A Tangible Moment

The wedding industry on Tamborine Mountain is significant, and it’s not hard to see why: the area is a beautiful place to make such important memories. Claire Elise is a photographer who captures those memories, and she explains why the mountain is so special to her.

by Kyle Hitchmough

 

I know that you specialize in w  edding photography but are you available for other occasions?

Yes, I love weddings! I really enjoy documenting emotion and real-life moments. That’s my motivation to also capture families, children, engagements, and couples. The connection between people, and the love that bonds them, can be seen in the little in-between moments, those small gestures that only you and your significant other deeply appreciate. It is what makes one couple’s love, and the way they express it, unique to them. If I take a photograph of that instant and stop time for a split second, that moment can be released from just memories into something tangible you can hold in your hands.

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What inspired you to open a business in this field?

My grandad handed me my first camera, a little film SLR. I was in high school and had been interested in photography for a while, and after spending the school holidays learning from him I was hooked. Grandad was an excellent teacher, so it was not hard to get the hang of and it seemed to come quite naturally.  After taking photography in school I left and found a “real job”. I would still shoot every now and then, but it was just for fun. It was not until I had my son and took maternity leave that I realized I was missing something in my professional life.  Like all good things, it took a little while to get off the ground and balance motherhood with weddings every weekend, but now I am so glad I chose to follow my instincts and chase the dream.

Does the natural beauty of Tamborine Mountain factor into your photography?

It does massively! The landscape on the mountain is stunning and unique, it is often one of the main reasons a couple will choose the mountain for their wedding. We have several diverse settings to choose from and I will often use the scenery to frame my shots and create visual interest.

 

What goes into an average work day for you?

The fun part is obviously the shooting and that happens far less than many of the other duties I have. There are many hours spent at the computer editing and performing admin tasks such as emails, bookkeeping, etc. There is also a huge social media and social presence to maintain, being a literal image-based business it is important to keep things fresh and exciting on all platforms.

There are many wedding venues on Mount Tamborine. Do you work with any of them in your position?

I have worked with almost every mountain venue. Approximately two thirds of my weddings are here on the mountain. There are a few places that I find myself shooting at quite often; Hampton Estate Wines, Tamborine Gardens, Cedar Creek Estate, Albert River Wines and Cedar Creek lodges are a few. The staff are always so lovely, and facilities are to the highest standard.

 

What are the skills involved in photography? Are they purely technical or do you require people skills too?

It takes years to develop the technical skills needed to understand and operate your camera as if it were a part of you. Combine that with mastering lighting, composition, posing, creating an original style of your own and so on. It also takes many years to cultivate the ability to read people and moments, so that you can connect with them and capture the events as they happen.

You could have the best technical knowledge around but unless you add the ability to connect with the people you are photographing on an emotional level, and truly be able to interpret, capture and exceed your clients’ needs, you will find wedding photography challenging.

Do you find you have a more common ‘type’ of customer than others?

I shoot with a range of different age groups and backgrounds, but the scales do seem to tip in the direction of young professionals who seem to be drawn to my approach and style of photography.

 

Are you a local? What is your opinion of the Tamborine Mountain area and community?

I sure am. My family and I moved here three and a half years ago, and I must admit I have never felt more at home in a community. The mountain is a small town with a wonderful community spirit, you are always made to feel welcome and are never short of a friendly wave. This place is more than just a charming town, it is also alive with friendly genuine folks who all value and care for the mountain we call home.

What do you think your service provides to the area?

The mountain is so picturesque, capturing and sharing couples wedding stories on the mountain is an integral part of keeping our thriving mountain wedding industry alive.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I honestly enjoy all of it. It sounds strange to say that you enjoy the menial tasks, but I truly do. If I had to pick just one thing it would be shooting weddings and, more specifically, shooting both the bride’s preparation and the couple photographs. There is nothing better than finding the perfect pocket of afternoon light in a stunning location and capturing two people on their happiest day.

Do you have any standout stories or memorable experiences from working in this position?

I have many stories! The most memorable would have to be from a little wedding down in NSW. I was working with a friend as her second photographer and we had just arrived at this tiny little church. I positioned myself in the corner to capture the groom’s reaction while my friend was photographing the bride entering. Everything went well and the ceremony was underway when suddenly I heard this crackling noise. I turned and to my horror, the flower arrangement was a little too close to a candle and had just started to go up in flames. Before I could do anything, the priest walked over reached out and without a blink, grabbed the burning flowers and put them out with his bare hands. He said nothing and turned and walked back and continued the ceremony. I was dumbfounded and trying my hardest to hold in the giggles.

 

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Or email the writer at kyle.hitchmough@hotmail.com, and follow me on Twitter @realcasualrvws.