Ashley & David

Well, it’s been a while hasn’t it?

It’s been a busy few months for myself, taking photos, moving and life generally taking over. What have I been up to?

During October, I was fortunate and lucky enough to shoot my first wedding. The lucky couple was Ashley and David Grainger. And they were so great to shoot, they made me feel welcome and comfortable the whole day.

But first, a little back story. A few weeks before the wedding, myself and my partner made our way down to the wedding location, Robertson. Located about and hour and a half from Sydney in the Southern Highlands, we went down to scope out the area and find places to shoot for the day. It was bright and sunny and we found more than enough diverse and beautiful spots. It wasn’t until the week of the wedding, after talking to the bride’s Aunty, that it would, infact be raining on the day.

Shit.

I’d planned the whole shoot to be outside and didn’t even consider that it would rain. What’s that song about rain on your wedding day?

I stressed all week. Googling alternative locations, trying to figure out how we’d get around the weather. I had a few sleepless nights, I wanted to get this right! This was a big step up for me and I didn’t want to be underprepared.

The day of the wedding came, and I set off early to Robertson to figure out a new game plan. Luckily on the way down, Ashley informed me of the hotel they were staying at, and that’s when the solution came clear.

They were staying at the Robertson Hotel and it was beautiful. An old hotel with huge beautiful gardens and gorgeous architecture. The hotel ended up being the saving grace of the weather.

I met with both Ashley and David separately, starting off the day capturing them setting up and getting ready for the wedding. If I’m being honest, I had no idea what I was doing for the first half an hour. But eventually I loosened up and we got things going.

The wedding was beautiful, simple and elegant. Both Ashley and David looked amazing and their kids were cute as hell. The wedding went off without a problem and we soon moved on to some more photos.

The rain held up for a bit and we managed to take a few outside, moving around the gardens and the hotel. We got some great shots and you can tell just how happy and in love the two are.

Spending the next hour and a half taking photos, we had to move back to the Robertson Inn for the reception. This is where people got to let their hair down, have a bite to eat and have some fun. After a few speeches people got their dancing shoes on and the night flowed with drinks and food.

All in all, it was a really special day, one I’ll remember fondly. I hope Ashley and David had a great day, with a life filled with love, laughter and happiness as they take the next step in their lives together. And thank you both for the opportunity. I loved every second of it.

Brendan.

Paige & Casey

Sometimes it's good to step out of your comfort zone.

I had to step out of mine the other week, having not only my first paid gig, but also taking shots and working with a kid. Now I have taken shots of other people's children, but never in such a professional manner, with the express purpose of having some nice photos for them to appreciate and share.

I was lucky then, that the people I was working alongside were lovely, accommodating and just as nervous as I was. We both helped each other and at the end of the day, we got some great stuff out of it all.

So who were the people I took shots with? Casey is someone I work with at my job and she's fantastic. She asked me to take photos of her daughter, Paige. I was very happy to do so, welcoming the challenge but more importantly, help create some lasting memories for Casey, Paige and her family. I've worked with Casey for about 2 years or so. Paige on the other hand, I had only met once before and unfortunately it was early and she was pretty crook so she wasn't in the best of spirits. 

This time though, I got to get to know her better and see what a great and interesting kid she is. 

We met at Mt Annan Botanical Gardens, located in South Western Sydney and a beautiful place to shoot. Fortunately the weather decided to play nice and it was sunny and just a bit of wind. We all had no idea where to begin, so we walked around for a while, trying to find spots and sights. 

Eventually we found a good place to begin and the nerves really kicked in for me. I hadn't ever really asked people to pose for me or follow specific instructions when it comes to photography and I think it showed at first, with my very specific instructions being "Ummm...just look at the camera and smile"

Those nerves quickly wore off, and we all got into the swing of it. Paige got into it, knowing how to strike a pose, with Casey directing too. I was more fluid in what I was doing and I felt more comfortable as the day went on. 

We had a few outfit changes, location changes and more, but after about 2 hours we called it a day, everyone happy and satisfied with how it all went.

Like I said earlier, I had never done anything like this before, but I was very lucky to work and shoot with Casey and Paige. I couldn't have asked for a better experience with it all. I got dragged out of my comfort zone, but I'm extremely happy I did. Seeing Casey's reaction when I handed over the photos to her made the entire experience worth it and I can't wait to do more. It's why I love photography.

Brendan