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.

Dan + Kacey | Buckland Estate, Northam WA | 9 January 2021 {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Wedding Photographer}

Dan and Kacey waited an additional nine months to tie the knot, after postponing their original plans for an Easter wedding when Covid hit early in 2020. And as Murphy’s Law would have it, their cool, Autumn wedding day was replaced with one of the hottest days we’ve had out here this Summer, at a cracking hot and slightly stormy 43 degrees!

High temps are tough enough for those of us who live in the Wheatbelt and are acclimatised to the conditions, so I can only imagine how this predominantly Perth based couple and their guests felt as the temperature soared on the 9th January! But being true legends, they forged ahead, without dropping any of our plans to march through paddocks or dance on sunset in the name of epic images. And it was totally worth it - after a relatively dark, overcast afternoon, the temperature dropped to a ‘mild’ 39 degrees, and the sun peeked through with just enough time left to nail the stunning images you see below!

Special mention to the following suppliers for battling through the heat and making Dan and Kacey’s day one to remember. Buckland Estate (venue), Three Seventy Hair Salon (hair & makeup), Lotus Floristry (flowers), Jonte Designs (gown), Totem Glamping (safari tents), and Base Woodfired Pizza (catering).

And of course, a huge thankyou to Dan and Kacey for entrusting their wedding day to me, and for the sweet little note of thanks I received below - you guys rock!

“We just got our prints! They are stunning! We are so happy with all the photos - they are perfect, and exactly what we had hoped for. Thankyou so much for nailing our vision Angie!”

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…

Scott + Rebecca | Laurelville Manor, York WA | 26 October 2019 {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Photographer}

Scott and Bec were blessed with a glorious Summer day for their stunning wedding, held at historic Laurelville Manor in York, Western Australia recently.

This wedding was packed with all the elements that get me excited, from the location, just 20 minutes down the road from me in the beautiful Avon Valley region, to the venue (one of our best loved local properties) and the couples families, a bunch of lovely farming folk, some of whom I know from my days in the agricultural industry. Not to mention the dusty paddocks on the outskirts of town that Scott and Bec chose for their bridal portraits - what more could a country based photographer with a background in agriculture ask for?!

A huge thanks to the following vendors for helping create such a stunningly elegant day for this gorgeous young couple. Laurelville Manor (venue), Kay hair & Co (hair), Mint Makeup Artist (makeup), Flowers By Elli Paige (florals), Ryan Clune (celebrant), Heyder & Shears Catering (catering), Audrey Davies (cake), Madi Lane Bridal (gown) and Joondalup Marquees (marquee).

And of course, a big thankyou to Scott and Bec for inviting me to cover your special day for you - it was such a delight to be there with you all!

Tim + Zoe | Avon Valley Country Wedding | Beverley WA | 30 March 2019 {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Wedding Photographer}

As many of you will know, I love a good Avon Valley or Wheatbelt wedding, and Tim and Zoe’s beautiful day held out in Beverley, just over 100 kilometres from Perth, certainly didn’t disappoint.

From the leafy surrounds of the Station Gallery for the ceremony, to the paddocks on the outskirts of town as a backdrop for bridal portraits, and the romance of one of our treasured Art Deco buildings for their reception, the town of Beverley really was the perfect wedding location for this local farming family. As was the weather - a glorious Autumn day full of light and colour (and the usual sprinkling of dust we get at this time of year!).

Add to that a team of awesome vendors and hard working, creative locals, and you have the recipe for an event to rival anything currently being produced in the city. All credit to the following people for making Tim and Zoe’s day so completely fabulous - you guys really know how to nail a country wedding! Carissa Shaw (P&C event co-ordinator), Beverley Electrical Services (festoon lighting), Love Ashleigh Perth Marriage Celebrant (celebrant), Foliage Bespoke Floral Design (flowers), Grandscene Wedding & Event Hire (furniture hire), Simple & Beautiful Catering (catering), Three Shucker (oysters), Say Cheese Towers & Blue Cow Cheese Company (cheese platters & cake), Hair By Sonora & Naomi Payne Hair (hair), Freelance Make-up Artist (make-up), The Wedding DJ (music), and Mr Potplants (plant hire).

Congratulations Tim and Zoe, and thank you for having me along to document your special day for you…

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!

Meckering Earthquake Gala Dinner | Meckering WA | 13 October 2018 {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Event Photographer}

On the 14th October 1968, an earthquake rocked the small Wheatbelt town of Meckering in Western Australia, demolishing 60 of the 75 homes, and most of the commercial buildings in a matter of minutes. The population was effectively reduced to a quarter of its original 500 inhabitants, as most of the business owners and many local families never returned to rebuild.

But fast forward 5 decades, and Meckering is again a thriving community with the vision and talent required to host a remarkable commemoration weekend recently, in celebration of 50 years since that fateful day. And I had the pleasure of covering the glitzy evening that was the Gala Dinner on the Saturday night!

Held in a Swan Events marquee in the middle of town, 200 guests from all over Australia enjoyed a fabulous 3 course dinner catered by Citron’s Catering, an exclusive commemorative beer by Lucky Bay Brewing (aptly named Richter Ale!), and music by DJ Mac and one of our favourite local bands, Another Fine Mess. Rosary Floral Design provided the gorgeous floral arrangements dotted around the marquee, while the boys from the Cunderdin Football Club did a sterling job of serving tables throughout the evening.

Then Sunday saw over 2000 people descend on the town for a day of celebration, which included bus tours to the earthquake fault line, a display of memorabilia in the Hall, and the unveiling of the revamped earthquake walk trail.

A huge thanks must go out to Rebekah Burges and her team of 30 local volunteers, for the 12 months of work that went into bringing this incredible weekend to fruition. What a credit to you all, and a shining example of what’s possible out here in the Wheatbelt!

The Wheatbelt Way | A Road Trip | May 2018 {Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Documentary Photographer}

With my Autumn weddings done and dusted, I took the opportunity for a three day Roadie earlier this week, heading north-east to the shire of Mt Marshall on the edge of the Wheatbelt, where the Emu Proof Fenceline divides our farmland from station country.  

Late Autumn is such a beautiful time of the year out there.  The days are warm and still, the flies are (mostly!) gone, and the evenings cool.  But it's also the driest time of the year, normally following a long hot Summer, and before the first rains of Winter settle the dust and germinate the newly sown crops. 

Founded on a nomadic pastoral industry, which later included the cutting of sandalwood, the Shire of Mt Marshall takes in the tiny towns of Bencubbin and Beacon, running north to the Emu Proof Fenceline. Nowadays it mostly consists of vast areas of flat, open cropping country, pockets of bush teaming with native flora and fauna, long straight gravel roads, the remnants of small settlements, and some very large rocks.

So, armed with my Fuji XPro2 + 18-135mm lens, plus a few other essentials, like food, water, my coffee machine and a Wheatbelt Drive Trail Map, I headed east to the Beacon Caravan Park, to set up camp - ever conscious of the fact that I was going to be far more comfortable in my Donga than my great great great grandfather JS Roe would have been, when he first discovered and explored this country in 1836! 

  And for the next three days I drove long distances, trekked through bush, climbed rocks with easy to spell names names like Billiburning, Elachbutting and Beringbooding, and watched farmers kick up trails of dust across the landscape with their seeding machines.  I also walked through towns (both existing and extinct), and met a few of the locals, including Bruce and Mal, who offered me a stiff cup of black tea and a rollie, and took me through the Beacon Men's Shed, and a short history of the tractor in Australia. 

But mostly I just hung out on my own.  Sometimes it's good to just quiet the chaos, to switch off and celebrate the simple things in our own backyard. That's what this trip was all about for me. And maybe a little bit about taking photos too, because, well, that's just what I do! 

Nic + Tenielle | Rustic Farm Wedding, Merredin | 16 December 2017 {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Photographer}

It was a typically warm and windy summers day for Nic and Tenielle's rustic farm wedding, held on the family property in Korbel (between Kellerberrin and Merredin), in Western Australia, a week before Christmas. 

With the ceremony held in a paddock surrounding historic Massingham's Rock, and a machinery shed converted into a stunning reception venue, this wedding had all the elements one could hope for at a rural Australian wedding.

A host of gorgeous details, including eucalyptus table runners, blackboards, wine barrels, hay bales, packing crates, vintage suitcases and crockery, hessian bunting and festoon lights, all came together to create a rustic, DIY vibe, perfectly suited to Nic and Tenielle's big day.   Add to that a full selection of drinks from the bar in the corner of the shed, some amazing food by the clever folk at Supper Road (all the way from Margaret River in the southwest!), and a close circle of family and friends, and you have everything you need for a totally awesome day.

A huge thanks to vendors Leanne Meldrum (celebrant), Bloom Tribe (flowers), Tenielle's sister Emma Growden (cake), Lush Hair & Makeup (makeup), Nicola Richards Hair Studio (hair), Tuscany Bridal (gown), MJ Bale (suits), and Supper Road (catering), who all helped make the day so memorable. 

Congratulations Nic and Tenielle, and thankyou so much for choosing me to cover your beautiful wedding for you, it was such a fabulous way for me to end the year!

Tim + Bonnie | Backyard Festival Wedding, Toodyay | 21 October 2017 {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Wedding Photographer}

It was an overcast and stormy day for Tim and Bonnie's rustic, festival styled wedding held in Toodyay, in Western Australia last month.  With a ceremony on the side of a hill in the bush, and a marquee nestled amongst the trees in the backyard of Bonnie's family home, this wedding had a beautiful, rural Australian feel about it.

Add to that a gorgeous rambling cottage garden (created and lovingly maintained by the brides parents), a host of DIY touches (including the boys belts, who were made by groomsman and saddle maker Simon, the couples daughters dress, which was made by Bonnie's Nanna many years ago, the garden sculptures and signage by Bonnie's dad, and the flowers by her sister Ellen), some amazing food by the clever folk at Kazoomies, and a close circle of family and friends who returned to Toodyay to celebrate, and you have the perfect recipe for an awesome day!

Big shout out to vendors Lynne Lawson (celebrant), Petallica Flower Co (brides bouquet, flower crowns and wine barrel arrangements), Bonnie's sister Ellen Putland (bridesmaids, cake and reception flowers), Bonnie herself (cake), SJW Hairstylist (hair), Daniella Piscopo (makeup), Samantha Wynne (gown), Kazoomies (catering) and Swan Event Hire (marquee & furniture), who all helped make the day such a success. 

Congratulations Tim and Bonnie, and thankyou so much for having me along to cover your beautiful wedding day for you.  It was awesome!

5 Tips For Avoiding Wedding Photos You'd Rather Forget | Polka Dot Wisdom | Polka Dot Bride {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Wedding Photographer}

A little article I wrote, published recently by the lovely ladies at Polka Dot Bride...

1. Ask Your Friends and Family For Referrals
 

Despite the rise of social media, and the abundance of wedding photographers that can now be found online, personal referrals are still (and always will be) the best way to find a photographer who will produce amazing images, and gel with you on the day. If your friends were happy with them, there's a good chance you will be too.

Plus you can ask them lots of questions that you might not feel like asking the photographer directly, like whether they were cool and easy going, or loud and overbearing on the day! And if you've found someone whose work you love, but you don't know anyone who has used them previously, try asking around in Facebook group forums, or searching for testimonials online - you'll soon find out what they are like to work with!
 

2. Get To Know Them
 

This doesn't necessarily mean meeting in person - I get it, we're all time poor!  But there are a number of ways you can get to know the photographer you are considering booking, before you part with that hard earned cash. Follow their work on social media. Read the comments and any reviews and testimonials. Give them a call, or Skype them for a chat. Or send them an email - all will give you an idea of what they are like both personally and professionally.  And then if it's possible, arrange to meet up for a coffee and chat in person.
 

3.  View Their Work
 

Most photographers will have a portfolio full of gorgeous images on their website, as well as individual client galleries, which show a larger number of images from recent weddings. Have a good look through their work, and ask yourself if the images look consistent (in both shooting and editing style), if they appear sharp and correctly exposed, and if the colour and overall toning appeals to you.

Then when you contact them, ask to see a couple of full wedding galleries, showing all images which were delivered to the client.  This is the best way to see how they shoot a wedding from start to finish, and to get a feel for the storytelling aspect of their wedding photography.  It's also a good way to get a feel for what 'x' number of images delivered looks like - you'll soon realise that 300 beautifully edited images covering all aspects of the day, is way better than 1000 poorly edited images with parts missing! 

Viewing their images online will often be enough to help you decide whether or not they are for you, but if you do meet in person, ask them to bring some example albums and/or prints along, so you can see what their work looks like in print.
 

4. Check Their Level of Experience
 

A glance at the portfolio on their website should give you an idea of whether or not they've shot many weddings, but if it doesn't, ask them.  Weddings are fast paced, and often throw curveballs, like rain (and sometimes lots of it!).  Wedding photographers need to know their gear, and they need to be able to work quickly and effectively in stressful situations.  They also need to know how to direct and pose non-models like yourselves, so ask them how long they have been shooting weddings for, and roughly how many they've done.
 

5. Check What Equipment They Use
 

This is a great way to start an argument amongst photographers, who generally fall into one of two camps - either Canon vs Nikon, mirrorless vs DSLR, full frame vs cropped sensor, or whatever. I firmly believe that it is the photographer who creates the image, not the camera, so I don't really think this is a big one for you to worry about. Whatever their choice of equipment, they are producing the beautiful images you have just seen on their website.

But what is important, is that they bring a backup of every piece of equipment they'll be using to capture your gorgeous wedding images, on the day.  This means at least two camera bodies (I prefer three), two flashes, or lighting systems if they use lights, multiple lenses, batteries and memory cards. 

And their camera bodies should most definately have dual card slots.  This allows your photographer to write to one card, and backup to the other, so if a card fails, your images will be safely stored on the other card. It also allows them to keep one card in the camera, and one elsewhere once they have finished the job, which reduces the risk of loss through theft or fire.  Which means your images will always be safe - phew!

So there you go, my five tips to get you started on the hunt for the perfect wedding photographer. Have a totally awesome day, and enjoy those photos, both on the day and in years to come!
 

Why I Chose Pentax as My Weapon of Choice | Polka Dot Wisdom | Polka Dot Bride {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Wedding Photographer}

A little article I wrote for the lovely ladies at Polka Dot Bride has just been published, and it goes something like this...

Hey, guess what?  I shoot Pentax!  Weird, I know?!  I don't think twice about it, of course, but every now and then I get asked why I chose Pentax as my camera system, usually by an observant wedding guest with an interest in photography, and almost always when I'm darting around grabbing shots, with no time to spare for explanations.  Well, it's mid winter now, and I'm buried in my office, with time to finally answer that question for you!

So why did I choose Pentax, when so many photographers have gone down the Canon or Nikon path?

Well, technically, Pentax chose me, when I joined my high school photography club and was handed one of the dozens of Pentax K1000's that the school loaned out to students on weekends, with a roll of film and a few vague instructions on how to use it.  My fate was then sealed in Year 11, when my parents returned from Bali with a K1000 they'd purchased for me Duty Free (thanks Mum and Dad!).

A couple of decades down the track, and I'm still shooting with that K1000, as well as Pentax's latest full-frame DSLR, the Pentax K1 (both pictured below).  And the reason I've stayed with this system is because Pentax make superb cameras and lenses.  They've been around forever, and have stood the test of time.  Their optics are incredible - they even make a medium format camera, the Pentax 645 Z, which just goes to show the level of build quality they are capable of.

They also boast a huge range of lenses, with many of the old manual film lenses being compatible with current digital cameras.  Which is a huge plus for me, because after so many years shooting Pentax, I now have a fabulous set of fast primes I can still use to create beautiful, dreamy images on your wedding day! 

And lastly, Pentax renders the final image with a lovely film-like quality, which goes hand in hand with my style, allowing me to produce images that hark back to the days of film, even when they're shot on the latest digital cameras.  So really, what more could I ask for in a camera system?!  Definately Pentax and proud!

Jimmy + Ash | Slater Homestead Goomalling | 12 August 2017 {Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Wedding Photographer}

It was a dark and overcast Winter day for Jimmy and Ash's wedding, held at the beautifully restored Slater Homestead in Goomalling, WA.  

Built in 1856, this delightfully refurbished set of stone buildings, which is owned and operated by the Shire of Goomalling, offers a unique and romantic wedding venue, right here in our beautiful Avon Valley region.  And Ash was quick to spot its potential, driving past it each week, as she commuted from Wyalkatchem to Perth for work!  

So, surrounded by a small and intimate group of their closest family and friends, many of whom had flown in from Victoria, Jimmy and Ash tied the knot under the direction of celebrant Nola Chamberlain, and the cover of the homestead verandah, as the showers rolled through.

Wearing a stunning Aurelio Costarella gown, with hair and makeup by Wild Licorice Hair & Beauty, and Emma Denman, Ash looked radiant throughout both ceremony and the bridal party photo shoot that followed.  Using the landscaped grounds of Slater Homestead, and ducking for cover when necessary, we were then blessed with some beautiful rays of light when the sun broke through the clouds briefly, right on sunset.

Then it was into the barn for a warm and intimate dinner, to toast the newlyweds, and celebrate into the evening.  Congratulations Jimmy and Ash, and thank you so much for having me cover your special day.  It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of it with you all!