Madeline Druce
When you grow up on a farm in rural New Zealand, finding ways to pass the time and keep yourself entertained is always a good idea. For documentary wedding photographer Madeline Druce, photography became that pastime for her. “I got into photography because my mum was always taking photos . . . she was trusting enough to let me use her beloved Nikon EF,” says Druce.
Despite knowing that she wanted to have a career in photography from a young age, Druce put those dreams on hold to fulfil another dream – competitive snowboarding. She spent five years between the winters of USA and NZ training and competing, but after a few major crashes, found that fear of more injury was holding her back from pushing further in the sport. It wasn’t until her camera gear was stolen from her father’s car when she was visiting him in New Zealand that she realised she had some decision-making to do about her future.
“Life up until then had been pretty fun. I was living the dream really, but I was at the age where I had to focus on the next step,” says Druce. It was around this time that she discovered Speos, an intensive 10-month photography course based in Paris that offered study with a focus on photojournalism, commercial, and fashion photography.
Since that year in Paris, Druce has continued to hone her skills, and in 2017 rated in the Top 10 for Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers in the Wedding category. “What I love about wedding photography is the constant challenges facing you every minute of the day. Light and shadow, precise timing, working with people, finding that perfect pocket of light, searching for something new and unique for each client,” she says. “I find that within wedding photography there’s just so much to push you to be better, but also trusting your instincts and listening to the voice that’s telling you you’re on the money is OK too.”
Another of Druce’s passions is travel photography – something she’s hoping to engage and pursue during the quiet season. “I want to constantly push myself. I want to let my experiences influence my work and I’m excited to see what’s ahead. The idea of continuously growing and honing my style is what it’s all about. There’s never an end point to this; it’s just a constantly moving boundary.”
madelinedruce.com
