We won an  award, we shot weddings, my parents came to stay, and there were taxes to pay. In the middle of all the chaos and celebrations we have clients with needs. These needs are as immediate to them as those of the tax department are to us. We also  had a bride declare on the day of her wedding  that she had lost her groom and that there might not be a wedding .... and it rained. Out of this chaos is the expectation, from each client, that you are there to meet their needs, and sometimes our own entitlement to a personal life is overlooked. It is overlooked by our clients and by ourselves. To View More >>

Well we capped off a successful trade show in Las Vegas by going to the WPPI awards to see Johannes van Kan win the wedding album competition (for a single photographer). Johannes was at home in New Zealand with his lovely wife Jo and "Hurricane Ida", so Heather grabbed the trophy for him and I took this photo on my iPhone. Everyone loved Johannes' imagery and we had a constant stream to the Queensberry stand to check it out (lots of people recognised the Musée album he displayed it in). Thanks a million to everyone who came to see us. The team caught up with a heap of old friends and made lots To View More >>

I was thinking about this the other day as I was driving back from a wedding out of town. We need to try to find ways for our brides and grooms to commit to being photographed. I have seen both extremes, one where the bride is expecting you to pull rabbits from hats because she paid you a lot of money to do your magic, and the other extreme where she almost dresses as a rabbit to make your life easier, and the magic more real. One bride came to me telling me I had the job (of shooting her wedding) if I could make her look skinnier in the photographs ... I said to her we could but I needed her help. To View More >>

Those who know me know I think Seth Godin is the bee's knees. He's just been interviewed on the DWF Blog talking about wedding photography. Plenty to think about - do read it! "When everyone has a camera, and everyone thinks they are a photographic artist, it’s clear that access to the device is not a scarce resource. If that’s all you’ve got, I’m not going to pay you. The art isn’t in the taking of the picture." Cheers, Ian To View More >>

Andrew Gardner posted a thoughtful comment on a recent post of mine in which I talked about a member of the public asking if I would sell her a Queensberry album. He's concerned that Queensberry's aim to build their brand amongst brides might turn the albums into a commodity and encourage discounting (eg "click here for cheapest QBY albums!") His thoughts probably reflect the concerns of many photographers. He says, Obviously we can't be complacent and we should always be thinking of unique and original ways to make ourselves stand out. But I have a niggling feeling that what Queensberry thought To View More >>

Google Docs and Style Me Pretty help happy couples plan their weddings ... and choose their wedding photographer. Style me uneasy but what do you reckon? Cheers, Ian Click the image to see the spreadsheet full size. To View More >>

Thirteen months ago an outdoor wedding wasn't even on the cards. We'd seen several friends' weddings and engagement parties washed out by rain and we weren't taking the risk. Come December 12 though, and there we were getting married in a garden. But we wouldn't have done it without a rock solid, easy, indoor option at the same venue. That way, if it rained there'd be little or no impact on anyone but the venue. And even then, it'd be minimal. There'd be no extra cost, no disruption or confusion for our guests, and most importantly, it meant we didn't have to worry. Whatever the weather. But as To View More >>

I would have just left (the shop)... Enjoy Cheers, Nigel To View More >>

He arrived at our place at 11am. We (the boys) were all in the lounge playing Playstation. He didn't mind that. In fact he quite liked it. He clicked away. I lost the game. We played another. Forgetting he was even there, I found him later in my room shooting my hanging suit, the rings on the dresser, my arrangement of perfumes and our shoes. Just doing his thing. Then he turned up at Kayla's place and made himself at home... ideal. He shot the girls getting ready - the chaos, the nerves, the details, the family. I wasn't there but that's what the photos told me. Mrs Mother-in-law felt a little To View More >>

Your best wedding photos probably won't make it to a magazine ... or win any prizes ... and the reason isn't because you're not Brangelina. It's because other people won't be looking at the pictures through your eyes. Nigel and Kayla invited Heather and I to their wedding, and I've just seen the photos. What really struck me amongst the hundreds of images - and probably because I work with Nigel and know him so well - were a couple of shots that show the rush of emotion he felt when he saw Kayla walk down the aisle. I reckon one day someone might look at those pics and think - or say, "Gee Grandad, To View More >>