Hi I'm Jim Aldersey,

I'm the second, slightly taller half of Justin and Jim.  I am pretty fortunate that I get to do something I love every single day!  

I live in Bendigo with my daughter Hailey! She’s absolutely the best thing that’s ever happened to me and brings me so much joy watching the world through her eyes. She’s just turned 3 and it seems like everyday is an adventure exploring some place new, or going back to somewhere we love.

She’s one strong and determined little human and I live for every moment we spend together. So if I’m a little slow to reply, I’m probably with her or at a wedding!

As I write this it has been just over 7 years since I left my full-time job with the Bendigo Advertiser where I worked for about 5 years as a Photojournalist.  I learnt so many valuable things there, the most important being that there are no second chances.  That’s the approach I take with weddings - always be ready for the shot.  I like to think of myself as a relaxed photographer, I don't like to pose people. Sure, I will ask them to stand here or walk there but the rest is up to them. I find this way I can capture intimate moments that are real. I really love natural smiles and genuine laughter in my images. 

Here's a small gallery of some of my favourite images from my time with the Bendigo Advertiser. Most of these were featured on the front or back cover.

Before I started as a photojournalist I moved to Bendigo to study Visual Arts at La Trobe University. This was where I first discovered my passion for photography and light. I constantly walk around looking at how light hits people’s faces, reflects off walls and shines through windows and trees. I started shooting landscapes but I found putting people in those same images made it so much more personal and rewarding. 

I spent the Winter of 2015 working as a Lift Operator on Mount Hotham which was a great experience. I learnt all the things to do with lifts, how the mountain operates and got to snowboard every day. You really feel alive on top of a lift tower during gail force winds winds hitting the ice off before the sun rises, especially after a big night at the pub. Although it was great to put down the camera for work for a few months I still couldn't help myself doing a few shoots with friends and capturing some amazing sunrises from my bedroom. 

In January 2016 I was lucky enough to go to Japan for some of the best snow in the world. We stayed in a great little place called Myoko! It is still one of the more traditional snow towns which was pretty cool. We also stopped in Tokyo for a few nights, it was great walking around with so many things to photograph. 

On the way home from Japan we stopped by Cambodia and met up with our good friend Koky Saly from the Bee Keeper Parade. Each backpack they sell puts a child through English classes for a year! 

I love wakeboarding, snowboarding and dirt bikes because of the interesting places that it takes me with family and friends. Justin and I met after spending a lazy Sunday afternoon wakeboarding on Lake Eppalock. I’ve been lucky enough to combine my love of cars, motorcycles and photography on a few occasions, photographing everything from one of Australia's fastest offroad riders to a Lamborghini Adventador worth over 1 million dollars (and the owners dog Schnitzel!)

I love shooting weddings because it gets my heart pumping.It really gives me a buzz and I get to shoot all day, creating images that will be hung on walls and featured in albums handed down generation to generation. If you got through all of that well done! If you want to know anymore check out my personal Instagram @jimaldersey