I’m often asked the question, ″do you enjoy shooting weddings?″

The short answer is yes. For some photographers though, mention the word wedding and they cower with fear. I recall my very first wedding as an assistant and I vowed I would never do it again! But here I am over 15 years later, completely hooked and enjoying each one more than ever. Yes, it’s a challenging job, but like any challenge it’s very rewarding when you get it right. For those of us who have made it a long-term career, there’s something about documenting a wedding that runs deeper than church bells and cake cutting, it’s being a part of something very real and meaningful in people’s lives.

And I’m not going to gush on here about how I love people in love, even though I do love people. People are fascinating – just like elephants, or echidnas.

A wedding is a significant milestone, a life event worthy of great documentary photography. Here’s why you need me to capture your day instead of Uncle Bob. After all wouldn’t you rather he was in the photos?

I like to take the road less travelled.

I’m bucking the trend, shooting film for the love of it and for it’s charming fine art character. I want my photographs to be savoured and enjoyed, like a warm muffin and a pot of whole-leaf tea. Or like home-grown tomatoes rich in colour and flavour. My handcrafted images speak louder than words and are objects of beauty that you will treasure infinitely more as time goes on. A great photograph should have soul, tell a story without a single word, and arouse emotion and intrigue. That is my aim when I pick up my camera. I resist shooting to a formula, because your wedding is unique and so the photography should reflect that.

When you meet me, I won’t give you the hard sell or offer you any surplus steak knives. I’m shy but friendly, and I love finding out what makes you tick! On your wedding day I won’t steal the show, but I’ll always be where the action is. I keep things simple and relaxed, weddings are busy enough without a frenzied photographer!

The most rewarding thing about photographing a wedding is not just the fact that I’m getting paid to play with cameras, but it’s that I’m recording a beautiful unique event that will give joy to all who view those images now and into the future. It is a privilege to be a part of your day.

Oh, and who are Betty and Jim, you ask? Well, they are the couple on the cover of my primary school arithmetic book. I never was keen on arithmetic, but I just love those names, and I like to think that any guy and gal in a picture can be a Betty and Jim.