Exciting New Adventure!
February 15, 2010 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
Exciting News!
Shadowplay is now called Matt and Katie | Photographers!
Come on over to our new blog to check out our new style!
See you there!
~Matt and Katie.
Jasmine Star Workshop – Evan and Lacey!
January 14, 2010 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
If I am to be honest, before the workshop I didn’t really know too much about Jasmine Star.
At the time, I knew that she was a ‘rockstar’ photographer from America, had a cute dog named Polo … and that’s about it. So when Matt surprised me by booking me into the workshop I wasn’t nearly as excited as my friend Lacey.
Lacey LOVES Jasmine Star, you could even say that she is a blog stalker :) So when Cathy Crawley put out a model call for the workshop I suggested to Lacey that she put her name forward. A few days later I got a phone call from Lacey who was over the moon!
Jasmine and Cathy had picked Lacey, and her husband Evan, to be one of the ‘real couples’ for the workshop!
It was so much fun having Evan and Lacey join us in Sydney on Monday and they did such a great job being models! Having been in front of my camera a total of 2 times (once for their engagement shoot, and again for their wedding) I think Evan did particularly well :) It takes a special guy to agree to fly his wife down to Sydney and be subjected to being the ’subject’ for 20+ photographers.
Lacey is such a sweetie and I’m so lucky to be able to call her one of my best friends. She is one of those people who is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside! The week I went to hospital, Lacey cooked me dinner and brought over sliced mango … yes, all cut up into little pieces ready for me to eat.
When one of the other photographers attending the workshop asked me if I ‘felt weird’ about one of my brides being picked to be photographed by the one-and-only Jasmine Star, I was a bit taken back. It hadn’t even crossed my mind that it would be at all weird.
I honestly was (and still am) 100% totally stoked for Lacey! Gosh! Who wouldn’t want to see one of their favourite people all dressed up getting photographed by one of the best photographers in the world! If anything, I’d say that I’m a little worried that she won’t want to hang around me any more … you know, now that she is a famous model and all!
Here are some of my photos of the wonderful (and now famous) Evan and Lacey from the workshop! Plus, there’s a sneak peek of their actual wedding photos at the end.
Katie.
P.S. Lacey – I think you are covered for good photos of yourself for a while…. :)
Evan and Lacey working it for the cameras -
Now, that’s not daunting is it?
Evan working it for Jasmine -
Jasmine showing Lacey how it’s done -
How stunning is Lacey?!
Details -
They are such a gorgeous couple aren’t they?
This is my favourite photo from the workshop -
Here are a few photos from Evan and Lacey’s real wedding!
Yes – it has been about 6 months, but we have been holding off on posting them until our new branding is sorted. Unfortunately that’s taking a little longer than planned… so here’s a sneak peek for you!
Random fact – Evan and Lacey were married in the same church that Matt and I got married in… :)
I loved her flowers! -
One of my favourite photos that Matt took on the day (though there are so many good ones …
I also love this shot –
You’ll have to come back to see more once we’ve got our new branding finished… hopefully not long now! :)
Jasmine Star Workshop – Sydney Australia!
January 13, 2010 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
As Matt has mentioned in previous posts, the end of the last year wasn’t super great for me. A few days before Christmas I collapsed from exhaustion and ended up in hospital :(
I am currently still on forced sick leave for another two weeks but luckily I was still able to attend the Jasmine Star Workshop in Sydney on Monday and Tuesday this week!
This was the first workshop I’ve ever attended – so I really didn’t know what to expect… but I sure wasn’t disappointed! Photographer friend, Cathy Crawley, did an amazing job organising the whole workshop and making sure every detail was just perfect.
The workshop was held at the beautiful Cruise Bar Sydney. What an amazing location! It had amazing views over Sydney Harbour and of the Sydney Opera House. I highly doubt there could have been a better location to hold the workshop in the whole of Australia!
Matt and I were lucky enough to attend both days of the workshop. The first day I attended the workshop as an attendee. I sat in the back row (with the naughty kids) taking lots of notes. On the second day I helped out more behind the scenes by dressing models, doing hair, fixing flower arrangements and making sure the beautiful couture gowns by Catherine Colubriale didn’t get dirty.
All the models including Lacey & Evan, Kristie, Allana & Karim, and Kara were extremely gorgeous and they did so well handling the pressure of having 30 cameras pointed in their face.
I know that each and every person that attended the workshop would have taken away something different. For me the workshop couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in my life. Listening to Jasmine speak I came to realise that I have been working SOOOO SO HARD but putting all my effort and emphasis into the WRONG areas of our business. Attending the workshop has refreshed me, inspired me and I have come away from the workshop with a clearer goal and idea of which direction we should head with our business. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to 2010!
Meeting other photographers at the workshop was a real plus, and I know I’ve come away with some new friends.
As for Jasmine and JD … They are the sweetest, most down to earth people you could ever meet. Over the two days Matt and I came to appreciate them for who they are as people, not because of what they do. I really feel blessed to have met them both.
Here are some photos from the workshop. I will be posting some more later!
Katie [shadowplay]
Jasmine showing us all how it is done -
Matt being an annoying video guy! -
Beautiful Kristie -
“Real Couple” Allana & Karim -
… More photos coming soon …
Models: Lacy + Evan Shelton | Kristie Jane
Hair and Makeup: Elle Vierboom
Flowers: Daisy Chain Florist
Dresses: Catherine Colubriale
Music+Technology+Exercise
January 7, 2010 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
Today I embarked on what I hope is a long and fruitful journey. A journey that combines two of my great loves, Music and Technology, with something I tend to avoid at all costs, Exercise.
It’s an idea I’ve been toying with for about a month or so and today I finally pulled the pin and purchased an iPod Nano along with a Nike+ kit.
For the uninitiated, an iPod is a little device the size of a deck of cards and you can fit your entire CD collection inside it. How all those CDs fit into there is beyond me, let’s just call it magic.
Oh … you’re familiar with the iPod. Oops, silly me.
The Nike+ kit consists of a receiver which connects to your iPod Nano, and a sensor which goes in your shoe. Or if you’re like me and don’t have Nike+ running shoes, the sensor goes inside a little pouch that attaches to your shoelaces. The sensor tracks your run, then sends the data to your iPod Nano (or iPod Touch or iPhone 3GS).
Once your run is finished you just connect your iPod to your computer and the data is uploaded to nikeplus.com – pretty cool! This way you can record the data for every run and track your progress over time.
Music+Technology+Exercise – here we go!
So, with the iPod loaded with fresh motivational Green Day tunes I set off to run a circuit in our neighbourhood that I would have sworn was only 500m but in the end turned out to be 50km! Or that’s what it felt like. According to the readout on the iPod display it was closer to 2km but we all know how buggy this new technology can be.
Now, before the congratulatory backslapping begins and you ask me to tackle the running leg of the triathlon you’re doing next weekend, I have a confession to make. I may or may not have only run 30%-ish of the way. And I may or may not have been able feel my limbs by the end. And my vision was blurry. Fortunately there was a St Bernard at the halfway point.
Anyway, I’d be lying to myself and to you if I even suggested that the walking to running ratio was any better than 3 to 1. But, it’s a start.
As I sprinted the final 100 metres (ok, 50 metres) to my doorstep with the breakdown of Green Day’s “Homecoming” pounding in my ears, visions of Rocky reaching the top step of the Philadelphia Museum of Art admittedly filled my head. And yes, before you ask, I did raise my arms above my head in a victory celebration. And yes, I did spin spin around in a circle, but only once. Ok, maybe twice, but then I felt dizzy and had to stop.
I’m not sure whether the feeling of euphoria I’m experiencing is the heady mix of solitude, music and technology, or of it is the lack of blood reaching my brain as my heart seeks to fuel long under-utilised limbs. Either way, I think I’m hooked.
That is, if I can still walk tomorrow.
~Matt.
Stats from my first ‘run’
This will fill up over time …
… and so will this.
Some iPhone photos of the gear
2009 | Change
December 30, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
2009 has been a year of change.
Katie and I started 2009 as PC’s and ended it as Macs.
I started 2009 as a videographer and ended it as a photographer.
It is this change that sets our path as we move into 2010. Shadowplay as we know it will most likely undergo more than just a facelift in the new year. And despite our lack of blogging, there’s been plenty of activity going on. There’s so much that we can’t wait to share and unveil in 2010, but only once everything is perfect.
Don’t freak out too much (especially our brides) … we’ll still be taking photographs in 2010 :)
Anyway, as I did last year, I’d like to list of a few of our highlights plus some favourite blogs and other things from 2009.
Highlights of 2009
January – driving to Newcastle to visit Kelly Munce and Renee Bell – and James Day on the way home
February – Flying to New Zealand to film a music video for Lydia Cole, visiting Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios and skydiving and bungy jumping at Lake Taupo.
March – Matt is voted into the EventDV ‘Top 25 Hottest and Most Influential Videographers in the World’
April – Matt spends a month in America (not so much of a highlight for Katie)
May – Matt comes home from America, much to Katie’s rejoicing
June/July – lots of work including awesome weddings with awesome couples
August – Matt’s parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary
September – We moved house!
October – lots of work
November – Flew to Sydney for a wonderful engagement shoot – and an early celebration for our 4th wedding anniversary
December – Married for 4 years! And a lovely Christmas with family.
Katie’s Favourite Photographer of 2009
Jose Villa – www.josevillablog.com
Matt’s Favourite Photographer of 2009
Jonas Peterson – www.jonaspeterson.com
Our Other Favourite Photographers
Sarah Rhoads
The Image is Found
Amelia Lyon
James Day
Samm Blake
Jasmine Star
Simply Bloom
Jackie Chan
Rob and Lauren
Katie’s Favourite Music of 2009
Glee Soundtrack – Volume One
Glee Soundtrack – Volume Two
Matt’s Favourite Music of 2009
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
John Mayer – Battle Studies
Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown
Holly Williams – Here With Me
Lydia Cole – Love Will Find a Way
Defining Song of 2009 for both Matt and Katie
Glee – Don’t Stop Believing
Photographers Who Have Helped Us Greatly in 2009
Kelly Munce
Todd Hunter McGaw – and Alyda
James Day
Adam and Fiona from Deep Grey Photography
Alex and Alicia from Savvy Studios
Jackie Chan
Katie and I hope you all had an amazing 2009 and that your 2010 will be even better! Catch you next year! :)
~ Matt and Katie.
Don’t Stop Believing! Inspiration from Matt and Katie :)
November 30, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | 1 Comment
We’ve just returned from our trip to Sydney where we photographed Courtney and Jason for their engagement shoot. Can’t wait to share the photos!
Our 4th wedding anniversary is in a couple of days (December 3) so while in Sydney we lived it up at the Sebel Pier One, and Katie was wined and dined at Wildfires. We also spent a day and half at Courtney’s parent’s horse farm a little south of Sydney and had such a wonderful time with all the family.
Last night we were suffering a bit of excitement deprivation so we spontaneously recorded this video. I mean, what else is there to do on a boring Monday night in Toowoomba? ;)
A bit of background … Katie absolutely loves Glee but Matt, not so much. However, there is one song he just can’t get enough of :)
Happy 1st of December everyone! Remember, don’t stop believing!
And … as we’ve found after 4 years of marriage, life is better when you don’t take yourselves too seriously :)
Matt and Katie [shadowplay]
Protected: Kim and Nathan – Engagement Photos
November 29, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
Scott and Brandie – Sneak Peek
November 20, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
Ok, I will let you in on a little secret….
The reason we haven’t been blogging much lately is because we are working on new branding for Shadowplay! (Exciting I know!). We’ve found that our style has evolved over the last year and with Matt doing more photography we’re super excited about the new direction and style we’ve found by shooting together.
We are holding back BIG-time on posting too much so you can be shocked and amazed when it all goes live!
Unfortunately it’s going to be weeks (or even months) until we are ready to launch our new branding and blog – so for now you are going to have to do with a sneak peek here and there :)
Here is a sneak peek from Scott and Brandie’s wedding. It was at beautiful Maleny – and it was an amazing day! …We are SERIOUSLY EXCITED about showing you more from this wedding + all our latest work … but you are just going to have to be patient for now ;)
Scott and Brandie – thanks for choosing us to capture your day! You guys rock and we are so looking forward to that Thai dinner with you! You are going to LOVE the photos!
Katie [shadowplay]
Josh and Amy – Wedding Invitation Video
November 10, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
A few weeks ago, a very good friend of mine, Glen Wilson, was tasked with creating a wedding invitation video for Josh and Amy.
I helped Glen brainstorm the concept and plan out some of the shots plus I did the editing on this clip. Glen did all the filming and running around with Josh and Amy.
Glen does have a background in video and photography but it was actually his first time using the Canon 5D Mark II. I spent a bit of time with him demonstrating how the 5DII works but most of our time was spent pre-planning the shots. To enhance the production value of the clip I also gave Glen some lessons on using the the Cinevate DSLR Rig and the Cinevate Pegasus Heavy Lifter, both of which he hadn’t used before either.
There’s so much buzz in the photo and video industries about cameras like the Canon 5D Mark II and the Canon 7D. But, I feel that this clip would have been just as effective regardless of the type of camera it was shot with. The gorgeous footage from the 5DII only enhances the production value, it doesn’t create that value from nothing.
It’s a good reminder that the gear we use is nothing more than a tool, like a hammer or a screwdriver. The best camera in the world can’t replace a creative eye and some good, solid planning.
Awesome work Glen, can’t wait to photograph Josh and Amy’s wedding with you next month.
Matt [Shadowplay]
Sarah and Andrew – eShoot Sneak Peek
October 26, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
I thought I’d quickly post a photo from Sarah and Andrew’s eShoot.
We had fun photographing Sarah and Andrew. They are very cool, easy going couple. Their wedding is coming up in a few weeks time – and we can’t wait to shoot it!
Katie [shadowplay]
Josh and Amy – Save the Date – Paint!
October 21, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | 1 Comment
A very good friend of ours, Glen Wilson, put together this cute ‘Save the Date’ video for Josh and Amy. My involvement was fairly minor. I had the job of standing behind the camera to make sure it was in focus and recording. Well … maybe not so minor considering the amount of trouble I’d be in if I forgot to hit record.
You’ll see what I mean …
Glen, Emmalee and Katie had very important jobs to do as well, as you’ll see in the video.
In December, Glen and I will be photographing Josh and Amy’s wedding. Stay tuned for their totally awesome wedding invitation video which I’ll post soon.
Matt [shadowplay]
Canon 7D + Katie = Test Footage
October 15, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | 1 Comment
After excitedly opening the box, then shooting some stills with the Canon 7D, I dragged my gorgeous wife across to the little park near our house to shoot some quick test footage. I can safely say that Katie isn’t always as excited as me when I get a new camera.
This is mostly because Katie knows she will be roped into being in front of the camera rather than safely behind it, which is where she prefers to be.
This is just a short piece edited from the footage I took that afternoon. Technical info: shot in 25p on the 7D and edited in Final Cut Pro with some basic colour correction using the built-in 3-way colour corrector.
For me, making these short videos is not just about testing new gear. It’s also an opportunity to, in a simple little way, show the world that I love my Katie. Consider it a modern day love-letter.
Click here to watch the clip in HD.
Matt [Shadowplay]
Canon 7D Test from Matt E on Vimeo.
New Camera + Katie – Canon 7D Test Shots
October 13, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
I’ve been shooting with the Canon 5D Mark II for about 8 months or so. It’s slightly ironic that I bought the 5D Mark II for its video functionality but over time I’ve found myself doing more photography than video.
The 5D Mark II is an awesome camera but it only shoots video in 30p and living in PAL land that means some quite time consuming workarounds in my video workflow. Also, when shooting stills with the 5D Mark II I’ve always battled with the focusing. Yes, it’s a full-frame 20+ megapixel monster but I’d happily trade all that for consistent focusing and a simpler video workflow. Enter the 7D.
Not only does the 7D shoot gorgeous video in PAL friendly frame rates (25p and 50p) but it also has a revamped auto focus system with 19 focus points.
Today I picked up my new Canon 7D from Harvey Norman Toowoomba (thanks Tim!). Katie was kind enough to let me take some test shots of her to try it out.
I’m not a very technical person so I’m afraid this isn’t much of a technical ‘review’ – more of a first impression. So far, I’m super impressed with the 7D. The new focus system is awesome and I’m not missing the full-frame at all. In fact, I’m finding the cropped sensor of the 7D better works better with my natural framing instinct. Coming from a video background I’m used to not being able to crop and the layout of the focus points on the 5D Mark II seemed to work against me. I may miss the full-frame when shooting wide shots but hey, I’ve got the 5D Mark II for that.
These shots were taken with the 7D and a 50mm 1.4 at our house using natural light. I shot a little bit of video today as well and will share it soon.
Matt [Shadowplay]
Josh+Amy | Engaged
October 1, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
A sneak peak from today’s engagement shoot. Katie stays home. Matt rocks it.
More to come.
Joy and Mark – Wedding Sneak Peek
September 30, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
We had the pleasure of photographing Joy and Mark’s wedding on the ‘carnival of flowers’ weekend. It was a wonderful wedding – very emotional and lots of fun too. Tyson (their furry baby) NEARLY stole the show – he was super cute.
Here is a sneak peek!
Katie [shadowplay]
Tyson in his tux :)
Joy and Mark the happy couple!
Madeleine Maternity
September 24, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
I just posted this on our kids blog as well… :)
Madeleine is one of my best friends. I love Mad – she’s so good to me. She’s one of those friends that if you don’t see for a while it doesn’t matter, you just continue your conversation and it feels like time hasn’t even passed. She’s forever dragging me away from my computer and she is always encouraging.
About 9 months ago, Lacey (another one of my good friends), let it slip that Madeleine and her husband Steve were pregnant. Poor Lacey – she thought I knew! I knew this was going to happen eventually but I was so upset about the news… so upset that I cried. It wasn’t a happy cry either! It was a ‘another-one-of-my-married-friends-is-having-a-baby-and-now-everything-is-going-to-be-weird-and-different‘ cry.
It is hard being a young married person who doesn’t have kids. You are forever getting asked “when will you be starting a family?” or on a bad day “when you are due?” (Oh yes! I’ve been asked before).
It was this time last week (Thursday at 4pm) that Matt and I started our maternity shoot with Madeleine and Steve. I said to Mad, ‘This time next week you’ll be holding your little bub’.
I was right.
Today I got to meet little Evangeline Joy – and guess what?! I cried! (This time it was a happy cry though). :)
Evy is just so beautiful and perfect! She has thick black hair and beautiful tanned skin – she looks just like her Daddy.
I can now safely report that not much has changed with Madeleine – she’s still the same. Out and about with her brand new baby girl the day after she gets out of hospital. Still bright, bubbly and blunt :) Ah, I love my Mad – and I’ve already fallen in love with Evy.
So, here is a photo from our maternity shoot last week. It’s actually one of Matt’s shots…. I just love it!
Katie.
Chris & Elaine – Engagement Shoot
September 15, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
Yes, the blog has been quiet for a while… one reason for this is because I’ve been sick in bed for the last two weeks with pneumonia :(
I’m still not 100% – but I’m back at work this week. When you work for yourself you don’t have time to be sick :P
We have heaps happening at the moment which is very exciting. Lots of engagement shoots, weddings coming up and on top of it all – we are moving house this weekend! So we are busy working through the day and packing during the nights.
One of our weddings coming up is Chris and Elaine’s! It’s going to be a great day.
Here are a few shots from their recent engagement shoot – hope you like them :)
Katie
[shadowplay]
Shade and Shannon – Stradbroke Island Wedding!
September 5, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
We love meeting and becoming friends with other photographers. So, when Matt found out that Alex and Alicia needed some second shooters to help cover two weddings on August 29th he offered to help them out.
Alex and Matt covered Kristy and Luke’s wedding at Sirromet Winery and Alicia and I covered Shade and Shannon’s wedding at ‘An Island Hideaway’ on South Stradbroke Island.
There was a little bit of competitive BOYS vs GIRLS banter over the weekend – but we all know that girls rule – so we don’t even need to say who won ;)
I was dropped off an hour and a half early to the spot where I was to meet the boys. When Shade turned up with his groomsmen Logan – they looked sharp. The boys were great models, working it like pros in front of the camera… I still owe Shade a cheese platter and a glass of room temperature water :P
All the guests made their way over to the Island in a water Taxi. It was small, casual and intimate wedding – it was very lovely.
Alicia and I got some great photos on the beach with the bridal party — finishing with a stunning sunset. It was a gorgeous day.
Thank you to Shade and Shannon, Logan and Michelle. You guys were heaps of fun to photograph! And thank you to Alex and Alicia – we really enjoyed shooting with you guys :)
Here are some of my favourite photos from the day.
Katie.
P.S. We will be posting some photos from Luke and Kristy’s wedding soon!
Click HERE to see more on the Savvy Studios website.
Katie | Beautiful
August 24, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
A photo of Katie I took today.
June and Jason – eShoot
August 18, 2009 | Filed Under Shadowplay Photography & Video | Leave a Comment
I first met June and Jason when they were (well, June was) 8 months pregnant. They came to me to do some maternity shots for them.
A few weeks later June and Jason were back with baby Lachlan – who was the tiniest little fella I had ever seen! (Check out some photos of him HERE).
As you can imagine – I was super excited when they contacted us about wedding photography!
Here are some photos from their engagement shoot! Only a few more weeks until their wedding! It will be here before we know it :)
Katie [shadowplay]
June has the most incredibly beautiful eyes!
We also got some shots with little Lachlan – who is a big boy now!
We can’t wait for their wedding – it’s going to be heaps of fun to shoot!
