in the short time we have met I have learnt a lot from Josh & Amelie and to be honest I feel blessed. They have the strength to challenge themselves. and each other, to a degree that is in some ways terrifying. they show that the super is possible and out of that terror there is peace. they had the strength to challenge me and in some ways I was terrified, but I thank them for that challenge. there was a lot to photograph and this is a selection. I felt if i could capture half of it, the story would be overflowing. Josh & Amelie – congratulations. you bring a lot to this world.

… the next day… b-b-q breakfast and planting pandanus at Watego`s beach… a group contribution to the flora of the byron headland.

paddington shop owner and fighter pilot and this is where they feel at home. this is where they marry. dance. speak. laugh. share… love it. thanks to simon from eat drink – wonderful food and organisation with help from Maria and Pip for his music and lighting.

bridal preparations. the watermark @ watego`s.  ceremony + reception location. byron bay surf club.  celebrant. zenith virago.  vw kombi. the luvdub.  catering. eatdrink.

it`s taken me a few weeks to relax after a huge year of photographing. it`s been excellent. I`ve loved it and big thanks to the bushturkey team, agi + elize, emma + ali, & kirsten.

i officially finished my year at midnight nye – congratulations andy & meg and families and friends and thank you warwick. it`s one of my favourite things – shooting in new places – or finding new places to shoot in places I have been to before.

the start of the year. a good time to come back to the present. to sit with how you feel. what do i bring to the year. and let it unfold.

i`ve known elize for a few years now but have never photographed her. I just met jon and we meet through photographing each other. i`ve never really hung out at the watertank before.

and i`ve looked back at this wedding and wondered what just made it so bloody good. it wasn`t just that phoebe had walked into her ceremony 10 years after losing both her legs, one hand, the ends of all her other fingers and 50% of her eyesight. although her recovery is bloody amazing in its own right. actually – more than just amazing. it wasn`t just that ben had lost an eye with childhood cancer, but yet had more sight than most.  it wasn`t just that these guys had found each other, after all the things they`d lost. not just that ben had organised a group of friends to trek kokoda and raise money for phoebes prosthetic legs. it wasn`t just the venue. it wasn`t just the bridesmaids and groomsmen and mum`s and dad`s. it wasn`t just nan. or friends and other family. it wasn`t just the tree or the red bunny. it wasn`t just anything.

what was it. why does it bring tears to my eyes. I sit and try to write a feeling.

it wasn`t just anything. it was the sum of all things. the sum of phoebe`s experiences, of ben`s experiences, of theirs together. it was open. they give everything. there is pain, determination, strength, adaption, laughter and it is shared and felt. and everyone present had shared in these experiences. helped in these experiences. it was a collective. there was an ownership, an investment made that everyone benefitted from. it`s not enough of an explanation, I know. it`s clumsy, but the feeling is vast. it`s universal. 1 person can inspire and live and bring change and when 2 people come together like that, the power is enormous.

I left this wedding feeling like a better person than when I had started and wanting to continue to be an even better person. and I had only met ben & phoebe the day before. and i can see the tears in my eyes is gratefulness.

december: some words to come with this beautiful story soon… just don`t quite know what to say at the moment. how much to tell. how much to hold back. i`m more than just a little overwhelmed by it all. not least because its the end of the year and time to reflect.

big thank you to jane magnus at byron bay weddings and events and monique and her team from seaweed cuisine.

but the weather was great. great for a surprise (for the guests) open top boat journey down the noosa river on board the catalina and going to the beautiful ricky`s for the reception. toby and anna (especially anna), you are beautiful. bridesmaids (especially penny hahaha), you rock. groomsmen and bro`s (all), solid. parents (all), good job of parenting. Mimay & Pipay you make me smile and Pipay you have a great future ahead of you as a photographer.