21st November, 2024
I see a lot of memes about how annoying it is to be the ‘photographer friend’. And while sometimes I have felt frustrated by the expectation that I’ll just ‘bring my camera along’ to an event, this is a problem that is easily solved by having supportive, creative and understanding friends. There’s something really lovely about being trusted by a close friend to capture milestone moments in their lives. Recently, I had the privilege of photographing my best friend Taylor’s graduation from the University of Wollongong. This quick shoot, filled with family group shots and photos with her partner, turned into a beautiful celebration of friendship, growth, and new beginnings.
The Perfect Setting
While the university provides set-up backgrounds for graduate photos, I’ve always preferred a more natural approach. And with a campus as beautiful as UOW’s, why would you take all of your pictures in front of the media wall? So, just as I did for my friend Sammie’s graduation last year, I guided Taylor and her family away from the staged backdrops and into a more organic setting on the day. Luckily, we were blessed with the warm, soft light of golden hour, which made the perfect ambiance for this lovely day.
A Friendship Forged in Creativity
Taylor and I met virtually during our first year of university, in the midst of the Covid pandemic. After some back and forth in Discord classes, Twitter (since renamed) and Instagram direct messages, we founded a friendship steeped in love and respect for one another’s art. Specifically, Taylor makes beautiful visual art, and I bought her artwork of 5SOS’s Luke Hemmings on a T-shirt. They shipped this T-shirt to Dubbo, where I was living and the rest is history. In the years following, our friendship has blossomed into a beautiful, personal and creative partnership. She’s been an incredible support for my photography journey, even assisting with lighting setups and capturing video footage for some of my jobs. Taylor’s unwavering encouragement has been a driving force behind my growth as a photographer, and there is no single photo I could take that would adequately express my gratitude for our friendship.
The Joy of Photographing Friends
There’s a unique ease that comes with photographing friends, especially someone like Taylor, whom I’ve subjected to the wrath of my lens many times before. Her familiarity with my process made directing the shoot effortless, allowing us to focus on capturing genuine moments of joy and accomplishment. It was an incredible privilege to be present on her big day.
Reflections on Two Twenty-Something’s Growing and Learning Together
As I clicked away, I couldn’t help but reflect on the transformative years we’ve shared. Our early twenties have been a time of immense growth, as they are for anyone. When I moved away from my hometown, I didn’t expect to create friendships comparable to those from highschool years. But it means the world to me to have had Taylor by my side through challenges and triumphs. We’ve lived through unprecedented times together, in more ways than can be explained in this blog post. This graduation shoot wasn’t just about documenting an academic achievement; for me, it was a celebration of how far I have seen Taylor come and all that we’ve nurtured in each other over the past 5 years. I am incredibly proud to of my best friend, and excited to see where life takes them from here.
Looking Ahead
As Taylor steps into this new chapter of her life, I’m filled with pride and excitement for what the future holds. I’m honoured that she chose me to capture this significant moment, and I hope these photos will serve as a beautiful reminder of her accomplishments and the bonds of friendship that have supported her journey. To Taylor: Thank you for your unwavering support and for allowing me to be part of this special day. Here’s to many more years of friendship, creativity, and capturing life’s beautiful moments together.
