Calling all small business owners! When was the last time your website and social media pages got a revamp?! When I'm not shooting weddings and portraits, you bet I love helping fellow small businesses create bright, fresh visual content for their marketing. These images from a recent shoot with TMF Cake Designs are a great example of what can be achieved in an afternoon - and yes, the cakes taste as good as they look! Want to make your biz stand out from the crowd? Get in touch to find out how I can help, these sessions are limited and so book up quickly!

I can only imagine the emotional rollercoaster Nikki & Zak experienced through their wedding planning, with much of Zak's family stuck interstate and in New Zealand. With COVID restrictions changing again a few weeks out, they decided to have an intimate ceremony live streamed to their nearest and dearest, before entering their reception to a rose petal toss by their eager guests. Though not the day they originally envisioned, it was still breathtakingly beautiful - congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Nichols, it is so easy to see how much you adore one another (and your doggies too!). Vendors: The Church Events Venue, Married by Zac, Shannon Hawkes Artisan Florals, Babushka Ballerina, Anna Campbell, M.J. Bale, Chamay Brown Hair & Makeup, Anna Farquhar Music, Sprinkle Me, Stetson Australia.

In 2017 I had the honour of helping Aaron stage a last minute photoshoot cancellation so that he could step in and propose to Rachael... well now I get to introduce the same couple as Mr. & Mrs. McCosker! Thank you both for having me capture your special day - through the tears, giggles and heartfelt moments it's clear that you are perfect for eachother. Venue: Walkabout Creek Events. Bride's Gown: Mason Bridal Boutique. Groom's Attire: Stewarts Rockhampton. Florist: Kate Dawes Flower Design. Hair Stylist: Purely Curls. Makeup Artist: Ceris McQueen Makeup Artist. Videography: Unveil Films & Photography. Cake: Deliberately Delicious.

I suppose it's only fair when I learn all about you to capture your wedding, family or special occasion that you get the opportunity to know a little about me too! In high school I found a love for photography and the editing possibilities that technology has afforded us, spending much of my weekends tinkering with a work camera I 'borrowed' from Dad. Growing up on acreage I was lucky enough to have plenty of quintessential country backgrounds available as well as willing friends for subjects. Then as my interest peaked an art teacher told me photography wasn't a viable discipline in his class, but with the encouragement of other teachers and a local photography group I still persisted with photography as a hobby. In Grade 11/12 I even completed an external Diploma of Photography thanks to to my chemistry tutor. Lucky to have such a strong support network, I approached a local photographic retailer and printing laboratory for my first job, booked a paid family portrait sitting at 15 and then went on to photograph a full day wedding solo at the age of 16. It seems a little bizarre to look back on now, I couldn't even drive myself there! After school I completed a Bachelor of Digital Media with Distinction and branched out into graphic design, but ultimately decided to focus my energy on pursuing a career in wedding photography. Currently I've captured over 120 weddings for couples across Queensland and internationally - 15 year old me wouldn't have believed it! Now 10 years in, providing boutique portrait photography + graphic design services is a career path I'm so grateful to have gone down. Small business, especially working relentlessly as a one woman show, is exhausting at the best of times but equally rewarding and something I am immensely passionate about. Everyone deserves to have their memories preserved - photographs are the only way to capture our most precious moments and one of few things that become more valuable to us with time. It means the world to be able to offer such a sentimental service for my clients - every booking and recommendation of Madelyn Holmes Photographics means more than you know.

With some special family members watching over them, the Coppos managed to avoid all the thunderstorms on Friday afternoon and celebrate their marriage at Note Park Grazing Co. under a truly spectacular sunset. Congratulations Megan & Robert, thanks for having me along to capture your day and returning the cheeky banter threefold - I had a blast with you all! Vendors: Starcut Flowers, Gladstone Bridal Boutique, Amy T Beauty, Monica Galea- Marriage Celebrant, Exclusive Cakes 4 All - Mackay and Whitsunday cakes, DJ Lambstar.

I have been eagerly waiting to share these and now I finally can! A beautiful 50th wedding anniversary session for Jenny & Michael, such a wonderful way to celebrate this momentous occasion - and I had so much capturing it for them. I can only hope to be as stylish, adventurous, sophisticated and in love as these two one day - who's with me?!

It's been a while since I've shared photos of the face behind the camera, so here I am with some fast facts! Portrait photographer since 2010. Freelance graphic designer with a focus on print design. Captured over 120 weddings! Avid outdoors enthusiast. Land Rover/4WDing fanatic. Coffee-lover (just give me a white chocolate mocha to make my day). Nature appreciator. Permanent night owl. Animal lover. Indoor plant collector - I'm too scared to count them now. Partner to a Thor-lookalike named Josh. SCUBA diver (and daughter of two ex-commercial divers). Blanket hog - I had no idea, but Josh insists I am.

Boudoir babe Shan was apprehensive about her shoot in the lead up, but these photos are proof that she needn't have been - and the same applies to YOU reading this! Her husband-to-be was ecstatic with his wedding gift and she got a great confidence boost from pampering herself to the experience as well. All my boudoir clients receive an exclusive guide which explains the process, includes personalised styling advice and provides you with tips to prepare for a fun, empowering photoshoot. Become a boudoir babe and contact me to book your shoot today!

There is a certain age group where it seems that the engagements and marriages roll in one after the other, and I'm seeing lots of people in my friend group experience that right now! With this in mind, I've had a lot of conversations about the overwhelming feeling that can come with planning a wedding. Below are my top points to get you started in organising a wedding you'll be excited to see unfold. 1. ALLOCATE A BUDGET BASED ON YOUR PRIORITIES I'm starting bold with the money talk - it's easy to say how much you'd like to spend on a wedding, but putting you and your partner's thoughts formally on paper may change perspectives. I highly recommend making a 'must haves' and a 'don't care' list to start off your realistic budget... but expect it to change slightly. If family or friends are contributing to your special day, keep in mind the value of their contribution (and where they would like it to be spent) so you can allocate appropriately as well. Lastly, always leave an emergency fund for hidden extras that could pop up just before or after the wedding - it could be anything from last minute umbrellas to a top up on your bar tab. 2. CHOOSE A DATE AND/OR KEY VENDORS This step will likely be the biggest hurdle to kick start your planning process, especially if you want to get married within a year as many vendors book 12-18 months out - and well, you can't organise much without a date! Start by securing a venue, photographer and celebrant at the same time to ensure mutual availability. Of course, you may have preference of season/date/day to get married so picking something that suits your needs while coordinating with your key vendors is a critical step. Peak dates in CQ run from April to October and are especially desirable with recent COVID postponements, so consider a weekday wedding if time is of the essence. 3. RESEARCH THE FINER DETAILS Once you’ve chosen a date and locked in your key suppliers, get started on the details! Don't be afraid to shop around online and look for inspiration at expos (where there will often be specials and giveaways on offer to couples) to find the best possible options within your budget. Choose pieces and vendors that suit your priorities and taste perfectly first, then move down to the smaller details where you'd be willing to compromise if necessary. A wedding planner is worth their weight in gold if the nitty gritty aspects of wedding planning are leaving you feeling overwhelmed. 4. CHOOSE YOUR DIY BATTLES WISELY Keep in mind that DIY does not always mean cheap! You may find that it ends up costing more money, time and frustration than a professional wedding vendor who works in their area of expertise daily. When you consider these additions ask yourself 'Do I have the time and resources to do this?', 'Can this be set up in advance or does it need to be done on the day?', 'Is the end product going to look how I desire?' and 'Will it actually save me money?'. A wedding planning friend of mine once said 'You can't polish a turd!' and this is so true of finding a great base for your styling so that little needs to be done to make it into your dream. 5. MAKE A CELEBRATION THAT'S UNIQUELY YOURS Don't lose sight of the fact that a wedding is ultimately to celebrate you and your partner, so make it a day that represents the two of you (and not a complete recreation of your Pinterest board). Focus on the things that matter most to you both and feel free to break tradition if it feels right, there are no real 'rules' when it comes to weddings in this day and age. Your relationship, your personalities and the reflection of your unique styles are what will make your wedding day stand apart from every other! Happy planning. xx

It is so important to capture our milestones in life and preserve the memories in pictures - knowing that these moments will only become more valuable. With Coronavirus travel restrictions as turbulent as ever, it has served as an important reminder to cherish the time we are able to spend with loved ones. A few years ago I had the pleasure of designing wedding invitations for Laura & Rodney's wedding, and was delighted when she reached out to me again this year to book some extended family photos for her Mum's birthday. These are always a cherished gift idea, to not only bring families together to celebrate but get beautiful photos in the process too! Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like to organise your own extended family photos, these sessions are limited and so book up quickly! Venue: The Orchard Yeppoon.

...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!