
Australian bride-to-be Stephanie Agnew, 31, recently went shopping for her dream wedding dress alongside her mother, father, brother and best friend.

But the experience was a little different for Miss Agnew and her mother as they both have Cone-Rod Dystrophy - the condition leaving Miss Agnew only able to see some light and dark shapes and her mother with no vision at all.

Miss Agnew's photographer, James Day, asked to be there for the moment she went dress shopping for two reasons.

The first, to offer an insight into what his friend's life is like and her story and the second, to capture every moment of her journey in the hope that one day she may be able to relive these moments if medicine progresses and they are able to restore her eye sight.

Australian bride-to-be Stephanie Agnew, 31, recently went shopping for her dream wedding dress alongside her mother, father, brother and best friend

But the experience was a little different for Miss Agnew and her mother as they both have Cone-Rod Dystrophy - the condition leaving Miss Agnew only able to see some light and dark shapes and her mother with no vision at all

Miss Agnew's photographer, James Day, asked to be there for the moment she went dress shopping for two reasons - to share her story and to be able to show her the photos should medicine progress and she is cured (pictured is Miss Agnew's mother)

What is Cone-Rod Dystrophy? The condition characteristically leads to early impairment of vision. An initial loss of color vision and of visual acuity (due to loss of cone function) is followed by nyctalopia (night blindness) and loss of peripheral visual fields (due to loss of rod function). There are, currently, no proven or effective cures for cone-rod dystrophies. Advertisement

'My mum was diagnosed with Cone-Rod Dystrophy when I was 18. At first they thought she had a brain tumour but it was this retinal dystrophy that leads to blindness,' Miss Agnew told FEMAIL.

'They thought it was a new gene mutation as we had no family history but I was diagnosed a year later when I was 19 and now three out of four of us [my siblings and I] have been diagnosed.

'I gave in my licence when I was 23 which was really hard as I was a property manager and my sight then stabilised as it was for a while before deteriorating very quickly between the ages of 27 and 30. I'm now left with light and dark perception and can see some shapes and shadows.'

Miss Agnew, who stayed in real estate for 11 years despite her condition, said she has 'completely accepted' her vision loss and has been thankful to have her mum by her side as a role model.

'My mum was diagnosed with Cone-Rod Dystrophy when I was 18. At first they thought she had a brain tumour but it was this retinal dystrophy that leads to blindness,' Miss Agnew told FEMAIL

'They thought it was a new gene mutation as we had no family history but I was diagnosed a year later when I was 19 and now three out of four of us [my siblings and I] have been diagnosed,' she said

Miss Agnew, who stayed in real estate for 11 years despite her condition, said she has 'completely accepted' her vision loss and has been thankful to have her mum (right) by her side as a role model

'If they don't find a cure I'll be okay. I'd love them to, I really would, but I'll be okay.'

I was really scared I would have a breakdown in the shop... I didn't want to look in the mirror and not be able to see the dress.

Miss Agnew asked photographer Mr Day to photograph her wedding, which will take place in November 2018, as they had known each other since their school days and he had photographed her before.

'I knew his work was amazing as he photographed me in 2008 and I loved his work so much,' she said.

'He wanted to come with us when I tried on dresses as he wanted to tell the whole story and I was completely fine with that - as long as he didn't take any photos of "the" dress!'

Miss Agnew went dress shopping alongside her mother, father, brother - who has his sight - and one of her good friends.

'If they don't find a cure I'll be okay. I'd love them to, I really would, but I'll be okay,' she said

'I was really nervous and anxious and scared I would have a breakdown in the shop because it is such a big moment for a woman and I didn't want to look in the mirror and not be able to see the dress,' Miss Agnew said

But Miss Agnew didn't get upset and had an incredible day where she tried on 18 stunning dresses

'I was really nervous and anxious and scared I would have a breakdown in the shop because it is such a big moment for a woman and I didn't want to look in the mirror and not be able to see the dress,' Miss Agnew said.

'I was worried I would put it on and just cry.'

But Miss Agnew didn't get upset and had an incredible day where she tried on 18 stunning dresses.

'It was frustrating at first because my entourage was so nice and they weren't critical enough but then they got into it,' she said.

'I'd get in the dress and get on the podium and then the shop assistants would describe the dress in detail and then Mum would get up and feel the dress and we'd discuss it.

'I'd get in the dress and get on the podium and then the shop assistants would describe the dress in detail and then Mum would get up and feel the dress and we'd discuss it,' she said

'It was so much more than a sighted person would do which is good in a way, it was great to have that sense of touch and feeling and all of that description it made into such an amazing experience,' she said

'It was so much more than a sighted person would do which is good in a way, it was great to have that sense of touch and feeling and all of that description it made into such an amazing experience.'

Miss Agnew was worried she wouldn't get the feeling that it was "the one" because she couldn't see it - but she was wrong.

'Even though I couldn't see it I knew it was the one immediately. I had goosebumps immediately and that feeling that brides talk about,' she said.

'I honestly can't wait for Rob to see it.'

'Even though I couldn't see it I knew it was the one immediately. I had goosebumps immediately and that feeling that brides talk about,' she said

Miss Agnew met her fiancé Robert Campbell in October, 2016, after living next door to him for 18 months

Mr Day shared the incredible photographs and his experience on his website and said delivering the images to Miss Agnew was a completely new experience for him.

'This morning I picked up the phone and delivered images in a way that I've never delivered images before. The phone call went a little something like this,' he said.

'"Hey Steph, your photos are ready and I'm going to describe them to you. I've written a story about each one and I'm going to explain what was happening in each image."'

Above each image, Mr Day vividly described what was going on - from the colours and shapes to the emotions and the backgrounds.

Above each image, Mr Day vividly described what was going on - from the colours and shapes to the emotions and the backgrounds

'I've never seen him. I know his build - he is six foot four and I am five foot four so he is a lot taller than me - and I know he has broad shoulders but other than that I have to rely on descriptions,' she said

'Everyone there had something to offer when it came to helping her choose a dress. Steph's dad would explain what he would see and Steph's mum would explain how it felt to touch,' Mr Day said.

'We take photos to remember moments, but during this journey it's got me thinking about the ways that photography can be experienced even when it's not seen. The reason for sharing the explanation for each of the images is so that Steph can get an idea of what I saw in each of the images.

'I'd be lying if I said I didn’t shed a few tears in this experience and I know that we all felt something as we shared this moment together.'

Miss Agnew met her fiancé Robert Campbell in October, 2016, after living next door to him for 18 months.

Miss Agnew did this shoot with James Day in 2008 when she was 21

'We had been living 1.5 metres apart for 18 months but because I was in real estate and he was a policeman we never really crossed paths,' Miss Agnew said.

'We met in the October at a drinks function our building was hosting and we didn't really get off on the right foot - he was almost too much - but then he wooed me and a month later we went on a date and it was fantastic.

'I've never seen him. I know his build - he is six foot four and I am five foot four so he is a lot taller than me - and I know he has broad shoulders but other than that I have to rely on descriptions.'

Just over a year later on Christmas Day, 2017, Mr Campbell proposed.

Miss Agnew hopes that by sharing her experience she can inspire and help others who are losing or who have lost their sight

'When people tell you that you can't do something you can't let that affect you,' she said

'We had spoken about marriage and I said if he ever proposed I would want my family there or involved somehow,' Miss Agnew said.

'We were all there and I felt the box and he had given me an Apple TV but apparently my face dropped because it wasn't a ring box but then he surprised me and got down on one knee and did a little speech.

'I was so thrilled and it was just a beautiful, surprising moment.'

Miss Agnew hopes that by sharing her experience she can inspire and help others who are losing or who have lost their sight.

'I was really unsure about the whole bridal process to the point where I wanted to just go to the registry because I didn't think I could deal with it. But it's been such an enjoyable process so far and I am so glad we are going ahead with it,' she said

Miss Agnew will marry her beau in November in Queensland and can't wait to reveal her dream dress to her waiting groom

'When people tell you that you can't do something you can't let that affect you,' she said.

'It has pushed me to want to succeed even more.

'I was really unsure about the whole bridal process to the point where I wanted to just go to the registry because I didn't think I could deal with it. But it's been such an enjoyable process so far and I am so glad we are going ahead with it.

'Everyone has hurdles so it's important to dig deep within yourself and understand that life can be hard but there are always ways to deal with things.'

Miss Agnew will marry her beau in November in Queensland and can't wait to reveal her dream dress to her waiting groom.

James Day shares his work on his website and Facebook page.