MEDIA
RELEASE – LEIDEN STUDIOS
Winning an international photography award came as both
a shock and a thrill for Townsville business Leiden Studios – along with industry
confirmation that their small but thriving photography business is destined for
greater things.
Leiden Studios, founded seven years ago by the dynamic husband-and-wife
team of Mal and Kellie Gillham, was awarded first place in the prestigious
Photography Excellence Awards 2012 in the category of “Wedding – New Talent’’.
The Photography Excellence Awards, awarded
by The Edge Photo Imaging through major sponsor Seldex, attracts entries from
professional photographers across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region,
recognising excellence across a range of photographic styles including wedding,
portraiture and landscape.
Mal and Kellie submitted an entry to the awards for the
first time late last year with a portfolio of four photographs, with their
wedding entry taking out the popular “Wedding – New Talent’’ category.
The news would come as no surprise to hundreds of
appreciative Townsville couples in recent years, who have booked the Gillhams
for their weddings based on the couple’s signature striking art-based stylised
images.
Mal is the team’s specialist wedding photographer, with
Kellie focussing her talents on incredible and intimate portraits of families
and babies, with the Annandale business also highly recognised for its sports
photography and commercial work.
The couple – who based their business name Leiden after
their sons Liam, 10, and Hayden, 14 – have become increasingly busy over recent
years, but have only just started entering competitions, with this latest win
following a hugely successful 2012, during which they also took out four bronze
medals in the International Loupe Awards, a silver medal in the national Canon
Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPAs), and two silver medals in
the Canon Queensland APPAs.
Mal, who started his professional career as a medical
scientist and photographer with QML in Brisbane, said he had always had a
passion for photography, while wife Kellie, who has a medical administration
background, developed her interest more recently, with the couple deciding make
a huge jump and follow their dream by leaving their regular jobs and starting
their own business – and what a wise decision that has turned out to be.
Mal said their latest award was a welcome recognition of
their talent by their industry peers, and hoped it would lead to a further
expansion of their talents in the Townsville region.
“This award came as a total shock to both of us, but
also a huge thrill, because it gives justification to all our hard work, and
shows us we’re on the right path,’’ Mal said.
“Our style of photography is art-based – we focus very
strongly on excellent photo and lighting techniques, with professionally
finished images.
“Our brides and grooms, as well as our mums, dads and
babies, all know they will receive a totally professional product at the end,
showing them at their absolute best – we produce art-based albums, not just
give them unfinished photos on a disc.
“We recognise that a couple’s wedding day is the most
special day of their lives, and that portraits of a beloved baby or family are about
capturing a cherished moment in time, and we give our utmost to capture those
moments in the most beautiful way that will give our clients lasting and treasured
memories.’’
Leiden Studios will be present at several upcoming
Townsville wedding expos including the Mercure Inn on the 3rd February and The
Venue on 24th February
