Living Lens Journal » Melbourne

SAMANTHA & GAVIN // A FAMILY AFFAIR

Emily — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 08:51:59 +0000

When we met Samantha and Gavin last year to book their wedding film, they had one important request – please try and film our teenage kids enjoying the day! You would think it wouldn’t be too hard a task since all four were in the bridal party, but the as you will see in the highlight we had to do some stealth filming to capture the boys!

Our day started visiting Samantha where she was getting ready at their family home, and she couldn’t have been a more relaxed bride! However, just down the road at the beautiful Barwon Grange historic house the scene was a little more hectic, with Gavin and the boys rushing around to get the ceremony location decorated in time,

Everyone gathered on the lawn to witness the loving and emotional vows exchanged by Samantha and Gavin and afterward family and friends descended on Sailors’ Rest at the Geelong Waterfront, to enjoy a wonderful evening of fun, food and laughter, with Samantha & Gavin topping off the night with a original musical melody wedding dance!

Sam & Gav have enjoyed a relaxing honeymoon sans kids in Thailand, but I know they are keen as mustard to see some footage of their wedding day so we are pleased to be able to give them their highlight a little early and hope it is a good appetizer to the main film feast which is still to come!

~ Em

ROAD TRIP! Bye Bye Melbourne, Hello Yeppoon!

Emily — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:19:19 +0000

We have been off the grid for the past few weeks. Let me tell you, packing up all your stuff into boxes is a bearch! OMG, I thought the packing would never end, only for Peter and I to spend a week of 14 hour days painting the place! But eventually we came out the other side of that tunnel, packed up the car and set off for our new life up north!

First we had to drop off the cats to the cattery as they were being flown up at the end of the week. I love my fur kids, but four days is the car with them would kill us all! I can tell you right now, they were not very impressed with the alternative either from the sound of them in the journey to the cattery! After that we headed north, stopping overnight at Wagga Wagga, Narrabri and Miles before hitting Rocky and finally arriving at Yeppoon! They put on a lovely welcome, with sunshine, warm breeze and a welcome sign!

We have moved into our new place – upgraded from a two bedroom apartment to a four bedroom house, garage, pool and a PANTRY! What else does a girl need?!? We picked up the girls (cats!) from the airport and well, lets just say if they were dissatisfied when we left them, they were Very Angry when we picked them up! But I think once the furniture arrives they will settle in just fine. ?

So here we are in the Poon… I think this is going to work out allllrrriiiiiggghhhttt!!!!

QUEENSLAND CALLING

Emily — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:09:43 +0000

Sometimes in life you just have to stop and figure out what you really want. You have to look at where you’ve been. You have to look at where you are. And you have to try and figure out where you want to go.

So… we have news… some BIG NEWS! Let me tell you the back story….

Peter and I met in Brisbane, Queensland back in 1999 and moved back to Melbourne in 2000 so I could be closer to family and friends. While we have enjoyed the past ten years with all our love ones, on many a cold Melbourne day we have often lamented leaving the warmth and sunshine of Brisvegas. It may come as no real surprise to those close to us, but we do not like Melbourne winters. At all. That wouldn’t be so much of a problem if winter was just the three months Mother Nature intended, but winter in Melbourne seems to start late March and the grey skies, icy southerly winds and single digit temps do not let up until eight months later October – EIGHT MONTHS!! And while summer can dish up some stunning days that make you truly appreciate this town, they seems to me to be too few and far between by the time March rolls around again!

We have talked a lot of moving to Queensland, but it’s always been on the list for “some day”. Then my parents (affectionately known as MAD [Mum.And.Dad – geddit?!?!]) announced they were retiring to the warmer climates of Central Queensland where my younger sister lives – well how can you miss a sign like that from the universe?! It was a scary thought; moving our business that we had worked so hard to grow, leaving our great friends, starting to a new place… but after much research and discussion Peter and I decided we were up for the challenge…. so the big news is…

We are moving to Yeppoon!!

LAUREN & DARREN // A VINTAGE WEDDING

Peter — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 03:27:45 +0000

Lauren and Darren were super easy going and just reveled the day this in turn made it such a fun time shooting which really helped as I was shooting solo which was a little scary as I hadn’t shot solo for quiet a while. I really liked the vintage theme throughout from the dress to the cool low rider.

I gotta mention Paul from Icon Pictures again as he picked some awesome locations which really suited the whole feel of the day and I know Lauren and Darren were really happy with the images he captured.

I wish all the best to you guys and thanks for letting me being there to capture your day!

- Pete

Some favorite images from the day

FRIENDS AND FOOD – AN ENGLISH FEAST

Peter — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:42:10 +0000

Over the past year we have been gathering friends for dinner for a “Food from Around the World” night where each of us picks a country and hosts a dinner party with food from that region. So last weekend was Kristie and Mark’s turn, and we all treked out to Emerald to tasted the culinary delights of England and try a variety of Ciders and Ales. Luckily for me (maybe not for my friends!) I took my new Canon 5DII camera along to capture the fun. I gotta say I was very full by the end of the night but man it tasted great.

- Pete

Our Stillmotion Workshop Experience

Peter — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:21:36 +0000

Couple of weeks ago we posted that we attended the workshop. It was 3 days of intense learning. We walked away with some great things that really made us want to push the envelope even more. The Stillmotion crew put together a highlight of our day 2 which involved coming up with ideas, planning, shooting and editing. They captured both the challenges and the triumphs of of all the attendees.. No doubt I am in it a few times..Just look out for the guy with the flower and Emily’s paper folding skills are shown off

- Pete

Stillmotion Workshop Day ZERO

Peter — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:44:08 +0000

So we are so pleased that this week has come, which we had been waiting for almost a year. It is going to be an amazing 3 days of the Stillmotion Experience. These guys are truly some cool film makers who taken wedding video to a level that is true film making. They are offering workshops around the world and through their workshop challenge all of us to push our selves and get the best out of what we do.

So tonight was just a short get together where we had a chance to have a bit of meet and greet, and already I have learned plenty and even more pumped.

I am so super excited to find out what the next 3 days brings us.

-Pete

Vivien and Joshua’s Wedding

Peter — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:47:58 +0000

I love how Chinese tea ceremonies give the parents and other family members a chance to really be involved in the wedding. They can take a moment to bless the couple and give them words of love and encouragement, it is such a great tradition to have part of weddings. Plus the beautiful reds and golds, the offerings and the incense really add to the sense of culture and history that these couples are part of.

Josh & Vivien’s was one such wedding. With two tea ceremonies, a civil ceremony, a drive out to Emerald Lake and a nine course reception dinner, they were in for a big day, but both of them were so relaxed for the start and ready to enjoy each moment. Although Josh may have felt the pressure when Vivien’s bridesmaid’s set him a tough challenge before he was allowed to enter the house!

I must say a special Thank You to Josh & Vivien for including us in the nine course dinner, we were very spoilt to be able to try shark fin soup, quail and lobster and it really made us feel part of their wedding day.

Hope you guys enjoy the highlight.

- Pete

Rebecca & David Highlight

Peter — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:18:27 +0000

Last night we dropped off the final DVD’s to Rebecca and David as an early Christmas present. It was wonderful catching up with them again, and just like they were on their wedding day they were so welcoming and excited to see us! We are really proud of this wedding film and were thrilled to receive a thank you message after they watched the DVD last night – it’s those moments that we remember we love what we do!

So, I now have the pleasure of presenting to you Rebecca and David’s highlight. It was such a pleasure to be part of their day and I really wanted their highlights to capture the love and spirit of the joining of not only Rebecca and David, but their families as well. It truly a wonderful day full of family, friends and lots of smiles!

Also we would like to wish a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year to everybody.

Enjoy

Peter.

Madalyn & Chean Highlight

Peter — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:46:50 +0000

We had the pleasure of filming Madalyn and Chean’s wedding earlier this year, and now we are able to share their highlight. This was one epic shoot with 2 tea ceremonies, western ceremony and a Cambodian ceremony and then to finish of the day with a full dance routine. They had a blast and we had a great time with them capturing their day.