The Lad With The Camera
Well g’day. I’m Nathan. Your guy with a camera.
But that wasn’t always the case…
In fact, I started out right where you’ll be standing, as a professional actor.
Having been in front of the lens countless times, I know what it’s like to feel nervous, insecure and awkward. Will I freeze up? How do I relax? And what do I do with my freaking hands?!
On my first big film, I was so nervous I froze. I’d done all my preparation in the weeks before: learnt my lines, built my character’s back story, figured out his scene objective.
But I couldn't get out of my head.
Thankfully, the director noticed, and started joking around with me. Laughing and mucking around totally relaxed me. Then, right before go-time, he added “Breathe, kid. You’ve done the work. Trust it.” He was right.
When I shifted behind the camera, I realized the same applies to you. Except this time, you don’t need to create a backstory, or a relationship, or train at Juilliard for 3 years. You already have all the necessary ingredients for a truthful, authentic performance: your story.
From the first time you met, to the moment you stand before me, contains in it every hug, hand hold, fight, make-up, laugh and tear. It is richer than anything an actor could invent.
So, all you have to do on the day is laugh, be present with each other, breathe, feel your feet on the floor and look into your partner’s eyes. I’ll take care of the rest.
Every photographer looks at love through a certain lens,
And here's the one I peer through.
My Style
I lean heavily towards a documentary style of photography, documenting you, your friends and your day in the very organic, natural way that it exists. I take inspiration from the color palettes of classic film stocks and modern indie producers like A24, as well as from cinematographers such as Robert Elswit and Emmanuel Lubezki. I want your pictures to feel like screen grabs from your favourite indie romance, capturing all the little, beautiful, imperfect details that are unique to how the two of you show love to each other.
My Approach
Every part of my process is designed to get you present through what I like to call "guided-candid". Instead of stiff posing, I give fun, easy prompts that get you moving and into your bodies, whether that's a game of tag in the water along the beach or sitting at a picnic and reminiscing to each other your favourite date. When you have something to do, you spend less time thinking about how you look. It gets you present and active (and don't worry, that doesn't mean you'll be backflipping like Simone Biles in every shot. We create them based on what's comfortable to you). Through dynamic movement and fun prompts, we move you out of your heads and insecurities, and into each other, the world, and the people around you.
My Philosophy
I believe the greatest gift you can give yourself in our session together is simply acceptance. Things will go wonderfully right. Some things may go hilariously wrong. Embrace it all. The magic happens not in the perfect moments, but in the real ones: the in-between glances, the nervous laughter, the way you naturally reach for each other when you forget the camera is there. When you let go of how things "should" look and surrender to how they actually are, that's when things start to shimmer. This is the same philosophy of the best directors I’ve worked with.
Your story deserves it's own indie rom-com. Let's get the film rolling.
You deserve a photographer who sees and connects with you. That’s why I take the time to make sure I am the right fit for you too.
To create a moment of legacy, it requires a certain level of vulnerability from both of us. I do not take on every couple who approach me. It is truly important to me to make sure everyone I create with shares my brand values.
I want to hear more of your story! Fill out the contact form and I’ll get back to you as fast as these fingers can type.
