Best New Talent - Weddings 2012

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 24^th February

For more information, contact Leiden Studios on enquiries@leidenstudios.com.au

Summer Weddings

Have you noticed how hot it gets in summer in Townsville? So can you imagine how hot it is for couples who elect to get married during our summer months. It produces a range of different problems that southern states would not seem possible. Having said that I met a photographer at the "Hair of the Dog", the annual conference of the Queensland branch of the AIPP. He had flown up from Melbourne where the day before he shot a wedding in 46C heat. Now that is hot.



Kell & Dom at Pallerenda
 

In Townsville, we have to beat the heat in creative ways as photographers. Later weddings, so after 4.00pm, going to an air condition building for photos after the wedding and then venturing out to the Strand or Pallerenda for sunset photos. The Brewery or Cactus Saloon or the Holiday Inn provide lots of great locations for photos while waiting for the cooler and better lighting conditions to arrive outside.

At any wedding in Townsville regardless of the time of year, we always recommend that the bridal party has an eskie, yes have a few bears and wine, it is a celebration after all. However it must have water as well and all need to remember to drink a little through the day. A few nibbles as well are useful as many find it hard to eat before the wedding. Both sides of the bridal party need to be aware of heat stress, not a great way to finish your day if you get a case of heat stress through not drinking enough water.





Luke & Jesse at the Tea Rooms Harvey's Range
 

The big problem is for the boys, especially in their three piece suits and sweating. While Photoshop can remove a lot of the sweat marks from faces and cloths, it is very time consuming to do a lot of images. How you get around this I'm not sure. I would say if you are going to get married in summer then dress in accordance with the weather. Three piece suits are probably not a great idea, open collared shirt a little more sensible. We have photographed everything from shorts and shirt to full military uniforms. While I remember the uniform was worn with great dignity and he looked fantastic, the post production was a lot more difficult. Of course the same goes for the bride, go for simple, single layered dresses, not multi layered glamour gowns. They might look fantastic, but are easy to over heat in and then your day is memorable for all the wrong reasons.

 



Chris & Lisa at Jupiters

The other aspect of summer weddings is rain. Not much you can do about it if it does rain, but you need a plan B in place if you are having an outdoor ceremony. Most reception venues will allow you to use their facilities if the rain comes down, so talk to them when you are booking your reception. It has only happened to us once, a wedding was moved from Queens Gardens to The Pier Restaurant. Still a great location and at least they had it as a alternative.


The most important aspect of a wedding is that it is memorable an enjoyable. Weddings in a Townsville summer are definitely a challenge, but with a bit of thought a great time can still be had by all.