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...And it's not necessarily about having a huge budget! Over the past decade I've photographed over 100 weddings and, undoubtedly, every wedding is unique - but there are a select few that I have especially fond memories of for a variety of reasons. Usually it's less about dollar signs and more about the connections between people, the carefully considered sentimental touches or the quirky, fun activities that get wedding guests more involved in the celebrations. So, what tips do I have to offer? As a place close to their hearts, Nick actually planned to propose to Erin on Heron Island until a cyclone ruined his plans - so they got married there instead! 1. Add personalisation that reflects you as a couple. Whether that means bringing your pets along for the party or organising your dream car as transport for the day, a personal touch that displays your own unique personalities and interests as a couple will immediately make a wedding day more your own. Bringing your beloved pets to the wedding is sure to make the crowd 'aww' and add an extra special touch to your day. 2. A ‘WOW’ piece for the day. It could be a beautiful ceremony arbor hand-made by the groom, a reception highlight such as a vintage caravan serving drinks or a custom neon sign with your names on it as a photo backdrop. This tip is about creating something that's sure to stick in your guests' minds and become a talking point for years to come! Yep, that's a wedding cake made of cheese - certainly one to remember (and it was delicious too)! 3. Atmosphere - create the vibe you want! Put simply, if you want a party wedding then bring out the confetti and start the pop playlist as soon as you walk up the aisle. If you want a relaxed romantic wedding, bring out the candles and festoon lights at your reception alongside an acoustic duo. I could go on, but the point is that you will start setting the tone for your day from the moment your send out your wedding invites - plan accordingly! Surprise your partner with their favourite car as your transport for the afternoon - and bring an esky of drinks and snacks to top it off! 4. The details DO matter. It's about little things adding up to become the big things, and there are a lot of points I could make here - but my main example is regarding florals. Use the real deal wherever you can, be it dried or fresh (at least for a bridal bouquet if nothing else) - you'll remember the scent and immediately have memories rush back whenever you're near a similar arrangement, you can dry or preserve your flowers and they are more aesthetically appealing and authentic in photos. Adorning your bouquet with a brooch or charm can also be a beautiful reminder of your most cherished loved ones and something to take with you wherever you go on your wedding day. 5. Incorporate (or break) the traditions. Don't be afraid to plan a wedding day that is uniquely you, some traditions can be kept and others are made to be broken. Maybe you're planning to wear your great grandmother's heirloom brooch, have your bridesmaids wear white or incorporate a 'first look' before the ceremony - do as YOU please! Getting married in a cave lit only by candles and then adventuring further through the caverns for wedding portraits, this day certainly ticked the 'out of the ordinary' box! I hope these tips planted some seeds for your own planning, send me a message if you'd like to talk about capturing your own unique wedding celebrations!

About lunch time Sunday I got a last minute message from Tegan asking if I was available that afternoon when her pregnancy photo session plans fell through, and luckily I could step in to help! You may recognise this gorgeous face from You Had Me At I Do- Ceremonies from the Heart with her partner Mick - and despite them not loving photos I think these sneak peeks prove otherwise! Enjoy. 😍

Jen & Colby booked some celebratory photos for their upcoming 10 year anniversary, coming all the way from Alpha to Rockhampton for their session! Luckily we got perfect weather conditions - despite a few (read: plague of) mozzies! - and the most beautiful golden sunset... scroll down to see how it all came together! Jen's hair & makeup was done by Metro Vision Hair & Beauty. 😍

Cue the smoke bombs and earthy tones at an under-renovation estate overlooking the ocean and hills of Yeppoon, then add in a beautiful couple due to meet their little boy any day now - what more could a photographer wish for?! I have always appreciated the trust Jess & Mark place in me with their photos, and this time they let me plan a shoot at Arches Estate. After some ominous weather in the morning we lucked out with the most beautiful sunset light for their maternity photos... scroll down to see how it all unfolded!

This sweet pair were the lucky winners of my Engagement Session Giveaway as part of the CQ Wedding Expo last year, and it's easy to see how excited they were about their photoshoot! Despite the mozzies and humidity, we set up a little macrame teepee and got the most gorgeous engagement photos for them to cherish! Makeup Artist: Molly Hanna • Makeup Artist. Ring Box: Amonie. Teepee Hire: Michelle's Macrame.

Last year Ange bought Lee a gift certificate for a session with me, and by the time we got around to their session they had just come back from a trip to Disneyland USA... where they got engaged! To celebrate we took a walk through the CBD alleyways for their photos, making the most of the urban textures and even including Ange's black VW Beetle 'Bonnie' for a few images. As the the first same sex couple I've had the opportunity to photograph, I'm super excited to share Ange and Lee's images - enjoy! #loveislove I've included a few words from from Ange below: 'We recently had our engagement shoot with Madelyn Holmes Photographics and were absolutely blown away! Being an LGBT couple we weren’t sure what to expect but Maddy made us feel at ease straight away and we knew we had nothing to worry about! She was super fun to work with, guided us when we didn’t know how to pose and was open to my many suggestions! Lol! She didn’t make us feel rushed and went over and above to make sure we were happy and got the right shot every time which we really appreciated! We 100% recommend you use Maddy - you won’t be disappointed! And we can’t wait for her to do our upcoming wedding.'

View my entire nature photography collection here. If you've gotten to know me either through my social pages or in person, you'll know I have a pretty keen sense of adventure and am always planning a trip somewhere new. Of course, this has meant accumulating quite a large portfolio of nature photography over the years. I figured they were worthy of display alongside my portrait work and I'd love to share their beauty with you! This means my carefully curated images can now be purchased as a variety of fine art prints and ready-to-hang wall art for your home. Aside from supporting a small business and local artist, getting professional prints means you'll have a piece of work to be treasure for years to come! I can sign all printed pieces on request and provide any additional information you may like regarding the story of the photograph such as the location it was captured. All products are supplied by a specialised laboratory and printed on professional photographic materials with an archival quality rating. Want to see more? Click here to visit my entire nature photography gallery - including including a selection of underwater images, floral macro photography and Australian/New Zealand landscapes - or please don't hesitate to contact me for more information about purchasing your own unique wall art piece.

It's the story we heard a dozen different versions of in 2020... Corina & Stephen should have been married in May but COVID lockdowns hit a few weeks out - then they postponed to next year, only to find out their venue was closing. So with a willing team of vendors they moved their plans from Rockhampton to Emerald and pulled off a beautifully sentimental celebration last weekend, perfectly timed for the lift on dancing restrictions too. It served as a great reminder that love conquers all, congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Murdoch! Venue: Emerald Botanical Gardens, Ag-Grow Emerald. Celebrant: Danielle Hempseed - Marriage Celebrant. Bride's Gown: Mason Bridal Boutique. Flowers, Hire Items: Stylish Events & Hire. Makeup Artist: Danielle Ford Makeup Artist. Hair Stylist: Genesis Hair. Videography: Short Flix Media.

Heron Island has held a special place in Erin & Nick's hearts for many years, and Nick even hoped to propose on the island until a cyclone changed his plans. Luckily for them, conditions were the complete opposite on Saturday and their wedding can only be described as the kind of day that every couple dreams about. Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Roberts, it was an honour to capture your marriage and have the opportunity to experience such a special part of the world! Venue: Heron Island. Celebrant: My Celebrant Jess. Bride's Gown: KAREN WILLIS HOLMES Flowers: Ginger Says. Groom's Attire: Mark Bunt Menswear. Makeup Artist: Ess-Jay Makeup & Beauty Studio. Hair Stylist: Simply Chic Hair Studio. Cake: Meg, Sister of the Bride.

My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are only a few short weeks from welcoming their first baby, so of course I wanted to take some photos for them as a keepsake of this special time in their lives. We headed out into the Byfield forestry and made the most of the warm summer weather with some photos in a secluded creek as well. Scroll on down to find out if they're having a boy or girl! Flower crown: Shannon Hawkes Artisan Florals. Dresses: Salty Crush, Coven & Co.

If you needed some family photography styling inspiration, look no further! In 2021 we'll be seeing lots more colour than has been on trend for the past few years - and I can't wait - but the Brown family has been making colour look amazing for the past 8 years. Yep, that's how many sessions we've done together now!

After chopping and changing plans for their day due to COVID, Dylan & Rachel were married in the company of their nearest and dearest on a private property outside Rockhampton last year - and what a breathtaking location to get hitched! It wasn't their original plan, but this spot overlooking the Fitzroy was too pretty to pass up for Mr. & Mrs. Barwick's celebrations. Venue: Private property. Celebrant: You Had Me At I Do - Ceremonies From The Heart. Bride's Gown: Gladstone Bridal Boutique. Flowers: Simplicity Market Fresh Flowers. Groom's Attire: Swarv Menswear. Makeup Artist: Molly Hanna • Makeup Artist. Hair Stylist: Studio Adelle. Cake: Short & Sweet. Favours: Tayla’s Sugar and Spice. Catering: Coast to Coast The Golden Roast - Rockhampton and Gladstone.