Sasha and Jessica.

Tahnee and Shaun’s wedding was a collective group hug. People travelled from far and further to see two people clearly meant for each other get married.

Shaun is the swanky silver fox. Razor sharp intellect and extremely good fashion sense. Tahnee is the bubbling blonde. As clever as she is sweet (and she’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met). Together they are formidable. A force to be reckoned with. A duo not to be forgotten by anyone they meet.

Shaun and Tahnee’s wedding reception was sublime. They had one vision from the start, and stuck with it. There’s was an inclusive guest list. “We just want to invite everyone to come party with us”, they explained, and party they did. On a family property on the fringe of Colac, guests enjoyed the revelry as the sun sank behind the trees.

:: enjoying black and white photographs at the moment. They have a quietness, a subtly, that colour photographs lack.

:: editing a photograph of a bridal party up a windmill. I kid you not.

:: getting used to the school/kinder routine. My new favourite time of day is afternoons when the house is bustling again, and filled with little voices chattering to each other about their day.

:: enjoying being busy and industrious. This is the first window of time I’ve had since the inception of the business that is free during the day. The house is still. The time is all mine.

:: enjoying using said window to walk with Murphy the mutt on the beach.

:: daydreaming about the shoes I’ll wear to my wedding. I’ve found an online site, Shoes of Prey,  where you can design your own. Yes, every conceivable design, style, colour and fabric is available. Every.single.one.

:: enjoying musical gifts sent by friends.

:: enjoying books I really shouldn’t.

Usually I’m full of words. But with this one, they escape me. Sarah and Chris’ wedding was, well, indescribable.

I’ve known Sarah and Chris since early high school, when we were all awkward (okay, I was awkward, they were always cool) and finding our way in the world. Chris twirled me around the dance floor when we did our deb together, and made me laugh countless times up the back of the classroom when we were supposed to be paying attention to quadratic equations. I’ve known for a very long time that Chris has wonderful heart. So to be there as his heart was full while he said his vows to Sarah was an indescribable feeling.

Their wedding was unique to solely to them, as they stripped back the things that didn’t matter, and focused on things that did. Sarah worked hard to put together a lot of it beautifully herself. Hard work, but so very worth it.

The photographs tell Sarah and Chris’ story much better than my words do, so I’ll give way to their supremacy.

At least 26 times that day I was reminded of why I love my job.

Sarah and Chris’ wedding team:  

The frock: Billion Dollar Babes | The shoes: Zimmerman | The hair: Claire Harrington | The bridesmaid’s frock: Fleur Wood | The bag of fruit: Zenetti | The groomsmen’s bags of fruit: Zenetti | The flowers: Sarah | The cake : Kerri Cannon (Sarah’s mother) | The invitations: Sarah | Ceremony and reception location : The Mission To Seafearers | The celebrant: Christine Wilcox | The food: Paella Pan | The photographs: Meaghan Cook

A day of firsts in our family.

Our little conservationist, horticulturist, humourist donned his new teal and navy uniform and headed off to start his school career. He was up, dressed, shoes and all, and standing by the front door by 7am.

And our little social justice officer, fine food lover and animal whisperer  walked through the gates for his year of 4 year old kinder with a long confident stride.

I’m proud of my boys.

Kathryn and William’s wedding was totally at home in the beautiful and historical grounds of Geelong Grammar School. Their wedding had about it a classic air as the pair set about starting a history of their own.

Lauren captured what to us a wedding is all about, and for Kathryn and William it’s no different. It’s the moments, however fleeting, that make up the day. So many of these split second, blink or you’ll miss it, moments happened at Kathryn and William’s special wedding.

And with that, in that AMAZING car, with that super cute headscarf, they were off to their reception at Barwon Heads Golf Club. Again, another location known for it’s beauty and history continued the theme.

Kathryn and William’s wedding team:

The Frock: Baccini and Hill | The hair and make-up: Stevie Connoley @ Blondie | The bridesmaids frocks: Carla Zampatti | The flowers: Anna Loughnan | The cake: Barwon Heads Golf Club | The invitations: Speedgraphic | The reception: Barwon Heads Golf Club | The photographs: Lauren Bent

Caterer: BHGC

I’ve been stewing for awhile. Uneasy. My usual calm alluding me. I’ve been affected, and have not enjoyed it.

In recent months I’ve felt swamped by, (I’m sorry but there’s no other words for it), the shit. In the last few months I’ve had the full gamut thrown at me: I’ve been undercut, had wording off my website and other business documents copied word for word, I’ve been trash talked and put down. I’ve been surrounded by humble bragging and the ‘I love you, no I love you more’ sucking up on social media. All of this goes on in any industry, and happens to many people. I know I’m not alone, nor special. Unfortunately, lots of people have to deal with the shit.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know I’ve felt like I was going to explode.

I had a moment of clarity at Saturday’s wedding that came at just the right time. It was the wedding of people I know, filled with guests I’ve known since I was a teenager. Many of them I hadn’t seen for such a long time that they didn’t know I was a photographer. They were excited to hear what I’d been up to. Congratulatory on my success. Eager to express their support, and their respect for having diverged onto such a different path than what I was on when I left school.

I realised, that to these people, these people who’ve known me in all my shades, didn’t care about the shit.

It made me realise that neither should I. At the risk of sounding like a self-helo schelp, no one can affect me but me.

It became crystal clear that when it’s me out there with my camera, there is no one else looking through that lens. I’ve got my particular way of seeing the world, and whether that be good, bad, better or worse, it matters not. What I do with my camera, my view of the world, my photographs, starts and stops entirely with me. What a liberating thought.

Chris, the groom, pulled me into a tight earnest hug. I’ve known him for 18 years. We did our deb together. Despite not seeing Chris regularly, he’ll always be very special to me. Photographing his wedding was equally special, an honour. When he looked me in the eyes and said ‘thank-you’, all the shit just melted away.

Always take the weather with you.