Joe + Nikita | Brookleigh Estate, Swan Valley | 17 March 2018 {Perth, Avon Valley & Wheatbelt Wedding Photographer}

March is my favourite time of the year, and such a beautiful time to get married (I got married in March myself, and can't help but love an Autumn wedding!).  And Saturday was a perfect Autumn day for Joe and Nikita's beautiful heartfelt ceremony and reception, held at the ever stunning Brookleigh Estate in the Swan Valley, in Perth WA.  

And there's something extra special about childhood sweethearts like Joe and Nikita, who have been friends since they were just 6 years old. It creates a bond which just seems to radiate on the day, bringing everyone present into the fold, and creating a vibe like none other.

And so backed by years of friendship, and a similar outlook on life, Joe and Nikita tied the knot in a lakeside ceremony, followed by a fabulous reception on the deck as the sun set over the lake - complete with ducks and horses frolicking in the background - who wouldn't love that?!

Congratulations guys, and thankyou for having me cover your special day! It was truly magical...

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!
 

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!

The Wheatbelt Collective | Launch | The Grand Northam | 26 July 2017 {Avon Valley & Perth Wedding & Event Photographer}

Recently, I teamed up with the lovely ladies from Confetti & Co and Petallica Flower Co, to form The Wheatbelt Collective, a collaboration between like minded wedding and event specialists, based in the Avon Valley, just east of Perth in WA.  

A stylist (Sarah & Holly), a photographer (Angie), and a florist (Sarah), we aim to provide an innovative and fresh approach to weddings and events held in both rural and urban areas, but with a particular focus on events held in the country.  The Avon Valley and Wheatbelt offer a stunning backdrop to any style of wedding or event, and being local to these regions, we have an intimate knowledge of rural venues and suppliers, which means that together, we can help you plan a unique and exciting day that runs smoothly, is loaded with personality, and most importantly, reflects you and your event.

So in preparation for our launch, we put our heads together to produce our first styled shoot, which was held at The Grand Northam, an incredible old hotel, currently undergoing renovation as a wedding and event venue, right here in our beautiful Avon Valley. 

The aim of this shoot was to showcase what we can offer you in the country, should you choose to keep it local.  We wanted it to be fresh, creative and unique, and to incorporate some local product, which might not be found easily in the city. Hence the amazing venue, and the golden wheat heads and lustrous macrocarpal that Sarah used in her floral creations! 

Sarah and Holly (Confetti & Co) provided a brief for a bold, wintery, bohemian look, full of golds, blues and a hint of blush, and Sarah (Petallica Flower Co) began sourcing rich velvety roses, cascading eucalyptus, sea holly, andromeda scabiosa, banksias, queen proteas, the macrocarpal and wheat, and some super moody black and burgundy calla lilies, for the floral arrangements.

We then cleared an area amongst the renovations at The Grand, in front of the majestic dining room fireplace (under that amazing print of Napoleon Bonaparte!), and set up our table, complete with gorgeous gold chairs supplied by Event Artillery, and some stunning tableware by Orielle.  In addition, Sarah and Holly created an incredible rustic grazing table outside on the deck, to showcase the idea of picnic style dining, which is of course, so well suited to many country events.

And voila!  This is the result, and we couldn't be happier with it!  Now you know what's possible out here in the country.  Plus we had a heap of fun creating (and then eating!) beautiful things, so we can't wait until it's off-season again, so we can do it all again!

Josh + Nicole | Lamont's Bishops House | 8 April 2017 {Perth Wedding Photographer}

Josh and Nicole, childhood sweethearts together since high school, finally tied the knot in a heartfelt ceremony at the ever stunning Lamont's Bishops House, in the City of Perth recently. 

Surrounded by family and friends, many who had flown in for the weekend, these two lovebirds shared their vows in a testament of true love, which has quite obviously stood the test of time. 

Wearing a beautiful gown by Anna Winato, with styling and flowers by Bits and Blooms, HMUA by The Look By Us, and a suit from MJ Bale, Josh and Nicole set the scene for their classic feel wedding with a rustic garden vibe. The theme was further enhanced by their team of fabulous vendors, which included Lamont's Bishops House (venue and catering), Barb Howard (celebrant), Jo Reid (piano entertainer), Vintage Letters & Co (light up letters), and Brooke and Jean Henderson, Nicole's clever mum and sister, who made the incredible wedding cake. 

So backed by these creative peeps, I set myself loose on the grounds of Lamont's, to document the day as it unfolded around me.  Built for the first Anglican Archbishop of Perth in the 1850's, and nestled in amongst the city skyscrapers, Lamont's is a stunning venue for a wedding, and a photographers dream, with its rustic colours, soft light and and sweeping gardens.

And of course, it's always a pleasure to work with couples like Josh and Nicole. So congratulations to you both, and thankyou again from the bottom of my heart for inviting me to be part of your special day with you...