The Face of 2009

Every year, award-winning jewellery designer Kelli Holt from Kelli's Daisy Designs runs a competition to find the face of her business for the next 12 months. Much more than a simple modelling competition though, "The Face" is about developing the skills and confidence young women need in todays society and workshops are run by many professionals to ensure the girls who compete take away much more than just a crown and a title. We've been involved for a couple of years and this year will again be providing a full range of photo abnd video services.

This year's competition launched on Saturday 13th June 2009 with an introductory BBQ hosted by Kelli for the girls. Together with their "welcome kits", the girls also received a couple of projects that have to be worked on, including a pair of jeans that have to be decorated and which will be auctioned for charity at the huge Gala Evening at the end of the competition. The workshops take place during the week 229 June-3rd July before the Gala Finale on Monday 6th July where the girls get to walk the catwalk in a series of outfits and the prizes are awarded.

Look out for the photos appearing here soon.

Palazzo Versace Wedding Expo - Sunday 31 May 2009

There are certain iconic labelsand brands that just seem to roll off the tongue and Versace is one of the most exclusive of those. Needless to say, when Ideal Bride announced they were to hold the very first bridal expo at the Gold Coast institution that is Palazzo Versace, we put our hand's up and hoped like crazy to be included. With the participants limited to a few of Queensland's very best suppliers in each category, we were lucky enough to be chosen to be involved and headed down to the Gold Coast on the last weekend in May to take part. Having been lucky enough to have been to the hotel on a couple of occasions - only for lunch though :-( we knew it would be good and it certainly didn't disappoint. With the sumptious decor and marble floors, the exhibition space was stunning and we knew it was going to be some event. By the time the doors opened on the sunday word had certainly got around and we were simply overwhelmed by the numbers of people coming through the doors. by the time of the first fashion parade there was barely room to move and everyone was treated to a great show before moving off again to chat to the various exhibitors. We were surprised by how far people had come to see the expo - from the sunshine coast and further afield - I even spoke to someone from Canberra - which is indicative of how important the event actually was for the industry. it never stopped all day and we were still talking to couples as other stalls were being dismantled around us. A truly fantastic event and one we are sure to be at next year, not to mention the RNA event in September. See you all there!!

Michelle & Paul's Wedding - Sunday 24th May 2009

After a week of rather extreme weather (being stuck in traffic on Moggill Road and watching the water level rise across the road behind you in the mirror was rather disconcerting!) Michelle & Paul managed to dodge the weather (just!) and enjoyed an absolutely fantastic day in Brisbane on Sunday 24th May. Starting off with some stunning pre-wedding shots at the sumptious Stamford Plaza, we then headed off to the Botanical Gardens for the ceremony. The Party Girls did a fabulous job with the seating, keeping the chair covers dry until the guests were seated and then Delmar Broadbent conducted a lovely ceremony which included a hand-fastening. With the stunning backdrop, beautiful background music played by a string quartet under the shade of the trees and the emotion shared by Michelle & Paul we captured some fantastic shots before heading off around the gardens to get more imagery. Brisbane CBD is a superb location because everything is so close together and yet there are very different backdrops around every corner. Close to Government House the wide avenues and old lampposts are reminiscent of Paris, whilst the Storey Bridge provides a gritty, urban style background from some angles and wonderfully pretty lighting from other perspectives. With almost 4 hours for their location photos, we made full use of the City and had a simple brilliant time with Michelle & Paul before finishing up along the riverside walkway at their reception venue, the very swanky and stylish Jellyfish restaurant where they enjoyed a fabulous reception with beautiful food and a most excellent wine list. We had an absolute blast and enjoyed every moment of the day. Thanks Michelle & Paul!!

ABIA Awards Night - Tuesday 19th May 2009

The Queensland Wedding Industry night of nights came round again on Tuesday 19th May with the annual Australian Bridal Industry Academy (ABIA) Awards held at the Royal on the Park in Brisbane. Whilst it isn't quite the Oscar's, it is a great opportunity to get out and meet other people in the industry and enjoy a fabulous evening of wining and dining. Masterpieces was nominated as a Top Contender in two categories, Photography and Video and it was quite tense waiting to find out exactly where we had placed. With all the nominations and judging being decided by Brides and Grooms, it really is a great way to find out your standing in the wedding industry and how you are really seen by the most important judges of all - your clients!! In the end, we ended up with 8th overall for photography (out of 233 nominees!!) and 7th for video (out of 65 nominees!!) so it was a pretty good result for both sides of the business. However, we are perfectionists and won't be entirely happy until it is our name on the winner's trophy!! We would like to say a massive thanks to all those couples who did vote for us this year - we know how highly you must have rated us for us to get that high in the results and we are humbled by that. For those couples who didn't get round to voting, don't worry, you can still get your entries in for next year!!

Kyra & Daniel's Wedding - Sat 16th May 2009

Saturday 16th May saw a team of 4 (2 photographers and 2 videographers) head up to Toowoomba for Kyra & Daniel's Wedding. Despite few dramas in the week leading up to the ceremony, Kyra was totally relaxed on the day and looked stunning with hair by fabulously talented Wendy at Holistic Hair Circle and great makeup by Paige at Faces by Paige, definitely two of the very best suppliers in South East Queensland. We did the pre-wedding shots at Kyra's parents' beautiful home and then headed up to Gips in Toowoomba for the ceremony and reception. Gips is a great location and after a lovely ceremony we headed off for some great photos around the town. With choosing an early ceremony (so important in the winter months) Kyra & Daniel had loads of time to enjoy their photos, with plenty of time to relax and enjoy each other's company which we always feel is essential and so much more relaxing than dashing around madly from location to location. We went to the beautiful Laurel bank Park, then onto the Toowoomba railway station (where we even "caught" a train!) before finishing up at the Old council Chambers for some twilight shots. Gips then put on a marvelous reception (excellent food as always!!) and Kyra 7 daniel enjoyed a great evening with their guest. Another fantastic day for us and thanks to Kyra & Daniel for letting us be part of their day.

Linsey & Mitchell's E-Shoot Sun 10th May 2009

The very next day saw us back at the studio for a late-afternoon E-Shoot with Linsey & Mitchell. Having been guests at Megan & Darren's wedding the day before (Mitchell is Megan's brother!), we did a later shoot to let them have a bit of a relax after the festivities and also to take advantage of the wonderful evening light we can have in the studio gardens. The weather didn't disappoint and we got some wonderfully warm early evening light before heading into the studio for some really fun shots. We're really looking forward to sharing Linsey & Mitchell's special day later in the year and we'll be sure to post the pics here!!

Megan & Darren's Wedding - 9th May 2009

So whilst i was heading off down to Boonah, Nadine and her assistant, Kristy, were heading up to Toowoomba to photograph Megan & Darren's day. I won't steal too much of Nadine's thunder as I'm sure there will be plenty on her blog about the day soon (hint hint Nadine!!), but by all accounts it was a fantastic day and the images certainly got to prove it!!