Jess and Dan were married on the Gold Coast last week. Wow, what a beautiful day it was for all.

On my way down to the Goldie, I found Dan relaxing over coffee early in the morning with the guys. The warmth of the early morning sun was comforting on the back, this was a perfect Queensland autumn day without a cloud in the sky.

Jess and the girls were preparing at the Palazzo Versace Hotel, the scene for the wedding reception later that night. Jess wore her mum’s cathedral length veil on the day and looked absolutely glamourous in her gown.

The wedding ceremony was in the Chapel at Royal Pines Resort, guests mingled with Dan before Jess’s arrival. Their ceremony was beautiful, the way Jess and Dan look at each other is just gorgeous. After the ceremony, there were hugs, kisses and laughs on the chapel steps as Jess and Dan were congratulated by everyone. I love these moments in a wedding day, you can really feel the excitement everyone has for the bride and groom.

Photos with the bridal party were heaps of fun, it was soon time to join guests for drinks and canapés in the foyer of the Palazzo Versace.

Congratulations to Jess and Dan, what a wonderful day your wedding was, all the very best to you from all of us here at Reyment Photographics.

Jess and Dan’s wedding reception was at Vanitas Restaurant, to see photos from the reception, click here.

I just love long tables at wedding receptions. There always seems to be more of a buzz in the room when the tables are long. They photograph beautifully too. Jess and Dan had three long tables elegantly decorated for their wedding guests at Vanitas Restaurant, what a wonderful evening of good food, fine wine and fun for all.

As you can see, Vanitas Restaurant was an idyllic setting for their wedding reception, the perfect backdrop for everyone to celebrate with Jess and Dan.

Congratulations Jess and Dan, it was an honour to photograph your wedding, all the very best to you both for the years ahead.

If you missed what happened earlier on Jess and Dan’s wedding day, click here to see the photos.

OK, it’s a very quick turnaround this week. We are working with international clients who have returned to Australia for their wedding.

You see, last weekend, we photographed Jess and Dan’s wedding. It was an awesome day on the Gold Coast, their ceremony was at Royal Pines Resort, their wedding reception was at Vanitas Restaurant, Palazzo Versace Hotel.

As Jess and Dan are leaving Australia in a couple of days to head off for their honeymoon and return home, we’ve only got this week to design their album with them. This morning, they picked the photos they want to include in their album, this afternoon and tomorrow morning, we prepare an album design to show them tomorrow afternoon. So it’s a super busy, inspiring day today.

Oh and somewhere in all this, I’ll find time to do a blog post that features images from their wedding.

This image of Jess and Dan is today’s “Photo of the Day”, more will be revealed soon!

So Michelle and Joe are now married. And what a day their wedding was. Yes, there was a little rain, lots of laughter, good times with friends and family and perhaps one of the biggest coincidences I’ve found photographing weddings.

It all has to do with their wedding date, the 14^th April. Imagine three couples, Michelle and Joe, Michelle’s parents Greg and Debbie and Joe’s parents Kim and Petsie. Guess what, now they all share the same wedding date!

I’m no mathematician but I’d be intrigued for someone to tell me the odds of a guy meeting and falling in love with a girl (OK, this happens often) AND for this girls parents to share the same wedding date as his parents.

Michelle and Joe each prepared at their parents homes before heading off to Sirromet for their wedding ceremony and reception.

Have you noticed how many Saturdays are wet followed by sunny Sundays around Brisbane lately? Michelle and Joe were pretty lucky, we had a brief downpour, (the Laguna offers pretty good cover when it rains), sunshine, some clouds and even rainbows.

Congratulations Michelle and Joe, all the best for the years ahead, it was a pleasure to be your wedding photographer, we’ll see you in the studio real soon to show you your photos.

Happy Anniversary to Kim and Petsie, Greg and Debbie, Happy Wedding Day Michelle and Joe!

A very special congratulations to Michelle & Joe who were married last weekend. Their wedding & reception was at Sirromet, one of our favourite wedding venues. This image caught my eye this afternoon as I was sorting images so why not make it today’s “Photo of the Day”.

Over the last few weeks, I have felt like a bride. No, over 20 years of photographing weddings hasn’t finally got to me, it’s simply this, after a patient wait, the new wedding albums we have ordered for our Gallery/Lounge are starting to arrive. Woohoo!

Over the last few months, we have been working hand in hand with our friends at Photomounts & Albums to create our “Fabriano” range of albums. These albums are art pieces to exhibit in your home, they feature exquisite fine art paper with beautifully printed images that really come to life as you view them.

Jana and Michael’s wedding was a wonderful day at Maleny/Montville. It was beautifully styled, everything was just perfect. Their ceremony was at the Little White Wedding Chapel, their wedding reception was at Spicers Clovelly Estate. Looking at the twin albums we have created from Jana and Michael’s wedding, I felt like I was once again at the wedding, I could hear the laughter at their reception all over again so real were the images in the album.

I couldn’t wait to share this glimpse of these beautiful albums, they are now proudly on display in our Gallery/Lounge.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been fascinated by the story of the Titanic. So when I was in Belfast, it was a given that I visited Titanic’s Dock and Pumphouse. It is a tour I recommend, especially for Titanic Tragics.

My father-in-law is from Belfast, he once worked not far from the dock at Harland and Wolf so for me, an afternoon poking around the Titanic Quarter with my camera was a great afternoon indeed.

As we approach at full speed ahead the 100th anniversary of Titanic hitting the iceberg and sinking, childhood memories of Titanic stories are coming back to me. Here are a few images from my tour of the Titanic Dock and Pumphouse, if you get to Belfast and have any interest in Titanic, the tour is worth a look.

Time is moving on since the Queensland Floods of 2011. The last 15 months or so has seen many homes rebuilt, people are moving back into their homes and resuming their lives. Sadly, some people are still battling insurance companies and red tape to rebuild and recover. Just as in previous floods, the emotional scars will be deep and be long lasting.

Was there a silver lining from the Brisbane flood of 2011? The “Mud Army” that mobilised and helped clean up our city was awe inspiring. I remember there was much discussion in the press and radio about the spirit of Brisbane people, especially the young. Like many others, our family got involved and helped as much as we could, seeing my son shovel mud till he was exhausted will remain a permanent memory for me.

Being surrounded by the mud, the stench and a families destroyed possessions and memories was heartbreaking. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be the home owner, the family, the loved one whose normal life was turned upside down and covered in mud. I can’t imagine the resilience needed to battle continuously for the most basic needs, to fight to have claims paid, to have the energy to rebuild.

One of the things I did to help out was to rescue precious photos from the mud. It was ironic really, Sal and Pat had a band of helpers cleaning up their house. Along with other random volunteers, an accountant was helping Sal sort wet financial documents, a food writer was co-ordinating feeding all the workers and me a photographer was salvaging precious photos. I found some clothes line, pegs and big buckets and set up a print washing and drying process.

You can never underestimate the value of photos, they are our memories and our history. Sal commented on our blog recently…

Hi John,

These images are so amazing…even a year and a half after the flood I am so choked up with emotion. The people that helped us that we knew and now looking at your pics again – the many that we didn’t. My photos are high and dry now – 10 meters above ground level and I love flicking through them regularly. As we have moved so much over the last year they have sat constantly beside my bed.
Thank you from us for preserving our past. sal

Sal and Pat, it’s great news that things are moving forward for you now as you rebuild, I am so happy I was able to help save the photos I could for you. All the very best to you both. John.

A very special congratulations today to Samantha and Chris, it was on this day in 2008 that they were married at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane city. Happy wedding anniversary. What a lovely couple, it was a perfect April day, after the wedding guests continued their celebrations with Sam and Chris at the Pavillion, Allan Border Field.

This image is one of my favourite candids from their wedding, I love the celebrations as guests leave the church, there is so much excitement in the air.

I hope you are having a fabulous day today and perhaps going out to dinner somewhere nice tonight!

“Happy Anniversary Sam and Chris” is today’s “Photo of the Day”.

Have you been to the George Pompidou Centre in Paris? It really is an interesting inside-out building, it houses the Musée National d’Art Moderne which is the largest museum for modern art in Europe. Standing in front of the Pompidou Centre, I looked to my left and the image above is what I saw.

When surrounded by crowds of people, have you ever felt the need to escape and have a moment alone to enjoy your lunch?

Bon Appétit monsieur, “Dining Alone in Paris” is today’s “Photo of the Day”.