Experience

I haven't always been focused on wedding photography...

I used to do some freelance press work for several large media agencies. I have supplied newspapers including The West Australian, The Sunday Times and The Australian and TV stations including Channel 9, Ten and the 7 Network.

Other areas of work have included: product and commercial photography for website and print use, portrait work, event photography and sports photography. One of the most extreme moments being whilst covering a US college ice hockey game from the penalty box and having to dodge the players who crashed over the boards, now that was fun!

I have always enjoyed travel and landscape photography but these have always been more personal pursuits (although you'll notice how I incorporate landscapes into wedding photography if you look through my portfolio).

How I became a wedding photographer based in Perth

Many people ask how I became a wedding photographer, what training I have had etc so I guess the easiest thing is to tell you the story...

Having specialised in languages (Spanish and French) and Maths at school I then went to University to do a BA Honours in Accounting and Financial Management. I thought it might lead to a good job but in all honesty found it a bit mundane. I did however really enjoy the information management side of things and gained an interest in computers.

By the time I finished my degree I had decided that I wanted to continue studying, but this time the subject matter was IT. I went back to study for a Masters in Software Systems Technology. All the time I was at Uni I worked for a homewares company (door to door catalogue scenario). It was tough work but it did give me the chance to meet people from many different backgrounds, including a World Champion boxer and a Liverpool FC legend.

After Uni I joined a multimedia marketing agency. Looking after servers, networks etc (all quite geeky really). However this is when I first became interested in design (not photography). I spent my free time learning about graphic design programs. I guess this is when the creative spark started.

For the next six years or so I worked in IT. Managing networks, server teams and helpdesks, rollouts, infrastructure projects and so on. All the time I was working I was studying Microsoft, Macromedia, Citrix etc picking up qualifications along the way. I'm now Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and a Macromedia Certified Dreamweaver Developer amongst other things.

Then the change...

What got me interested in photography was the wedding photographer I had when I married my first wife in Italy. He was awesome to say the least and seeing his pictures I was hooked. I went out and bought a DSLR not even knowing you could change the lenses on it. I had never used one before and hadn't got a clue what I was doing. Over the next year or so photography slowly made its way into my life (and a lot more quickly through my wallet). I soon had a collection of lenses and was on my way.

By this time I was burnt out and thoroughly bored with IT, it wasn't for me. I quit. I ended up taking a couple of Hockey Coaching jobs in some schools in England (I am also a qualified hockey coach) whilst also working as a respite Foster Carer. I have represented England at hockey and six former team mates of mine played at the last Olympics. I used to live an breathe hockey in my younger days sometimes playing in excess of 30 hours a week.

When I was younger I had always wanted to play hockey in Australia and started making plans to travel. Camera and stick bag in hand, off I went. When I arrived in Perth initially I played and coached at a top grade club before retiring. A few injuries from my teens and younger days had taken their toll.

It was around this time that I ended up moving down South. After 6 months working on a vineyard (driving a tractor whilst listening to Dickens, Wilde and several other classic authors) I finally got back into a more creative roll working as a graphic designer for a local newspaper (I had to learn how to do this over a weekend for my interview... as you do).

A year later I started a business which incorporated photography, graphic design, website design and IT consultancy. One thing lead to another and now five years on here I am… a full time wedding photographer.

I never had training in photography, I have taught myself but as you have probably gathered by now I like to learn and expand my abilities.

So there you have it, my story so far... quite an adventure for someone who is only 34 years old.

Overview

I cover weddings everywhere. Next year I already have three destination weddings booked, Coral Bay (Western Australia), Daydream Island (Queensland) and also in Sheffield (UK). My main area of coverage though is in Perth and the South West of Western Australia.

Where wedding photography has taken me in Perth and the surrounding areas:

Applecross, CBD, Cottesloe, Crawley, East Fremantle, East Perth, Harold Boas Gardens, Hillarys, Hyde Park, Kings Park, North Beach, Northbridge, Matilda Bay, South Perth, Subiaco, Trigg, Swan Valley, Wanneroo, West Perth.

Where I have photographed weddings in Western Australia:

Albany, Alverstoke, Australind, Balingup, Bridgetown, Bunbury, Bunker Bay, Busselton, Canal Rocks, Denmark, Dunsorough, Gracetown, Karnup, Mandurah, Margaret River, Meelup, Northcliffe, Peaceful Bay, Pemberton, Pinjarra, Provence, Quindalup, Sugar Loaf Rock, Windy Harbour, Yallingup.

Venues I have worked at in Perth and all over Western Australia:

Abbey Beach Resort, Alverstoke Function Centre, AQWA, Blue Water Grill, Botanical Golf, Burswood Casino, Ascot Quays, Belvoir Function Centre, Big Brook Dam, Breakwater, Bridgeleigh Reception Centre, Bridgetown Gardens, Bunbury Commercial Club, Bunbury Rowing Club, Bush Shack Brewery, Busselton Jetty, Caversham House, Caves House Hotel, Chantarelles at Jessica's, Claisebrook Cove, Cottesloe Civic Gardens, Denmark Observatory Resort, Donnelly River Vineyard, Driftwood Estate Winery, Fairbridge Village, Frasers Restaurant, Geographe Yacht Club, Guilford Grammar Chapel, Hillarys Yacht Club, Karri Valley Resort, Kin Kin Retreat, Knotting Hill Estate, Koombana Bay, Lake Karrinyup Country Club, Lucieville Challets, Maitraya Luxury Private Resort, Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club, Manjimup Timber Park, Matilda Bay Restaurant, Merv Cowan Reserve, Millbrook Winery, Mindarie Marina, Moonlight Express, Mulberry on Swan, Novotel Perth, OBH, Olde Eastbrook Vineyard, Parliament, Parmelia Hilton, Peel Manor House, Pemberton Community Centre, Perth Town Hall, Princess Royal Sailing Club, Rosehill Lodge, Ross Memorial Church, Rydges Hotel, Sanctuary Golf Resort, Sittella Winery, Scotch College Chapel, Silkwood Wines, St Brigid’s, St George’s Cathedral, St Mary's Cathedral, Subiaco Common, Sunken Gardens (UWA), Swan Yacht Club, The Boatshed Restaurant, The Vines Resort & Country Club, Upper Reach Winery, UWA, The Goose, Watershed Winery, Wine & Truffle Company, Woolshed (Fremantle).

Away from work

My former love would have to have been sport, in particular hockey. I brushed over it a little above not doing it justice as it used to dominate my life. As well as playing to a high level I was fortunate enough to also respesent my country. These days though there are too many wounds to continue playing and I can't risk damaging my hands given that my job depends on them.

I play the piano which I find to be a nice distraction to break up the long photo editing marathons. I'm a particular fan of Ludovico Einaudi and Nuvole Bianche and I Giorni are two of my favourite pieces of music to play. I also read a lot and listen to audiobooks and am particularly partial to classic literature. Most of all though, whatever I may be doing I have FUN!

See what my clients have to say about my work on my Memories of Tomorrow Photography Facebook page

Read client reviews on the Memories of Tomorrow Photography website