I grew up in a MÄori household with aunties and uncles that Iād never
met before often coming to stay for long periods of time. Weād have
people in the kitchen preparing enough food to feed an army for
weeks, and our lounge room floor would be converted into a communal
bedroom with mattresses covering the floor space.
My siblings and I (and all our cuzzies) would fall asleep to the sound of
clinking glasses, roaring laughter, and my dad jamming
out on the guitar while belting his lungs to renditions of Sam Cook &
The Drifters.
We never had much ourselves, but our door was ALWAYS open to
people who were doing it tougher than us. These moments shaped the
person I am today and are the reason for my deeply caring, nurturing
nature. Although these circumstances often came from dire situations,
they taught me the importance and gravity of connection. Connection
is at the heart of everything I do. Itās in my blood.
Capturing YOUR connection, and the connections you hold closest to your heart, is what I consider one of my superpowers. Intuitive, empathic, soulful. I let my intuition guide my heart and my hands, synchronistic in nature to bring forth images that you can feel. Images that transport you back to a moment in time when scrolling through your final gallery.
Your legacy is safe with me š¤āØ
If you're looking for someone to preserve your memories with lots of heart, then Iād love to connect and share space with you. Iām so grateful for you and already dying to hear YOUR story.
We are all seekers of connection. But that deep, honest, connection ā you know? Not the superficial kind. Connection with your lover; connection with your family; and connection with a land or place. When you nuzzle into that familiar space in your partners chest, and the rest of the world just falls away. When you look around the table at those beautiful souls you share your life with, and your heart feels so full. Or when you walk out on Country and feel the earth between your toes, and you know that youāre home. These are the connections that define us, and these are the connections that I feel so honoured to capture.
For me, I always think back to my own Elopement day. Walking hand-in-hand down the isle together, while my brothers performed a mighty haka. Standing on a clifftop, and staring in to each others eyes. Surrounded by our closest loved ones, I remember time standing still as I looked over my shoulder and watched a single tear fall from my father-in-laws face. It was in that moment that I realised the power of an intimate ceremony that allows people to feel completely vulnerable and held in the moment. It was in the absence of all of that wedding-day-fluff that I found the true connection that I was looking for. And thatās what I want for you, too! For me to be able to retell your story with the reverence and heart that it deserves.
Raw, honest, and real.
ME AND MY HUSBAND
image by Janneke Storm
Being MÄori and growing up in Australia, I know what itās like if you feel somewhat disconnected from your culture. Longing to honour all parts of your heritage, but never truly knowing or feeling where you fit in. āNot enoughā to fit in with your maternal ancestry, and ātoo much of the oppositeā to feel at home in your paternal ancestry. Perhaps you donāt know your language, your songs, your customs, further chipping away at those feelings of inadequacy.
During my ever-growing journey of discovering who I truly am and what my connection to my culture looks like for ME as an individual - Iāve come to understand just how prevalent this feeling of ānot good enoughā is for many people from all different backgrounds and walks of life.
So, Iām here to remind you that you ARE enough. You are worthy of celebrating your culture, your heritage (if you feel called to) regardless of how disconnected you may feel. Your tÅ«puna (ancestors) are waiting for you to call on them, so they can rise up and join you in your journey. You are exactly where you are meant to be, your ancestors made it so.
Allow that fire inside to reawaken. If thereās any way I can support you on this journey, please reach out to me.
...it was 1000000% worth it and weād do it all over again! Itās incredibly fulfilling and empowering when you stick to your guns and create an authentic experience that makes you feel good in your soul bones!
When my husband and I started talking about getting married, we knew we wanted something more than the traditional experience. We wanted something intimate, something intentional, and something that would be meaningful for both of us. So, we eloped. We spent a week on the East Coast of Tasmania with our parents and my brothers, sipping local Tassie red and just enjoying each otherās company. It was surreal and I wouldnāt change a single thing about it.
Allowing you to be fully present on the day you commit your lives to one another, away from distractions, you can let truly down your guard and embrace the love and warmth surrounding you. You know your connection is something else and the sacred words youāll exchange will be forever emblazoned in your memory. It sets the most beautiful, uplifting tone for the rest of your journey together.
This is why I do what I do and Iām already so hyped to help you plan your own elopement! Making sure it is a true reflection of who you are as a couple, holding space for your honest love.
I recognise that I live, work, and travel on land that was forcibly taken from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia, and that sovereignty was never ceded. No matter where you are getting married in Australia, you are marrying on Aboriginal Land.
As an act of "giving back" to our First Nation peoples ā and as part of the Pay the Rent initiative ā a percentage of each package booked with me is donated to charities that directly help and heal vulnerable Indigenous communities throughout Australia. Every print in the Print Store that was taken on Australian land will see 10% of the profits donated to these charities also.
My mission in doing this, is to help impact the lives and amplify the voices of our First Nations peoples that continue to feel the effects of colonisation in their every day lived experience.
Pay the Rent
The Healing Foundation
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