The Top 13 Gemma Clarke Photography Highlights for 2013

I travel a lot – work and play. You see the most amazing places, taste incredible food and buy gorgeous Marimekko bags, but all this would be nothing without the people. I am a lover of people. I love meeting new people. I love learning and living the different lifestyles in other countries. I love learning about my clients’ relationships with each other and what makes them who they are. Please check out the different adventures I had through the Gemma Clarke Photography Highlights for 2013.

The following Gemma Clarke Photography highlights for 2013 focus on this love of people and the development of lifestyle portraiture and personal projects. Please note these are not in any particular order but number one might be a little hard to beat 😉

1. A Wedding in Lapland

2013 saw a lot of my dream goals achieved which included photographing a wedding in Finnish Lapland with an Ice Chapel, Reindeer and Fireworks.

You can see the full blog post for the Lapland Wedding here.

2. I won four Silver Awards from the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (NSW) including one with Distinction.

3.  Loving Lifestyle Portraiture

So what is Lifestyle Portraiture? My vision is for it to be images that represent who you and your family are (including pets!) as opposed to awkward poses in a studio environment. I want to provide images that offer the lovely smiles that have a real memory behind them. This could mean staying with your family for the day at home or at the park/beach/favourite place to go. It also is a great way to celebrate anniversaries whilst travelling – you don’t need ‘couple selfies’ throughout the whole trip – you want photos that represent the real fun you had.

4. An Elopement-Style Wedding in Europe

I love Finland but I also love Tallinn in Estonia which is just a 90 minute ferry ride – it is my favourite European city at the moment – I have visited three times! When Teele told me she was getting married around the time I was going to be in Europe I knew I had to be there (we met in Norway in 2011 and had met up since). I was lucky because the entire day was only to be the two of them and the photographer – me! Being there during the ceremony was very touching and there were many tears of joy. I loved it and would love to be a part of more intimate weddings like this!

 You can see more of Teele and Kristen’s Wedding in Tallinn here.

5.  A Backyard Wedding

I have always wanted to photograph a backyard wedding and WOW what a wedding it was! It looked like elaborate gardens rather than a Backyard. The groom’s parents have a beautiful home in Bowral and the relaxed atmosphere was perfect.

You can see more of Jorja and James’ Garden Wedding here.

6.  Funniest moment of 2013 goes to…Ashley…or is that John?

During the church ceremony, the minister asked for the couple to start saying their vows and to ‘repeat after me’. The minister started “I John” And then Ashley piped up “I John” – two seconds later the church erupted in laughter. She was certainly keen to marry her John!

You can see more of Ashley and John’s Wedding here.

7. Medieval Portraits in ancient ruins in Estonia

I am always focused on bringing out the true personalities of my clients but on this venture I wanted to challenge myself to try something different – to photograph actors role-playing their medieval characters. It was so much fun – we went to a Viking Village and also an old Monastery.

8. Introducing Miss Monroe – the most glamorous canine bridesmaid I have seen!

 You can see Kristyl and Ben’s Wedding with Miss Monroe here.

 9. The Northern Lights

I saw the amazing Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland about 50km north of the Arctic Circle. We climbed a very big mountain/hill to see them at their brightest and it was worth every puff of frozen breath. Although they said they were dull that evening it didn’t stop this little Aussie from being bowled over!

10. Receiving a handmade Award from one of my clients

This award beats any industry association or competition on earth – this is the most rewarding aspect of my job – having my clients so happy like this makes my head grow a little bigger 😉

11. Personal Photo Projects – Cafe helping the Community and an Icelandic Horse Farm

As I do more and more travelling I realise that it is the personalised experiences with the locals that really make my heart sing. Therefore I want to continue to work on personal photo projects to help local people in other countries grow their business to help their communities. The boys at Käpylän Kiska in suburban Helsinki have injected life into a little community with their small cafe. They provide art classes and participate in market days and make the food and drink affordable for everyone even if it means they live on baked beans themselves. “We have learned to live with less” is what they told me. I love this photo so much that I think it is my favourite for this year. Helsinki Tourism even shared this image on Facebook so it has seen a lot of social media activity. You can join their Facebook page here.

After failing to book an Icelandic horse ride because of changing circumstances with my friends in the local Joroinen area (Finland) I was offered the opportunity to stay with a family and be a part of their activities during the winter and summer. In exchange, I wanted to do something for them so I offered to take photos for Tuija as she was relaunching her business (Iceland Horse Farm) and wanting some fresh photos. I honestly don’t think she got the good end of the deal as I was taken on sleigh rides, to a sauna in the forest and some ice swimming, for a horse ride, boat ride and time at a summer cottage, cooking in the snowy forest and a visit to a musical museum. The generosity of people astounds me and I want to keep paying it forward as much as I can!

12. My Grandparents celebrate their 70th Wedding Anniversary!!!

Amazing role models who have always looked after and respected each other. Jean and Joe Davidson are who I want to be when I grow up! You can see the article written about them and the little video they did – they are so funny!!

13.  Every wedding, every portrait session is special to me.

Every experience is important in some way to each of my clients so I try to showcase that for them. Here are some beautiful, funny, hilarious, quirky and awesome people and events I have captured in 2013.

And some of the portraits that weren’t included in the Highlights section earlier.

Looking forward to more personal projects and lifestyle portraiture in Italy in June, a wedding in the Cook Islands and many gorgeous weddings in the country, on the coast and in the city.

Let’s Up, Up and Away to 2014!!!  Thank you for looking at the Gemma Clarke Photography highlights for 2013.