The wedding of Rebekah & Jacob - Love Love LOVE!

I have to start off on this blog post with some big thankyous:

1. To the universe for not raining on us but providing us with AMAZING skies (2 days in a row!)
2. To the folks at the Arboretum for producing such an amazing national treasure - we love your work!
3. To the Canberra Railway Museum, our wet weather back up location (that we didn't feel safe letting go of until just before the ceremony), big thanks to you Dave for your patience & understanding!
4. To Helen Murphy, who assisted and was second shooter and:
5. Last but certainly not least - the lovely Rebekah & Jacob for making the day the stunningly BEAUTIFUL celebration of love that it was, it was my complete honour to be involved.

Following on from the beautiful wedding of Helen & Peter the day before, the threatening weather was certainly still lurking around - so much so that I didn't dare cancel our backup photography location until I was on my way to see Rebekah getting ready!

As it turned out, the weather was perfect. The ceremony was held in the Senate Gardens of Old Parliament house, with beautiful filtered sunlight trickling through the trees that guests where seated under.  Julia & Angus Stone's song, Big Jet Plane - played on two Violas, saw the arrival of the stunning Rebekah on the arm of her very proud father.  It's been playing over and over in my head ever since - not that I'm complaining, editing the images, and reliving all the lovely moments, has been quite a moving experience done along to the beautiful, airy soundtrack of the day.

After the ceremony we headed off on location to the National Arboretum of Canberra.   This location is really beyond words, and I can't even say that the images do the location justice - as beautiful as (I think) they are.  The area is so amazingly HUGE and STUNNING, I think I could spend weeks there and still find more angles and vistas to shoot.  As it was we ventured into the Himalayan pine section which has a beautiful deck overlooking the city/lake region, and got to use the new sculpture - a section from the poem "My Country" taken from Dorothea Mackellars (the author) actual handwriting, and made into a huge sculpture.  What an awesome experience!

The Arboretum is having a big open day this Sunday (20th March) "Festival of the Forests" - WELL worth the visit, you'll be amazed! Visit the website for more info.

When we where done there we headed down the road to Mount Stromlo for some lovely moments between Rebekah, Jacob and the bridal party, then it was off to the reception at On Red, Red Hill Lookout.

Such a beautiful day in all regards, and one that I'll definitely remember forever.  It will be nice for Rebekah & Jacob to be able to go back each year and visit the Arboretum, seeing how all the trees and development of the area have progressed, it'll be quite a lovely marker for their anniversary.

Hope you enjoy the pics! xx

(See more of my wedding photography on my website: Kate Luke Photography)

Helen & Peter

I don't think I've had a wedding post this year that hasn't started with some remark about the weather. I'm afraid the next couple are going to follow the existing pattern!

Helen and Peters wedding was held on Friday, March 11th, at the Deck in Canberras Regatta Point.  The weather the morning of Helen & Peters wedding was, well, not good!  The rain and drizzle had settled in and it didn't look like it was going anywhere in a rush.  Come the afternoon though, the drizzly grey skies had developed into the most spectacular storm clouds that formed an amazing backdrop for their evening (and just as importantly, just hovered there looking magnificent without raining on us - thanks clouds!)

It was so lovely watching Helen and Peter sharing their vows of love surrounded by lots of family and so many long term friends.  Having had bad luck with lost photographs in the past, I've done my best to get a few images up for them as soon as possible to set their minds at ease.  Hope you enjoy sharing the joy!

See more of my wedding photography at my website: Kate Luke Photography

Personal Portrait Project - Sovereign Studio

Having spent a year building our studio, I've had lots of time to think of projects I'd love to do.

Now that it's operational, one project I have just started is a portrait series.  The series will be of around 50 selected individuals whom I have some form of personal relationship with.  The end result will, I hope, be a beautiful and varied set of portraits, each reflecting a particular aspect of the individual, particularly how I see them and their strengths, character and beauty.

As a "people" photographer, I believe it's really important to put yourself in front of the camera (as painful as that is!) in order to stay in touch with what you're subjects are experiencing in front of the lens.  As such, I will also be producing at least one self portrait as part of this series.

First cab off the rank was my beautiful and very talented husband, James.  This portrait portrays James the musician, with a hint to his gentle character and humour in his eyes.

See more of my portrait photography at Kate Luke Photography

Underwater Photography

There's something special about being able to paint with light underwater.  Movement appears graceful, effortless and ethereal, and the surface and movement of the water itself has its own relationship with the light - a thing of magic and beauty! 

I am currently working on a series that I aim to hold an exhibition with sometime this year (watch this space!), that explores this very subject.  Collaborating with a very talented fashion designer/stylist and amazing models, the results so far have been really beautiful. 

Tim Anger, a friend and fellow photographer (http://www.timanger.com.au/), came along to the first session and provided not only great assistance, but some fab background shots! Here they are - thanks Tim! And thanks to the AIS for the use of their very civilised (in a Canberra Autumn) heated indoor pool!