Wedding Photography

Max and Ceri, with Dan Evans

by Beej and Layne

As he pulled his car to a stop and got out, Dan Evans was impressed by the quiet beauty of the Skinner house. Skinner being a banker, Dan would have expected something more lavish and showy. This house, though, had an understated elegance about it.

Dan was glad he'd called ahead and gotten directions, so they were expecting him. With this murder in the Glen, everyone was on edge, and he wouldn't want to scare anyone. Might not be good for his health, he thought. With a smile on his face, he knocked at the door.

"I'll get it," Max called on hearing the knock at the door.

He pulled open the door to see Dan Evans standing on the porch. "Good morning, Mr. Evans, please come in."

He stood aside to make room for Dan to step over the threshold and pointed the way to the lounge room. "If you'd like to follow me.... Ceri will be here directly, she's being a love and making us some coffee.."

"Coffee sounds good. Nice to meet you, Mr. Skinner." Dan held out his hand. Max Skinner had a pleasant manner, and Dan had always liked British accents. Somehow, they sounded more businesslike to him.

He walked into the lounge, sitting on a comfortable chair, as he unbuttoned his jacket. "Very beautiful home you have here, Mr. Skinner. You and your wife have excellent taste."

"Thanks very much, Mr. Evans, and please...call me Max. We're not actually married yet though, something I need to remedy before too much longer," Max smiled. " Ceri fell in love with the place because it's typical 'Aussie country' and she loved how the green roof blends in with the trees.......... I liked the view, being on top of a rise and all. Inside, I decided that she deserved all mod cons, and hopefully we have the blend right..

Just then Ceri entered the room with a large tray. Max jumped up and took it from her, placing it down on the large oak coffee table.. As well as a coffee pot, cups, sugar and cream, there was a nice display of little cakes. Ceri was trying her hand at Lamingtons as she'd heard they were an Aussie tradition.

Reaching out her hand she walked over to Dan, who had risen from his chair. "Hello, Mr. Evans, it's lovely to see you. Would you like to relax with a coffee and cake first, or shall we get right down to business?"

Dan shook the offered hand. "Coffee and cake would be wonderful, thank you, ma'am. Sitting again, he smiled at her. "I was just telling Mr. Skinner here-Max-what a lovely home you have.."

"Please, call me Ceri," she replied motioning him to sit again as she handed him his coffee and offered up the plate of cakes for him to choose from.

"Thanks for the compliment on our home. I like to call it 'state of the art rustic' just to tease Max. So, when you're ready, maybe you can tell me just what you're looking for from me."

"Well-" Dan set down his coffee cup. "I'm not sure if you've met Ben and Liana Wade at any of the get-togethers here in the Glen-"

"But Mr. Wade is planning a second wedding for them. He heard that you were a photographer, ma'am, and is interested in hiring you to take the wedding pictures. Wants to keep it all in the community here."

"Oh, that's wonderful news, Dan. I've not met the Wade's, but I think Max has spoken to Mr. Wade briefly. I take it that this is a bit hush, hush as he sent you rather than coming himself with Mrs. Wade."

Ceri looked at Max and smiled before continuing, "I've done shoots for bridal catalogues before, but never had the pleasure of photographing an actual wedding. This is so cool. I'm not sure who will be more excited on the day, me...or the bride. Hang on a minute while I go get you a couple of my portfolios, to give you an idea of my work. Please feel free to take them to show Mr. Wade when we've finished our meeting."

Smiling at her enthusiasm, Dan spoke to Max while Ceri was out of the room. "I'm here to see pictures, but I also wanted to speak to you, Mr. Skinner. Mr. Wade's very interested in the bank that's opening soon." Dan almost had to hide a smile at the thought of Ben's usual interest in banks.

"As his business manager, I'd like to make an appointment to come in and see you soon. Mr. Wade's interested in opening several accounts with you, depositing a large amount of money with your bank. And talking with you about the possibility of some local investments."

"Please, Dan...call me Max.. I'd be happy to see Ben about opening up accounts at the bank. Now, I'm aiming for an opening in a couple of weeks. Do you think he would rather wait to see me in my new office, or would he be happy to conduct business here?"

"Well, if you knew Mr. Wade, you'd know he don't stand on ceremony too much," Dan answered. "He'd be more than happy to talk to you here, I'm sure. As would I. I'd like to get some things moved here to the Glen as soon as we could. As it is, I'm having to drive into Coffs Harbour every day, sometimes two or three times. Havin' a bank here will make it a lot easier to manage his business affairs."

Dan sipped some more of his tea. "I'll probably be lookin' at gettin' myself an office here in town shortly too. So far, I've been workin' out of Mr. Wade's study at his house, but it'd be easier havin' an office of my own. He and I tend to get in each other's way sometimes. He gave a chuckle.

"Yes, I can well imagine that Ben can doesn't always enjoy having his space invaded. I'm afraid I sometimes get like that when I'm working here, which is why I'm looking forward to the bank opening. You can let him know that I'm here every day for the next two weeks, so any day that suits him will be fine with me. After that, I should be working from my office in the bank. It shouldn't take too long to get the different accounts set up. As for you getting an office in town, there are properties going up pretty fast now, so you should be able to find something you like. No high rise of course, every building is blending in with the countryside."

Before Dan could answer, Ceri knocked on the door and came through carrying two of her portfolios. "Oops, sorry. I thought you'd finished," she apologised turning to leave the study.

"Don't worry, love. I was just letting Dan know I was available here for the next two weeks for meetings, Ben wants to see me on bank business."

"Sorry, ma'am." Dan apologized, standing up as she entered. "I came here to see you, and here I am talking business with Mr.. Skinner! Actually, I can't wait to get a look at those portfolios." Dan held out his hand for them. "I love photography."

"I'm pleased to hear that, Dan. I wish everyone loved it as much as I do," Ceri handed Dan the first portfolio. "Now, this one is the shoot I did for the bridal magazine. I think it gives an idea of lighting and angles."

Max smiled, loving to see Ceri so enthusiastic about her upcoming project..

"This second one contains shots I did for calendars. The first batch were from the Amazon rain forest, and the second section is Arizona landmarks. Please take them for Ben to look through. Oh, but you said he is planning the ceremony. So perhaps it might be best if he looks at them away from the house so that Liana doesn't get a look at them."

"Probably," Dan replied, flipping through the portfolios and liking what he saw. "But actually, he doesn't need to look through them, ma'am. He told me that if I approved, I should go ahead and hire you. And, from what I'm seeing here, I definitely approve."

Dan smiled up at Ceri. "The job is yours, if you want it."

"Why thank you, Dan. I would be honoured to accept. I'll see you again before the day to finalise the details." Ceri replied, beaming with joy at the thought of being part of the 'surprise'.

"That'll be fine," Dan replied. "Oh- There is one more thing. What happens to the negatives? Do you own them? Does Mr. Wade own them?"

"I've been using digital equipment for a while now, but if you would rather the traditional camera I can do that as well. Whichever I use, either the memory card or the negatives can be given to Ben along with the prints that are chosen. With the digital camera though, I can print up a set in colour, black and white, or sepia, whichever medium suits the couple."

"Sounds fine. Mr. Wade is just very insistent that he own the rights to the pictures. He's a very-private-man." Dan knew the reasons behind Ben insisting that he own the photos exclusively, but of course, he couldn't tell anyone else.