Gold Coast Wedding: Rach & James.

In May, my friends Racheal (not a typo!) & James got married by the sea. Despite it already being May, Queensland was determined not to give us autumn, and it was a perfectly warm day for a beach wedding.

Racheal & James met at their best friends' wedding in England, where they promptly fell in love four years ago. After the wedding, Racheal returned to Australia, and James immediately bought a ticket to visit her here. They talked every day for 6 months until his visit, during which they spent Christmas with each other. He went back to England, and they did the long distance thing until Racheal followed, moving to England for 2 years to be with him. James asked Racheal to marry him at the top of the Eiffel Tower (the video of which I've watched at least 6 times, each time no less sweet than the last), and after a lot of “what? Oh my God, what?” from Rach, she said yes. Fast forward 9 long, painful months and plenty of paperwork later, his visa to live in Australia was approved, and here we are today.

James & Racheal are both really goofy, kind and sincere. I knew their wedding was going to be silly and fun and all the things that they are. Racheal has always made me laugh, always wears the truest smile on her face, and even when the unfortunate happens (like both of their cars breaking down in the same week before the wedding), that same smile and positive attitude still hangs around.

To see someone I've been friends with since 2008 on the happiest day of her life, marry the love of her life, and be given the opportunity to capture it? There is no greater joy or honour. I struggled to choose my favourite photos to share in this post. The selection below is extremely conservative; just a tiny grain in all that happened that day (I have decided not to include photos from the reception).

Many thanks to my good friend Jason de Plater for second shooting this wedding with me. I'm so grateful to have had your keen eye, experience and passion for photography by my side on the day. It wouldn't have been the same without you!

Brisbane Wedding: Logan & Lachlan.

Logan and I went to the same high school. We only shared a couple of classes together (visual art being one) and we'd not seen or spoken to each other since leaving school (nearly a decade ago). Earlier in the year, I was surprised and delighted to get a Facebook message from her asking if I'd be free to shoot her April wedding. To reconnect with someone in this way is so wonderful, and again I'm grateful and fascinated by the ways in which life weaves its magic.

I love what weddings have the opportunity to do for photographers. All these different families open up and welcome you into one of the most intimate days of their lives. We see what the bride and groom don't often get a moment to notice, and we're handy to have when the unexpected happens, like when the mother-of-the-bride steaming the dresses suddenly sets off the fire alarm and the fire brigade appear at the hotel. That's definitely a story we'll be telling over and over.

Ceremony venue: Our Lady of Victories Church, Bowen Hills
Dress: Grace Loves Lace

Maleny Wedding: Lucy & Alex.

Four days after I came home from Borneo, I was a wedding photographer once more, shooting Lucy & Alex's wedding held at Maleny Manor. I was so honoured to be there, not only as their friend but as their photographer, to capture all the love and happiness between them & their families. There was so much genuine love in the room from all of them, and it made my job as their photographer so easy and full of joy.

After the wedding, I felt as if there was no possible way I could have told this story of what I felt and saw on the day: the closest group of family and friends I have ever seen, how much fun they are to be around, how they take care of each other. I was terrified I couldn't have done it justice, but they were over the moon when I showed them the photos, and that's all that matters to me.

My biggest thanks also to Emily Nelson, who was my second shooter on the day. We both went home on a high after spending 12 incredible hours with these guys.

Maleny Wedding: Rachael & Kyri.

Last weekend, Rachael and Kyri (friends of Martin and I) got married on a beautiful private property in Maleny. They put together a wonderful, picnic-style DIY wedding—probably the first time I've been to a wedding and felt comfortable with taking off my shoes and walking around on the grass. I wasn't the official photographer, but I brought my camera anyway.

Gold Coast Wedding: Stacey & Klint.

The sun could not have been brighter on the day of Stacey & Klint's wedding at Kanbeki House, Currumbin Valley, quite loudly declaring that the Queensland summer is already here. Luke and I were looking forward to shooting at a venue set amongst the lush hinterland of Currumbin Valley on such a beautiful day, despite knowing it would be a very humid & sticky 14 hours to come.

We had no true idea what else this wedding had in store for us (then again, who really does?). We did not know we would run into three other bridal parties and an actual wedding ceremony at the beach. We did not know how many laughs we would have and how comfortable we would feel amongst people most of which we had not met twice. We did not know just how much fun this family could have, all in the same room. I didn't know I would have so many stories to tell from this day, each equally as joyful and funny as the next. Throughout it all, they never lost sight of what this day was really about: the lives and love of two people who have been together for 7 years, had two beautiful daughters together and everyone having a jolly good time celebrating all that and more. And they really, really know how to celebrate.

There are a handful of photos thrown into my post below that were taken by Luke, who will be posting his photos on his own website in a few days (I literally couldn't wait to post mine). Keep an eye out for his version of their beautiful wedding day at Kanbeki House over at lukechapman.com.au.

Wedding Videography: Alissa & Robert.

Last month, myself and Luke Chapman shot one of the most beautiful, heartwarming weddings we have ever had the pleasure to witness. Alissa & Robert were so kind and easy going and part of such a loving family; their simple celebrations a true testament to what weddings should be about: love, and love only.

Stacey & Klint: Engagement Preview.

Luke and I will be shooting this beautiful family's wedding in October. Because I couldn't wait to share it, here's a preview of their engagement & family portrait shoot from Sunday.

Alissa & Robert's Wedding (Preview).

A small little preview of Alissa & Robert's beautiful, heartwarming wedding, which Luke and I shot last month. Our first time shooting a wedding in video, but definitely not the last. Can't wait to share the video with you all.

 

Wedding: Aemi & Robi.

On Tuesday, May 8, I watched my cousin get married in Sydney. It was a sudden trip, having only made the decision to fly down to Sydney with my mother two weeks ago. But how could I not be there for the marriage of one of my closest cousins, a person I grew up with (albeit for a short period of time, prior to moving overseas), the first cousin to be married in our generation on my mother's side of the family? Aemi, the bride, her twin sister Abbie (the maid of honour) and Tristan, their younger brother together with their parents moved to Sydney about six years ago and are some of the few relatives we have living here. I am grateful that they did, otherwise I would've missed this historical day in our family's lives, and would've missed out on getting to know such talented, like-minded cousins.

Despite the stresses my mother and I encountered in our rushed two day trip (a lot of which included missing trains and running around with heavy bags everywhere), and us having to leave the reception quite early on in order to catch our flight homeward bound to Brisbane, I am glad that I was there to see it unfold before my own eyes—and the lens.

I wasn't the official wedding photographer, but needless to say, I took as many photos as I could; I only uploaded my favourite photos from the day below. My uncle (an artist & illustrator, one of my very many creative relatives on my mother's side) was the genius behind a majority of the flower arrangements.