welcome to james day photography

I have something very serious to share with you all. I really hope that this rocks your boat, challenges you and makes you question everything you know.
There are some things in life that are trivial. Should we have this ribbon on our invites, or that ribbon? Look, who cares. There are more serious things you probably need to sort out in your life.

You might remember recently I photographed my friend Alex Pullar’s weddding. A while before that I took family photos for his family as his mother Kim had just returned from her first round of chemo and was expected to lose her hair and Kim wanted some shots before this happened.

Kim, I believe is currently in a hospital in Sydney, with her family surrounding her as the doctors have given a less than positive outlook for Kim. I go to the same church as Kim, and Kim is an amazing encouragement to everyone there. I mean everyone. She would know the names of everyone in the church, or anyone that has visited even once when she was there. She takes a real, keen, and genuine interest in people’s lives and there are hundreds of people out there who rely on her for encouragement and support. Kim has been the most amazing support to me, and to so many people who I am close to. I used to live with Alex, her son, and was so glad to have her visit.

Kim is a very strong, committed Christian. I know that it would be her prayer that you would come to know the joy and peace she knows. I think Kim knew all too well that there was a major reason that people visited churches but often didn’t go back. Because of the sucky people that are at church who can’t really help you and are just so caught up in themselves. I am one of those people, but I believe Kim isn’t. She knows how to make someone welcome, and to show them that she cares and is glad that they’re around.

Folks, people let us down. God doesn’t. He never will. He will never leave us.

My prayer for you is that you cannot stop thinking about the future, where you’re going.. what’s after this.. you know all that stuff.. and you find God at the end of it, waiting with open arms, wanting to be there for you if only you’ll open your arms too.

Please say a prayer, even if you’ve never prayed before, say a prayer for Kim and her family, but also for yourself and your longing to get to know the God of this universe.

I don’t know if I’ve really set to achieve what I intented to get across in this blog post..but I hope and pray that you have been challenged and encouraged by something in this. If anyone wants to chat, either to tell me I’m full of it, or to find out more, or to just have a chat.. my inbox and mobile are both open and both are published all over my main website (www.jamesday.com.au)

I’ll leave you with a photo from the family shoot that I did of Kim and her gorgeous family a few months back.

5 hours.15 minutes.
You can only begin to imagine my excitement knowing that a dream of mine for the past 2 years is about to come true. As most of you know, just over 2 years ago I met a GORGEOUS lady, who at that time resided in Canada. As of today, in 5 hours and 13 minutes, Lauren will be in Armidale, my home town, to live (until her visa expires and then we’ll see what happens next!).
Lauren has sacrificed alot to make this move, and for that I am truly amazed, and my love for her has just grown stronger. She has for the moment, left her family and friends and her polite and wonderful Canadian country for little old Armidale, and me.
Am I worthy? Nuh uh. Am I grateful. Yes Sir!
5 hours. 10 minutes!
What will Lauren be doing here in Armidale I hear you ask. Lauren will be looking for work. Keep your ears to the ground and let us know if something super cool comes up.

Thankyou Rob & Lauren for this shot - one of our favourites!

What will I be doing while she’s here? Going to the gym of course!

JD

Let me take you back to my life between the age of 16-19. I used to be a fitness junkie. I was at the gym every day. I personally trained a few clients. I drank protein shakes. I sipped Creatine. I put Cayenne pepper on everything because it sped up the metabolism. I thought the same for freezing cold water to drink.

Last few years: I think the only consistent thing I do these days diet related is eat copious amounts of chocolate every day.

Today: I joined the gym.

Tonight: I started eating healthy.

It always works in that order for me. I start working out, then I automatically eat healthily.

I plan to track my progress and share it on here. Wish me luck, and feel free to share tips or share fat jokes in the comments section.

Your job is to keep me accountable. Feel free to leave comments under any future posts, telling me to get off my lazy ass and exercise. If you know me personally, encourage me to eat well, and organise a game of basketball or some exercise hang out time with me.

Beach body here I come. Damn I’m going to be sexy.

JD

I am sitting in a lounge in Vancouver airport, thinking back on all the wonderful times I’ve had. It’s with much regret that I’m leaving, but I know that there are exciting things ahead both in my personal life and work life. I am leaving Canada with a bevy of information, new ideas for products and services and most importantly I know that customer service and client satisfaction (more than just simply satisfied is what I’m aiming for!) will just keep on improving.

I want to give a shout out to a few people who had an impact on my life in some way while I was away. This is in no particular order! and this is by no means everyone.. just a select few.

Lauren (my one and only) -Keith and Maureen - Perry Thompson - The girls at Kids Photo - Mike Wark - Rob and Lauren - Connections Christian Church - Mark Pawlszyn -

There are other people who I met who taught me lots and I appreciated them being so open and sharing with me. Namely..
The Becker, Jessica Claire, Jasmine Star, Justin Demers, John Edgar, Dave Cheung.. you guys are industry leaders and I’m blessed to have met you all!

Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who has been marvellous to me though while I’ve been away.. and most of all.. there is one thing I will miss..

..Canada Dry Ginger Ale!!!!!

A quick question for you all before signing off.. as it’s late and I’ve been too tired to do any real work.. I’ve found myself chatting on facebook chat, and reading photographers blogs.
I am generally pretty bored by alot of the blogs I see as almost everyone’s work looks the same these days.. but there are a few that just blow my mind.

As I’m always looking to see what’s going on out there in the industry.. I’d love your recommendations as to what blogs I could check out. In the next few days I’ll give a full list of all the photographers blogs that I check out regularly!

Who’s blogs do you read? & Brides.. what do you think of this whole photographers blogging thing anyway? Are you sick of photographers talking about themselves or do you like it?

JD

…photos from my childhood.

The emotional value from photos never reach their full potential until years later. These photos would have meant nothing to me at the time, but now.. they’re invaluable, and an incredible reminder of the past, images that make me smile, and images that weird me out a bit.

Thank you to my father who passed away 9 years ago now that I still think about every day and love dearly for taking these photos. Photos of him (because he was always behind the camera) are so special. I want to share some of those with you too.. but that’s another day!

Thanks for letting me share these with you all.

JD

p.s. I encourage all you digital camera owners to get out there and print some of those precious photos! Find an old shoe box and hide them away for your children one day! It worries me to think that so many precious memories will be lost because they never made it past being a digital file.