Rural South Australia, where the flies are friendly and so are people...

Most people write off places like Port Pirie as just another sleepy country town with not much going for it besides a rather large lead smelter that fuels the local economy. To be honest, I never would have paid it any mind if I hadn't heard from Tara and Matt about photographing their wedding. Just to be clear, I'll go anywhere to document one of the most important occasions in someone's life, and some of the places I go have more initial appeal than others... But in this case, it was an absolute no brainer. Port Pirie may be a small town on the way to nowhere in particular BUT man does it have a lot to offer photographically. It sits along the coast, yet feels a million miles inland. The beautiful Flinders Ranges are visible from the outskirts of town, so close to Tara's family property that it basically feels like a never-ending backyard. The place possesses this rugged beauty that I've always associated with South Australia and that I'm always trying to unearth in my photos. 

What's more, I've never felt more welcome among a group of strangers in my life. Tara and Matt's family and friends are just bloody lovely, and the couple themselves are easily two of the kindest and most hospitable couples I've ever had the pleasure of photographing. They let me in to their lives, showed me their beautiful town and shared with me parts of themselves that allowed me to tell their story the way I wanted to.

Here's how it went...