I have always been curious about people, and if you are to understand people then stories, in all of their various forms, are a good place to look…
The Beatles, Stanley Kubrick, Aretha Franklin, Caravaggio, Drake, Cartier-Bresson, Rodger Deakins, Rembrandt, Richard Avedon, Bruce Springsteen (just to name a few) have and always will be an eclectic and nourishing diet for my soul.
Today I find myself with a love of making pictures and crafting stories for real people. It so happens that a good place to do that is on a wedding day for a loved-up couple with a keen eye. I never would have thought I’d be a ‘wedding photographer’, but in retrospect it’s no surprise really.
Ultimately this gig about using honouring the lives and moments playing out in front of you. Luckily my life to this point both personally and professionally has offered some good foundations that have equip me with the skills to do just that, with gusto.
In my life I love those close to me dearly. I have a gorgeous son, Fox – watching him grow, raising him, and gazing into his mirror is everything. I held my brother Lee’s hand as he passed away, far too young – he taught me that it’s ok to be me, to be resilient and to not waste a day. He’s my guardian angel. I have a deep love and connection with my gorgeous partner Katie – she radiates joy, is loving, talented and truly inspiring, always evolving. We have learned together what it is to love. Oh yes, and we share a love of photography too. My parents Peter & Shelly have always encouraged and supported me in every way they can – their unconditional love, friendship and resilience is beyond words. I tend to suck at maintaining lots and lots of friendships, but those close mates (you know who you are) I cherish more than they know and I consider them family. I’m grateful to them for teaching me what true really friendship is. It is all of these people that I have learned what it is to be alive, and its impermanence is not lost on me.
Professionally my background is in filmmaking and studio television which helped shape my eye and build a visual vocabulary to create and express. But really, after doing this gig for a while, it’s here that I’ve been able to find my flow, hone my craft, create, express and give a little piece of myself to a select few who carefully choose me to tell their story.
I believe the only real currency of life is our relationships so it’s awesome I get to honour that while having a bit of fun with a camera in hand, exploring love, light and the human experience.
Xx
Ez
Alternatively hit me on eric@ericronald.net
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Where are you?
I mysteriously bend space and time to place myself anywhere on this planet I am needed. That said, I’ve recently relocated to Geelong a.k.a G-Town where I now call home. I’m known to photograph weddings throughout Australia and various sweet places abroad, but I mainly photograph weddings in Geelong, Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Bellarine Peninsula, my home-town of Warrnambool and really anywhere throughout Victoria. Ultimately though, wherever on Earth you are, if you dig my stuff than lets talk.
How much do you cost?
I’m not for sale but my wedding photography services most definitely are. For info and pricing please get in touch using the contact form above or clicking that annoying contact button floating around all over the place. Yes, I know it’s annoying like a fly buzzing around your face that just won’t leave you alone. Poor web design or artful irritation? You be the judge.
Our wedding is in a galaxy far, far away. You down?
I love the variety of what I do. It keeps me fresh. I also love to travel, very much. So regardless if you are getting married close to home here in Victoria or in exotic far away lands please don’t hesitate to drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you.
What do we get?
There’s a lot more info on this in my pricing guide, but in a nutshell…
After your wedding you can expect small preview selection of images before your wedding goes into my editing queue. Once your edit has been completed I will send through a slideshow (these are SO good), followed by your very own online gallery containing your full collection of images to view, download, share and even order prints and various other products should you wish.
You can expect to receive hundreds of beautifully edited images in you full collection which will vary depending on what package you go for. Don’t worry though, I will always give you too many images rather than not enough.
Do you do albums?
Yes indeed. Albums are the ultimate way to present your wedding story. I guarantee beautifully designed & printed, non-cheesy album goodness. These guys will live on your coffee table, not under the bed. No tweezers or white gloves required. Unlike many of my esteemed colleagues, my Fine Art Albums are meticulously crafted right here in Australia. For info and pricing please get in touch.
I’ve won some awards for my albums too, so that’s cool.
On the wedding day, do you do those family photos where everyone lines up?
I know, I know, they can be a pain but I do gently encourage my couples to get onboard the family portrait train. For the sake of 15 minutes of your precious time we can keep the parentals happy and create a lovely record of you with your loved ones (so that in years time you can look look at how dated everyones outfits and hairstyles look). In terms of the big ‘group photo’ of you and all of your guests, I personally don’t recommend this for a few reasons, but we can chat more about this in our catch-ups and I will happily oblige if you’re super keen.
What are your thoughts on an unplugged ceremony / not allowing guests to take photos?
In my role I try to keep impartial to such things. If all the guests are up taking photos on their cameras and phones that will inevitably be part of the documentation of the ceremony. However there are legit reasons to give the unplugged option some real consideration. Notably, it allows me to take unobstructed photographs of the ceremony and most importantly encourages guests to be fully present and in the moment, experiencing your ceremony in all of its glory.
We’d like to meet you to make sure that you’re not a creep.
Fair enough… I’d love to! I look forward see seeing your pretty faces either in-person or online. Fill out the contact form to get the ball rolling.
Does anyone else tag along?
It all depends. Most of the time I shoot solo. I’m pretty into it, so I have a knack of being everywhere at ones. That said, once in a while (logistics, 300+ guests etc) an additional shooter may be a good idea, in which case I can tee that up for you. Creatively speaking, if the wedding lends itself to me bringing my full lighting kit, having a lighting assistant can be extremely beneficial to the photos too. All things we can discuss as part of our initial catch up and leading up to the wedding.
Should we feed you?
If you can pop me (and my assistant if applicable) down down for a meal at the reception that would be fabulous. I’ll happily survive on my musli bars, bananas and coffee until then.
Do you work with videographers?
Yes, BUT… Do keep in mind that a general alignment of approach and experience is ideal. It’s no problem at all the photographer and videographer has a different visual style, however for the best results it’s all about having synergy and working respectfully as a team with the common goal of kicking butt for you the couple. I put a lot of thought and planning into portrait time and do ask that for the most part they follow my lead during this time. Rest assured though I happily work alongside many different videographers regularly and always ensure they the shots they need. Head to the FRIENDS section below for some recommendations.
Eric! We are shitting our pants about getting our photo taken.
Don’t worry amigos. That’s very normal. In fact most couples mention that at some point. I’ve got your back! I’m not a fan of getting my photo taken too and when someone points at camera at me I tend to freeze up and be weird. If you’ve got some anxieties about it, I think it’s a good indicator that you’re a fully fledged human with a pulse. The way I see it is that making you the couple feel comfortable and at ease in front of the camera is an important part of my role, and something that I take a lot of pride in. It may make me sound like a pscyho, but I almost look at it like a game to help you let you guard down and rest into being yourselves. Ultimately if we can get to that place, as we always do, it equates to real moments and natural photos. Importantly, we’ll have fun together along the way too because that’s how weddings are meant to be!
Ixnay on the pose, hey?
The whole ‘posing’ thing can sometimes be a worry for couples which is totally understandable. It’s a stigmatised word that’s for sure, and no one wants to bossed around and pushed and pulled like mannequins on their most special of days. For me, very little of the day involves posing. During the portrait session, I keep the natural juices flowing while also offering a bit of direction/instruction and yes, posing, to a degree. The idea is to gently massage things in a way that will lead to better photos, while putting ultimate importance on your energy and experience of the shoot. Also, every portrait session is different because every couple is different, so as we get to know each other we will chat about these things and flesh out the perfect approach for you.
Some of your photos look ‘dark’ & ‘moody’. Will all of our photos look like that?
Nup. Absolutely not. Light is my friend and I love playing and using it in all of it’s many forms to tell a dynamic and beautiful wedding story. At times yes, when appropriate I may rock a low-key (aka quiet/ dark/moody) look if the moment calls for it, however that will always be far outweighed with high-key vibes (aka light/bright/airy). Much like a painter, for me it’s all about utilising the full palette as opposed to just a few colours and tones. Still confused or concerned? I’d be more than happy to talk your ear off about it when we catch up.
Eric! We are pretty overwhelmed with all the schedule stuff. Can you please help us!?
Most definitely. I have a few weddings under my belt and I can happily help advise you on rough timings for the day to ensure things run smoothly. Rushing through the day isn’t good for anything. The ideal case is that you have plenty of time for you to enjoy all of the various parts of the day, while also settings ourselves up for success placing ourselves are gorgeous locations with epic light. We will always jam together on my photography schedule which I carefully prepare to ensure that you know where I will be and when, and that I have all of the info I need to be thoroughly organised and prepared.
I’m a photographer. Can you teach me stuff?
Absolutely. There’s always something cooking weather to be speaking at an event, running a workshop, or doing a mentor session. Simply connect with me on Instagram to stay updated.
What is life?
Now that’s a good question. I often ask that myself. Not real sure as yet, but probably something to do with love, kindness, gratitude, regular exercise, indoor pot-plants, great tunes and a good cup of coffee.
Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to photograph at some awesome venues and work with some incredible people that are super passionate about what they do. Here are some of my favourites…
Florists
- Flos Botanical Studio
- Blooming Brides
- Pomp & Splendour
- Prunella
- Cecilia Fox
- Sugar Bee Flowers
- I Heart Flowers
- Raven & The Rose
Celebrants
Makeup Artists
Event Planning / Styling
Tunes
Featured in some places…
- Hello May
- Ivory Tribe
- Junebug
- Rangefinder
- Nouba
- Together Journal
- Petapixel
- Daily Mail
- Rock ‘n Roll Bride
- Polka Dot Wedding
- Hooray
- SLR Lounge
- Wedded Wonderland
- Meet Me At Mikes
- And more
Published in some things…
- Just Married / Book
- Capture Annual / Magazine
- Hello May / Magazine
- For Love / Book
- The Age / Newspaper
- Herald Sun / Newspaper
- The Standard / Newspaper
Taught some stuff…
- Sweat Shop / Australia
- Common Folk Camp / Australia
- Farmshop / UK
- ExposurePro / New Zealand
- Snap Hoedown / Australia
Won some comps…
- 3x Australian Album of the Year (AIPP)
- International Wedding Photographer of the Year – Album (IWPOTY)
- Junebug Best of the Best
- Master Photographer (AIPP)
- Rangefinder Annual
- And more