Marissa & Josh were married at the magnificent Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo, with a reception held that evening at Quills. Everything about this wedding was lavish and classy, but the thing I remember most about their day is ‘fun’. When this couple explode into spontaneous laughter, everyone in their vicinity has no choice but to join in. At the same time they are deeply in love. Spending a small amount of time in their company leaves you with no ounce of doubt about that.

Just to break with tradition, I’m going to begin with 2 photographs of Marissa that were featured in I Do I Do Creations Magazine. These were both taken after the ceremony, so I’m jumping forward in the timeline of their day here. This first image was shot in View Street in Bendigo, in front of my favourite pink cafe. It’s rather considerate of them to have a mirror hanging there for me…. don’t you think?

This photograph was taken in the stairwell of a gorgeous apartment that Marissa & Josh were staying in on their wedding night. A little more about that later in the post. Anyway, who cares about the stairwell? Just look at this glorious bride! She’s like an angel.

Rewind to the start of the day, with Marissa and her bridesmaids getting ready. The wedding gown by Elizabeth de Varga was stunning, in soft oyster pink. Even before I saw Marissa wearing the gown, I knew I was in for something truly special.

Marissa with her sister and two dear friends. I just love the bridesmaids different coloured dresses.

A few lovely portraits of Marissa, taking advantage of the diffused light coming in through the bedroom window.

I then closed all the curtains to block out the ambient light, and lit Marissa with a video light for some glamour and drama.

Josh with his best man and groomsmen, looking very dapper in their 40′s styled, pinstriped suits.

My favourite portrait of Josh. It’s ALL about those eyes…..

Marissa dashing up the stairs of the Cathedral, arm in arm with her father, eager to marry her childhood sweetheart.

A very special moment between Marissa and her father, moments before walking down the ailse together.

The ceremony was very emotional. Just the way these two people look at each other brings a lump to my throat. It’s a little embarassing when I cry during my client’s ceremony. Wherever possible I hide my reactions behind my camera.

I didn’t actually notice Josh’s brother ‘praising the Lord’ when I took this photograph. When I saw it later on my computer, I nearly fell off my chair laughing. This was just the start of an all day party…. as you can see!

I took Marissa & Josh back inside the Cathedral for some portraits. The light is absolutely heavenly. (no pun intended)

At this point in the proceedings, it started to rain, and showed no signs of stopping for quite some time. As I mentioned at the start of the post, Marissa & Josh had booked a beautiful old apartment up the road from the Cathedral, aptly named Cathedral Heights. Marissa and the girls had got ready there that morning, and it was also booked for the wedding night. Given the dreadful weather, I suggested we all go back there until the rain stopped, or at least slowed down. Having this great location as a back-up was a life saver. The wedding party all had some time to relax, have some drinks and snacks and utilise the bathroom facilities. Meanwhile I had a beautiful warm, dry location to make the most of our time, and take some amazing photographs of the newlyweds. If you’re planning a wedding I think it’s worth keeping this in mind. When choosing accommodation for your wedding night, don’t just think of it as a room to sleep in. Think of it as a potential photography location, especially in the event of rain.

I just love these images of Marissa & Josh. I can’t help thinking the rain was a stroke of luck, because we almost certainly would not have gone back to the apartment if it weren’t for the bad weather! Thank you Huey (the official God of rain… ha ha ha)

These were taken in the lobby of the four block apartment building. A beautiful old timber staircase, timber panelling and a big high window streaming in natural light. I was jumping up and down with excitement. Marissa and Josh were laughing at me! Once again, thank heavens for that downpour.

Aaaahhh. True love. It’s enough to make me giddy!

Eventually we decided to brave the weather and head into town. I love this image of the wedding party. It’s a study in body langauge… an insight into the individual personalities of each member of the group. I also really love the look of the wet pavers in the foreground. After looking at this I’ve honestly considered taking a big vessel of water with me on fine days, to tip on the ground! The only thing that’s stopped me is the fear of being carted away in a stiff white coat!

I wanted to show this image as a great example of the benefits of having a second photographer. My assistant Sue took this beautiful photograph of the girls, while I was shooting them from the front. Because all of their attention is focused on me, the image really has the feeling of being more candid. Many people actually prefer photographs of themselves not looking at the camera, so this is a great way to work, producing great images with the best of both worlds.

I can still hear Marissa’s infectious laughter echoing down the alley. This image makes me smile!

I added some lovely dirty texture to enhance the mood of this image. We are so blessed to have all these gorgeous old buildings in Bendigo.

A couple more images at the pinkest of pink cafes in View Street. I seriously think this cafe was painted like this purely for my benefit. Thank you!

A few more images taken in front of the columns at the Capital Theatre. Once again I count my blessings for the magnificent architecture in Bendigo. As a wedding photographer, Bendigo is a bit like being a kid in a candy store. I desperately NEED my sister Sue to drag me away when we’re out of time. She can be very tough on me as I continually insist… “just a few more! I JUST want to do this, that and the other!” ha ha ha.  Someone has to stop me. Thankfully I have my gorgeous assitant Susie to do so.

So there you go. The magnificent day that was Marissa & Josh’s wedding. It was a long time ago, but is still so fresh in my memory. They are the kind of couple I could never forget! Sweet, funny, down to earth and very much in love. I bumped into them not so long ago, as I was coming out of the theatre after seeing Billy Elliot in Melbourne. We were truly overjoyed to see each other, even though it was a very brief encounter. They were both SO excited with the anticipation of their wedding being featured in the next issue of I Do I Do. I haven’t actually spoken to them since the magazine was released. I think I’ll give them a call soon…. to see how their fabulous modeling careers are going! (joking)

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Abbey and Glenn were married in a tiny town called Prairie, about an hour north of Bendigo, at the historical property of Prairie Park. Their ceremony took place in the garden of the original old home, which is currently under extensive rennovation. The reception was held in a massive white marquee, set up on the property.

I’ll begin with some images of Abbey and her attendants getting ready in one of the beautifully rennovated bedrooms at Prairie Park.

Some final adjustments to Abbey’s dress. The girls electric blue satin dresses looked fabulous, especially with the window light skimming accross them.

Abbey with her beautiful bridesmaids.

Abbey’s darling little neices were just thrilled to be her flowergirls. Oh my, they are SO adorable.

I sensed such a special bond between Abbey and these two sweet little girls. This image just makes me gasp. I decided to give it a very aged, old world look with texture and frame overlays and a low contrast, faded black and white colour treatment. I think it really adds to the mood of the photograph.

Two little blue fairies, jumping for joy. I can’t think of a better reason to jump….

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Now some images of Glenn and his groomsmen, who also got ready inside the amazing old home at Prairie Park.

Oh man… these guys were funny. Who would have thought putting on ties could be such an event? As is often the way, the guys had Sue and I in stitches during their preparations.


All dressed, suberbly composed, and looking fantastic.

The handsome groom, very keen to see his bride and get married.

O.K. I lied about the wedding cars! But if I’d said wedding tractors, I would have revealed the surprise! Glen had told me during our interviews that they would be arriving on tractors, and I thought that sounded very cool. But nothing could have prepared me for the sight of these four monsters coming down the driveway! I wish I had a photo of the look on my face when I first saw them… ha ha ha. Absolutely fantastic.

A great shot of everybody…. a VERY happy group. Looking at this I can almost hear them cheering.

The newly married couple, travelling in absolute style. A bit slow, but not too slow for a running, 40 year old photographer.

Love is…. BIG green John Deer tractors. Yeeee haaaa.

We then moved on to the train line and wheat silos at the neighbouring town of Mitiamo. Once again I used a very vintage colour and texture treatment, adding to the character and mood of these two images. Of course this sort of processing is optional, and any image can be treated this way, or left in it’s original, bright colours. I guessed that Abbey and Glenn would love this look… and I was right.

It was just a bit windy standing by the silos! I feared the little ones would take off!

The entire wedding party, looking fabulous. I had told the little girls more than an hour earlier they could be excused if they wished, but they would have none of it. Very dedicated flowergirls.

Some lovely portraits of Abbey and Glenn around the old homestead.

I originally planned to take some shots of Abbey and Glenn looking out of this magnificent window. By the time I’d organised my camera settings, they’d climbed up and STOOD in the window… something I would never have dared to ask for. What a pair of legends!

Time for some beautiful shots back in the room that Abbey got dressed in, with my favourite lighting, the video light. So very elegant.

We had always intended on getting some images at dusk in the wheat fields, but because the wedding was in late November that meant the ideal time was about 8.30pm, when obviously the reception would be well underway. I suggested to Abby and Glenn that we sneak out for 10 minutes immediately after their main meal, which would work quite well because many of the guests would still be eating. They really wanted the shots, and readilly agreed to this plan. Oh wow, I think it was worth it. I have never even stood in a wheat field before, and was completely thrilled with this opportunity. I was initially dissappointed that the big fluffy clouds we’d had all day had blown away, but the intense pinks and aquas of the dusk sky more than made up for that, and there’s something so appealing about the wide open space of the crop and an uninterupted sky.

From my point of view this wedding was a thrilling experience. A beautiful couple, so in sync and committed to one another, the most down to earth, wild and fun loving group of friends and family that made up the wedding party and a location that was drenched in the character and history of rural Victoria. Everybody involved, including the owners of this amazing propery, treated Sue and I like we were just part of the gang, and made us so relaxed and welcome. Australian rural people are truly unique and amazing.

The other aspect of this wedding that struck me was just how lucky I am to enjoy such diversity in what I do. The wedding I photographed the week before was Melanie and Ben’s Melbourne wedding at Quat Quatta in Ripponlea, with location photography in St Kilda. As I stood in that Prairie wheat field I was thinking that the St Kilda Pier seemed to be a world away, but how equally thrilling and inspiring both locations were. Whether they travel in vintage Rolls Royces or John Deer tractors, I just love photographing people who love one another!

We began the day photographing Ben and his groomsmen getting ready in a gorgeous old home in St Kilda.

We then moved on to Ben and Melanie’s home, where Melanie and her bridesmaids were getting ready. Taking photographs during preparations is one of my favourite parts of the day. By scheduling plenty of time I have the opportunity to to capture images of  the bride getting ready, all the beautiful details, and still have plenty of time for relaxed, artistic portraits of the bride .

Melanie with her beautiful bridesmaids and her darling little neice.


Melanie was breathtakingly elegant in her Elizabeth de Varga gown. The natural window light and divine drapes made this window box an ideal spot to take photographs.





I’m just in love with this ornate metalic mirror. I’m sure I remember Melanie saying she bought this mirror especially for her wedding photographs. I’m really not sure if she was joking with me or not!  Either way, I LOVE this mirror.
Melanie arrived at Quat Quatta in absolute style, in an immaculate vintage Rolls Royce.
The wedding ceremony.

Some images of the newly married couple, taken inside Quat Quatta.

An intimate moment between Ben and Melanie. This is the view from the balcony in the main room. Leadlight windows, ornate plaster, spotlights and filtered daylight combine to make opulent colours and gorgeous light.


The grand view from the outside of Quat Quatta, a truly amazing venue.
We all moved on to St Kilda, starting at the famous old Palais Theatre.

I just couldn’t photograph a wedding in St Kilda without getting a few images in front of Luna Park!

Then we moved on to St Kilda peir. At this stage it got really windy. I thought poor Melanie was going to freeze or blow clean away. We took her veil off before it blew out to sea! She never complained once about being cold, though it was obvious she was freezing, and Ben was also keen to forge ahead. An absolute pair of troupers, making me even more determined to capture fantastic images for them, despite the dreadful weather.
Oh my… that light! I have never taken photographs on the coastline before, but often dreamed of doing so. This was my first time, and I was thrilled with the light. Now I want to move to the coast!




We finished up back at Quat Quatta for Ben and Melanie’s reception. I was very keen to take some images at night in the old house with video light, to create romantic, vintage inspired portraits.

I had a brilliant day, shooting in gorgeous historical and iconic locations, surrounded by some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. The entire wedding was so classy and elegant, just like the couple who got married that day. Thank you Melanie and Ben, for the amazing experience of meeting you, being part of your wedding, and the honour of being your photographer.