Woodstock Winery Wedding – Michelle & Ryan

Michelle & Ryan
Woodstock Winery Wedding

It was a stunningly sunny day for Michelle and Ryan’s Woodstock winery wedding, just out of Mclaren Vale. I was asked to be their wedding photographer from their ceremony through to their first dance at their reception, whith photos in between down at Maslin Beach and of course using the vineyards about Woodstock winery.

Woodstock Winery Wedding Ceremony

The main appeal of having a Woodstock winery wedding in my book would have to be the beautiful picturesque, but still private surrounds of the winery. There is a large, open grassy area out the back of the main restaurant, lined by gum trees, bushes and of course the Woodstock winery’s vineyards nearby. Michelle and Ryan chose to set up their wedding ceremony so that the vineyards were the backdrop to their arbour.

The sun was out in full force throughout their ceremony, causing some rather harsh light shining on poor Michelle’s face, but thankfully the ceremony wasnt overly long and it also wasn’t so hot that it got uncomfortable – but the guests quickly found some shade before and after the ceremony.

The highlight of the ceremony would have to have been the moment when the exchanging of the rings was held up by Ryan and his best man’s antics where they faked forgetting the rings, only to reveal that their little dog was waiting in the wings with the rings tied around it’s collar.

wedding sign

Groom waiting patiently

Bride hiding behind the wall

Waiting out the front

Bride walking towards ceremony

Grooms first look of bride

Dad giving away bride

Together under the arbour

Wedding ceremony at Woodstock winery

Woodstock winery wedding ceremony

smiling bride during ceremony

Groom reading vows

Dog ring bearer

Woodstock winery wedding ceremony under the gum trees

exchanging the wedding rings

first kiss under the arbour

Woodstock winery wedding ceremony exit

Glamour Photos

What was a little different to most other weddings, was that directly after the Woodstock winery wedding ceremony, we immediately jumped into a bus waiting to take us down to the beach for the glamour photos – forgoing the usual family group photos that usually follow a ceremony. Michelle and Ryan had purposefully planned it this way so as to have a more relaxed, leasurely time down at the beach and to make sure they got all the photos they wanted.

I was quite excited by the copious number of flying seagulls in the air during Michelle and Ryan’s photoshoot on the beach, that it made it that much easier to have them smiling in their photos as they were laughing at my own antics being excited about the birds. Thankfully they held their distance away from us, along with another nearby wedding ceremony that was taking place a top the cliffs – nothing worse than gate crashing another wedding, but the birds made for an awesome backdrop in many of their photos!

After having photos on the beach, and posing for a Starwars themed photo, we then head back to Woodstock winery and used some lovely trees they have in their car park before being announced at the reception. During the reception, we head out for the family photos and used the dying sun for some photos amongst the nearby vineyards.

Bridal party walking to beach

Bride and groom walking down to the beach

Being all lovey

Bridal party walking the dog along the beach

Bridal party on the beach

Wedding couple walking along the beach

Wedding couple walking along the beach with their dog

Bridal couple kissing on the beach

Flowing veil on the beach

Bride and Groom on Maslin beach

Star Wars Wedding Photo

Minimal wedding photo of bride and groom on beach

Bride and groom on Maslins Beach

Beach shot

Bride and groom amongst the sanddunes

Bride and bridesmaids

Groomsmen

Kisses on the Beach boardwalk

Bride and groom amongst the Woodstock winery trees

Bride and groom amongst gum trees

Sitting together in the vineyards

Holding hands

Walking around the Woodstock winery

Walking through the woodstock winery vineyards

woodstock winery vineyards

Woodstock winery wedding at night

Woodstock Winery Wedding Reception

The wedding reception took place in the Woodstock winery’s beautiful two-tiered restaurant, with the head table in the center of the arc, and family tables lined up either side. There was no indoor dancefloor, so the first dance took place outside, and there was no shortage of people out there enjoying the wonderful, warm weather. Emotions were running high during the daddy daughter and monther, son dances with family members all joining in, and was lovely to see 🙂

Michelle and Ryan opted to have a cool, modern take on a wedding cake, having doughnuts piled up with a starwars themed topper, adding a little bit of quirkyness to the whole day.

Guestbook sign

Woodstock winery wine bottles

bridal entrace at Woodstock winery wedding reception

Helping with the veil

bride sharing a drink

Woodstock winery at dusk

Doughnut wedding cake

Inspecting rings

Engagement ring amongst bouquet

first dance

hugs on the dance floor

Daddy daughter dance

Singing

I’d like to thank Michelle and Ryan for having me photograph their special day, and I hope they enjoy their photos!

January 25, 2020/by Steven Duncan

PhotoShoot, Photoshoot

Batman cosplay photoshoot – Blackwood Batman

Batman Cosplay photoshoot
Blackwood Batman

Once in a while I might be asked to do something quite out of the ordinary, and very different to my usual wedding-related or family photography 🙂 One such time was when an old firend of mine asked if I could go out on a Batman cosplay photoshoot with him. It sounded like a bit of fun, so we went out and did it! It’s great as Anthony Chammas, or otherwise known as the ‘Blackwood Batman’ (ig @abatman94) dresses up in his Batman cosplay to inspire kids and head to hospitals, schools etc as a bit of a hobby, while also working as a personal life coach. He also has several other cosplay outfits, but Batman is his favourite.

For our little shoot, we made use of the rooftop parking in one of the carparks along Hindley street in the Adelaide CBD, whith the idea that I’d get some of the taller buildings in the city as a backdrop to mimic that of Gotham city’s skyline. We also made use of the dingy little allyways nearby, and even head all the way out to Crozier St in Port Adelaide to use the lovely weathered industrial walls out there. Much to the amusement of a security guard who asked what we were doing 🙂 As this was Batman I was shooting, I made use of some smoke bombs and smoke in a can to create the hazy effects seen in a few of these shots, while also applying some liberal colour adjustments to make the shots look more like they belong in Gotham city.

Blackwood Batman would very much be eager to act as an officiant at your wedding ceremony if you’d like that sort of thing 🙂 Just contact him through his IG page!

Batman cosplay photoshoot

Batman shadowplay

Batman retrieving his batarang

Batman standing menacingly

Blue light behind Batman

Angry batman

Batman striking a pose

Batman cosplay batarang in wall

batman black and white portrait

Batman cosplay looking out parking lot

Batman cosplay in Adelaide allyway

Batman cosplay portrait

Batman cosplay looking out over the city of Adelaide

Batman standing in the sun

Batman surveying his city

Batman shadow on joker grafitti

Batman looking around

Batman looking at bat signal

Blackwood batman

batman in an alley

January 19, 2020/by Steven Duncan

Wedding preview, Wedding

Heartfelt Asatru wedding on a farm – Astrid & Corey

bride and groom amongst foliage

It was a long time coming for Astrid and Corey’s Asatru wedding on a private farm near Mt Compass. Astrid had booked me a few years prior, but due to some unfortunate events had to postpone their big day until mid November, 2019. Their day was blessed with some amazing weather, beautiful scenery, some fluffy animals and plenty of emotion!

Preparation

Astrid and Corey were being prepared on the same farm, a short walk apart from one another in separate units that were constructed on opposite ends of the property. While Astrid and her bridal party were having their makeup done, Corey and his groomsmen were busy putting finishing touches on the outdoor reception setting, and I was able to take photos of the dress and any details already set up.

The walk between the main house where Astrid was being prepared and the hut that Corey was to get ready in was a great opportunity to plan out where we would take the glamour photos after the ceremony. The whole farm was a beautiful setting, and we were very much looking forward to seeing the sunset!

Bride standing in doorway

Wedding rings on box

Bride standing in doorway playing with flowers

Bridal bouquet in tree

bride putting on makeup

bridesmaid helping out

Decor

Corey putting on tie

Wedding dress hanging in tree

Groomsmen setting up asatru wedding altar

Bride playing with flowers

smiling bride while getting ready

Bride with Mum

Asatru wedding circle

bridal prep

Looking at bear

Groom about to get ready

Bridesmaids getting ready

Groom getting ready near door

Asatru wedding ceremony

In case anyone reading this is wondering, the Asatru faith is a religion which believes in the ancient Germanic spirits and Gods. It was officially recreated in the 1970s in Iceland, but its roots go back many thousands of years. The name comes from two words in a language called Old Norse. It means “faith in the Æsir.” The Æsir are the Germanic gods.

Astrid and Corey’s Asatru wedding involved having the ceremony inside a sacred circle, where each member of the bridal party were to light a flame surrounding an altar while stating pleasantries regarding the bridal couple. Corey had planned on having a Thor’s hammer sigil placed on the altar, but unfortunately it would not stick to the concrete before the ceremony, despite the best efforts of his groomsmen. Their Asatru wedding was presided over by a local Asatru priest, and included the drinking of mead from a communal chalice, the exchanging of swords and a hand fasting ceremony over a hammer.

I’m not overly knowledgeable about the proper names to call each of the aspects of an Asatru wedding ceremony I’ve just described, so I apologise if I have messed anything up. But what I learnt is that the ceremony is very much a family oriented affair, that celebrates the bonds each person involved has with the bridal couple as was wonderful to be a part of!

wedding sign

Groomsmen putting finishing touches on

Groom waiting patiently

Bridesmaids approach

bride and Mum appraoch

Grooms first look of bride

Asatru wedding priest

smiling groom

Lighting the flame during the Asatru wedding ceremony

Groom Lighting the flame during the Asatru wedding ceremony

Bride holding bouquet

Asatru wedding ceremony

laughing bride during wedding ceremony

laughing bride during

bride and groom at altar together

groom looing at bride

hand fasting ceremony

Asatru hand fasting

Holding the wedding swords

Bride holding a wedding sword

Drinking of mead

together getting married

together getting married on the farm

Bride and groom exit

Glamour Photos

Directly after the ceremony and family photos, Astrid had arranged for a native animal display from a local company to have a chat and bring in some cuddly animals. These ranged from an adorable sugar glider through to a large python and a baby croc – much to the delight of Corey who is employed as a snake catcher.

After the animal display, we went for a walk along the farm land to make use of the dying sun filtering through the lovely trees and wide, open cow pastures for some glamour photos. The jovial nature of Astrid and Corey meant that the whole photo shoot was full of smiles, and fun times between the two of them.

owl

wombat

Bride holding wombat

Flying glider

snake

kissing the bride

bride and groom in front of bridal party

all the bridal party

close up of sugar glider

Sugar glider with bride and groom

bride and groom with snake

Tiny danger lizard

Hugs with the wombat

Wedding swords

bride and groom under the sun

Bride and groom amongst the tall grass

laughing bride and groom

hugs on a walk

bright bride and groom

walking together in the farm

Laughing together in the trees

standing together amongst the trees

amongst the trees together

bride and groom amongst foliage

holding hands

kiss behind the bouquet

Farm reception

Out the back of the farm house, on the lawn was where Astrid and Corey held their wedding reception. There were 4 different kinds of mead available on tap, along with a rather speccy ice sculpture where you were to pour your mead inside it to cool it, before recaptureing it pouring out the end. Their wedding cake was also embalzoned by Thor’s hammer. the reception was a fairly casual affair where heartfelt, and emotional speeches were heard, while the house’s decking was used as the dancefloor.