Over the years, hundreds of people have chosen me to create images on a day that could be the most important day of their lives. The reasons why I think they’ve chosen me has changed over the years. Once upon a time I believe it probably had more to do with the fact that I was really really cheap than people liking the photos they thought I could take. I think after the events of the past few weeks, I have learnt more about why people may hire me these days.

Over the past few weeks it has been my responsibility to find a wedding photographer to photograph our wedding. You may think it’s funny, but it’s probably one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make.

I found myself weighing up whos images were better suited for the wedding that Cath & I were planning, what finished product Cath & I would like to receive in the end & most importantly and I can’t stress this enough.. who I trusted most! Of course, budget also played a role.

The photographer can really make a huge difference as to how much you enjoy the day, the memories you have of your wedding & the enjoyment your guests have too.

I ended up nailing it down to 3 or 4 photographers whos work I adored, whom I would trust with our wedding photos & whos prices I could reason.

One thing that is very evident in the industry is that there is a huge difference in how much they cost & the quality of the images. I think back to what I was charging when I started and I can explain to you why I was charging what I charged back then & what I charge now. When I started I think I charged about $500 & spent weeks working on the wedding photographs. It was because I needed to. The originals looked pretty crappy & I was so scared to show the originals. These days the editing I do is more styling than photoshopping as I get it right in camera. I made some pretty horrific mistakes. I hope the people knew what they were in for.

If you are paying very little for a professional wedding photographer you have to ask yourself why they’re charging what they’re charging. If they’re charging $500 maybe it is because that’s all they think they’re worth. Also, large studios with lots of photographers may also be more competitive when it comes to hiring them for your wedding but once again that may come at a cost. Do you know if the photographer you’ve hired will actually turn up or will they send another photographer from the studio? Do you know that the images that you saw on their website will be anything like the photographs your photographer is able to create because often with these larger studios the images you see may have been taken by a photographer that doesn’t even work at the studio anymore. I’m not saying that choosing a larger studio is a bad choice, it just may be though if it’s an ill informed one.

Working by yourself does have it’s challenges as well though. I write 100% of the emails. Edit 100% of the images. Take 100% of the images. Meet with 100% of the clients. Answer 100% of the phone calls. I do it all. It certainly does make for a more intimate relationship with the client, but it means I have to be on top of my game 100% of the time. If I make a mistake, it’s MY business that suffers. If I were to have an unhappy client it’s my business that suffers. I find this means that my clients get the very best that I can offer.

The thing though that small studios can generally offer though is passion. I love photographing people in love. I love spending time with people who are passionate, in love & excited about life. I am extremely excited every time I pick up my camera & those of you who have seen me photograph have seen how I just don’t want to put the camera down. I love creating images for people that will take them back to a time in their life that they want to be taken back to.

My prices for wedding photography start around $4000. The things that are listed on the price list really don’t reflect what I offer at all. Above anything else, I feel that what I offer is an experience. This is something I just don’t know how to communicate in words. It’s something that I see & feel time and time again with the people I photograph. Together we create a space for love to be free to be expressed & for precious memories to be savoured.

When Cath & I get married in December I am so excited to have a photographer who I fully trust to take the care required to photograph our wedding. Someone who is passionate about photography, someone who I know will give me the best they can give me and someone whom I will love having there with us enjoying our special day. Thank you Simon

JD

For the past few months, I’ve been teaching one of my nephews Chris, who is 10 a bit about photography and how to use a professional camera. A few weeks ago he attended a wedding with me. I asked him to only photograph when he saw what he felt was Love. It was so interesting to see his take on what he saw. The wedding for for Brad & Virginia and was held at Peppers in Kingscliff which was so so so nice.

We had such a blast hanging out together… I hope he comes to more weddings with me in the future. I also hope my other nephew Mitchell can come along when he’s older!

He really wanted to wear his awesome vest, which was just a little big.. oh and his mum also forgot to pack nice shoes so he wore joggers.. kids can get away with anything and still be awesome!

This was the 4 of us.. and those that know me well know that I’m a man of many faces. He’s learning from me I think. Thanks so much to Brad & Virginia for being so cool with me having my nephew with me. I can’t wait to see them both on monday when I pick them both up from the airport when they return from their honeymoon! I love how I have clients who end up being awesome friends

Here is a gorgeous image that Chris took. I love the abstract nature of it!

JD.

Until I move to Sydney, I’m spending some time out at my mums house, which is 36km out of Armidale… and I love driving out here.. so relaxing! It’s so nice being back at home with mum.. she looks after me so well. Tonight was pretty cool.. after taking these pics, mum and I played Darts and I got the first ever bullseye on their new dart board. It’s also been nice having no phone reception at night.. it causes you to just switch off.
Welcome to my mum’s house!

this is my mum and my step dad. This is looking through the kitchen window… I got out of the washing up by saying I was going to take photos of the garden!!!

Here’s proof!

My mum is so beautiful!

I am going to be outstaying my welcome I think…

This is where I got my good looks from

Except, I now look like a criminal now that I have got my hair cut…Thanks mum for this photo! You would make quite the photographer!!!

Mum’s not the tallest of people..

This got me out of cleaning up…

But I think they enjoyed it anyway… (taken through the window)

This was what happened to the last visitor..

Murray is quite the farmer.. and I have so many amazing memories on that Quad…

I’ve been sprinting every morning and lifting weights every night in mums “studio”…

I love pulling up every night and having the Dogs greet me. They have three dogs, named Bonny, Tim & Gemma.

Only problem is.. the car gets a bit dusty out here!

My favourite of all photoshoots, a beautiful beginning photoshoot. It’s where I meet up with the bride and groom in the months before their wedding where we spend some time getting to know each other, creating amazing images and I get to know a little more of their love for each other. Gemma & Grant are a very beautiful, close, and loving couple that I really enjoyed getting to know.. and am really looking forward to photographing their wedding in a few weeks in Evans Head.

We took these photos around the surf life saving building in Lennox Head a few weeks back when I was in the area photographing the Young Life Study Camp, for year 12 students who are now sitting their HSC exams.

Gemma is a keen photographer herself, and It seems I’m finding that a greater percentage of my clients are into photography than ever before. I actually kinda like it, because I get to teach them a few things that they can use in their own photography as I shoot..

Please feel free to leave me some comment love. It’s nice to know that people are checking out the site and appreciating my images.

Today, i’m typing this, sitting in a lovely lounge room in a house that belongs to my wonderful photographer friend Perry Thompson.  I’m listening to the beautiful, amazing & talented Toni Knapman playing the Three Words song that she wrote for this website.. and I’m wearing my favourite shirt.. drinking Canada Dry Ginger Ale…I’m feeling the dull ache of a workout slowly dissapear.. and I’m enjoying life! Since arriving in north america just over 3 weeks ago, I have barely had a full night sleep.. but for some reason it hasn’t affected me. I’ve also skipped every second meal, and I still feel on top of the world. 

I’ve done many incredible things in the past few weeks here in North America and my time here is about to come to an end. To jog my memory later, I’m going to put a quick list of things here that I’ve done. 

Visited New York, met an angel, ate pizza, drunk ginger ale, shared my heart, met Bon Jovi, was photographed by my hero Jesh De Rox, met a man who will be remembered long after he leaves this earth, shared a meal with a homeless man, shared my love of God so deeply with people, planned something that will change my life forever, listened, made new life long friends, met Lauren Graham, cried, prayed, wrote recorded and filmed a song, photographed 4 weddings, photographed 1 amazing family, have -practiced loving people, met Dan Akroyd, relaxed, spent alot of time on buses and planes & talked on the phone A LOT…

 and also…Photographed 1 amazing “a beautiful beginning” shoot for Amanda & Jeff. A huge congratulations to Amanda, who last week won the Beach volleyball Open tournament here in Canada!

Tomorrow, I will be photographing their wedding

JD

Dear friends

Today, I find myself in the East Hamptons, on long island New York. This is another world here. It seems every second house belongs to a celebrity and the rest of the town seems to make it’s money from looking after the rich. It’s such a pretty area and the houses are magnificent. 

I’m here seeing some clients and doing a handful of shoots. I’m only here for 2 days. I could spend months here.

Last night I went to a little mexican restaurant called the Blue Parrot, which is owned by Jon Bon Jovi and Renee Zellweger and has a few other investors too…and they’ve been known to work there occasionally… and there is reports that last week Jon Bon Jovi grabbed a guitar off the wall and started playing it for guests. Great stories.. but the food was kinda average

So, I’ll be back in Australia from the 4th of August and available for commissions from then! I’ll be in Sydney for a day or two when I return, so any Sydney people that would like to meet up, just email me!