Photographer, Rick Liston
He may call himself a citizen of the world having spent the majority of his adult life living between Asia and Europe but here at Stones of the Yarra Valley, we are forever grateful that one of our favourites, Rick Liston, has returned home and settled back with his family to where it all began, the Yarra Valley.
Rick cannot imagine any other profession he would rather work in, shooting rad couples on the best day of their lives is what he adores and he will deliver heartfelt, laugh-filled, reliably awesome service each and every time. It’s this and many more reasons he’s one of our go-to recommendations!
When your wedding day rolls around, usually way faster than you expect, you will be joined not by a photographer, but by a friend with a camera who wants nothing more than for you to be able to see for yourselves what your loved ones do, two hearts combined!
We took a moment to chat to Rick and find out just a little bit more.
Tell us about yourself
I was born and raised in Healesville, and I think growing up in a small town gave me the sole focus of meeting as many people from as far away places as possible. Once I had that mindset, opportunities kind of fell into my lap that allowed me to keep going. I photographed for a British adventure wear brand with shoots all over the world, I was the first Australian on the Amazing Race, Johnnie Walker sent me on an overland odyssey from Singapore to Moscow to teach cricket to locals, I was the host of Getaway in China, and I got to see a lot of Asia working in TV and documentary. The pursuit of this crazy passion has enabled me to witness so many uniquely beautiful life stories that are far more inspiring than fiction.
I settled in Shanghai, as it was a melting pot of interesting people from every culture. One of them in particular caught my eye. A drop dead gorgeous fashion designer from Ibiza, who couldn’t understand a word of my Aussie accent but assumed I must be a surfer (I was careful not to correct her).
After five incredible years in Shanghai together, we moved to Ibiza and had our beautiful daughter, Vedra Jade. As much as we love scooting the streets of the French Concession in Shanghai and swimming in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, the Yarra Valley is where we now call home and after seeing so much of the world, there is honestly nowhere else we’d rather be.
What inspired you to become a photographer?
My travels through every continent taught me that everybody has a story. I’m rubbish at writing, but I loved how much of people I could capture in a series of photos. There is an immediate impact on me whenever I look through them, their stories flooding back to me. I think this is what has translated so well into shooting weddings and why it never feels like a job, but a passion project. Weddings truly are the perfect way to learn as much as possible about someone in the shortest time. On no other days in our life do we so openly share how we truly feel about each other. Partner to partner, parents to children, best mates to best mates. It takes a wedding for us to verbalise things we’ve perhaps never said before, and yet they have been deeply felt, in some cases all our lives. They create such heartfelt moments that are a blessing not just to photograph, but to witness. That’s the magic of photography, that while we may never hear those words again, the emotion lives on in the photos which transport us back to that exact moment, and that exact feeling, and your heart melts all over again.
In a few words, how would you describe your style?
Raw, unguarded and a little wild. I feel it strongly stems from my personality, my ability to get couples so comfortable with having me around that they’re free to be themselves. This is the path to getting photos that truly reflect how they felt on the day.
What’s your favourite spot at Stones to shoot?
The chapel. Hands down. Inside and out. I could shoot the whole wedding there, no problem. It’s just so visually appealing. I love the arching windows and doors, the sprawling Boston ivy and the majestic trees that overlook it. I love how beautifully it transitions from one season to the next. You can’t go wrong with some classic chapel photos.
What is your favourite time of year to shoot at Stones?
That would have to be autumn. There’s just something about that crimson ivy that gets me every time. I find myself running around the chapel like a madman finding more and more angles that blow me away.
What advice would you give to couples who are a little camera shy?
You’re not alone. Nearly every couple I sit with come to me with the same concerns. The idea of someone following you around with a camera can seem so daunting. But don’t worry, after years of shooting weddings I’ve got a long list of fun games and prompts to get you guys relaxed into being yourselves and celebrating your marriage together, rather than focusing on the camera. This way, your photos are naturally, uniquely and perfectly you. That’s why the decision of who photographs your wedding is one of the most important you’ll have to make. They’ll be with you throughout the whole day so be sure to get someone you feel comfortable with and who you can relax around.
Where do you get your inspiration?
From the couples themselves. I’m inspired by their stories and am so privileged to be the one asked to artfully represent those stories. I feed off their energy and how they interact. Every couple is different and I’ll never grow tired of setting out each wedding ready to fall in love with two more humans and the connection they share. That same underlying goal I had when I first left Healesville still motivates me today. Meet. Learn. Love.
