meaghan, would you be happy to photograph the love and connection i share with the 3 beautiful boys in my life? don’t think family shoot… don’t think children’s shoot… maybe think couples shoot.. but with all differnt combinations of me and my gorgeous men???

But I don’t shoot families, I said to her. Which it turns out, is one of the reasons she’d asked me.  I felt so honoured and over the moon, (and terrified of course. This woman is the pro of family photography. I just shoot pretty people getting married!).

I loved her vision for the shoot from the outset. Her email gripped me. She wanted the love photographed, and hey, that’s totally my bag. Soulful, engaging, spine tingling portraits of her boys of the people she loves. That was my aim.

Shoot from the heart, I told myself.

Thanks to Pru for coaxing me outside my comfort zone. If she hadn’t, I never would have realised how much I like it out there.

Thanks to her two boys. They are half glass full kids. The best trait there is.

Thanks to her husband who came out of his comfort zone with me.

Thanks to all of them for letting my photograph their love.

Something beautiful to brighten up this dull and sodden ANZAC day.

Laura and Ben and a little ray of sun.

And such was the affect of Laura and Rowan, and their laughter filled wedding.

What was it about their wedding that you loved Lauren?

“Laura was THE happiest bride. She smiled so much it was contagious.  Rowan was proud as punch. They are adorable together.”

“And they had the most beautiful coloured flowers I’ve ever seen. I was tempted to pinch one of the table arrangements.”

She didn’t, she photographed them instead.

Photographed by Lauren

Laura

Photographed by Lauren

Sometimes you don’t know how tough you are until you are tested.

Karah looks so delicate. Perfect porcelain skin and clear, bright eyes. Dylan can be quiet, and has a melting smile.

The week before their wedding, they found out how tough they are.

Dylan had an accident and partially severed his arm. Rushed to hospital, he underwent life saving surgery. He lost a lot of blood, and Karah’s heart dropped through the floor. The last thing on her mind was their wedding. All thoughts were with Dylan and his survival.

He made it. They sewed Dylan back up, caught the thread that his life was hanging by, and didn’t let go.

Come wedding day, and it was not lost on anyone that Dylan was standing at the end of the aisle to meet Karah. Their family and friends, laughed, cried, and laughed some more. This was a celebration of more than love. Sometimes there’s more than love. There’s life.

Karah and Dylan are thankful they can share it together.

**

A little side note: When I met Karah she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with herself. She’d done product design, but was looking for something that spoke more to her heart. Since then she’s crafted a beautiful cake design business. Sweet Illusion is all her. Her cakes are art. I’m so incredibly proud of her for being brave enough to find her passion. )

Side note two: Dylan’s arm is healing well.

What I’m doing.

:: Remembering why I love Autumn (and reminding myself that it’s Spring that I’ve got a beef with).  A frame from Karah and Dylan’s recent magical wedding.

:: Editing like a heathen on a winning streak

:: Working on new projects that are keeping me inspired and invigorated. It’s so good to collaborate.

:: Always reading.

:: Always listening to music.

:: Still recovering from a calf muscle tear. I thought it would be better by now, but it’s not. It’s making me cranky.

:: Cracking up at this. No really, it had me snorting. I want HC to be my mum.

:: Looking forward to our holiday. We’re migrating north. The birds are onto something.

The Great Ocean Road holds a special place in many people’s hearts. None more so than Anna and Angus. Anna’s family would holiday in Airey’s Inlet when she was a child, and memories of days spent on the beach and sand between her toes have stuck with Anna.

So when it came to choosing where to get married, Airey’s Inlet was an obvious choice. Despite them living in Western Australia. Quite a trek, but one made quite happily for them both.

The sun shone for them both as they tied the knot over looking the Tasman. Lauren captured these beautiful wedding photographs for them.

And Anna’s hair? My favourite.

Not many people would think that when they start their first job, at a local takeaway joint, that you’d find the person you’ll spend the rest of your life yet. Not yet out of school, Lia and AJ founds themselves working together and getting to know each other over takeaway orders and mopping the floor. Who says love can’t blosson in a takeaway joint?

Fast forward and the grown up AJ and Lia got married. Lia has her head in the clouds and AJ has his feet firmly planted on the ground. Somewhere in the middle they meet. Somewhere in the middle it’s perfect.

When I knocked on the door to Lia’s mother’s house I heard a shriek from inside. “It’s Meaghan!” I heard Lia’s running footsteps as she scampered to the door, flung it open and exclaimed “YOU’RE HERE!”. You simply can not beat a welcome like that.

There was no denying it was hot. Sweat dripped down the back of my neck as only elegant sweat can drip. On hot days, there’s often nothing to do but embrace the belting sun. But Lia and AJ were fortunate enough to be married in the shade of Truffleduck’s peppercorn tree. That grand old lady with her gorgeous pink peppercorns kept AJ and Lia and their family and friends cool, shaded, and protected. AJ and Lia could forget the heat and get on with the joy of getting married.

Congratulations to two gorgeous, from the tops of their heads to the tips of their toes, people. They made my day pure sunshine.

It’s exciting to see Natalie and Steve look fabulous in Cosmopolitan Bride’s latest edition. It’s their Best Real Weddings 2012 edition, and Dilvin, Emma and the team have put together something special. I think I may have even found a potential wedding dress for me in there.

Congratualations Natalie and Steve. Such a beautiful and deserving couple.