What is your background, and how did it lead you to wedding photography?

In my youth I loved to draw, and I loved basketball. I was able to earn a scholarship to play college ball in the US, where I attained a bachelors degree in business administration. I attended Flagler College, in St Augustine, FL. - which has been ranked as the most beautiful campus in the world by various publications. It was a very inspiring place to study for the creatively inclined. I always expected I would play professionally after college, but toward the end of my studies, inspired by my experiences, I knew I would end up taking a different path.

After college I stumbled into acting after being randomly asked to audition for a film. I played some small screen roles on Aussie television and landed a role in a feature film. Acting was fun, but it wasn’t my calling. I found myself more intrigued by the production teams and how they turn what we see with our naked eye, into the cinematic masterpieces we see on screen. I learned a lot watching and chatting with the crew during those years. My favourite role took me to Osaka, Japan - working as a stunt performer at Universal Studios Japan. I lived there for 6 years, and it’s where my love of photography really flourished. That was over ten years ago - since then I’ve been capturing everything I can, and obsessing over ways I can improve my skills and learn more from the world around me.


What is your favourite part of a wedding?

I know Ty will say the same, but it's definitely the getting ready. There's something about the anticipation and the mix of excitement and sometimes even a little bit of fear. You've planned everything meticulously and you're hoping it all goes according to plan. The emotions are raw, and there's time and space for them to really sink in (for better or worse!). There's no other moment like it in your lifetime.

Typically it's where the parents of the bride see her in her gown for the first time. First look with the father of the bride, and bridesmaids. You never quite know how the reaction will be, but it's always memorable.

I also really love the dance floor. I haven’t stepped foot inside a nightclub or bar in over a decade. Aside from shooting weddings, we don’t really get out much like that anymore, but I still love the energy of a thumping party. Being around people having a great time—dancing, listening to music—while I get to do what I love with my wife by my side and experiment with shutter speeds, flash settings, and all those other creative techniques puts me right in my element.


What inspires your work?

Everything. I’m from a creative family, so there has always been influence from a very young age. I spent a lot of time in art galleries with my mum growing up. I love street photography. I love my family, and I know how important it is when you can get everyone together on your wedding day. I think a  wedding day carries a lot of weight for a family’s legacy. All of these influences come together to inspire and motivate me to work really hard to do great work.


What is your favourite thing about your wife?

I know you only asked for one, but that's obviously insufficient for describing my love for my wife.

The first thing is definitely watching her as a mother. She is incredible with our daughter. Extremely selfless, will do anything for her. Her priorities are; Harmony first, then me, then herself. I often have to remind her to look after herself — “drink lots of water, eat lots of food, sit down, let me give you a massage.” She will literally run herself into the ground to make sure we're all happy. That's a very rare and beautiful quality in a person and it doesn't go without recognition.

I love her empathy. I love her adventurous spirit. She's always dragging us up mountains to go hiking. Even though I love it, she seems to love it more, which is awesome. She is incredibly hardworking, which inspires me to be better… and this is unicorn status, but she shares my love for free diving, and although we rarely get time these days, playing video games with me. I'm a very lucky man.


What is your guilty pleasure?

Without a doubt, the most amazing period of my life so far was when Ty and I travelled around Australia for about two years in my Hilux. I’ve done a little bit of global travel, but something about Aus just hits different for me. I spent the better part of a year planning and setting the truck up for touring. It was perfectly equipped for any situation. We never actually planned an itinerary for our trip. We’d just pick a direction and drive. We could be in the middle of the outback with no one around for days and never long for a thing. I remember those long lazy beach days — we'd park the truck on the beach, snorkel a turquoise reef, make dinner, watch the sunset, then sleep in the same spot. Ultimate freedom. (Yes, I call it a truck - one of the side effects of living in Florida all those years).

So I guess my guilty pleasure is reminiscing about that. But also spending way too much time thinking about different touring setups and new gear for the next trip. We'll go back out for another lap when the kids are old enough. I also fantasise about driving through Africa, South America, or New Zealand’s South Island. So much to see.


Woolies or Coles?

This was a very contentious conversation in our household for years. I’ve been a Woolies man ever since the days of the $1 rotisserie chickens at closing. But I think Ty may have finally broken me and brought me to the dark side. Coles. Happy wife, happy life.


Favourite music genre?

Country for when we’re road tripping or dancing in the kitchen.
EDM and Deep House while I’m editing photos.


Favourite drink?

Whole milk straight from the fridge.
If we’re talking alcohol, Yamazaki, neat.


What is your greatest achievement?

Finding my dream girl, and marrying her. And of course, the birth of our beautiful daughter.


If you could have dinner with anyone from history, past or present - who would it be?

My late grandfather, Taffy. I don’t have a single memory of him where we aren’t all laughing hysterically. He was a legend and is sorely missed.