If you'll walk across my camera ...

On Monday, my mum and dad arrived at my house with a large pile of boxes. They're moving house, and apparently I'm old enough to store my own stuff. I tried to argue that it was part of my history and should remain in the family home. It fell on deaf ears, and I now have several very heavy boxes cluttering up my entrance.

There's old photos complete with curling corners, school books with drawings scratched into the covers, souvenirs from my first overseas trip to Rome, mixed tapes made by friends and just general junk that I never threw out.

In my angsty youth days I was an avid journal writer. No, not the 'dear diary', kind of stuff. Not even general recounts of my day. I wrote stories, (bad) poems, favourite song lyrics, quotes from dead writers. I cut things from the paper and stuck them in (the best one of my cuttings was Christopher Skase's obituary. So titillating). I took things from my life and stuck those in too. These journals were layered, textured.

I found this one in particular. It was from 2001, when I was in my 2nd year of uni. I was studying creative writing, so the journal is full of stories. I must have also fancied myself a bit of a play write because there's a fair few of those in there too.

But the curious thing, is that on the opening page, I'd written this:



"If you'll walk across my camera, I will flash the world your story." - Billy Bragg.


That was nine years ago, and I didn't even own a camera! Surely the younger me couldn't have known what the future would bring. I'm pretty sure what I was referring to were people's stories that I hoped to tell with my writing. I hope that's it at least, or I'm going to be completely spooked.

* Meaghan

What I'm watching: It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
What I'm reading: my old journals. Gee I was melodramatic!

Wedding - Joni and Dave

Joni and Dave chose the last day of the decade to get married. What better date for a party? I sat outside Joni's hotel, munching on an apple just before I was about to go up to start shooting, thinking 'what a way to end the year'. It had been an amazing year for me, and I felt lucky to be spending the last day of it doing what I loved.

And shooting a wedding of people that I loved. Joni and I clicked from the first email. She's genuine and funny. My two favourite things in the world. So to be a part of her wedding day was extremely special.







These are Joni and Dave's amazing little girls. I've told Joni that I'm going to borrow them, a lot. They are so intelligent is scares me. One of my favourite moments from the wedding was when the littlest one took my hand to cross the road.



And here's Joni.









Joni, you're gorgeous. You hear me? Gorgeous!





Too young to show a bit of leg?



Joni had the perfect bridesmaids. Rachael, below, Taron and Janet were absolute marvels. They were witty and fun, calm and calming.





We stopped off at Hosier Lane for some photos. And how could we not?









Joni and Dave are so gentle and warm with each other. I've seen them parent, and they are still gentle and warm. That's tough when you've got two little ones under 5.







Killer heels my dear.





The reception was at the sensational Father Flanagan's in Brunswick. I took photos of books and typewriters. Naturally.









Thank you Joni and Dave for a sensational New years eve. For letting me into your lives. For letting me help get your girls into their flower-girl dresses. For putting the perfect finishing touch on a wonderful year.



* Meaghan

The Angel family

This might just look like a large number of people standing in a line (albeit good looking people). But it's not. It's a family who are scattered all over the world finally being in the one place at the one time. The Angel family wanted a family photo, because the few times they are all together are times to be cherished.





The lovely woman in the middle is my friend Yvette. I met her when I'd just moved to Ocean Grove. She's been a delight in my life ever since. She organised the whole family photo shoot, as a surprise to her parents.









The wonderful woman getting swamped by cuddles from her nieces is Tash. Tash looked after my children one day a week this year. She is the best.nanny.ever! Miles and Ryan would squeal with delight when she arrived, and talk about her long after she had left for the day.




And the two people responsible for this dynamic brood. If when I'm their age, I've got a loving and vivacious family such as this one, I will be a very happy person.



The two little ones running in this photo were born on the same day, but on opposite sides of the world. They are the best of friends when ever they see each other, perhaps already truly understanding the bond they share.



These last two photos make it into my all time favourite list. They perfectly capture Yvette and her son Jem. They have such a gentle and warm relationship. Yvette is one of those mother's with bucket loads of patience, ingenuity and creativity. She's not only good with Jem, she's great with my kids. Even when they are at their most challenging! Now that's good.



I hope that it's not too far in the future that you can all be together again.

* Meaghan

Wedding - Jess and Shane

Jess gave a casual wave as her father pulled the car into park. She didn't need any help alighting the vehicle. She straightened her own dress and chatted casually with her parents. Jess said from the beginning she wanted a wedding with minimal fuss, and that was how her wedding to Shane unfolded.

That skyline. I would know it anywhere, from any angle. Ah Melbourne, you make me happy.





A simple wedding, yes, but very meaningful also. They let Jess' sister choose her own reading, and it was absolutely perfect. This photo is of Jess and Shane listening to Emma speak, and Jess tearing up just a little. Small personal touches like this dotted the ceremony held in Edinburgh gardens, giving it the warmth and authenticity they were aiming for.






These well thought out personal touches continued at the reception. Jess and Shane had carefully collected the wedding photos from the past generations of their family. It was a wonderful look at the fashions and hairstyles, but more importantly, at the people who were integral to bringing them to this day.




It was unrelenting hot. The tarmac on the roads was bubbling, the light poles were bending and the air so think you could almost see it. Jess and Shane hosted their reception at the Fitzroy Bowls Club where an afternoon of lawn bowling had been planned. But it was just too hot. Instead of rolling little black balls hopefully down the green, guests clung to the perimeter of the bowls club in the shade from the overhanging trees. Bowls club staff worked hard in the heat, and still looked awesome in their t shirts.



Jess, Shane and I took a casual wander through Edinburgh gardens as dusk fell. PERFECT time for photos.






I loved Jess' dress. She looked very Audrey Hepburn circa Roman Holiday. The dress shows Jess' soft side. She's so heartfelt and abundantly caring. She's sweet and thoughtful and sincere.



Shane exemplified the dapper gentleman. He really must be commended for toughing out a 3 piece suit in 43 degree heat. Shane's the kind of guy who looks all serious, but chat to him for ten minutes and you'll soon realise he has a searing wit and is an expert at the zinging comeback.







These next two photos make me swoon.







Jess and Shane are off to Moscow to live this year and I wish them fun and abundance on their trip. Jess, you know how special you are to me, and it was an honour to be a part of your wedding day.

* Meaghan