Estee and Paul
Estee and Paul eloped to Cow Bay for an intimate wedding
It’s very hard to take photographs while you are teary. During their vows, there wasn’t a dry eye in the tiny party of five at the elopement ceremony of Estee and Paul. So intimate, so pure and simple. Simply beautiful.
This is a quick sneak peek. There will be some more to come, as soon as I get a chance.
Philip and Catrin’s Wedding, Oak Beach, Port Douglas.
Catrin and Philip were married on a crazy windy afternoon in October, in front of an intimate crowd of their best friends and family members. It was so very special. Exquisitely choreographed, beautifully executed, full of thoughtfully subtle details and with a heavy focus on the people most important to the couple – most of whom had flown in from far flung locations including Paris, Canada, New York, Sydney and central NSW…. – it was a joy to photograph all that joy! Everyone was elated to be there, and the love and affection they had for the couple showed in the joyful tears, hugs and laughter that went on all afternoon and evening. Happily the wind dropped with the sun and the still, warm evening was simply perfect.
Philip and Catrin are big fans of reportage-style wedding photojournalism and they asked me to be as subtle and unintrusive as possible – which suited me just fine – I enjoyed cruising around being as invisible as possible yet being in the thick of it all.
Here’s the feedback (unashamed self-promo plug lovely testimonial!):
“These are completely fabulous – we are absolutely delighted with the moments and the mood you have captured. We had the loveliest time looking through them last night thank you so much. (…) Thank you again for being so wonderful on the day. You were everywhere and nowhere and just fitted in so perfectly to our wedding.”
Excitingly, Cosmopolitan Bride has expressed an interest in featuring the wedding in an upcoming issue.
Catrin asked me to make up 24 Blurb photo books of the wedding for them to give to their guests for Christmas gifts. Such a lovely idea!
The catering was done by Port Douglas catering, in their usual splendid style. The wedding celebrant was the very lovely Sarah Woods, we met up again 3 days later at a beautiful, simple marriage elopement I photographed and she officiated up on Cow Bay Beach. Photos from that one will be up soon.
I know, I know! This is a very photo heavy post, but hey – I wanted to share so many of these gorgeous pics. Sit back and enjoy the rest of my oversized collection!
Wedding Photo Books
Mihoko and Tyler's Wedding Day. Nagasaki, Japan. 2008.
Phew, it’s been busy around here! Nice to get a chance to sit down and catch up with the blog. There is a swag of photo’s I want to share, but first….
I’ve been wanting to do a post about the increasingly popular production of Custom Made Wedding Photo Books as opposed to the traditional album. Self-publishing is becoming a really popular form of promotion and publication for photographers around the world – and the growing demand means that Wedding Photo Books are becoming more and more sophisticated and affordable. Having your own custom made magazine or coffee table style book telling the story of your special day to share with friends and family for years to come is such a special treat.
I’ve gathered a list of great Australian Wedding Book companies for you to check out if you are researching wedding photo books:
Internationally, Blurb is great. I co-published a book of my own that way.
Justin and Emily
Kiss Kiss Kiss
My supremely talented colleague and friend Lizzy Sawdon had been booked by Justin and Emily to photograph their wedding at St Mary’s by the Sea, and she asked me to come along and assist – she knows I really need to get my wedding portfolio filled up with tropical looking weddings which are so completely different to Tokyo weddings in style and atmosphere. My role when I’m assisting Lizzy is to focus mostly on the groom and his fella’s in their preparations and waiting at the church and then photograph the bridesmaid’s and groomsmen while the couple are being photographed. It’s a lot of fun, and in this instance Justin and his best men were lovely, shy bundles of nerves and smiles and were such fun to photograph. The bridal party in general were willing to try anything and it was great to let them blow off their nerves after the wedding with some silliness like jumping, throwing the bouquet and giving each other piggybacks.
Muckin' about with the lads
Ceremony
Click on any of these photo’s to be taken to a click-forward gallery. Forgive the low resolution image files.
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- Kiss Kiss Kiss
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- Ceremony
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- Muckin’ about with the lads
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- Justin with his best men
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- Justin and Emma just after the ceremony
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- JUMP!
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- Flying bouquet…
Kirsty and Marco
Conga line
My supremely talented colleagues and friends Lizzy Sawdon and Ali George were booked to photograph and video Marco and Kirsty’s wedding, and Lizzy asked me if I’d come along and assist them at The Sea Temple Resort in Port Douglas a few weeks back. What a special wedding it was, so full of big Italian style love and joy. It was such a pleasure to work at this wedding that as each of us left we all individually went up to the couple and their mums to tell them how delighted we were at having been given the chance to photograph such a lively and joyful celebration. Thanks to Marco and Kirsty and their lovely families!
Infinite possibilities
Kirsty and Marco
Click on any of the images in the gallery below to be taken to a click-forward slideshow. These are just a few of the 600 pictures I took that day….
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- Marco with his mum and aunt just before the wedding
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- Kirsty and Marco
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- We took Marco and Kirsty down to the southern end of Four Mile Beach for their portraits. They couldn’t wipe the smiles from their faces! They were so very happy.
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- Kirsty and Marco making their vows in front of the celebrant Natasha Kollosche at Sea Temple Resort, Port Douglas.
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- Marco’s father ties a knot around Marco and Kirsty’s hands during their wedding ceremony
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- Kirsty and Marco moments after signing their marriage certificate
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- Heading to the beach just after the ceremony
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- Kirsty and Marco with son
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- Infinite possibilities
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- Conga line
Port Douglas Wedding Photography Packages
Martine Cotton Photography - Wedding Photography
July and August are the two busiest months of the year for weddings in Port Douglas. The weather is just perfect and the place is jumping. I’ve been having a fabulous time getting out amongst it with my lovely colleagues, photographer Lizzy Sawdon and videographer/photographer Ali George, doing a bunch of weddings, and my tropical feel portfolio is coming together nicely, slowly replacing the urban style I found myself using when based in Tokyo.
I have just finished working on my new Port Douglas Wedding Photography Packages PDF, it covers elopement packages (a surprisingly thriving little niche!) as well as regular digital and print wedding photography packages so if you are considering keeping it super simple and eloping (or doing the opposite), then drop me a line at martinecottonphotography@gmail.com.
Oh, and I’m always up for a Trash the Dress session!
Carmen and David’s Port Douglas Wedding
In an effort to get some more “tropical” looking weddings into my portfolio, I’ve started assisting the very lovely and super-talented wedding local photojournalist Lizzy Sawdon at a bunch of weddings this season. Actually, we are also planning to do a portrait exhibition together, with other great local photographers, Ms Ali George and Nanna Soderstrom sometime in the not-too-distant future. But I have digressed, as I am often wont to do….
Lizzy & I had a lovely day with the happy couple, Carmen and David, who brought their family up from Adelaide for their special day. For the first half of the day I hung out with the fella’s and photographed their preparation, and then David waiting for his lovely bride to arrive. They were so easy going and it was a real pleasure to work with them.
Must say, Japanese weddings are just so different to relaxed beach weddings in Australia - I definitely prefer the tropical approach to weddings. Colourful, individual and intimate. Delighted to be getting into the tropical wedding scene, and huge thanks to Lizzy for her support!
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The Longest Lunch
Separate to the work I did for the Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce during Port Douglas Carnivale, Events NQ employed me as the photographer for their Longest Lunch event at the Sheraton Mirage Country Club during Carnivale 2009. I can not speak more highly of Donna Anderson and the team at Events NQ – they are professional, superbly well organised, flexible and a pleasure to work with.
Ferrero Road: Managing Australian Destinations
Managing Australian Destinations is one of Australia’s leading event managers – they provide on-ground support for exclusive Special Interest Groups, Incentives, Team Building, Conferences, and other Business Events and Weddings. I was delighted by their new developmental venue just outside Port Douglas. They asked me to photograph the setting and performers at a recent industry familiarisation package tour. It was like being transported into a magical fairy world and I really, really wished I could stay and photograph for hours.
Carnivale 2009
Carnivale 2009 may be over, but you can relive the memories over at the Port Douglas Carnivale 2009 Photo Gallery.
You can find galleries for the following events:
- Port Douglas Carnivale Street Parade
- Port Douglas Carnivale Beach Day
- Port Douglas Carnivale Miss Carnivale Crowning Ceremony
- Port Douglas Carnivale Longest Lunch (password eventsnq)
- Port Douglas Carnivale Masquerade Arts Ball
- Port Douglas Carnivale Gourmet Gladiators
- Port Douglas Carnivale Stories and Songs by the Campfire
- Port Douglas Carnivale Songwriters Cmpetition
- Port Douglas Carnivale Sunday Markets
- Port Douglas Carnivale Maritime Discovery Museum Opening
- Port Douglas Carnivale Miss Carnivale & Miss Charity at The Sheraton Mirage
- Port Douglas Carnivale Tin Shed Fashion Awards
- Port Douglas Carnivale Airing of The Quilts
- Port Douglas Carnivale Seafood Extravaganza
Carnivale 2009 was a huge success, and I was delighted to have been a part of the organising team (I was the Beach Day Coordinator and one of the general Carnivale coordinators), as well as to have had the opportunity to photograph so many fantastic events. Such a great way to meet a huge number of great people in a very short space of time. Woohooo, can’t wait till next years Carnivale!
Port Douglas
The Junk above is an icon of Port Douglas – a lovely sailing boat that takes tourists out to the reef and on sunset cruises. One of my favourite sights!
Port Douglas. Love this town. I’ve been back here about 10 weeks now, done about one photo job for every week I’ve been here. Which is a nice handy pace considering I’m working my ass off as one of the coordinators of the towns annual Carnivale, 5 days a week. I’m working towards that day when Carnivale is all over (June 1) and I can focus on being a full time photographer here.
To that end I just tied up a sponsorship deal with the local Chamber of Commerce in which I become the Official Event Photographer for 2009 Port Douglas Carnivale. This means that I am going to do a truckload of free photography for the community events which are a part of Carnivale in an effort to get my name out there. I hope that doing this will pay off for me:
- by getting my name and services out there and widely visible,
- and that the commercial event managers will employ me.
Doing pro bono work as a photographer is sometimes seen as betraying yourself and your fellow photographers by devaluing public perception of photographers rights & services, but you know, community participation is vitally important and none of these community groups have the money to pay a professional photographer. Yet without great, dynamic images, the entire event suffers because it’s so hard to get decent media coverage. So actually, rather than devaluing public perception, I hope that I actually garner some respect and support and the whole action-reaction process society runs on will see me get rewarded with paid work.
Erochika Bamboo at Dr Sketchy's November
Erochika Bamboo was the star of the November Dr Sketchy’s. The lady is a class act, a true veteran performer and charmer. Such a pleasure to photograph!
Baby Loves Disco!!
The fabulous team over at Baby Loves Disco Tokyo put on a Christmas Party at Legato’s, in Shibuya, for 200+ kids and their parents, including a Santa corner. It was a hoot, of course – and you gotta love hanging out with Santa and the kids and trying to get the perfect photo. [Tip: Chocolate helps get rid of those scaredy-cat tears!.....]
Tracey and Ashley's Engagement shots
Ashley recently popped the question to Tracey and she, of course, said hell yes! These are some of their engagement photo’s. It was a delight to shoot, they are such great people and I wish them all sorts of joy and passion in their married life.
Dr Sketchy's – Violet Eva!
Finally catching up on the backlog! These are some of the snaps from the October Dr Sketchy’s Event at The Pink Cow in Shibuya. Violet Eva is a member of the Murasaki Babydoll (yes, no “S” – go figure) – pretty little thing, isn’t she.
the TELL Charity Auction
The pictures from the TELL Charity auction are up. There is a problem with my own server at www.martinecotton.com and I’m currently unable to access my website to show the link (all fixed now.)
If you were there, you should have the password – if not, well, it’s “tell”. Go take a look.
Cheers.
I'm having an exhibition – one night only – The Dr Sketchy's Exhibition Party!
Dear Blog Friends,
I’m writing to invite you to my third (and perhaps my last?) photo exhibition in Tokyo, next weekend – Saturday November 22. This party/exhibition is the beginning of the end of my time here in Japan, the beginning of the sayonara process…. Oh how the next few weeks and months will fly!
Anyway, back to the exhibition party. I’d love to see you there.
The event will feature a 3 set performance incorporating 6 different shows by various dancin’ girls, and will run from 9 pm – 2 pm, with an afterparty at a different club afterwards. There will also be an art exhibition and a photo exhibition (mine), and 4 different DJ’s. I will be showing 15 different photos – half of them Dr Sketchy’s models, the other half various portraits I have shot over the past year, all printed on canvas at 28cm x 43cm. They will all be available for purchase, natch. We’re also making a calendar with some of the pictures from the massive haul I’ve shot over the past 7 months at the monthly Dr SKetchy drawing night (sooo much fun).
My involvement with Dr Sketchy’s Tokyo has been a truly special experience, and I’m proud to have been a part of the team alongside Lady Elle, Cherry Typhoon, Hilo, Toy and Toby. We’ve been working hard to improve the monthly event and its profile, as well as planning this big exhibition party (which is the result of a hell of a lot of work and long mid-week night meetings). It’s been a pleasure working alongside this lovely team of super-genki artists. Go Team!
Anyway, here is the spiel (and facebook event page here):
Dr.Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, Tokyo presents:
Dr. Sketchy’s Exhibition PartyDr. Sketchy’s is what happens when cabaret meets art school.
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, Tokyo is a cabaret sketch art salon. On Saturday November 22nd at La Boheme on Kotto Dori (Aoyama) at 9pm-2am the good Doctor will be hosting an art exhibition showcasing the work of Sketch Artists, and Sketchy Photographer Martine Cotton.
The event will be peppered with cabaret performances by a variety of Dr. Sketchy’s muses which include Tokyo’s own Ms. Exotic World Champions Erochica Bamboo, Cherry Typhoon, Safi and The Murasaki Baby Dolls. Hoop star Deanne Tonking will also be doing a show, alongside a salsa dance troupe led by Dirty Dancing Diana.
Among the featured artists are Josh McKible creator of the Nani Bird series recently on display in Shibuya Station courtesy of Art Below, Laura Hammer an artist who found the magic in Crayola and turned it into artistic alchemy and a whole host of professional and amateur young artisans.
DJ’s include Evil Penguin, James Carstensen, Bambi and Norishirocks.
Please email rsvp@drsketchytokyo.com for cheap entry (It’s 3500 at the door, 2500 if you RSVP)
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Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, Tokyo is a community life-drawing event that takes place once a month at the Pink Cow, Shibuya. We search Tokyo to find sexy people who model for you for about three hours. In between poses there are contests with cool prizes, sexy performances, drinks and all sorts of mischief.
Jane & Daisuke's Japan Wedding
Jane and Daisuke got married the first time around in Melbourne a year or more ago. When they moved back to Tokyo to be closer to his widowed mother, the Japanese family suggested that a Japanese-style wedding here in Tokyo for them to attend would be a wonderful thing since they weren’t able to make it to the first wedding, and in Japan it’s not so uncommon to have a couple of weddings…
There is the Town Hall wedding, often completed as a mundane task with no celebrations at all – it’s just paperwork. Then there is the family style wedding, sometimes at a shrine, but mostly at a wedding hotel, followed by a sit down lunch/dinner that usually requires a couple of changes of clothes for the couple and is full of pomp and ceremony and structure and silliness and boooooooze. Then, the couple usually head on to a second wedding party, this one just for friends, many of whom can’t afford to attend the main wedding (you pay to go to weddings here, instead of buying gifts). These nijikai’s (second party) are always a hoot, and are often where the couples friends get a chance to pick up a new date/marriage prospect….
Jane and Daisuke’s Japanese wedding involved 2 hours-worth of being dressed up in formal kimono’s and hakuma’s, and going to a shrine for a ceremony with 2 buddhist priests and a shrine maiden. Jane even got her own personal hand-maiden for the day (and genuinely needed the support as she struggled in and out of taxi’s and low chairs). The process was fascinating and I was so happy to be there for them as they made their way through the day with a fairly healthy level of nerves. Jane looked absolutely GORGEOUS, as did Daisuke, and I was delighted when they told me over and over how relaxed they felt with me as their photographer.
Having these kinds of photographic chances are not so common, and I was really excited to get the chance to photograph a really traditional Japanese wedding ceremony. They are SO very different to western-style weddings and receptions.
Thanks so much to Jane and D. for trusting me to be your wedding photographer and extra special thanks for that nijikai and the ensuing almighty nihonshu hangover.
You can see more images from the wedding at my Wedding Gallery album.
Photo Nite Photographers Party
This is what I’ve been working on recently. Hope you can come along:
On Tuesday 30 September, over 300 Photographers and members of the Photography Industry will gather at Daikanyama Tableaux.
On Tuesday 30 September, over 300 Photographers will gather at Daikanyama Tableaux for presentations, discussions and displays about all aspects of the photography industry, including galleries, dealers, creative directors, online technology, image software, camera equipment and services.
Presentations by photographers will include all themes, such as fashion, portrait, commercial, art, street as well as travel photos. Top and up-and-coming photographers will discuss their work and offer creative, technical and career ideas.
There will be a one-night only photo exhibition of local photographers on the theme “My Japan.” The photo gallery will include travel, portrait, street and other Japan-related photos by up to 50 photographers, with an audience vote for favourite photos and an auction so they can take their favorite photos home to frame. Photographers wishing to participate can sign up at http://photobiz.ning.com/, and then upload their single submission with the tag “my japan”. Please visit THIS PAGE for more information on how to submit.
Discussion Panels will include:
2. “The Tokyo Photography Scene: Advice and tips on getting jobs and exhibiting/publishing your work”
Panelists: Magnus Burkardt, Jim O’Connell, Leanne Stone
3. “The Joys of Film VS The Convenience of Digital.” Introductory Presentation by Skorj (www.filmwasters.com) Discussion Panel moderated by Skorj Panelists: Tommy Oshima, Alfie Goodrich, Jim O’Connell, Jeff laitila, Magnus Burkardt
All photographers and people interested in photography are welcome to join this party, which will include DJ and VJ entertainment, great food and drinks.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
Tommy Oshima is one of the hottest Japanese photographers around. Working almost exclusively on film, Tommy is featured regularly in international photography magazines and is one of Flickr’s most popular stars. He will be presenting some of his work and taking a Q&A session, and will be participating in the Joys of Film VS The Convenience of Digital Discussion Panel. http://www.rayon-vert.com/
Skorj is one of the founders of http://www.filmwasters.com/ and a long time toy camera enthusiast. Skorj will be making a presentation about Film Photography and also participating in the Joys of Film VS The Convenience of Digital Discussion Panel.
Magnus Burkardt is a Pro Photog based here in Tokyo will present “More than meets the eye – The underlying dreams we show and sell in and with photography” (www.mbphotodesign.com)
Alfie Goodrich is a British photojournalist and since moving to Tokyo permanently in 2007, has been working hard to establish himself, find work and shoot exciting photos of his new home. He’ll be talking about what he’s been doing and showing some his recent work.
Jeff Laitila (http://www.sushicam.com): “Digital Photography with an Analog Soul”. Jeff Laitila is an American photographer. His work is sold mainly in the form of fine art prints, and stock imagery for the travel and publishing industries. He’ll be showing some of his his recent work and discussing techniques to bring back some analog “soul” to digital imaging.
Elizabeth Wenner-Ishiyama “Licensing Images”. Myluckyphoto is a division of the EAW Group, a publisher and printer of fine art open edition giclee posters with world wide wholesale distribution. Our printing facilities are located in Los Angeles, CA and Tokyo and have been a leading poster supplier since 2000.
Leanne Stone – Frisky Pony Photography, Australian photographer specialising in family photography in Tokyo. http://www.friskyponyphotography.com
Jim O’Connell – Thoughts on Photography. http://www.mmdc.net
WHEN: Sept 30, 2008. 6pm till 11:30pm.
PRICE: Advance: 1000 yen / Door 1500 yen. To qualify for advance, please sign up as a member at photobiz.ning.com or at our sister community http://biznites.ning.com.
WHERE: Tableaux Lounge – Sunroser Daikanyama B1, 11-6 Sarugaku-cho Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0033 Tel: 03-5489-2201 (http://www.tableaux.jp) Buffet dinner 1500 yen. Drink specials.
ABOUT BIZ NITES: Other Focus Biz Nites on Tuesdays at Daikanyama Tableaux include Eizo Nite 11/4 (For movie-makers, VJs, animators and TV directors), and next Photo Nite (For nature photographers) with Eco Nite 12/2. Regular Biz Nite parties for an A-Z of creative industries are held monthly at Daikanyama Tableaux on Mondays including 10/20 (Hawaiian Flavor), 11/11 (Canadian Flavor), 12/15 (African Flavor)…
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
If you are interested in presenting or helping us out on the night, please contact martine@tigermusic.jp or jon@tigermusic.jp
Safi @ Dr Sketchy's
Safi
Safi @ Dr Sketchy
Sketch
Cherry Typhoon, Safi, Lady Elle
Dr Sketchy’s Tokyo kicked off again after a summer break with the incredibly sexy Safi and an erotic fairytale as told by Cherry Typhoon and Lady Elle. Oh how I love being the Dr Sketchy’s photographer.
I’m off to shoot another wedding this weekend, this one will be very traditional, in a shrine, with full traditionl costumes, so I’m quite excited. Not so excited about the rain forecast….
Lisa & Tomo's wedding
Lisa and Tomo asked me to shoot their engagement and wedding photos. I did their engagement shots on a lovely sunny day out at Showa Kinen Koen back in May, and then shot their wedding and Ni-Ji-Kai last Satarday. I was pretty nervous as the only weddings I’ve shot before were for friends, and they were all pretty casual affairs.
While Lisa and Tomo are old colleagues of mine, and I know them pretty well, this wedding was always going to be very formal and structured in the way Japanese weddings are. Happily, everything went without a hitch and Lisa and Tomo looked every part the beautiful, happy, modern young Japanese couple. It was a great day and I’m really happy with the way the photos. Now I’ve just got to get through editing all 1000 of them. Wah!
The Australia Day Ball, Tokyo
Every year the Australia Society Tokyo holds an Australia Day Ball, on – you guessed it – Australia Day (Jan 25th). Last night I attended the event as the official photographer. It was my first time shooting such an event, and my word, it was fabulously FROCKALICIOUS!
Gorgeous haute couture frocks in abundance, and the fella’s scrubbed up ai’t too. Lots of kilts, shiny waistcoats and velvet coats. I was delighted to be a part of this event and – while it was a hectic night for me (I barely got a chance to sit down), it was a lot of fun. Let’s face it, Australians know how to party and they (we) and their friends are a pretty laid back bunch. Go take a look at the pics!
The highlight for me was meeting Don Morton, the film critic at Metropolis Magazine. Don is surely one of the finest reviewers around. His reviews are always witty, insightful and intelligent and well, it was a delight to meet him.
Thanks very much to the committee for believing that I was up to the job and offering me the chance to prove it! Special thanks to Mr Christian Stevenson for his support and recommendations.
You can see photos from the event by clicking on the recent tab in the navigation up top here.