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!

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!

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!

Harvest 2019 | A B&W Film Project | November 2019 {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Documentary Photographer}

With harvest now done and dusted for another year, it’s time to share a little personal project I’ve been working on over the last month or so. As many of you know, I drive a truck for my brother during harvest each year, carting grain to CBH (Co-Operative Bulk Handling) in Northam, WA.

It’s hot, dusty, and a little relentless, but it gets me out of the office, back into the agricultural industry, and amongst the farmers and industry personnel I once worked with as an Agronomist. These connections are still an important part of my network, and lead to much of the agricultural photography that I do, whether it be for farming families, grains research companies or local machinery dealerships. Plus it’s just nice to help my bro out during a busy time, so even though it’s an extremely busy period for me (I still shoot weddings each weekend!), it’s totally worth it!

But I do need something to break the monotony, especially on days when the trucks are banked up in long lines at the bin, waiting to dump their loads. Most drivers will kick back in their cab reading the newspaper or Farm Weekly, or stand under the shade of the sample hut gossiping, but yep, you guessed it, I carry a camera! And as long as I’m in my high-vis, I can go pretty much anywhere on site, so it’s a great opportunity for both photography and meeting new people.

So this year, I decided to shoot it on black and white film. Why? Because I didn’t want any additional editing to do (4 weddings were enough!), and I found 3 rolls of expired Kodak BW400CN film in my stash. Plus I love my old Pentax K1000 film camera, and feel it really doesn’t get used enough these days. But mostly I just thought harvesters and paddocks and grain silos and trucks would look cool on B&W film.

What I didn’t count on though, was how difficult it would be to shoot from the truck using a fully manual camera (including manual focus!). It just can’t be done one-handed while the other hand is on the steering wheel, so the opportunities for quick captures of impromptu moments were limited. Which is why most of the following images were shot while I was parked up - because old school film photography just takes time!

So here it is, my portrait of harvest in black and white…

5 Tips to Help You Prepare For Your Family Photo Shoot {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Family Photographer}

We've all heard the stories, from that friend whose child screamed all the way through their session, or whose husband got badly sunburnt whilst out fishing the day of the shoot (except where his sunglasses sat!). But having the family photographed doesn't need to be a harrowing experience, if you just keep the following five things in mind, as you prepare!

1. Rest Up And Feed The Tribe!

Kids can be cranky and unpredictable at the best of times, but the risk of a tantrum is considerably reduced with an early night (or an afternoon nap, for the littlies), a relaxing day, and a full tummy at the start of the shoot.  

So avoid partying with the cousins the night before, or doing a day trip to Rotto on the same day as the shoot.  Kick back at home, potter around, rest up, and generally relax – you can burn off that energy while we shoot!

Have some afternoon tea, pack some snacks, or even a little picnic to bring along with you. Family picnics make great lifestyle based shots, and can provide a little break from the rigours of being a supermodel!

2. Prepare The Kids!

Kids (and sometimes husbands!) can feel shy, and find it hard to relax if they haven’t been told what’s going on, or briefed on the process.  Tell them what we’ll be doing, a couple of days before, and then again on the day of the shoot.

Tell them it will be fun, with no prior acting or modelling experience required!  We’ll be walking and talking, playing, and generally hanging out together. I’ll only ask them to smile a few times, and the rest of the time I’ll just be capturing candid moments while you all enjoy your time together – the smiles will come naturally.

And feel free to bring any comfort items that might help them relax during the session. I’m all for including Mr Squiggly Poo (the battered but much loved teddy bear), or a couple of cans of Dads’ favourite beer – whatever gets you through!

3. Provide Some Props!

Mentioned briefly on the previous page, but yes, props!  They help break the ice, distract and relax the kids (and in turn the parents!), and they add variety to your images.  They help me tell the ‘story’ of your family, because in most cases, they will have some meaning to you or your children.

So consider adding things like pets, favourite toys, comfort items, hobbies and interests, farm machinery, quad bikes, crops, livestock, picnics and interesting locations (eg hay bale stacks, rivers, beaches, abandoned sheds or houses) to your shoot – I will be forever grateful, because it’s hard work doing stock standard portraits!

4. Consider Your Wardrobe!

This is the big one, the question everyone asks (or should ask!). What do we wear?  Generally speaking, something comfortable, which you feel good in, and will be happy to be seen in when the Grandies pull out the family photos in 30 years time. Ha! Not an easy task!

Neutral colours work best.  Denim, linen, leather boots, soft greys, beige, ochre, pastels, small floral prints and subtle checkered shirts.

Avoid spots and stripes, and bright solid colours, like black, red, green and purple. Logos and brands are also best avoided, and most definately no High Vis or Dora The Explorer t-shirts please!  Besides being too bright for my eyes, they will date quickly.  Still sitting on the fence with flannel shirts – if hubby insists, then we’ll let it slide.

And remember, things can get dirty, so even though they might be your fave item, it’s best to leave the white pants in the cupboard. Dust will get kicked around, and bums will get damp and muddy if we sit on the ground, so choose items which wash and wear well.

And one last thing, if it’s windy, tie your hair back ladies, and bring the hairspray – flyaway hair is pretty much impossible to edit out in Photoshop!

5. Relax And Have Fun!

And finally, be prepared to relax and have fun on the day! There’s no need to tell the kids to ‘smile’ every 5 seconds - I have my own sneaky ways of making that happen. Just help them have fun, and we’ll get lots of lovely natural smiles without even thinking about it.

And if we need to stop because Bub has to be fed, or little Johnnie needs some time out, that’s OK – we’ll just take a break, or I’ll work with other members of your family until everyone is good to go again. It’s your shoot, and I can work around you.

Your family shoot is a wonderful opportunity to spend time together, away from the daily distractions of life (leave that ipad at home!).  You’ll be able to wander, explore, and generally enjoy yourselves, and before you know it, we’ll be done, and you’ll be saying ‘Geez, that went quick!’

So there you go, my five tips to help you make the most of your family photo shoot, and to ensure you have a fab time, and enjoy your family photos for many years to come!

Glenn + Jess | Rustic Farm Wedding | Northam WA | 22 September 2018 {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Wedding Photographer}

I love a good farm wedding, and this one was certainly no exception! Held on the family farm at Southern Brook just east of Northam, surrounded by their family and friends, and blessed with a superb Spring day, Glenn and Jess really did have the makings of a perfect wedding day.

But farm weddings can be hard work too, with much of the labor required the day before, and on the morning of the wedding. Everything has to be accounted for, and set up without the help of a venue or experienced staff to share the load. Furniture, seating, flowers and decorations need to be brought in, drinks, food, and portaloos sorted, and the ever present flies and mozzies dealt with.

So early in the planning stages, Glenn and Jess decided to engage the help of local wedding planners and stylists Holly and Sarah from Confetti & Co Events. These girls rock at what they do - seriously, they take all the stress out of the day! They organise the hire of furniture and equipment, which they collect, set up, and then drop back to the suppliers when it’s all over. They help plan the schedule and timetable for the day, then keep vendors updated and running on time as everything unfolds, and they deal with the little problems that can arise on a wedding day. Plus they’re super creative too, adding the finishing touches to everything from ceremony areas to table settings, to take your wedding to the next level.

So I was stoked when they announced that Glenn and Jess wanted me on board as their photographer, along with Sarah from Petallica Flower Co on flowers, making it a Wheatbelt Collective collaboration. Formed just over 18 months ago by myself, Confetti & Co Events and Petallica Flower Co, The Wheatbelt Collective encompasses a group of local wedding and event suppliers who aim to provide a high level of service and quality to people who wish to host their wedding or event in the country. Our goal is to encourage people to ‘keep it local’ by providing the kind of service previously perceived to only be found in the city.

But our ability to provide great service relies to an extent on the fabulous suppliers we work alongside on the day. And we were blessed to have the following team on board for Glenn and Jess’s wedding. Julie Chesson A Love Story (celebrant), Jasmine Fowler (hair & makeup), Yvette’s Cakes (cake), Lala Design (stationary), Little Miss Vintage, Grandscene Wedding & Event Hire and HA Hire Events & Weddings (furniture & tableware hire), Complete DJ (DJ), Avon Valley Hospitality (catering) and The Northam Country Club (reception venue).

A huge thanks to all of you for creating such a beautiful and well run wedding for our couple, and for showcasing the possibilities for events held out here in the Avon Valley and Wheatbelt. I think the results below speak for themselves. Seriously, why would you want to get married anywhere else, people?

Congrats Glenn and Jess, and thank you so much for having me share your day with you, it really was fabulous!

Helena & Aurora Range | Koolyanobbing WA | September 2018 {Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Documentary Photographer}

The Helena and Aurora Range (also known as Bungalbin by the Kalamala Kapurn people) lies 100km north of Southern Cross, near the mining town of Koolyanobbing in WA.

Surrounded by the Great Western Woodlands, and classified as a Conservation Reserve within the Yilgarn Shire, this is a special place which only recently escaped mining through the recommendations made to government by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

The range is a 10km Banded Ironstone Formation (BIF) containing more than 350 native plant species, and a number of remarkable animals - according to the brochure. Although to be honest, we didn’t hear boo from the animals, although we did find some roo poo up in the caves along the eastern side, and there were a couple of crows hanging around our camp!

Of these threatened species, the Malleefowl and Tetratheca aphylla, subspecies aphylla (a spiky little number with a delicate pink flower) are the rarest, with the latter being the main reason the range was given a temporary reprieve from mining. The whole area really needs to be made a Class A National Park though, to give it greater protection, because under WA Law a Conservation Reserve can still be mined. And pooey to that, I say!

So last weekend my old Uni mate Hugh and I packed the bare minimum (just the important stuff, like swags and food, a winch and a coffee perculator), and headed east to explore the ranges. And this is what we came home with... no words required, really. And all made possible by that big piece of blue Duplo, the Toyota FJ Cruiser, which took us into places your average 4WD couldn’t, and allowed us to climb to the very top of the ridge at dawn to shoot the sun rising over the Woodlands. Truly spectacular...

Three Amigos Art Exhibition | Zig Zag Gallery | 10 June 2017 {Perth Event Photographer}

It was a full house for the opening of the Three Amigos art exhibition at the beautiful Zig Zag Cultural Centre in Kalamunda yesterday, with family, friends and art fans alike, gathering to view the work of three of our talented local Perth artists.  

The Three Amigos, otherwise known as Norman Roe (alias my clever Dad!), David Cameron and Alan Pickering, are three compadres who paint together in retirement (Norman and David in watercolour, and Alan in oils).  And for the past couple of years, they have collaborated with the curator of the Zig Zag Gallery, Marilyn Keys, to bring this fabulous exhibition of their work to fruition. 

And what better location than the Perth Hills for such an event, with its inspiring bushland vistas and historic buildings, providing the perfect backdrop to the delicate landscape paintings of these three artists.

The exhibition runs until the 25th June 2017, and I can seriously recommend it, so make a day of it people, and head out to the Perth Hills to see what's on offer!

Wayne + Rachel | Darlington Estate Winery | 10 February 2017 {Perth Wedding Photographer}

It was a dark and rainy day for Wayne and Rachel's gorgeous rustic wedding at Darlington Estate Winery in the Perth Hills recently - and in the middle of February too - who would have thought?!  But that didn't deter these two, or their family and friends, from celebrating the love that they so obviously share, with a beautiful and unforgettable ceremony and reception, as the rain came down around them.  

But even though the weather misbehaved, it was actually a blessing for me, because the light was soft, even, and really quite beautiful, resulting in wonderfully moody images shot at high ISO's and wide open apertures.    

Wayne and Rachel first contacted me on a recommendation from Rachel's Dad, who I worked with in the agricultural industry for many years.  It's always just that little bit extra special to be asked to shoot such an important event for someone I have a connection with, and I felt blessed to be given the opportunity to both capture and share their day with them, and many others I know through the industry.

And so many beautiful details too!  All credit to the amazing vendors they chose to work with, including Darlington Estate Winery (venue), David Cohen (celebrant), Beans & Bunches (florist), Lailee Taj (HMUA), Desiree (cake), Delish Ice (icecreams), Luv Bridal (bridal gown) and Taro Cash (suits and menswear), who came together to create this couples dream day.

Congratulations to you both, and thankyou, I feel privileged to have been a part of it with you...

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...