Behind the camera
ABOUT van MIDDLETON
Nine hundred weddings in, still learning. Where I came from, how I shoot, and what you can expect from me.
WHERE do I BEGIN?
First and foremost, I'm a father, husband, brother and son. My world revolves around my little girls and my wife.
I'm a curious and restless person. When I was younger I wanted to be a writer; I wrote a lot, including a few books, one that I finished just out of high school. My interest in writing has never faded, but it's become dormant — I'll revisit it one day. Now that I run my own business and play father and husband, I don't have time to read much, let alone write. And it takes so much time.
Instead I take photos. In many ways it's a similar thing. I tell stories. I try to create beautiful things. I use my imagination, I explore, I try to capture moments, and manufacture things that will move people.
I studied Journalism at university, because I wanted to write and to tell stories, and see things. After graduating I learnt pretty quickly that journalists don't do much of this at all. So I went travelling. I was a little bit lost.
I travelled for years, and during my travels I found two of the most important things in my life: my wife, and photography. I decided to keep both of them close for the rest of my life.
When I returned to Australia, I studied photography and film. I had no idea I wanted to shoot weddings, but I did understand what I had always known: I wanted to use my imagination, my creativity, and I wanted to work for myself. After graduating, work didn't come easy, and I did more study, this time to become a teacher. It wasn't what I wanted to do, but I wasn't sure I had much choice.
While I studied, I shot a few weddings. I did them for next to nothing, for experience. My clients were happy. I looked around and realised that I could do a better job than my competitors. I didn't raise my prices, but instead I shot dozens more weddings. I wanted to improve, and to learn. I studied the best wedding photographers in the world, I bought the best equipment. I got better. I've now shot more than 900 weddings. I'm still learning, and hopefully always will be.
“I DO WHATEVER IT TAKES at a wedding to get the PHOTOS I find most BEAUTIFUL.”
I was asked once, by a prospective client, what my philosophy is. I found it an oddly disconcerting notion, that I should be able to distill my photographic approach into a few words — actually, into any words at all. Officially I call myself a documentary photographer. Or, probably because it borrows from my education, a wedding photojournalist. Neither of these titles are particularly accurate. In truth, I do whatever it takes at a wedding to get photos that I find most beautiful. Sometimes these photos involve me being an observer, hovering discreetly so I can snap the most unguarded moments. Sometimes they involve me rearranging furniture, manufacturing light, posing my muse, doing whatever it takes to get the shot I have in my head.
I'm not precious, and I'm not vain. I let your guests take photos too. I don't bully your relatives. I give you every finished photo in high-res, without watermarks. I show up on time and never leave early. And I work hard. Because I'm only as good as the last wedding I shoot, and more than anything I want to make my clients happy.
I'm easy-going, and I think I have the knack of making people relaxed. Probably the most common remark I get at the end of the night when I'm saying goodbye to the bride and groom is that I made everything so easy, that they felt very comfortable with me. Either that, or that they barely noticed I was there. Being photographed on your wedding day shouldn't be a trial, and if it is, it's being done wrong. The best photos happen when the bride and groom are at ease, and happy.
I'll do almost anything for my clients, but I prefer natural, simple photos. That's just me. I spend a long time editing, and I give all my clients at least two versions of every single image. Every wedding comes with a minimum of 600 finished photographs — typically around 650 — with every image also supplied in black and white. I like to provide choice — photography is subjective, after all.
That's all I can think of for the moment. Drop me a line if you have any questions, or want to book me. I promise you won't regret it.
Awards & publications
JUNEBUG WEDDINGS WORLD'S 50 BEST 4× winner MYWED — Australia's No. 1 wedding photographer IWPOTY LIT CATEGORY WINNER 2023 IWPOTY JUDGE 2024 THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHER in the WORLD — my mum
Featured in The Lane, Polkadot Bride, Nouba, Junebug Weddings, North Coast Weddings, Fearless Photographers, Bula Bride, Bridestory, The Wedding Series, Bored Panda and EverAfter Magazine — plus awards with the AIPP and overseas, including Junebug's World's 50 Best Wedding Photos (2014), Engagement Photos (2015) and Destination Photos (2016 & 2018).
“My husband and I were lucky enough to have our wedding photographed by the wildly talented Van! Van was incredible in the lead up to the wedding and his energy on the day was next level. Our guests raved about how kind he was and he captured the most extraordinary photographs! Not to mention the fact that we received our entire gallery (over 1200 photos, half in colour and half in black and white) within four weeks of our wedding! Just extraordinary. If you're looking for a Brisbane wedding photographer or a photographer in the surrounding area who will take care of you, your guests, and your story then Van is your guy! Thank you so, so much, Van!”
I take a limited number of weddings each year. Get in touch to check your date and tell me a little about your day.
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