Natalie McComas

Karissa & Joel

nat — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:56:33 +0000

I had tingles up the back of my neck when Joel played his devotional song to Karissa as part of his vows. He said the song encapsulated a core value around which they wish to build their lives – acceptance.

Acceptance that life need only be about togetherness, no matter what happens.

There is a place
Where we can be free of the shadows
Oh where we can be still
Oh the shame and disgrace
that have been our barrow
let’s push it
out into space
because
We don’t need to do it perfectly
Because our escape
Is an escape from perfection…

Here is a portrait of their day and all the people that are dear to them both.

For more details about their wedding head over to The Lane as they are being featured there today.

Vendor details:

Beautiful in this skin

nat — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:54:21 +0000

Hello there.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their support of the new portrait series I am undertaking.

Beautiful in this Skin portrays subjects with dramatic, visible birthmarks and explores the effects this has had on their lives and psyches. This series celebrates these unique skin formations whilst also inspiring those, who may have a similar condition, to feel special and beautiful in their own skin.

Patience Hodgson, lead singer of the Australian band The Grates, grew up with a large, rare port wine stain birthmark, otherwise known as Klippel Trenaway Sydrome, covering half of her upper body…

and she calls it her protective barrier…. her very own SUPER-POWER!

“I love my birthmark’s spectrum of colour. When I’m warm it’s a kind of red-purple, like the colour of some plums and when I’m cold it’s a vivid, almost neon blue. I also like how it’s a kind of protective barrier protecting me against non-accepting and unthoughtful people.” - Patience

Thank you for all the comments and emails I have received so far and another big thank you to those who have spread the word.

The extremely popular facebook page Everyone Matters shared the project which received an overwhelming response…. over 3800 ‘likes’ and 900+ shares.

Lovely Peppermint Magazine kindly posted an article on their blog …

Also many thanks to ABC radio for inviting Patience, dermatologist Amanda Dore and I to their studios to have a conversation with Rebecca Levingston about the project and birthmarks in general. Even though I was really nervous – it was great and I learnt so much about birthmarks from Amanda and even more about Patience’s story of growing up with her birthmark.

The popular Channel Ten TV show Can of Worms recently featured Patience with the topic ‘Does society care too much about how we look’? as a result of coming across this portrait … I’m so glad her perspective was shared with a large audience.

The fact that Patience sees her birthmark as a SUPER-POWER not a disability is inspiring many, many people and a great response has followed all of these features!

I have had many enquiries from all over the world and I am currently looking into attaining some sponsorship to be able to travel to them all or even possibly collaborating with other photographers to take the portraits.

I am no longer looking for people to be a part of the series, so many people have already contacted me but please feel free to share your story below.

Please be patient with my response…. projects like these do not happen overnight and I am doing the best I can to reply to all the comments, messages and emails I am receiving.

I have also created a Facebook group to help us stay connected.

You may be interested in another lovely venture by Martha and Grant Griffin. They have written a lovely children’s book called ‘Sam’s Birthmark’ which will be on sale soon. For more info check out this page.

Sarah & Paul

nat — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:07:31 +0000

After travelling through the the beautiful countryside of France last year with rusty stone lane ways, overgrown garden beds and vintage, wooden flower-stalls – I know exactly where Sarah and Paul’s inspiration came from for their wedding…

To be honest, I felt like I was caught up in some sweet fairytale all day… and I did not really want it to end.

Held on the French National Day known as Bastille Day, at a venue which could not have been more perfect - Deux Belettes, even the weather reminded me of a cold, grey day in Europe.

If you would like to read more about their day – The Lane have kindly featured them here.

Vendor details:

Sarah & Jared

nat — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 07:31:12 +0000

Wow.

What a special day this was.

How lucky I felt to be amongst it all… the beautiful light, the smiles, the blasting warmth of the bonfire, the squeal of the fireworks … I watched Sarah & Jared beaming from ear to ear all day long and night – loving life and everyone around them.

A big thank you to The Lane for featuring them today here.

Vendor details:

VENUE: Windview Farm, Carool NSW. Sarah’s childhood home that’s situated in Northern NSW, close to the QLD border on 18 acres of farm land and rainforest. | BRIDE’S DRESS: Grace Loves Lace | GROOM’S ATTIRE: Asos Italian Linen Suit | BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES: Lucette | MAKEUP: Alana Mevissen Makeup | HAIR: Renee at Vogue Hair Boutique | FLOWERS: Moss n Stone | Celebrant: Doreena Scales | Caterer: EatDrink Catering |

This November

nat — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 05:43:34 +0000

This November, summer crept up on me.

Black thunder clouds covered the afternoons… I had my first summer swim in the ocean and devoured my first box of mangoes.

I had the pleasure of photographing the most colourful backyard wedding for Patience & John from The Grates and also two other weddings in Noosa & Stradbroke Island.

Time is evaporating quicker than I would like… I’ve barely had the time to blog…to write…to think.

I have so many wonderful pics to share in the coming weeks from a springtime full of weddings and editorial shoots… and I have everything in the world to look forward to. New landscapes. Old friends. Adventures aplenty…

and what I love most… taking photographs.

The Weekend Edition Interview

nat — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 01:24:41 +0000

An interview I did for The Weekend Edition is up today…

Thanks Linsey!

October

nat — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 05:40:41 +0000

This October…

I met a sausage dog with a bow tie called Bosley.

I discovered this tree house amidst lavender in Italy… and am dreaming up plans to get -there soon.

I reminisced to this time last year when we were driving our campervan through the winding, deep valleys of Southern France… eating baguettes and sweet french pastries.

I was instantly inspired by the latest issues of Time Machine Magazine and Pure Green Magazine

I wondered about how I should celebrate turning 30 in December.

I sent a friend to Chateau de Cavanac - a little gem just outside of Carcassone that we missed on our trip that apparently has THE best 5 course french meals.

I began researching into my 50 day trip to The Falkland Islands, New York and Berlin in December.

I photographed 5 weddings and started receiving enquiries for weddings in 2014…

and I had some of my travel pics featured on Kinfolk’s inspiring online journal here.

Our Corner Store

nat — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 04:43:18 +0000

Stylist Annique Rousseau and myself were delighted to photograph for Our Corner Store, on the main street of Bangalow, not too long ago. Be sure to pop in and say HI to the lovely ladies, Aneka & Miranda, if you find yourself out that way!

Pia Jane Bijkerk has featured their beautiful store on the Country Style Homelife blog today…

Thanks Pia!

Anita & Alex

nat — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 06:07:08 +0000

On the most lovely Autumn day, when the trees couldn’t decide to wear green or brown or yellow… Anita & Alex were married under the lovely stone archway at Deux Belettes in the gorgeous afternoon light.

I feel like time stops when I photograph here. Deux Belettes is a very special place that slows you down, makes you breathe deep and notice the all little things. It is not just a wedding venue, it is also a Bed and Breakfast… so if you ever feel like a retreat from the real world drive out to the Byron hinterland and stay for a while.

A big Thank You for to The Lane team for featuring this lovely wedding here : ).

Vendor details:

Feature on Kinfolk Journal

nat — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 04:17:06 +0000

Some of my most favourite photos from our Europe road trip have been featured here on the Kinfolk Journal just in time for Halloween…

Almost 800 ‘likes’ on their Facebook page for them – blows my mind!

Go have a quick look : ) …