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2019 // A Year In Summary

2019 // A Year In Summary

2019 was my fifth year as a full-time Yarra Valley wedding photographer. Another 70-ish wedding photographed. And so many amazing couples and people I've had the privilege of celebrating (working) with. And so many of them also become my biggest cheerleaders, continually spreading the positive word about me. Enabling me to continue being busy and doing something that I love for a living. With little advertising required. I'm forever thankful to each and every one of them.

Photographed my first international wedding in Las Vegas! What a bloody amazing & surreal experience that was.

I had weddings all over Victoria, The Yarra Valley, Melbourne CBD and a couple of incredible interstate ones for good measure too. Still blows my mind every time I have the privilege of jumping on board a plane to photograph a wedding.

I received a record number of champagne sprays to my face (i.e., camera) in 2019. And a distinct increase in couples canning old school traditions and doing things their way.

Destroyed my ankle in May and required surgery. Spent nearly two months on crutches. Had to get 7 weddings photographed by other photographers, for my brand. All 7 couples were bloody amazing about it. A massive cheers to Sharne from Aria, Corey Wright, Kyle & Steve from Valley & Peak, Sarah Godenzi & Jakub Fabijanski for taking the reins for me during that super shitty and stressful time in my life. I'm forever in debt to those legends.

One day I'll find a more effective method of creating these 'year in review' posts. But for now, it involves me opening up every wedding gallery I delivered throughout the year. And going through at random and choosing a couple of photos from each that jump out to me. There's no favouritism, rhyme or reason to it - other than me choosing images at random that I loved the look at the time I was choosing said images.

So here's a snapshot of what I did in 2019. I hope you love it too!

Couple smiles together beside colourful signs in warm sunlight.Black and white photograph of men in suits standing beneath nighttime lights and airborne spray.Bride and friends lean together smiling with colourful bouquets. Black and white photograph of the groom kissing the bride's forehead among trees. Guests lift an older man in a chair while a woman celebrates beside him. Guests laugh together holding drinks indoors.Couple smiles while signing wedding paperwork indoors. Black and white portrait of the couple embracing in a field. Distant couple stands beside tall trees with sunlight shining between them.Couple embraces beneath a dramatic cloudy evening sky. Couple walks hand in hand through sunlit long grass. Black and white aerial view of people walking between venue buildings with vineyards beyond. Couple walks through a dry field with the bride gathering her dress. Couple walks outside a shopfront with the bride lifting her skirt and holding flowers. Newlyweds walk through guests with children beside them. Bride and an older woman laugh together on the dance floor. Black and white portrait of the groom kissing the smiling bride's forehead. Couple crouches beside a dog wearing flowers in a garden. Groom embraces the bride from behind on a rooftop. Black and white photograph of the couple embracing outside a glass-fronted reception venue. Couple kisses while walking hand in hand beside a wooded slope. Couple sits close together holding drinks beside a candle.Newlyweds walk from a wooden venue through guests tossing confetti.Couple stands in a brightly lit doorway of a dark reception building at night. Black and white photograph of the groom embracing the bride from behind in a forest. Couple smiles toward each other while standing between rows of trees. Couple embraces in a field with sunset light shining through the bride's raised arms. Couple kisses beneath outdoor lights at night. Rear view of the couple walking hand in hand as the bride looks back toward the camera. Close view of a man holding a blue game controller behind his back. Three bridesmaids in pale dresses stand together indoors. Black and white close portrait of the bride looking toward the groom. Guests celebrate around a woman raising an arm inside a wooden reception venue. Couple poses on a garden lawn with sunlight behind them.Couple walks hand in hand along a sunny path with the bride holding a colourful bouquet.Man holds up a large gridded sheet of paper indoors.Couple walks hand in hand along a rocky coastline with the bride's train blowing behind her.Newlyweds smile as guests shower them with bright pink petals indoors. Wedding ceremony beneath open white roof beams surrounded by trees. Bride holds a colourful bouquet in a pool of light beside a dark building. Couple kisses beside sunlit vineyard foliage. Couple laughs together beneath trees in a garden.Couple faces each other smiling beside a patterned wall.Women chat on a lawn while one drinks from a raised bottle. Low view of an outdoor wedding ceremony with sunlight beside a bare tree. Black and white photograph of a man wiping his eye with two groomsmen behind him.Couple and guests raise drinks for a toast beneath a reception sign. Couple embraces in a dry coastal field with the bride's veil blowing sideways. Black and white photograph of the couple and wedding party running beneath clear umbrellas. Couple embraces beneath outdoor lights against a purple evening sky.Black and white photograph of the couple walking through grass with the bride holding her skirt. Bride and guests lean together for a phone selfie outdoors. Guests smile and embrace together indoors.Newlyweds walk through a shower of confetti along an outdoor aisle. Groom lifts the bride beneath string lights at night. Bride reaches up to the groom during their first look beneath a leafy tree.Black and white photograph of two men laughing over drinks at a wooden table.Chandelier and glowing wedding sign in a dark reception room. Groom kisses the bride's forehead beside rows of flowering plants at sunset.Couple laughs together on a sunlit path. Black and white photograph of the bride approaching the groom beneath tall trees. Couple dances wearing brimmed party hats among reception guests. Black and white photograph of the groom wiping his eye beside a wooden ceremony arch. Older guest laughs while holding a bright green cup outdoors. Groom dips and kisses the bride among cheering guests.Couple celebrates amid confetti inside a reception venue with large wooden reels on the wall.Black and white photograph of the bride walking with bridesmaids along a station platform. Seated guests laugh together during an outdoor ceremony.Black and white portrait of the bride in bright light against a dark doorway. Distant couple holds hands between vineyard rows beneath dark storm clouds. Black and white photograph of an older man and the bride wiping their eyes indoors. Women laugh as champagne sprays toward the camera indoors.Couple holds hands while coloured smoke drifts from objects in their outstretched hands. Bride sits in long grass laughing toward the groom standing beside her. Couple smiles outside a stone building with the bride wearing a dark jacket. Older man opens his arms to greet the bride beside a house. Couple smiles toward each other inside a shop filled with records.Guests applaud the couple inside a bright reception room. Dog wearing a dark bow tie sits on a wooden porch.Groom dips the bride on a lawn beneath evening string lights.Black and white photograph of the bride wiping her eye at the ceremony. Black and white photograph of the bride greeting an older woman with a drink.Older man holds the groom's face in his hands as guests smile nearby. Couple embraces and laughs together in warm sunlight. Rear view of the couple holding hands and clear umbrellas at sunset in a vineyard. Wedding party raises drinks together outdoors. Silhouetted couple and wedding party beneath an orange sunset sky. Bride laughs while holding a microphone beside the groom beneath a floral arch. Couple embraces outside a house covered in purple flowering vines.Wedding party poses beneath a large tree in a field. Groom and four groomsmen wait beside the outdoor ceremony arch. Couple faces each other among tall slender forest trees. Couple walks through a shower of confetti with guests beside them. Men in suits and a young boy pose on a rooftop with city views beyond. Guests stand behind rows of filled wine glasses on a serving table.Bride leans toward the laughing groom in sunset light.Groom holds the bride's face as she smiles with her eyes lowered. Drummers in red and gold outfits perform among reception guests. Black and white photograph of women laughing together with champagne glasses. Men in blue suits laugh together among reception guests. Couple dances together in a reception doorway with guests watching. Newlyweds walk through applauding guests and airborne confetti beneath string lights. Women in white robes laugh as champagne sprays outdoors.Couple kisses while holding hands beside a wooded slope. Couple kisses beneath a geometric floral arch overlooking hills. Couple laughs together outside a cinema. Rear view of the couple holding hands in a sunlit dry field as the bride looks back.Groom embraces and kisses the bride from behind on a city street. Black and white photograph of the couple standing beside the coastline with the bride's lace train spread out. Bride smiles toward a suited guest among wedding guests outdoors. Couple kisses beneath sunlit trees. Couple drinks together from small glasses beside an open doorway. Five filled beer glasses stand in a row on the reception bar. Couple exits a building through confetti tossed by guests.Black and white photograph of the couple kissing among guests.Woman holds two dogs on leads at the outdoor wedding.Guests sing and celebrate together beside a microphone inside a wooden venue.Couple holds hands among flowering plants with sunset light behind them. Bride smiles toward the camera while embracing the groom. Guests hold up phones and a camera for photographs outdoors.Rear view of the couple embracing beside vineyard rows beneath a textured cloudy sky. Woman in a white robe raises both hands in peace signs in a hallway. Black and white photograph of guests reacting together in a bright reception room.Guests reach toward the seated bride during outdoor wedding paperwork. Black and white photograph of the couple smiling together outside the reception building. Couple laughs while embracing on the reception dance floor.Black and white photograph of the couple laughing together beside a brick wall. Couple sits in long grass at sunset with the bouquet beside them. Wedding party celebrates as champagne sprays toward the camera beneath a leafy tree. Groom stands with his hands clasped at the outdoor ceremony. Couple embraces close together in warm sunset light. Two brides kiss in a wooded garden.Bride arrives at the outdoor ceremony with an older man beside her. Groom kisses the smiling bride's forehead in a dry field. Couple poses with cardboard cut-outs of two people at the reception. Couple walks together across a sunny lawn with the groom holding a drink. Couple embraces in a dark doorway with the groom holding the bride's face. Black and white photograph of guests and the groom seated inside a vintage vehicle. Photographer holds a camera while seated among ceremony guests.Couple walks hand in hand among colourful vintage signs. Groom embraces the smiling bride from behind beneath a dark cloudy sky. Couple holds hands beside a celebrant among tall forest trees. Older man smiles toward the bride while holding a drink indoors. Couple smiles beside their tiered wedding cake topped with figurines.Couple walks across a quiet road with the groom carrying the bouquet. Bride sits beside the groom in a shop surrounded by framed artwork.Black and white photograph of newlyweds walking through a shower of champagne spray. Bride kneels to embrace a small boy beside a window. Couple and two guests pose together in front of colourful vintage signs. Black and white photograph of the groom waiting as the bride approaches along a hedged path. Guests gather around colourful food trucks at an outdoor reception.Black and white photograph of the groom dancing toward the camera with guests behind him. Women laugh together holding drinks on a terrace.Couple holds hands and kisses with bright sunset light behind them. Couple walks together along a tree-lined road with a blue van behind them. Bride and bridesmaids laugh together on a grassy slope holding colourful bouquets. Black and white photograph of the couple sitting close together in long grass. Older woman opens her arms to greet the bride indoors. Couple embraces in a dark grassy field beneath trees at dusk. Bride fastens an earring beside a bright window. Black and white photograph of a small girl in a white dress seated beside a stone fireplace. Couple and guests smile inside a lift with a photographer holding a camera. Newlyweds leave a church doorway as guests throw confetti. Bride sits in the open rear door of a white car. Couple kisses while seated at the reception table. Seated couple reacts to cheering guests inside the reception tent. Guests laugh together holding drinks in a bright reception room. Couple kisses beneath the bride's veil as guests watch indoors. Couple kisses overlooking the sea with a large white bouquet in the foreground. Water splashes from a swimming pool with guests standing beside it. Groom drinks from a shoe beside the reacting bride and wedding guests. Couple kisses on a quiet forest road among tall trees. Couple kisses in a garden with the bride holding a pink bouquet. Bride adjusts a white floral crown indoors.Elvis-style performer entertains applauding guests in a chapel.Black and white photograph of the couple walking through a field with the bride gathering her skirt. Seated ceremony guests laugh together on a garden lawn. Wedding guests celebrate closely together with their arms raised. Couple kisses beneath trees with the bride's veil flowing behind her. Women in striped pyjamas laugh as champagne sprays toward the camera. Bride rests her head against the groom as they embrace beneath a leafy tree.Bride and bridesmaids walk toward the camera holding colourful bouquets. Couple holds hands and walks apart playfully on a lawn at sunset. Bridesmaids react excitedly to the bride's dress indoors. Couple sits together on a grassy slope beside a pond. Black and white photograph of the couple dancing with bright backlighting between them.Close view of joined hands beneath king and queen of hearts wrist tattoos. Bridesmaids open their arms in surprise toward the bride indoors. Black and white photograph of guests dancing closely together at the reception. Crowd gathers beneath string lights between dark venue buildings at night. Wedding party poses outside a rustic wooden building in evening sunlight.Black and white photograph of the bride laughing with guests as the wedding party approaches behind her. Seated groom opens a small box beside the bride in a garden. Black and white portrait of a smiling man in a tuxedo and sunglasses indoors.Women in pink and white pyjamas laugh together holding cards on a porch. Two couples dance as guests watch in a bright reception room. Black and white photograph of the couple embracing a small child outdoors. Wedding party laughs together beside a blue van.Black and white photograph of women in robes reacting to an opened bottle. Couple embraces on a small platform beside wooded water. Couple walks together along a landscaped garden path.Black and white photograph of the groom embracing the bride beneath a sunlit tree. Rustic wooden cabin beneath leafy trees in warm sunlight. Couple walks hand in hand through tall grass at sunset with the bride looking back. Guests smile and applaud together with drinks in their hands. Couple dances back to back with their hands outstretched at the reception. Couple laughs while seated at a floral reception table. Rear view of the couple walking between rows of flowering plants toward a small building. Wedding party walks laughing through a colourful graffiti-covered lane.Black and white photograph of the bride fastening her shoe while seated indoors. Couple reacts to a photograph on a camera held by the photographer. Groom waits beneath a geometric floral arch as the bride approaches with an older man.Bride and bridesmaids pose with bouquets beneath climbing greenery. Black and white photograph of the couple walking across fallen leaves with the bride lifting her skirt. Black and white photograph of the couple walking away along a forest path. Couple lies together in long grass with the bride's dress spread around them. Guests lift the smiling bride in a chair beneath reception string lights. Photographer laughs with wedding guests outdoors while carrying a camera. Black and white photograph of the bride and an older man wiping their eyes indoors. Wedding guests pose together with an Elvis-style performer inside a chapel. Bride and bridesmaids pose with vivid pink and orange bouquets indoors. Guests laugh and react while holding drinks at the reception.Black and white photograph of the couple walking arm in arm across a field. Older woman smiles while holding a small spray bottle toward the camera.Black and white photograph of a boy and a small girl in wedding clothes on stairs. Bride twirls her dress among vineyard rows. Black and white portrait of the groom kissing the bride's forehead in a field. Couple kisses beneath a clear umbrella beside vineyard rows at sunset. Black and white photograph of the groom wiping his eye during an indoor first look.Small flower girl stands before a geometric arch as the couple holds hands behind her.Groom smiles as the bride approaches behind him through long grass. Couple laughs beside wedding paperwork as a woman signs at the table. Couple embraces in a forest with sunlight shining between tall trunks. Black and white photograph of the bride approaching the groom between vineyard rows. Guests and children shelter beneath clear umbrellas at a rainy ceremony. Couple embraces closely together in a dry field at dusk. Two women lie on the grass laughing with their arms spread out.Black and white photograph of the bride laughing at the reception table. Groom kisses the bride's forehead with a colourful bouquet over his shoulder. Groom raises the bride's hand for a twirl on a quiet forest road. Black and white photograph of women in white robes celebrating with champagne outdoors. Couple walks through guests tossing pink petals beneath leafy trees. Black and white portrait of two women smiling close together. Newlyweds leave a church doorway through confetti thrown by guests.Black and white photograph of the groom lifting the bride on a brick reception floor. Couple embraces beside a wooden fence with sunset light between them. Two men and a child relax on a sofa at the nighttime reception.Couple walks hand in hand through a sunlit field as the bride looks back. Bride stands beside a bright window with her white dress train spread behind her.Groom waits in front of a vintage car as the bride approaches behind him. Couple wearing sunglasses embraces and kisses on a city street. Glowing romantic sign surrounded by flowers against a dark reception wall. Couple kisses in a barn doorway with seated guests watching inside. Men laugh together while opening boxes outdoors among trees. Man holds a laughing small girl with the bride smiling behind them. Groom smiles toward the bride in a grassy field beside water. Groom kisses the bride's forehead as they embrace in warm light.Elvis-style performer sings beside the couple and guests in a chapel.Black and white photograph of the bride gathering her dress in a grassy field. Guests gather beneath outdoor string lights with the moon overhead.Couple walks hand in hand along a road laughing together. Groom embraces the bride from behind between autumn vineyard rows. Guests cheer together with raised hands at the reception. Man and a young boy in suits playfully clasp hands indoors.Black and white photograph of the bride greeting guests with an embrace.Couple and guests walk together beneath a city theatre sign. Wedding party walks across a grassy slope beside vineyard rows and the coast. Couple sits together on ornate chairs beside a tall floral arrangement. Black and white photograph of a guest laughing while lying on the reception floor. Couple laughs while holding hands in a dry field.Outdoor ceremony beneath a rustic wooden arch overlooking a valley and mountains.Couple sits close together in long grass beside water at sunset. Black and white photograph of men drinking together beside a pool table. Bride sits beside a window fastening her shoe.Black and white photograph of women leaning together for a mirror photograph. Couple drinks from bottles beside a tower of champagne glasses on a barrel. Guest holds an umbrella turned inside out by the wind at an outdoor ceremony.Bridesmaids react to the bride's dress in a bright room. Newlyweds stand among smiling guests beside the outdoor ceremony chairs. Men relax on sofas with drinks and game controllers indoors. Black and white photograph of the couple walking through a field with the bride gathering her dress.Couple crouches beside a dog on a lawn. Couple kisses beside a tower of champagne glasses on a wooden table. Couple holds both hands facing each other in a field at sunset. Two brides embrace in a dry field beneath cloudy skies. Couple kisses beneath an archway of green vines as guests watch. Young boy in wedding clothes lies curled up on the floor beside a window. Rear view of the couple holding hands beside vineyard rows at sunset. Women laugh as champagne sprays outdoors beside a building. Guests help an older woman shelter beneath a jacket at a rainy wedding. Men walk together along a brightly carpeted indoor corridor.Bride celebrates with guests raising their hands on the reception dance floor. Couple rests their foreheads together on a quiet leafy road.Couple smiles toward each other as they enter a large rustic reception venue. Bride smiles while holding the groom's hands during the ceremony. Couple walks hand in hand through a dry field with one raising a peace sign.Black and white photograph of the couple leaving a grand stone church doorway. Large flock of birds flies over vineyard rows beside a pond.Couple walks hand in hand through a sunlit dry field.Black and white photograph of a woman holding a baby and a hanging wedding dress.Groom and two groomsmen wait beside a wooden ceremony building. Black and white photograph of the groom embracing the bride from behind in a field. Couple faces each other in a dark portrait with bright backlighting around their profiles. Couple kisses behind a large pink and white bouquet in a field. Black and white photograph of an older man greeting the groom among wedding guests. Guest dances with a drink in his hand beneath blurred reception lights. Couple kisses while seated together in long grass. Wedding party raises glasses together for a toast inside a bar.Reflected view of guests and photographers looking upward from inside a lift. Black and white photograph of the groom dipping the bride during their first dance. Guests raise their arms and cheer together in the reception room. Groom leads the smiling bride by the hand across a dry field. Groom waits with his hands clasped beside another groomsman outdoors.Newlyweds hold hands as guests toss petals at their outdoor ceremony. Black and white photograph of the bride smiling toward the groom during the ceremony. Couple kisses inside a rustic barn reception venue. Couple lies side by side in green grass smiling toward each other. Bride smiles up toward the groom beneath garden trees. Wedding party celebrates beside the ocean beneath airborne champagne spray. Black and white photograph of the couple walking arm in arm along a sunlit path. Couple laughs while walking beside a street café with a colourful bouquet. Bride embraces a laughing guest outside the wedding venue. Black and white portrait of the couple standing together on a rocky slope. Bride walks arm in arm with an older man through outdoor wedding guests.Older guest holds a microphone while the couple laughs beside her.Black and white photograph of an older man opening his arms toward the bride indoors. Distant couple walks hand in hand beside a tree toward a golden sunset. Women in robes laugh and shield their faces from champagne spray. Man bends over a dog wearing a decorative wedding bandana indoors. Couple dances playfully on a grassy coastal hill with the bride's dress blowing sideways. Couple walks through dry grass with the bride lifting her skirt. Rear view of the couple walking along a leafy tree-lined road. Groom holds the hands of an older guest in a wheelchair on the reception dance floor.Black and white photograph of an older man seeing the bride from an open doorway. Couple walks hand in hand through tall grass beneath an evening sky. Bride wears sunglasses and holds a drink inside the reception tent. Groom leads the smiling bride by the hand through a sunlit field beside water.Couple kisses on a city pavement with colourful signs behind them.

Thank you so much if you actually viewed the whole thing.  Drop us some love on my socials if you actually did, it would mean a lot to me. And that is part of what enables me to keep doing what I love, for a living.

Thanks again.

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A Yarra Valley & Melbourne Wedding Photographer

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