1. Exist in photos To have beautiful photos, you first need to take the hardest step and be in the photos! Anything after that is a bonus. 2. Make it ‘you’ If your dogs are your babies, bring them along. If you go fishing in your spare time, go to the coast. If you’re from the bush, pick a country location. 3. Style it up Pick outfits that are subtly matched, make your feel great and still reflect your usual style. You want to put your best self on display while still feeling comfortable. 4. Match the look to the location Just as flowing dresses and linen shirts will look great on the beach, your warm jumpers are probably best suited to the Byfield forestry. 5. Add personal touches If you are dreaming of a picnic theme at the beach because that’s how your partner proposed, tell me! It’s special little touches like these that can make all the difference to your photos. 6. Get pampered If you aren’t confident doing it yourself, professional hair and makeup is a wonderful confidence boost and will ensure you look your best. 7. Time matters Late in the day is best for photos, even though it can be a challenging time with kids. I can help with plenty of tactics to keep them smiling so you can focus on genuine interactions. 8. Put the extras away! Phones, wallets, sunglasses, hats… they’re better off out of your photos (and anyone who’s been photographed by me will know this well). 9. Start with the end result in mind Knowing where you would like to display your photos later can help with choosing a colour palette, styling theme and overall look for your photos. 10. Trust your photographer!

Would you believe it's been 10 years since I started Madelyn Holmes Photographics this November?! Since 2010 I've captured over 100 weddings across Queensland and countless portrait sessions including couples, families, school graduations, boudoir shoots and more. My business birthday was the perfect excuse to get dolled up and stand in front of the camera for a change... though I think I spent more time wrangling all those balloons in the wind (haha!). Thank you to my partner Josh for helping take these photos and my sister-in-law Amy for her cake-making talents, enjoy!

Sam & Wade are due to be married in mid-2021, so in the meantime we made plans for an engagement session. As soon as Sam mentioned she was a succulent lover, I knew she would enjoy stopping for some photos at the cacti section of the Rockhampton Botanical Gardens. I was also awe of her beautiful flowing skirt, perfectly matched to Wade's shirt - so of course I had to grab out some colourful smoke bombs for a bit of extra wow factor too! If you are looking to get your own couple photos - whether it be a proposal, engagement, wedding or just for fun - get in touch!

After a few recent conversations, I think it's time I posted a reminder of why sourcing prints through your photographer is so important! Professional file management - If 'Why is my photo pixelated?' or 'Why is my head cropped off?' sounds like you... Warranty - we're perfectionists and know how our work should look. In fact, my canvases have a 75 year unconditional replacement guarantee (even covering accidental damage!). Archival paper/ink - it's a completely different paper stock and far superior printing method to any major retailer. Ready to display - by the time you've bought a print, found a frame, bent the photo trying to tape it into the frame and put the hanger on the back... you could've let me handle it all for you. Calibration - as great as Kmart is, printing and colour reproduction isn't their strong suit, and we all know my bright photos are my jam.

These two have known each other since primary school, although they never had romantic feelings for one another at the time. After they graduated high school, they reconnected over an ice cream date and have been together ever since! Paige & Ruan's elopement was a beautifully intimate gathering - they were married by Paige's grandfather, with the ceremony live-streamed to family members who sadly couldn't make it and they even got photos at Pebble Beach where Ruan proposed. Though it has been heartbreaking to see so many couples affected by the COVID restrictions currently in place across Australia, being able to capture smaller weddings has made me especially grateful for my work and cemented the importance of having images to treasure. Venue & Catering: Kanangra Heights. Bridal Gown: Gladstone Bridal Boutique. Bridal Shoes: Suna. Groom's Attire: yd. Flowers: Lilly & Lotus. Cake: Dean Street Bakery. Hair Stylist: Salon Tifanie. Makeup Artist: Amanda Edgar. Celebrant: Bernard Wells (Grandfather).

Boudoir sessions are a fabulous way to celebrate yourself and embrace the body you've been given. For many ladies, they are also an opportunity to create a unique gift for their partners on their wedding day, Valentine's Day or Christmas. A good photographer can help with ordering keepsake print boxes, creating wall art displays or designing fine art albums with your images - and, as seen below, the mini album is a popular option for my Boudoir Babes. This 'Little Black Book' of glamour photography is such an elegant, timeless way to display your favourite images - whether you're gifting or keeping it for yourself, an album is sure to be a hit. Customise your very own boudoir album with choices of cover colour, embossed text and of course the images within – all designed by me on your behalf and hand crafted at a premium Australian printery. If you're thinking of booking your own glamour session but feeling a little overwhelmed, every client receives my exclusive guide which explains the boudoir photography process, available products and gives you all the advice I've learned over the year to help prepare for a fun, empowering photoshoot. Contact me to talk about booking your own boudoir babe experience today!

Alec's Mum got in touch with me to organise a gift certificate for her son and daughter-in-law, who were not only expecting but also in the midst of planning a proposal (much to Elley's surprise!). As a country couple, we picked the perfect location and put together a plan for some announcement photos followed by Alec's cue to go down on one knee. Of course, when they arrived to their session in a charismatic vintage Toyota Land Cruiser I had to get some photos of them with the car as well! It all panned out beautifully, and I was honoured to be able to capture such an important moment in their lives. If you are looking to have your own special announcement captured - whether it be a proposal, engagement, pregnancy or gender reveal - get in touch!

Gabby recently reached out to me about booking a boudoir shoot to gift her husband-to-be on their wedding day - the perfect excuse to pamper yourself in the lead up to the big day and organise a present for the partner who has everything. We chose Caroline St for her session as the earthy, boho feel suited Gabby's personal style perfectly and offers endless photographic opportunities in a peaceful, private space. If you're thinking of booking your own glamour session but feeling a little overwhelmed, every client receives my exclusive guide which explains the boudoir photography process and gives you all the advice I've learned over the year to help prepare for a fun, empowering photoshoot. Contact me to talk about booking your own boudoir babe shoot today! Hair & Makeup: Metro Vision Hair & Beauty.

As technology develops, most of us have a camera at our fingertips but have seemingly forgotten just how special it is to hold a photograph in our hand. Getting photos together and documenting precious moments should be a joy, but so often it becomes too difficult and we resort to 'next time'. It's too hard to get Mum in a photo, it's too hard to get all the kids in one place and smiling, it's too hard to line up Dad's work schedule... sounds familiar, right? As someone who has documented countless joyful moments - the beginning of a marriage, after a new life has entered the world, of family milestones - it is important to remember these moments are the only thing you will have to look back on once that time is over. Your babies are only little for a short time, Grandparents sadly won't be here forever and nobody else will notice that you haven't lost that 5kgs that you're using as an excuse to not get in photos. One day in the future when your children are grown up, they will look back on your family photographs and cherish it more than any other images they have - memories are timeless and more valuable than anything you could buy. Your story is worth celebrating, you are worthy of existing in photos. “One day your children will look for photos of you, what will they find?” - Sue Bryce Photographer Now, don't forget that taking the photos is only step one of the process. Most clients can get around to uploading their favourites on Facebook and maybe changing their phone background, but then what? You let them sit neglected on your USB collecting virtual dust? Look at what happened to floppy disks and CDs - no doubt USBs will be outdated in a few years as well, but your prints will still be hanging on the wall. Ordering products is so easy to put off, yet so important to make time for and a good professional photographer will streamline the process for you! I can help with ordering heirloom quality prints, designing fine art albums or creating any kind of wall art display you can dream up - and have plenty of samples for those who'd rather see it in person first. Professionally printing your images turns them into a tangible keepsake that can be passed on for generations. I'm sure almost everyone has fond childhood memories looking through old family photo albums, so let's keep the tradition going and preserve those precious moments. Exist in photos.

This babe booked a boudoir shoot to gift her husband-to-be on their wedding day... the perfect present for a partner who has everything, and you get to treat yourself too! While I'd say Amy was a little nervous at first, she totally rocked her session and was kind enough to let me share a few photos below. We chose a boho/natural theme for her session and were lucky enough to use the recently renovated Queenslander 'Caroline St' for the location. The combination of lacy/soft lingerie with the earthy tones of the house made for some beautifully feminine images, which were then gifted to her hubby in a timber print box. Though the thought of glamour photography might be daunting, it is time to embrace the skin you're in and put some self-love into practise! I want you to believe you're beautiful as you are (today! Not when... [insert excuse here]). Every client receives my exclusive guide which explains the boudoir photography process, gives you all the styling tricks/advice I've learned over the years and helps you prepare for a fun, empowering photoshoot. Become a boudoir babe and contact me to talk about booking your shoot today! Hair: Elite Mobile Hair & Beauty.

Your ceremony is arguably the most important part of your wedding day and sets the tone for the rest of your marriage celebrations, so how can you make sure it’ll look as beautiful as you’ve been imagining? Whether your theme is rustic boho or beachy glam, these are my best tips to ensure your ceremony is a photographer’s dream! SCOUT IT OUT First things first, visit the venue and look at options for the location of your ceremony. It’s important to plan a layout that will accommodate all your guests comfortably and have space for your wedding party to stand beside you – no-one wants to feel cramped! Don’t forget you will need to leave room for a signing table nearby and have space for your photographer(s) and/or videographer(s) to move around. Other considerations might include whether it is easy access for your elderly guests or child-friendly for those with little ones attending. HAVE A RUN-THROUGH Now that you’ve picked a location, start creating a layout for your ceremony and enact how you will stand on the big day. Ideally you’ll want to do this in the same month and same time of day as your ceremony so the conditions are similar. Is the ceremony location in shade or sun at your chosen time? Keep in mind that dappled light can be unflattering in photos so it is best to choose full shade or full sun, and make sure you don’t position anyone to look directly at the sun. Lastly, check that the background is clear of distractions – including where the wedding party will enter from! Another helpful hint is to mark out exactly where you’re going to stand during the ceremony, there’s nothing more disappointing than realizing you stood off-centre from the wedding arbour you spent hours choosing and all your photos are unbalanced! PLAN FOR THE WORST An important question for every couple planning an outdoor wedding to ask – is there a backup plan for excessive heat or rain? We have fabulous weather most of the year in Central Queensland, but it always pays to be prepared! Check with your chosen venue about alternatives for the ceremony if conditions are unfavourable and ask your photographer for their thoughts as well. Any professional should have alternative options in mind and come prepared with umbrellas for you. THINK ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE While your ceremony may be the main event, don’t forget about some little details that can make a big difference. Get your guests on board with the ‘unplugged’ concept (this means to turn off cameras and mobile devices) so they can be truly present as you say ‘I do’ and allow your vendors to do their job uninterrupted. Confetti, bubbles or rose petals can also be a great way to start the party when you walk back up the aisle as newlyweds! You’ll likely have family portraits taken straight after this, so allocate a spot suitable for group photos and have people on hand to help out where they’re needed. Oh, and always consider ways to put your own twist on the traditional - doggy ring bearer, perhaps? I hope these tips were helpful to plan your ceremony!

Although I specialise in portrait photography, I am also a qualified graphic designer and love combining these two passions. It makes me the perfect person to put together save the dates, invitations, signage and any paper goods you may need for your wedding! Your wedding stationery is one of the most important details to organise – let's face it, your guests may not arrive without it. It also gives a first impression of your wedding by setting the tone on formality and theme. So, what do you need and when do you need it? Save the Dates should be sent 6–12 months before the wedding for your guests to make work and travel arrangements, which is especially important for destination weddings. These can be simpler than your full invitations and make a great opportunity to use your engagement photos. Your official invitations should be posted out 8–12 weeks before the day to provide all the information your guests need and to gather final attendance numbers. However, it is becoming more common to send invitations earlier than this - especially if you have skipped sending Save the Dates. Most couples elect to include matching RSVPs, additional information cards and printed envelopes. Wedding stationery doesn’t end with invites so don't forget about any paper goods you will need on the day such as seating plans, menus, place cards etc. Custom signage is also important to keeps guests informed – consider having an ‘Unplugged Ceremony’ sign, seating plan etc. made to match your invitations. Lastly, thank you cards should be sent approximately three months after the wedding to express your gratitude for each guest's attendance and well wishes. Most couples incorporate a few of their favourite wedding photos and match the design to their Save the Dates. The images above include my previous custom wedding stationery orders and I also have a variety of pre-made designs available in my Etsy store which can be customised to suit your wedding at no extra cost. If you would like a quote for your own invitations please send me a message!