festivites took place on the river at Venice Bar & Restaurant in the city, beginning with an intimate ceremony which Peter & Carolyn’s family all participated in. With just close friends and family in attendance, Peter & Carolyn re-affirmed their committment to eachother.
What I love most about these two, is that even now, 25 years later, they still look at eachother like a smitten young couple who have just met. It was just like photographing a couple of teenagers in love and who didn’t want to take their eyes off eachother. We wandered around the river until just after dark, where we then went back to enjoy a beautiful dinner, and spectacular entertainment that even had passers by stopping to watch.
Peter & Carolyn, being around you and your family feels like home. Thankyou for having me share in this celebration with you, and for always making me feel so loved and appreciated. xxx
It’s not often I will shoot three weddings in a row. Two I can do in my sleep. But three takes a carefully executed combination of Red Bull, coffee, more Red Bull, and sleeping with your feet elevated. But it’s totally worth it.
October (along with May) this year, seemed to be the month for weddings. Sunday morning saw Poo & I headed out to shoot Matthew & Kylie’s wedding, our third for the weekend.
Much like Craig & Angelique’s wedding two days before, we were going to be back at Hillstone St Lucia for Matthew & Kylie’s wedding. It also turned out, rather coincidentally, that Craig & Matthew have an aunt in common, who was attending both weddings that weekend. Kylie & Matthew were originally referred to me by previous couple Kris & Amanda. I then discovered earlier this year that I know Matthew’s future sister-in-law Sarah, who works with my sister. And then just last week, one of my previous brides Mandy recognised the back of my head in some photos on Facebook. The number of people we have in common seems to be growing by the day!
When it comes to a wedding day, you can plan and plan to the nth degree, but the one thing you can’t plan for, is the weather. However in my opinion, as long as there isn’t a cyclone, or a flood, then you’re ahead. And even then, I still reckon I could do something with that. Bad weather doesn’t frighten me the way it did 5 or 10 years ago.
The weather did seem to conspire against us, but the staff at Hillstone have a wet weather plan up their sleeve. The ceremony was moved from the rose garden to the verandah of the Rosewood Room. The look on Matthew’s face as Kylie walked down the aisle was one of pride. You could just tell that he was so proud to stand beside her, to be her husband, and for her to be his wife.
UQ usually serves as a good wet weather backup, which was handy as we were headed there anyway! Fortunately for us though, the rain didn’t make much of an appearance for the rest of the afternoon. We only had about an hour to spare, but these guys rocked it!
Back over at Hillstone, for the second time for the weekend, I then put together the same day slideshow for Matthew & Kylie to enjoy with their friends. My weekend was then over. I was completely exhausted, but it was totally worth it!
I have to say this again straight up, because I was telling everybody all day at Glenn & Lisa’s wedding, just how much I thought Lisa looked like Elisabeth Hasselbeck from The View. As it would happen, it seems nobody knows who the hell Elisabeth Hasselbeck is! I didn’t think this was possible, until I realised that a vast majority of people aren’t at home from Monday to Friday and don’t get to sample the quality viewing that is daytime television. But I digress.
Lisa was one fabulous bride. Between her Darb wedding gown, and Steve Madden shoes, she was a girl after my own heart. Stylish, elegant, and cute as a button. She had five (count them!) of her closest girlfriends on hand for bridesmaid duties, which made for lots of laughs and giggles, but they all had a fabulous time.
Just around the corner, Glenn was waiting at the church, as the menacing storm clouds gathered overhead. Lisa arrived in the vintage cars from Kenz Classic as the sun decided to appear again. She looked so graceful on her Dad’s arm as she approached Glenn, who after close inspection of the images, had a few tears welling in his eyes. That always makes my heart happy.
From that point on barefeet were the order of the day, as we gave the beaches at Coolangatta and Bilinga a work out. Lisa braved walking on rocks, and getting her beautiful gown wet, and she did it with a smile. The whole bridal party were so well suited to eachother and had a great time hanging out, having a few drinks and nibbles on the beach, and really made the whole afternoon enjoyable. The storm clouds that promised to rain on our parade lingered, but never did any damage, and created some gorgeous photo opportunities.
I have to send a big shout out to Ben & Tania and Ben & Renae for referring me such an awesome (and ridiculously good looking!) couple. Thanks guys!!
I wonder if words can actually be enough to sum up an amazing couple, and what was a brilliant wedding. For me, a great wedding is not about who has the best dress, or the best venue. For me, it’s the people who make the wedding. A couple so much in love who can make you melt when you see them together, a bridal party who are so excited about what they’re being a part of, and family where you can actually “feel” the love they have for these two beautiful people. With a wedding like this it wouldn’t matter if it was held in a rubbish tip, it would still be amazing.
Craig & Angelique also placed a lot of importance on their photos. I love when a couple are as passionate about their wedding photography as I am. They worked with me 100% of the way, and trusted me implicitly with anything I asked. Even when I asked them to risk life and limb later in the afternoon, Angelique didn’t blink, she just hitched up her dress and went to work.
Our day kicked off in the city, where we got to go and see both Craig & Angelique where they were getting ready. Craig discovered his shirt wasn’t in his suit bag, and we were very grateful that it was a Friday, and for Craigs amazing Mum who ran around to pick it up from the suit hire.
Upstairs, and Angelique was on her way to looking spectacular with thanks to Bec Narvaez. Photographing these girls was like photographing four sisters, they were all so close. The girls really bent over backwards to help Ange, and were all so very excited for her! Angelique was so open to direction, and you could tell she was enjoying being a starlet. Her day was here and she was going to love every minute of it!
The ceremony was held in the Rose Garden at Hillstone St Lucia. I’ll never forget the look on Craig’s face as Angelique walked down the aisle. He was just grinning from ear to ear. Once you got these two together, it’s something they both didn’t stop doing all day long. There were lots of hugs and kisses from family and friends and the celebrations began.
After the ceremony we headed off to UQ where the hilarity ensued. I think everyone did nothing but laugh. Craig & Ange, well they just looked adoringly at eachother ALL afternoon. I mean, all couples are happy, but these two were just really really REALLY happy, and so content in eachothers presence. It’s very easy to see they are made for eachother. Totally. Unconditionally.
We then had to get back over to Hillstone, so that the reception could begin. I then got to work on their sameday slideshow, which was shown at the end of the speeches. There is nothing more rewarding (or nervewracking) than to watch the expressions on peoples faces as they see the images we captured only hours before. Knowing that you’ve touched people, and getting hugs from total strangers makes it all worthwhile!
Craig & Angelique, you guys blow me away. We felt like family the moment we walked in the door and you made everything so easy. Thankyou for being so amazing!! xxx
How about a slideshow…
Poo was in fine form again, going to work and getting these for me…
And you can never stop me from striking a pose….
Work it….
Completely exhausted, but happy, a quick shot with the happy couple….
This weekend I caught up with Tim & Kylie to deliver their gorgeous wedding album. Seeing a client receive their album is probably my favourite part of the whole process. It’s the end of the line. Where all your hard work comes together. Their first family heirloom that will hopefully be handed down through generations to come. Irreplaceable memories that will bring a tear to their eyes a million times over. And *I* did that. I helped make that happen.
