I photographed with my buddy Michael Gray who also just put up a blog post. He booked the job. I tagged along. I decided to tape up the LCD screen on my camera so that it forced me to nail my exposures without relying on the screen. I am now a better photographer because of it. You should try it. If you don’t think you can do it, give up. Not really. But it is worth doing. Thanks to Matt & Bron for having me tag along and party with you guys.

Just a note on Michael – he’s the guy who’s dating my fiancee’s identical twin sister. Yes we both photograph weddings. Weird how the girls both went for photographers? Yes!

This is what I experienced.

Jesus. I heard a guy in church last week say that he has been dead for 2000 years. I don’t think he’s learnt much…

This guy oozes cool. Introducing Dan Gale.

The beautiful bride.

When Matt proposed, he did so with the ring in this box.

Sharing is caring.

I could make some joke about bitches and brides…but I won’t.

Bron teaches the piano and violin… I caught her playing the piano while looking really nervous that she was about to get married!

The wedding was right in the middle of Sydney at St Andrews Anglican Cathedral and I drove in the brides car with her and we went around and around while we waited for the musicians ot be ready.

Bron really didn’t want to be late…

and the flower girl was waiting patiently at the door for Bron to arrive.

The boys wore funky shoes.

I love this shot looking through the window as bron and her father wait for the cathedrals doors to open.

As seen on tv.

People tell me this shot is a bit of alright.

happy mumma.

Matt, the groom took this shot. I often like to set up a photo for the groom to take.

This girl is going to kill me.

I flashed these girls, twice. get it?

Catherine & I flew together (our first plane ride together) to brisbane to be a part of Catalina & Lachlan’s wedding fiesta and what a party it was! It took place at the Indooroopilly Golf Club in Brisbane. Thank you to Matt & Katie for referring me to Catalina & Lachlan!

Less words, more photos. A heckuva lot more photos than usual. Why not I say?

I have a small obsession with shoes.

Having way too much fun.

Lachlan, the groom getting ready.

I ran across the room to get this.

Some say he looks like Adam Gilchrist.. I think he looks more like that guy from the big bang theory?

Cath took this.

She also took this one.

It was so cute…this little girl picked up Catalina’s underwear and asked what it was?

Cath took this one!

Catalina says that almost as soon as she became engaged, she started working on the name card trees. That was a big job no doubt!

Cath took this!

Cath took this also.

and this one…

another one of Caths.

JD

My fiancee Catherine & I photographed Catalina & Lachlan’s Wedding the other day in Brisbane. I was just looking through her photos and found this shot. This was Cath’s first ever wedding. Go Cath! So proud of you!!!

p.s. And might I add, that Cath managed to shoot most of the shots in manual mode! So impressive.

This is a bride

This is a groom.

This was today’s wedding.

I have known Chris & Elisha for a few years now & I remember exactly where I was when I found out they were engaged. I was at the Young Life Study Camp in Lennox Head, helping out as the camp photographer. I think it was the same day that I heard that I noticed I had a voicemail message on my phone. It was from Chris.. he was asking me whether I would be able to photograph his wedding. I like it when people don’t waste any time! I was so excited to get this message. Shortly after we did their engagement shoot and I set out to prove a point. Location is probably one of the least important things in my images. We got in the car, I drove, we got out of the car by the side of the road and did they whole shoot there, within 5 metres of the car. It is to date one of my best engagement shoots I’ve ever done. The images hold such great emotion and a detail of love that words just can’t express.
The images below however, mark a step in their journey that sealed the deal and saw Chris & Elisha become an awesome team.

Elisha’s dress was so beautiful

The bridesmaids were sweethearts. Deb, on the right, is one of the most magnificent people I know!

Elisha’s dad was a very proud man, and I know he expects lots of Chris when it comes when it comes to how well he treats his daughter.

Magnificent light & colours coupled with a beautiful connection between 2 people in love.

Out of focus autumn leaves.. mmmm so nice.

Chris mum Karen may kill me when she sees this, but it’s such a real moment!

This is just after Chris & Elisha were married and Chris & Elisha’s father had a man to man.

The bridal party were rather into it! Samuel, the guy closest to the camera is actually going to be one of my groomsmen!

I love shooting in the light just before sunset.

A quiet moment before heading to the reception.

I welcome your comments

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.

Yesterday, during Chris & Elisha’s Wedding I found myself witnessing the most beautiful time between a father and a bride. He offered wisdom, support and love. Here is their moment.

One of the most incredible days of my life – working alongside the team from StillMotion from Canada – While they were visiting from Canada they asked if I could help them shoot a wedding in Sydney – I was packing it – These guys are some of the best wedding cinema and still image makers in the world – they asked me – they believe the lie. I’m not really a photographer. I just pretend.

Amina is much better with words than I am – check out her blog to read about the wedding & see her incredible images – http://stillmotionblog.com/2010/03/01/2303/
Patrick is better with moving images than pretty much anyone in the world – http://stillmotionblog.com/2010/02/25/serena-liang-a-story-of-destiny-an-sm-sde/

Love. It’s something that I’m learning a slight amount more about every day that passes. One thing that I think i’m learning the most about to do with love, is patience. Patience isn’t something that comes easily for me. I get frustrated with myself when things take longer than I think they should.

I get frustrated with myself that I don’t blog anywhere near enough. Tonight however, as you can see I am doing my thing and catching up on blogging a wedding.

Kate & Nathan are in love, and they asked me to photograph a day that was made because of the love that they share. For that opportunity, I am forever grateful.

A very exciting project announcement is currently being readied for public broadcast & I cannot wait to share it with you!