23 From '23 | A Snapshot of 2023 {Avon Valley, Wheatbelt & Perth Wedding, Family, Event & Commercial Photographer}

With Christmas approaching and 2023 coming to a close, it's time to reflect on another lap around the sun, with a random selection of some of my favourite images from the past 12 months.

23 memorable moments from 2023, in no particular order.  An eclectic mix of images taken during some of the incredible shoots I've been privileged to work on throughout the year, plus a few from my own collection too, because, well, personal work is good for the soul!

So a huge thank you to all who have made 2023 so rewarding for me.  Because without you, my amazing clients, friends and family, I wouldn't have been witness to these moments, or had the opportunity to create these beautiful images.

Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year, and I'll see you all again in 2024!

22 From ’22 | A Snapshot of 2022 {Avon Valley, Wheatbelt & Perth Wedding, Family, Event & Commercial Photographer}

As 2022 draws to a close, it's time to reflect on another successful year as both a photographer and a business owner, with 22 randomly chosen images featuring some of my favourite shoots, places, people and experiences from the last 12 months.

It’s always hard to choose such a small number of images from the wide variety of genres that I shoot, and there are honestly too many highlights to list, but the one that definately rates a mention is being awarded as a Finalist in the Owner/Operator category at the annual Wheatbelt Business Excellence Awards in October - hence why the last shot below made the cut! But there have been so many other special moments too, dotted in amongst the 50+ weddings, family, event and commercial gigs I’ve had the privilege of shooting in 2022. And because I can’t possibly list them all, I’m just going to give it to you in pictures instead!

So here they are, 22 memorable moments from 2022, in no particular order.  An eclectic mix of both client and personal images, which I feel best reflect both my style and the amazing people and subjects I regularly work with.

And a huge thank you to all of you who have made 2022 so rewarding for me.  Because without you, my fabulous clients, friends and family, I wouldn't have been witness to these moments, or had the opportunity to create these beautiful images.

Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year, and I'll see you all again in 2023!

21 From ’21 | A Snapshot of 2021 {Avon Valley, Wheatbelt & Perth Wedding, Family, Event & Commercial Photographer}

As the year draws to a close, I’d like to thank all the amazing couples, families, businesses and government organisations that have supported my business, and helped make 2021 so enjoyable and successful for me.

As we plough through our second year of a worldwide pandemic, it’s interesting to reflect on the changes it has brought to both our everyday lives, and our livelihoods.  As a photographer, I’ve seen wedding bookings slow, with couples remaining cautious about planning a big event which could be cancelled at the last minute.  The same goes for events, although many of the smaller ones have gone ahead, and I did shoot the GWN Dowerin Machinery Field Days in August, which was the biggest event I’ve covered to date, and besides being completely exhausting, a huge success!

But family shoots remain popular, and the wedding gaps have been filled nicely with commercial and tourism based work, most of which tends to fall during the week, leaving many of my weekends free, which has been a nice change!

So I’ve spent a large part of the year working with businesses, and travelling through the regions shooting our amazing Wheatbelt towns and communities, to promote local tourism within WA.  And given my background in agriculture and love of the Wheatbelt and farming communities, it’s pretty much been a dream come true for me, and definitely something I hope to do more of in the future.  

So following are 21 images that I feel best represent both my style, and the people and places I’ve worked with throughout 2021. Just a random mix of weddings, families, events, commercial and tourism work, which I feel incredibly honored to have been part of – and all thanks to you, my fabulous clients! 

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and I’ll see you all again in 2022!

Pathways To Wave Rock | A Regional WA Tourism Project {Avon Valley, Wheatbelt & Perth Commercial & Tourism Photographer}

Earlier this year I was approached by the Roe Tourism Association and invited to work on a project to produce visual content for Pathways to Wave Rock, a self drive tourist trail which loops through the south-eastern Wheatbelt, taking in the towns within the 7 Shires of Quairading, Corrigin, Kondinin, Kulin, Lake Grace, Narembeen and Bruce Rock. 

The aim of the project was to produce a library of tourism based images with a difference, for the purposes of promoting this vast and fascinating region to both local and international visitors alike. 

So in the months that followed, we traversed our way along the Pathways to Wave Rock, documenting the incredible towns, people and communities that we met and visited along the way.  And although it was an amazing experience in its own right, this project held a special place in my heart, because it’s the route my third great grandfather (ie great, great, great grandfather) John Septimus Roe took during his final expedition to open up new farming country in 1848.    

Captain John Septimus Roe was the first Surveyor General of WA, an Explorer, and a member of WA’s Legislative and Executive Council for 40 years, between 1829 and 1871.  He was offered the position of Surveyor General at the fledgling Swan River Colony in Western Australia sometime in 1828, married Matilda Bennett in February 1829, and set sail for WA on the Parmelia the same month.

With only one assistant, and both the Swan River and Fremantle townsites to survey, plus the potential farming land around both, he had his work cut out for him during the early years.  But he still managed to squeeze 13 children and a heap of exploring in, and to date, he’s probably best known as an Explorer, conducting 15 major expeditions across WA during his career. 

The final and largest of them all was his 5 month expedition to the south eastern part of the state, which we now refer to as the Roe Tourism area, between 1848 and 1849. This was the longest and most successful journey of exploration undertaken in Australia before 1850, and after arriving back in Perth, exhausted and sick at the end of it, at age 52, he decided to hang up his boots on the exploration side of things, and just continue surveying until his retirement in 1871. 

I am descended from his ninth child, Frederick Mackie Roe, who was also an Explorer, and who in conjunction with Charles Hunt, was responsible for opening up the road to the Goldfields by establishing a series of wells to enable travel to and from the region.

Frederick Mackie had three children, and one of them, Frederick William Roe (known as Willie) took up land in Grass Valley in the Shire of Northam, where my family has farmed ever since.

A number of JS Roes’ possessions remain in our family to this day, including his Surveyors Chain (a 66ft measuring chain of 100 links, each 7.92in in length), his wooden veterinarian box, which my dad houses his boyhood native bird egg collection in, a horse branding iron, believed to be one of the first registered brands issued in WA, and some studio portraits from the Manning Studio, which was the first photographic studio established in the Swan River Colony.

I find it remarkable that we’ve ended up with any of these things, given how many children he had, and how many they’ve all gone on to have over the ensuing 5 generations, and as a result, they are very special to our family.  

Producing content for the Roe Tourism Association and Pathways to Wave Rock project has been a dream come true for me, not only because of my love for the Wheatbelt and Western Australian farming communities, but because of my connection to both JS Roe and the route he travelled on his final expedition.

To have been able to follow in his footsteps (albeit from the comfort of a car!) and document the towns and people along the Pathways to Wave Rock has been the highlight of 2021 for me, and definitely one of the most memorable projects I’ve worked on during my career as a professional photographer, and I’d like to thank the Roe Tourism Association for providing me with such a wonderful opportunity.

I hope the following images, which are just a handful from well over 1000 delivered, do justice to both this incredible region, and to the man who passed through it on horseback all those years ago.

5 Tips To Help You Prepare For Corporate Portraits {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Corporate Photographer}

Good corporate portraits are a powerful way to market yourself. Regardless of whether you’re a business owner or a model, an influencer or an artist - or you just need new profile images for your social media pages, a professional portrait will set you apart. But let’s face it, it can be daunting to stand in front of the camera and pose for this type of image, as they can be quite formal! However, with some forward planning and a bit of communication with your photographer, you’ll be nailing your corporate portraits in no time!

1. Consider Your Requirements, Style & Branding

The style or type of portraits you choose will determine how your audience sees you, and should reflect both your personality and brand. A traditional head and shoulders against a blank wall is more formal than a portrait shot outside, or against the backdrop of your office or workplace. Often referred to as environmental portraiture, this latter style is better suited to a more casual, laid back vibe than a formal corporate portrait, which is, well, more corporate!

However, your requirements will also influence the style you choose, so consider the end use of your images.  If you need profile images for social media or the About Us page on your website, a head and shoulders portrait may be best, but if you’d like your images to communicate something about your business or lifestyle, an environmental portrait would be better.  

Your branding may also affect the style of portraiture you opt for.  If your brand is sleek, professional and corporate, a traditional head and shoulders against a blank wall will tie in well.  But if it’s more earthy, natural and laid back, an outdoor background or environmental portrait may be better. 

2. Think About Your Clothing

Clothing is a form of expression, so choose something which reflects your personality, business and brand – and remember, first impressions last!

Generally speaking, the simpler the better. Solid neutral colours and tones such as black, white, beige, tan, olive, pale blue and grey work best.  Avoid outlandish items (unless that’s really you!), patterns, stripes, and irrelevant logos or slogans. And if your branding is orange and black, don’t wear that purple blouse!

Avoid tight fitting clothing. A blouse or shirt that fits correctly allows the viewers focus to remain on your face.  And if you normally wear glasses, it’s ok to wear them for your shoot.  Oh, and iron your clothes before the day – creases are difficult to Photoshop, and they will sit better and look more professional.

Consider any group portraits that will be taken (you don’t want to clash!). And bring a couple of additional items such as a jacket or change of shirt, in case your photographer feels they will work better, and/or so you can mix it up a bit.

3. Consider Your Hair & Makeup

You probably don’t want to do this too often, so go the extra mile and book a hair and makeup artist, so you look extra fabulous in your portraits.

Or if you’d prefer to do it yourself, keep the makeup simple and natural, and do your hair the way you normally would, so you feel like ‘you’ when you look at your images.

Keep the weather in mind if your portraits will be taken outdoors.  Bring a hairbrush and hairspray on the day, and consider an ‘up-do’ if the wind will be a problem, as flyaway hair is almost impossible to Photoshop!  Same goes for 3 day growth, gentlemen, so if possible, shave the morning of the shoot.

And don’t be scared to have a final look over yourself in a mirror, just before and throughout your shoot – your photographer will get all the tech stuff right, but he or she is not to know that you hate your hair if the part is not dead centre, or a wisp falls over your shoulder.

4. Discuss The Details

Your photographer takes great photos – that’s why you chose them, after all!  But it doesn’t matter how good they are if they don’t know anything about you, your business or brand, or what you want from your portrait shoot.

The more information they have prior to the shoot date, the more likely they will be to achieve your vision.  So discuss the details, both at the time of booking, and as the shoot approaches.

Share links to your website, business and branding. Tell them what the images will be used for, and what impression you would like to create amongst your audience.

Share examples of images you like (and don’t like!) and discuss what you did and didn’t like about any past corporate photos you’ve had done.  Oh, and mention it if there is something you don’t like about yourself – they may be able to minimise it with clever angles and posing.

5. Allow Time To Prepare

The more prep you do, both mentally and physically, the better your photos will be! Get a haircut the week before, if you’re due for one, or have a facial if it helps your skin look good.

Spend some time practicing your poses and expressions in the mirror.  It may feel awkward, but if you have some idea of what looks good, it will be a big help to your photographer on the day.  

Spend some time trying clothes on, to make sure they fit correctly and look good on. Select a few outfits, check for stains and marks, then wash, iron and hang them ready for your shoot date.

Discuss your thoughts and ideas with both your photographer and your staff, and ask for their input. Ensure staff are familiar with the timeline for the shoot day, and understand what is required of them. And share the tips on clothing, hair and makeup with them too, so they can prepare and feel their best on the day.

Finally, get a good sleep the night before, and arrive with plenty of time to spare on the day, so you don’t feel stressed or under pressure at the start of your shoot.

So there you go, my five tips to ensure you get awesome corporate images for your business or brand!

Now, relax and have fun, and let’s nail those corporate portraits!

20 From '20 | A Snapshot of 2020 {Avon Valley, Wheatbelt & Perth Wedding, Family, Event & Commercial Photographer}

It goes without saying that 2020 has been different for most of us, but just how different will depend on where you are based. Those of us in WA were lucky enough to continue working after an initial shutdown back in March, and as a result, I finished the year on par with 2019.

But I had to implement some changes, and do things a little differently to get there. On the day the first image below was shot, I had 40K worth of bookings either postponed indefinately or cancelled outright. Most of these bookings were weddings and large events, which are core business for me, and for the first time in 25 years I was facing a year of neither.

So I spent the time at home restoring our ‘78 caravan and revamping my website with the help of Jo from Joanne Tapodi Creative. And I had a new computer built by Colin at Avon Computech, to give me greater storage capacity and allow me to work faster, and to introduce videography to my services. I also learnt the basics of filmmaking (mostly by shooting little clips of my family as we worked on the caravan!), and I started offering Mini Clips to those I was shooting commercial and event work for. All of these things had been on my ‘to do’ list for the last 5 years or so, but I just hadn’t been able to find the time for them while working fulltime.

Then as WA began to open up again, the bookings started coming in - cautiously. Not for weddings or big events, but for family, commercial and business based shoots. The time at home had inspired a shift in thinking. The importance of family became more apparent, and many businesses had more time on their hands to spend ‘on’ the business, instead of ‘in’ the business. In addition, an online presence had become increasingly important for business owners, which saw many updating websites and social media pages, and in turn, their imagery. At the same time, the Shire of Northam introduced a Small Business Support Grant Scheme to assist those who had suffered a downturn due to Covid-19, and much of it was spent on doing the above.

And so I found myself filling the gaps with families and businesses, rather than couples and events. I worked closely with Anna from Creative IQ to produce images for her website builds, and I partnered with the Northam Race Club to cover their social evenings throughout Spring. At the same time, I was out and about in the Wheatbelt shooting my usual array of agricultural work for growers, plant breeders and researchers. The result was that Spring 2020 was both busier and more profitable than it has ever been for me, and I am truly thankful for that, when I know it hasn’t been the case for so many.

So following are 20 images that I love, and which I feel are reflective of 2020 for me. It’s mostly a mix of family, commercial and agricultural work, with a bit of travel thrown in - mainly because I feel so lucky to have been able to squeeze both trips in while the borders were open and it was considered safe to do so! My shooting and editing style remain similar to last year, with a rich warm vibe, and golden, brown and green tones throughout, which I don’t see changing in 2021 - it is, after all, a big part of what my clients love about my work!

So thanks 2020, you can go now - bring on 2021!

19 From '19 | A Snapshot of 2019 {Avon Valley, Wheatbelt & Perth Wedding, Family, Event & Commercial Photographer}

It’s hard to believe 2019 is coming to an end, but as it does, it’s time to reflect on the amazing couples and families that I’ve met, and the awesome events and commercial projects that I’ve been asked to capture over the last 12 months.

As a photographer, it’s always interesting to look back over your work, and to take a moment to reflect on how you’ve evolved, and what you love (or don’t love!) about it. Then if you go one step further, and narrow it down to just a handful of your favourite images, selected from the thousands produced over the course of a year, you start to get a feel for what you truly love shooting, and for how you like to shoot it. Plus it’s a great way for clients and prospective clients to get a quick feel for your current work, without trawling through your website or socials. So yeah, writing a ‘best of’ blog and choosing the images for it is time consuming, but it’s oh so worth it!

For me, the past year has seen a slight shift towards shooting later in the day, on sunset and at twilight. I’m loving those darker, moodier tones, and enjoying not doing battle with the sun at every shoot! I’ve also been swinging my subjects back towards the sun, instead of back-lighting every shot. But if you’re a lover of my use of mid afternoon light and sun flare, don’t fret, there’s still plenty of it to be found - it’s my signature look, after all!

My editing process remains much the same. It’s no secret, I’m a VSCO preset user (namely Fuji 800Z), and have been since presets became a thing. I love the warm golden tones, and the slightly matte, or film quality appearance it gives to my work. So given all the images I’ve selected below have been processed with it, I see no editing changes for 2020.

Finally, and perhaps the most obvious thing about this set of images, is their rural feel. Clearly, I like shooting rural subjects in a rural setting! And come to think of it, when faced with a city based venue or location, I will still try to find a grassy paddock or rusty tin fence to shoot against. But don’t let this deceive you into thinking I’m ‘just a country photographer’, as a third of my work actually takes place in the city, and I’m just as comfortable shooting at Frasers Restaurant or the QV1 building, as I am in a shearing shed on-farm. In fact, it makes a lovely change, and a nice break from the dust and flies!

So there you have it, a summary of my work for 2019, and a hint of what’s to come, complete with supporting pictures! Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year, and I'll see you all again in 2020!

A Snapshot of 2018 | Avon Valley, Wheatbelt & Perth Wedding, Family, Event & Commercial Photographer}

As 2018 draws to a close, it's time to reflect on what an amazing year its been for me, with a random selection of some of my favourite images from the past 12 months.

A big year for my business, 2018 saw me awarded Owner/Operator of The Year at the annual Wheatbelt Business Excellence Awards, and a Finalist in the Best Home Based Business category at the Avon Valley Business Excellence Awards. I also managed to squeeze more than 50 weddings, family, event and commercial gigs in, plus a number of incredibly satisfying personal projects. And The Wheatbelt Collective grew from a simple light bulb moment to a successful collaboration with a bunch of great local suppliers and creatives.

So here they are, thirty memorable moments from 2018, in no particular order.  An eclectic mix of images from the incredible work I've been privileged to shoot throughout the year, plus a few from my own collection too, including a couple of self portraits.  Because its important for photographers to make time to document our own lives too (and because they took me forever to get right, so I’m pretty darn proud of them!).

So a huge thank you to all of you who have made 2018 so rewarding for me.  Because without you, my amazing clients, friends and family, I wouldn't have been witness to these moments, or had the opportunity to create these beautiful images.

Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year, and I'll see you all again in 2019!

17 From '17 | A Snapshot of 2017 {Avon Valley & Perth Wedding, Family, Event & Commercial Photographer}

As 2017 draws to a close, it's time to reflect on what an amazing year its been for me, with a random selection of some of my favourite images from the past 12 months.

So here they are, seventeen memorable moments from 2017, in no particular order.  An eclectic mix of images from the incredible weddings, families, events and commercial work I've been privileged to shoot throughout the year.  And a few from my own collection too, including a self portrait of me towards the end (yep, in my car, of course!).  Because its important for photographers to make time to document our own lives too.

So a huge thankyou to all of you who have made 2017 so rewarding for me.  Because without you, my amazing clients, friends and family, I wouldn't have been witness to these moments, or had the opportunity to create these images.

Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year, and I'll see you all again in 2018!

A Snapshot of 2016 | A Year in Review {Avon Valley & Perth Wedding, Family, Event & Commercial Photographer}

2016 has been a fabulous year for me and my business - I've met and worked with some amazing folk in some super cool locations, but now, with the exception of my little sisters wedding on New Years Eve, I'm done shooting for the year! 

So I'm taking some time to reflect on the last 12 months, with a selection of random faves from both my client and personal work.  Images that move and inspire me in some way to continue doing what I do.  It might be the colour, light or composition, the emotion or moment they capture, the personalities involved, or the snapshot they provide of a wider story, which led me to select them.  Sometimes I can't put my finger on it, I just know that an image holds and records something special for me.

So here they are.  In no particular order.  Some digital, some shot on film.  Images from the incredible weddings, families, events and commercial work I've been privileged to shoot throughout the year.  And a few from my own collection too, including a portrait of me right at the end (thanks to my very clever 10 year old!).  Because its important for photographers to make time to document our own lives too.   

So a huge thankyou to all of you who have made 2016 so rewarding for me.  Because without you, my amazing clients, friends and family, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to create these images...

Petallica Flower Co | Commercial & Product | 13 February 2016 {Avon Valley Commercial Photographer}

I recently spent a delightful evening with florist Sarah, from Petallica Flower Co here in the Avon Valley, shooting her beautiful blooms as she assembled them for Valentines Day.

Working from a Pop Up Shop at her dads steel fabrication business in the industrial end of town, these little bunches of prettiness proved to be very popular, selling out quickly to scores of loved up locals on Sunday morning!  But before they were snatched up and taken to their new homes, I got to spend time photographing them with our beautiful model, and friend of Sarah's, Jenna.

All images were shot on my Pentax camera system, and processed to create a lovely moody look and feel for the end product.  And all were shot within walking distance of the shop, literally just across the road, on the grounds of the old town bakery, and the vacant block next door, and in front of one very cute little white picket fence! Yep, we are indeed spoilt for shoot locations and backdrops out here!