May 30th
Living in Jakarta Indonesia, Octavia and Jeffrey searched around the globe for six months looking for the right photographer to capture their relationship. Their final choices came down to two American photographers and our own photographer Marcus Bell (me). Inspired by my landscapes and what they saw as a unique ability to capture the moment I was chosen as their photographer. A number of locations where proposed with the final destination was decided on the Northern rivers region of New South Wales in Australia, with the day’s final destination Byron Bay for sunset. It is truly one of the most picturesque places in the world. A second shoot is scheduled for San Francisco.
Jan 15th
Mary-Lou & Chris are a fantastic couple & they have two great boys. Now that the boys are both at school, it was time for a second family portrait. Chris had been working on the Sunshine Coast for the past three years establishing a business, and had recently moved to a business back in Brisbane. So we chose the Sunshine Coast beach where the family spent much of their time together over the last three years as the location for this shoot completed in January. (One of my first for the year)
With approx a month of near cyclonic conditions over the Christmas holiday period, the weather was not going to let up for us much this weekend. So, I say, use the weather within the shot. The portrait below symbolizes to me the challenges the family went through. The image now portrays that family unity prevails. Even in a storm there is always sunshine around when you are with your family.
Chris & Mary-Lou invited my family along on the shoot. Penny & my boys & I stayed the night and spent a great weekend with Chris, Mary-Lou and their kids. It is great when your clients become your friends.
Dec 30th
Our Studio Christmas card started out as a bit of fun years ago when we decided with tongue-in-cheek, to photograph ourselves for the card! Now it has turned into an annual photographic shoot of our staff with a bit of an unofficial internal competition for the craziest Christmas idea. We like to not take ourselves too seriously and 2007 was no different.
Seem’s like we aren’t the only ones that want to be on our own Christmas Card! Having met Her Excellency the Governor of Queensland Quentin Bryce when I photographed her son’s wedding, I had a brief conversation with her where I suggested some ideas for a Christmas Card that I thought would portray the kind caring and approachable Governor that she has been to the Queensland public, as well as send a message about the importance of family and the joy of children at Christmas. This brief conversation led to the chance to photograph the official Queensland Government House Christmas Card. It is great to be able to do meaningful, elegant portraits like this and then go and do something fun like our snow-globe card in the same week!
Bringing photography to life
Describes what we do. This blog is about exactly that - here we will share a little of our life and a lot of what we love - people, art and photography. Whether you are planning a wedding, a family portrait or building your own professional photography business, I hope you find something to inspire you here. Thank you for visiting.
- Marcus Bell | Brisbane, Australia
