Lizzycphotography

I don’t usually blog much outside of what I photograph directly for clients, but I thought I might share a little piece of what I was doing and where I was over the last few days. I guess I’m revealing a little bit of me here today.

I usually tell other people’s stories, not my own, so I’m not even really sure where to start with this.

As much as I love my lifestyle, there is a lot of noise in my life. I’m always connected. I’m always going somewhere and doing something. I don’t really ever sit still. Often I travel overseas to gain some respite. It’s my oportunity to rejuvinate, be inspired and create for myself.

I didn’t quite know what I was signing up for when I decided to attend “Play Make Do” at Payne’s Hut in the alpine region of North East Victoria, but something in what they were offering resonated with me. The idea of spending time creating, interacting, thinking, talking and playing in an enviroment and a time dedicated solely to doing just that with a group of like-minded people was inspiring to me.

I had a divine four days and took away many things; some which I will be immediately able to integrate into my city lifestyle, while other loftier goals and ambitions will need more time and consideration. More than anything, I cherished the stillness, the disconnection from the outside world, and the chance to create for creation’s sake. It was a place where the outside world didn’t really matter.

Thank you to all the people with whom I spent the last four days. You made the experience what it was.

The photographs I took will hopefully illustrate at least some of the experience I had. After all, I tell stories much better with pictures than with words…

If you are into Twitter. These are the people I learnt from and laughed with….
@PaynesHut @kealey @busichic @sambe11 @LSwearingin @meaganrocket @dougsky @playmakedo and of course @alisonmichalk

The lovely Mike and Mikki celebrated their wedding in a beautiful and relaxed lunchtime reception at The Bridge Hotel in Mordialloc. It was so nice for Mikki to be able to share this special day with her family and close friends, who came all the way from Japan to celebrate with her. It was an intimate day with just their nearest and dearest in attendance. Much laughter and tears were shared with the happy couple.

As if by magic, the bad weather predicted for the day held off and the the sun came out to play. This gave us the perfect opportunity to stroll around the canals and get some lovely portraits of Mike and Mikki. Take a look at the photos below, and I’m sure that you’ll agree that they are a gorgeous couple who had a stunning wedding.

I think Jessie summed up her and Rhys’s wedding day perfectly when she said “oh boy, what a great day it was”.

I’d also like to add relaxed, happy and picture-perfect. Jessie had a great vision for their wedding day; working in her own wedding styling business helped it all come together perfectly. She sure is creative; all the details were stunning, even though they were eclectic in nature (excuse the pun!). The colours just popped out and helped create the beautifully relaxed vibe of the day.

The entire day seemed to fly by in a blur. It was nice to slow down and take a wander through the gardens, chatting and laughing with the bridal party, and capturing the mood and the lush foliage that engulfed us .

Jessie had some lovely stuff to say about us too and, well, I thought we may as well toot our own horns and share it with the world!

“Lizzy, you were a great calm to me on the day, I never felt that I had to do anything out of my comfort zone and I was able to enjoy every moment without feeling like ‘oh no, not another photo’, with you easy going and comical attitude you made the day fun for everyone within the bridal party or that met you.

Lizzy is extremely organized, relaxed and professional which I have to say ‘I dont know how she does it’, (especially when you have groomsmen disappearing to cater to another beverage during a group photo session of the bridal party). Lizzy’s assistant on the day, Clara, did a great job of rounding up all the friends and family for the photos, gee that girl can run!”

Thanks Jessie and Rhys!

Notice some familuar faces? A year prior I photographed Emma and Ben’s Wedding (Emma is Jessie’s sister) and you all loved her creative style. We love them both! Together Jessie and Emma are the creative duo behind the styling company “Courting Scarlett”

The Wedding Details

Wedding location: Melbourne Botanic Gardens – Ceremony and Reception ~ Terrace Tea rooms in the gardens

Wedding Theme/Colours: Eclectic Botanical with a quirky twist; colours included colbalt blues, whites and rustic inspired tans.

Ceremony Official: Melissa Jacobs at “the ceremony store”
Bridal gown: Modified dress from Raffaele Ciuca
Shoes: Mui Mui
Jewellery: Mimco Earrings
Grooms attire: Mullers
Groomsmen: Mullers
Bridesmaids: GASP
Makeup/hair: Make up: Ash Cousins and Hair: Lisa Ann 0425 413 144
Flowers: Anouk Styling
Cars: Glamour Enterprises PTY LTD
Cake: Jo at Splendid Servings
Music: Ben at Dj Masters
Bonbonniere: Custom made through Courting Scarlett

www.courtingscarlett.com.au (under construction)
Jessie 0410494112 and Emma 0407446994

Invitations: Laura at “by invitation only ink” supplier found via Etsy.com
Wedding Rings: Private Jeweller
Bridal accessories: Bow Hair piece by Portobello.com via Etsy
Ceremony equipment: All seating and umbrella’s hired through Place Settings
Ceremony Performer: Buray via Instinct events and Entertainment
Table decorations/Reception details: All design and decoration’s of the venue and table decorations were put together by the bride through the bride’s business “Courting Scarlett” which she shares with her sister Emma scarlett Hunting.
Honeymoon: Bali, Indonesia

It’s a unique experience to approach what feels like a sprawling secluded property just moments after driving through bustling suburbia. On approaching Kara and Emerson’s wedding at Emu Bottom Homestead, we drove down the driveway framed by established tall gums, the sunlight peeking through the trees and dappling the road and homestead before us. Laughter, conversation and acoustic melodies drifted over a cheerful crowd. Emerson was looking super spiffy as he kidded around with his groomsmen. I was impressed by his personal style, and how well he and the boys pulled off the 50s retro vibe. Emerson is a pretty cool muso in his own right; it seems to come with the territory!

Presently the girls arrived and the sun came out to play. Their ceremony was fun, relaxed and beautifully put together; it reflected perfectly their personalities and partnership. Many laughs were had and a few tears were shed. On conclusion, the guests enjoyed drinks as we wandered around the property, taking in our beautiful surroundings. Then it was into the woolshed for lots of laughs and way too much fun on the dance floor. Emerson impressed the crowd with his tunes, and nobody could resist getting into it, Grandma and Grandpa included!

What a day. What fun, and what a great way to celebrate Kara and Emerson’s relationship and commitment. This wedding won’t be and can’t be labelled as “a retro wedding”, “rustic” or “country chic” as some wedding magazines would try to do, because it’s obvious that their inspiration and ideas came from a multitude of places. It was an eclectic mix of both their personalities, which blended and worked together to create a beautiful reflection of their relationship. Most importantly, it was fun and relaxed, and exactly what they’d been hoping for!

When I was putting this post together, I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I remembered back to Anton and Emma’s Wedding day. I couldn’t help but break into a grin as I looked over the photos of Anton smiling broadly throughout the day: the genuine elation on his face when he saw the gorgeous Emma all dressed up and ready to go, the happiness that shone through when Emma hugged him after their first kiss as a married couple, and his Cheshire-cat-like grin when he turned to his nearest and dearest at the conclusion of their beautiful ceremony.

Look through the photos below and I am sure you won’t be able to smother a smile either!

The details:

Emma and Anton were married at Mt Rael retreat on a beautiful summer day. We met at their stunning Healesville accommodation to take some photos prior to the ceremony so that they could join their guests at the conclusion of the ceremony. Emma’s super cute style shone through in all their wedding details and I personally couldn’t help but swoon when I saw her in her gorgeous tea length dress. There was a little incident with a groom who forgot his pants, but nothing is too much of an issue when Emma and Anton are involved. Let’s just say it’s lucky that Andrew who was assisting and shooting with me on the day happens to be also wearing a grey suit. We don’t just come with cameras… There are always plenty of laughs!

Last month we travelled up to the Grampians to photograph Toni and Drew’s wedding. We spent the weekend at a beautiful homestead called Allanvale. Allanvale is just outside of Ararat, near the cute little town of Great Western. What a special wedding it was; many of the guests camped on site, or stayed between the homestead and shearer’s quarters! Toni had grown up visiting Allanvale on family holidays, so the place had a special meaning for the family. Everyone felt relaxed and at home there. Toni and Drew were married in the manicured gardens of the homestead, and had their own private party amongst the sprawling paddocks in a beautiful marquee pitched under a sky full of stars.

It was a day full of happiness and laughter. It was just perfect: Toni and Drew surrounded by their loved ones, in the countryside they adore and one day plan to settle in. You could see that they’d planned a wedding that was them to a tee. Relaxed; intimate; fun.

There were so many well-thought-out details and creative ideas: beer brewed and labelled especially by the groom, flowers handpicked from the market, vintage glassware carefully collected, and goodie bags for the kids. The guests couldn’t help but gush as they entered the marquee to begin the evening festivities. There was no fanfare, just a lavish meal to be enjoyed, and tunes by which to dance the night away.

‘Lots of fun’ and ‘a little bit quirky’ are the phrases that I’d use to describe Kerrie and Eric. We all had a fantastic day hanging out in the Yarra Valley. There were plenty of laughs and not an ounce of stress. Kerrie was a ball of energy, especially considering that she is carrying around a little plus one! She just radiated happiness; what an experience they’ll be able to tell their bub about! Yering Station put on a treat with a delicious array of food and wine, and a breathtaking view out over the Yarra Valley. The modern art scattered throughout the grounds was a playground for Eric, with his quirky and fun-loving attitude.

The Details
Wedding location: Yering Station, Yarra Valley
Ceremony Official: Susan Harcourt – Memento Ceremonies
Flowers: Blooming Brides
Jewellery: Necklace - Elva Fields earrings – Pip Keane
Music: Regent Strings Quartet
Invitations: Ruby & Scarlett for wedding invitation and Papermarc for name placings

I meet and work with genuinely lovely people, even though I work in an industry commonly known for its Bridezillas! I can honestly say that I’ve never met even one. Lorissa, especially, was what I’d call the picture of calm and happiness on her wedding day; she was definitely no Bridezilla. When I arrived at her hotel room it was full of smiles, laughs, and relaxed conversation. She made sure that I had everything I needed and then went on to enjoy the lead up to the ceremony with her family and close friend, even finding the time to put the final touches on the bouquet she made herself.
Mick, who is the perfect match for Lorissa with his laid-back attitude, mused over how the ceremony went off without a hitch. He made me smile when he said that “weddings aren’t so hard to organise. I don’t know why everyone makes such a big deal!” He was right, of course. They’d pulled it off perfectly! We strolled around the gardens in Queens Park (originally their local park and now their wedding location), and spent some very relaxed time getting some great portraits of the two of them. I was flattered and may have blushed when Mick thanked my assistant and me for a lovely afternoon of photography in his wedding speech. It was funny that he actually enjoyed the photography and made special mention of it in his speech when Lorissa apparently had to drag him to our rehearsal/practice/engagement session! It mustn’t have been too bad! (Don’t worry, Mick. Most grooms are the same!) I totally appreciate Mick’s very genuine and no-fuss attitude, so I’ll take the compliment and run with it!

Liz and Ben have been together for many years, and were recently married at Heidi Museum of Modern Art. It was a beautiful, intimate day, shared with family and close friends.

If rain on your wedding day does indeed bring good luck, then Liz and Ben have plenty of good luck ahead! Liz and Ben seemed to plan for it to rain at only the most convenient times: during their beautiful outdoor ceremony at Heidi Museum of Modern art, the rain held off and only occasional claps of thunder were heard until right at the conclusion of the ceremony. These thunderclaps certainly added to the dramatic feeling of the ceremony coming to a close, and provided a cue for us to take cover for the post-ceremony drinks and family photos. The rain then cleared long enough for us to enjoy a wander through the gardens and take some lovely photos in the grounds of Heidi. Just as we concluded the photos and rejoined the guests for the begining of the reception, the rain came pouring down again. From the warmth and comfort inside the café, we all watched the rain pitter-pattering on the glass and surrounding gardens.

I like hearing stories. Photographing a wedding day is about telling someone else’s story, but I think engagement sessions are about hearing stories; little titbits I collect and piece together, which gives me some insight about the couple, both as individuals and together. It’s nice when we have a chance to talk, because it gives me a idea of what my clients are all about. It is something that I encourage, because I have noticed that people are more relaxed when they are talking about their passions. But I am also genuinely interested in what people have to say. Stories from people I meet inspire me,  it inspires me to tell their story.

I really enjoyed getting to know and photograph Annette and Daniel. During our session, we talked and walked, and I photographed them as we explored their local park. They pointed out where they walk their dogs, and we talked about how they enjoy the close proximity of their family, and also the renovations they plan to do to their home. Daniel, a builder by trade, has big plans, of which he speaks of passionately.

We were very excited and pleased to see Emma and Ben’s Wedding featured in the current Real Weddings Magazine. The annual style guide is a beautiful publication which features Emma and Ben’s Wedding in magazine glossy goodness!

It was pretty cool to see a couple of our images included on the front cover too!

More of Emma and Ben’s Wedding photographs can be seen on our blog.

Pure happiness is an amazing emotion. One of my favourite things about photographing weddings is having the opportunity to capture that emotion on film. Sally was just an illustration of “pure happiness” on her wedding day. She was just so beautifully expressive and well Richard was pretty stoked too! There were no serious faces here, just so many laughs and such a good time had by all.

Richard and Sally were married at Janet Lady Clark Rotunda in the Royal Botanic Gardens and had their reception dinner at Ascot House. Below are a few of the laughs, moments and emotions I captured throughout Richard and Sally’s wedding day.

The details:

Bride’s  Wedding dress and jewellery:  L’Amore bridal boutique in Blackburn South.
Wedding Flowers: Australian native flowers made by Melinda Blythe from Wedding Flowers Ect
Ceremony decorations from Nicole McKnight and Delightful Occasions
Celebrant: Lynton Round
Groom: Suit from Peter Jacksons, Shirt was Boston Brothers from Myer
The bridesmaids dresses: Henry Roth
The best lady’s dress: Daniela’s
The girls hair and makeup: Magical Makeovers with Liz and Monique.

Bonnie and Bill are truly lovely people and I feel honoured to have played a small part in their wedding day. They clearly have a deep respect for one another and the people around them, and their wedding day was evidence of this; they thought carefully about how to include their nearest and dearest in their special day. Their ceremony was beautifully thought out, and showed them as individuals and as a couple, including what they value and cherish in one another.

When I asked Bonnie and Bill what was the standout moment during their wedding day, the following was one of their responses.

During the reception we took the opportunity to sit outside together just the two of us. With all of the formalities of the day completed, it was very special to have a moment that just belonged to us. I sat on Bill’s knee and we looked in at the rest of the guests all having a great time, and we were able to feel proud that we’d worked so hard to ensure people enjoyed themselves.

Even on their own wedding day their thoughts were about the enjoyment of their guests. How lovely is that?
The wedding ceremony and reception was at Lyrebird Falls in the Dandenongs. It was like being in your own private rainforest tucked away on the outskirts of Melbourne! The reception included a photo booth, which was lots of fun and was a hit with all of the guests. Bonnie and Bill even arranged babysitters so that the older guests could take a break and enjoy the fun of the evening.

The Details

Wedding location: Lyrebird Falls , Kallista http://www.lyrebirdfalls.com.au/
Ceremony Official: Carol Langabeer http://weddings.langabeer.net/
Bridal gown: Raffaele Ciuca, Brunswick
Grooms and Groomsmen attire: Prinzi Formal Hire
Bridesmaids attire: gowns made by Julieanne from What About Me http://www.wataboutme.com.au/index.php
Shoes: Low heel satin peep toes from Zu Shoes
Makeup: Nicole Giardossi http://nicolegiardossi.com/
Hair:  Sally from Forever Flawless http://www.foreverflawless.com.au/
Flowers: Sassafras Flower Design http://www.sassafrasflowerdesign.com.au/

I am sure I’ve said it on here before but I’ll say it again. One of the things I really enjoy doing is photographing my small business clients. I think what I enjoy most is getting to hear about all types of industries from all types of people. It’s fantastic to get the opportunity to work closely with my clients to portray their personality and business so as it best represents them to their clients and potential clients.

A while ago I photographed Sharon, Sharon is a Naturopath but offers a diverse range of advice including nutrition and lifestyle. All areas in which she feels fit hand in hand together and all of which she is very passionate about. Sharon realises that it is important for her clients to want to consult with someone they feel comfortable with so we worked towards getting images which portrayed her open and friendly personality.