Akesson PhotoBlog

Northam is a country centre 100kms east north east of Perth in the beautiful Avon Valley. Two weeks ago I went there to assist Chris Brown [Small Package Films] in photographing Benella & Greg’s wedding.

Absolute fabulous day. Touch of cloud that became a beautiful diffuser as the afternoon went on. Just what any photographer will order for some outside park photos down by the Avon River.

Great bit about this wedding was that the guys were ready to go for the pics when I arrived. That was awesome guys. This meant a relaxing opportunity to get some photos without being too rushed. So I’m mainly going to show pics of the guys,… and maybe tomorrow a few of the amazing 1929 Vintage cars tooooo - courtesy of our lovely bride’s grandfather. And it’s true, even for Granddad’s, that a guy has to have his toys :-). Of course, just to even it up I might throw in some of the colour that the ladies added!

Click on Read More below to, well, look at a few more pics.

Read more »

Never had a rainy day wedding before. I mean a really wet rainy day wedding. But this one was. 24th May was going to be fine,… at least thats what the forecast said a week before. Then come Tuesday onwards the prediction was R.A.I.N. with a capital R. So Friday I spent 4 or 5 hours making sure all the potentially wet weather photo venues were going to be good. And heaps of people were praying for fine weather.

Well it rained. Lots. But you know the only time got even the slightest bit damp was down in Victoria Gardens. Took shelter under a smallish gazebo. And got this photo. Looks great in colour too but I like the old skool sepia

What a fabulous couple. And what an amazing bride. You know I reckon I have been blessed with all the brides who have such beautiful personality. Just take Felicity [now don't get literal about things - she's married now]. I reckon Brant will wake up in about a years time and it will suddenly really hit home what an awesome wife he has!

Anyway they just took it in their stride and when the rain cleared a tad out we went and we got this one. Don’t ya just love it! And I didn’t have to work hard with those happy faces.

And finally a little detail shot of the bride’s bouquet.

Maybe next week a few more. But for now just a sneak peek at what’s to come. Tomorrow a couple of shots from a wedding I was second shooter with Chris Brown.

Wedding photography is a team game,… a two way street .

It’s not only the photographer’s perceptions and influence but it’s also the expectations and participation of the various people involved. Since doing some second shooting at weddings [where I assist the contracted photographer - Chris Brown ] I’ve spent some time contemplating / analysing / reflecting on my experiences when it comes to shooting the guys in all the weddings I’ve shot.

Hmmm! Often it’s been less than relaxed. Chaotic even. More intent at burning off the nervous energy than getting ready for pics. At the same time you have this photographer who can make the mistake of assuming they would keen to get their faces into a digital image.

What’s the answer? Clarity in pre-planning with the groom and communicating that first up with all the guys. A bunch of guys on a wedding will, if there is no direction, go in all directions at a whim. It’s a team thing. At this wedding I talked to each of the guys as I took their individual photos first up. Told them what the pics were going to be used for.

So guys, this is what I had in mind with those first pics - simple portraits with a purpose. Sure we took heaps more pics of you during the day. But you got into game right from the start. It’s not just about the glamorous girls mostly but not all.

Sean was just a tad nervous. We used all the blues of the room and furniture as a calming effect for a pic full of smiles that actually camouflage the reality of inner butterflies. We guys don’t like to admit such a thing though!

WoW! My blogging has been a bit spasmodic for the last few weeks. Time to get a few pics up more regularly.

Been proofing weddings and preparing family shoots for printing and such - and getting company financial reports done for my day job. Nonetheless have heaps of fab and fun pics ready to blog.

Tonight 3 pics from the pre wedding preparations. Of course the beautiful bride Melissa, and then all the girls showing their enthusiasm and pre-ceremony butterflies by flexing their muscles. Add then one of the youngest groomsmen,… doing me a favour by sitting where dad will sit and being my model during the set up.

Lots more coming so keep checking back for more of the wedding - nearly finished proofing and then lots more will be up on the gallery for family and friends. And coming up are some different shots of Julia in front of Perth City [ a week before she left for USA] , a pre-wed shoot of Brant and Felicity, and more.

A wedding can be somewhat go-go-go for the newly-weds. The schedule of events gets jam packed with busyness. So nearing the end of some location shoots at the old railway station we took the opportunity to give Sean and Melissa time to take the weight off their feet and catch their breath. No such rest for the photography team though. And just as well,…. the pic we got was great!

Few weeks ago I posted some pics of a prewedding shoot with this terrific couple.

Well last Sunday they were married in an afternoon outdoor ceremony about 100 kms north of Perth. Great wedding. Fabulous day - though a bit bright outside during the ceremony [that's the photographer in me who likes a pile of fluffy white clouds to help with the lighting!!!] The whole wedding party were a fun group who appeared to really enjoy themselves all through the day. And with all the hard work that went into making the day just right it was really great that the day progressed pretty well without a hitch. A wonderful wedding.

Melissa was so beautiful that Sean just had to shed a tear when came down to join the ceremony. They both wore ivory/cream and the ladies had little black gowns.

One pic for tonight and some more during the week. For those who took part in the “photobooth” we had up, you can see some of them on the Akesson Photo Gallery. You will need a password - Melissa’s surname again. Again there will be more pics up in the various sections over the next week or so.

Last Sunday was a fabulous experience second shooting for Chris Brown at the North Perth Macedonian Church. Chris operates Small Package Films ,… and YES good things do come in small packages! Lots of colour and symbolism. Heaps of really friendly people. Chris is a class photographer; but he’s also a brilliant organiser. Pulled together the photographs and the video guys with great aplomb. All worked like clockwork despite all the little delays that inevitably come with wedding timetables But that’s the way of weddings isn’t it.

The church decor was stunning. Ceiling paintwork was amazing. Look closely at the little pics at the bottom of this. (by the way the officiating clergy was Very Reverend Father Stanko Jovanovski - he was brilliant; has a fabulous sense of occasion, humourous, and extremely personable.)

Heaps of photos I show, but to different here’s some of the unofficial bridesmaid.

Never come across that title before and it had me wondering til I saw her. She has an amazing personality, full of life and just exudes positivity. But the real reason for the title is that she has less than 4 weeks to go before the birth of her child. So where does an 8+ month pregnant lady get her energy!!!. Her other half, Tony, was one of the groomsmen. She hadn’t had a maternity shoot done so I made sure we captured some photo’s of here.

All in all a terrific experience in second shooting (something I hadn’t done before but maybe should have. It gives a very different perspective of a wedding. More on another post to come.

Well I know I have thrown up a few too many of this wedding - and I promise I SHALL MOVE ON…. but I have to show this page. I love it. Then again I created it so I suppose I should have some affinity with it.

It’s a page I designed very intentionally for the groom. To me (as a guy) it speaks volumes about love and abandonment of a woman to her man - she’s giving herself body and soul and is doing it with absolute delight.

Hmmm. … now that’s an idea.

A song is needed.

How about the Queen of Soul.

Listen to the music as you gaze over the photos.

Feel free to comment back.

Been busy day. Listened to the footy on the internet and my favourite team (West Coast Eagles) was expected to win but my second favourite (Brisbane Lions) did them like a dinner. Just as well I was busy - so to overcome a momentary disappointment (the Eagles will still win the Premiership and repeat last years victory) here’s a small sample of what I’ve done.

Some more staff shots from the day job & then the last pic is one of todays pages created for a wedding album. This album is proving to be tough because there are so many great pics to put into a limited number of pages. It’s a challenge but I might finish tomorrow!

Make a comment and tell me what you think.

We work really hard during the week but 4pm Friday afternoon signals time for a bit of relational celebrations. The guys and gals from the US think this is a really really good thing to do