My dear friend Tony plays piano. When I met him and Jim in 1983, I was a skinny blonde kid who had big dreams. And he played Piano. Ok, so he does so much more than that but for this story I will keep it simple. He plays piano. He is a producer…and in 1983 his home was filled with giraffes and pianos. I had just finished touring with LRB (the Johnny Farnham years) as the opening act. (yep everyone forgets the opening act right after the main act comes out on stage) I was invincible. I was a writer with Chappell at the time…and a singer. I had a journey to take and I jumped into it with eyes wide open and without preconceived ideas about how to get from A to B. No one told me I couldnt do it. I just did it. I went to Nashville. I met Tony. I met Jim. Life changed. We recorded an album for CBS. Life was magic. Tick Tock…time moves on. Things happen. We stay friends. They are the kind of people that are true friends forever. The kind that their word is their word…

Fast forward: Tony is touring with Don McLean. I have to go. I have to catch up. Emails back and forward. All set….two days to chat, catch up, hug, eat, relax, take photos…

So, Valentines day… I sit in the audience with my lovely husband Chris, and Don’s beautiful and talented wife (who’s work I have admired for a long time without putting the connection together with her name – doh- am I a dope) and I listen to Tony play. Not just Tony, but Jerry on drums who played for me on my album, and Ralph on Bass who also played on my album and I listen to the words and the music of an Icon. AN ICON, PEOPLE!!!!! The sound track of our lives. And at that moment I realised how blessed I have been. And how blessed I am. And how blessed I will continue to be. I was inspired again. Not to sing. I think that ship has sailed maybe. I will make imagery with the same passion that I made music. To also make imagery using music…hard to explain but I will try later… and to write again. I dont know what I will write, but I will write.

I cant show you images yet. Why? Because I am an idiot and left my bag behind with my card reader in it so I cant get images off the camera until I buy a new one tomorrow.

Images to come. Inspiration lives again, and yet again, it starts with Tony with a little help from Don and his amazing words.

I have no idea if my shoot space over north is under water, and if it is, so would be the other businesses that I am blessed to share the space with. Most of my friends are safe. Some are locked in with water. Thank God i all I can say. I have only had one person mad at me for taking photos. She told her friend that I should be run over. What I don’t understand is the following:

People letting kids swim in the dirty and extremely dangerous water.
People in boats with no life jackets on zipping through the water around submerged cars
People wading through it just to get a better look

Things I am thankful for:
The SES
The police and fire service
THE SES!!!! I used to be a member until I had to become a full time dad carer, and i never had to go out in an emergency but they do the most amazing job…TOTALLY UNPAID! So please don’t make it harder for them.

So photos….I have been putting them up on FB but it is down so here are todays shots.

and if I have missed you off my gallery, forgive me. I am pooped. Just let me know xxx You all rocked my world.

thank you to all of you and have a blessed and merry Christmas.

So this Friday, my fabulous assistant Alister and I headed to Agnes/1770 and did it all again.

And it was perfect. Ruth re-did Sophie’s hair, Philip and the boys emptied water out of the perfect boat, the cutest wedding car ever was brought out of storage again from Grandad’s shed, and magic happened. I love it when it does. This is a couple that are so in love it makes you believe in miracles, and who love their little angel so much that you can’t help but be happy around them.

So – perfect weather, love everywhere, and some amazing locations…what more could a photographer want.

Yesterday morning while driving to the bay at 5am in the morning i watched as deep black clouds washed in from the ocean. I whisper my prayer to God like I always do that the rain will stop and all will be perfect. I have packed all my props for their romance shoot, all vintage and not waterproof. I have my gear all ready, not very waterproof either. As I pull in to the driveway, I say it one more time for luck, and get out of my car with camera bag and make a mad dash to the front door, getting soaked as I run.

The bride is up, and on the phone, and the groom, who is usually never there when I get there, is just getting up. Hmm photo op. Never had the bride and groom together the day of the I do, so get bride back into bed in her cute jammies and get shots of them. Sooo cute. Then little Josie starts calling from her bedroom. So daddy and mommy on their wedding day get their little angel up too. More photos. More unique wedding day. OMG I love this family. And Josie, well she wakes up all giggles and smiles. The perfect little flower girl.

I look out the window and it is still pouring. Moving from the ocean. Hard angry rain. The windows are open in the lounge room and the floor is a bit wet. They feed Josie and the groom leaves. Loads of kisses to capture of film. I follow the bride for her morning of running around in the pouring rain with Josie to get final bits and pieces done on their very Martha Stewart wedding. I think about another bride I shot recently who was very Martha too and I smile. I love my job. Now, God, Stop This Rain!!! Please.

We see the groom 3 more times and then the team arrive to make the bride even more perfect. Still Raining. OK, so maybe it is supposed to rain. Got to get plastic bags out. Down to using only one camera and my 50 lens. It is fast and works well under pressure. Too impossible to change cameras and lenses in the rain. One day when I am rich, I will have throw away 5d’s for rain. LOL

So, wedding is moved from the beach to the marquee and thanks again to the magic umbrella of my fabulous Maryborough bride, Sophie emerges from the cutest wedding car ever (named Des who was born in 1936.)

So, yes it rained and we were not able to do all the romance shots this week, but I have rescheduled with them to shoot that next week. Yes, we had to have a plan B, and yes my car just about got stuck in the mud when I was leaving, but…OMG I LOve my job and my brides and grooms and their “ands”. I love couture gowns. I love little flower girls that steal the bouquets off the big girls and try to give them to the groomsmen. Only thing is…next time I will have to pray harder.