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The Manor Basket Range Wedding – Kate & John

It was such a joy to head back out for a big wedding after having South Australian COVID restrictions ease for weddings! I saw myself at The Manor Basket Range, a majestic wedding venue for Kate and Josh’s wedding on a stunningly sunny day; despite it still being winter!

 

it was a super fun day to be a part of, and I even met some long lost relatives as it turned out I was actually related to half of the guests somehow! Adelaide is such a small city, and it’s so much fun to meet people and head to weddings because of it!

Preparation

The day turned out to be a fairly long one for me, with Kate and her girls requesting I first meet them in Hahndorf while they were having their hair and makeup done early in the morning! Which was fine, it just emant I had to get up ealier 😛

I then head on over tot he bed and breakfast that John and his groomsmen were getting ready. I Unfortuately put my foot in it in the mornign and called John ‘Josh’ so much in the mornign that the boys just ran with it for the rest of the day as they found it pretty funny 😛 Sorry John!

The boys were all pretty laid back, having had a bit of a board game night the night before, and leasurely got ready – until it was time to put on their ties that is. Only one of them knew how to properly tie a tie so that took up most of the time I was there 🙂

The bed and breakfast boardered a farm with some llamas and featured a cubby house which we very much took advantage of.

Grooms watch on ties
Wedding rings on table
Grooms suit jacket
Belt and ties
Groom smiling while putting on cufflinks
Helping out with the ties
Smiling groomsman 3
Groom looking happy
Groom adjusting tie in window 2
Groomsmen joking about 2
Groom putting finishing touches on
Groom and groomsmen in cubby house 2

Once the girls had had their hair and makeup done in Hahndorf, they made their way to the Manor to put on their dresses and take a few shots helping Kate get into her wedding dress.

I made sure to make use of the amazing huge chandelier in the entrance lobby to the Manor to really put a bit of medieval flair to their preparation photos, as after all they were getting ready in a castle! Fun tidbit, the last time I was at a The Manor Basket range wedding was back when it was called Camelot castle.

The girsl got ready without much fuss, and made a point of having Kate’s Dad come in for a bit of a father daughter ‘first look’ as he had not seen his daugher in her wedding dress prior to the day. It’s always a lovely moment to share!

 

Wedding dress hanging illuminated by window
bride through doorway 2
Lacing up the wedding dress
Laughing bride in mirror
Medieval bride getting ready
bride overlooking chandelier
Bride standing in dark room
Close up of bride under veil 2
Bride being silly on shae lounge
Bride at The Manor Basket Range
Dad’s first look 3
Dad’s first look 4

The Manor Basket Range Wedding Ceremony

As a mentioned earlier, The Manor was once called ‘Camelot Castle’ due to the fact that it’s built in the image of a medieval castle, complete with a small stone chaple, snuggled amongst a garden and tall battlements along the top of the manor. In front of the chapel is usually where wedding ceremonies are held, and Kate and John’s was no exception.

One exceptional thing about Kate and John’s The Manor Basket Range wedding ceremony though was Kate’s surprise entrance flanked by 5 medieval knights in full battle armour! Apparently there were supposed to be 6, but one could not make it. They took up position behind the bridal party during the ceremony and formed a guard of hnour as it ended.

Another highlight of Kate and John’s ceremony was their hand fasting, which culminated quite cleverly in a ceremonial ‘tying of the knot‘ to mark their union.

bridal approach at The Manor Basket Range
Father and Bride walking together
bride during wedding ceremony 2
The Manor Basket range wedding Ceremony
Groom looking at his bride during the wedding ceremony
Hand Fasting ceremony 2
Best man with the rings
Exchanging wedding rings 5
The Manor Basket Range wedding ceremony in front of the chapel
Tieing the knot 2
The Manor Basket Range wedding ceremony 2
First kiss 5
Wedding ceremony in front of the chapel
bridal exit at The Manor Basket range

Medieval Tournament

Directly after the ceremony, the knights that formed an honour guard around Kate and John headed towards the grassy area in front of the Manor Basket range’s accomodation area to conduct a short tournament.

Kate was asked to select her ‘champion’ knight and attach her colours in the form of a handkerchief around the arm of her selected knight as what would have happened back in medieval times had a noble woman been watching. In this case it was the bride – the most important lady on the day!

It was a really neat spectical to witness, with the knights from Ironclad Academy really going at it and hitting each other wish some force! They were also really neat sporta about having photos with the bridal party and guests, and I even managed to get in for a shot!

As Kate and John had a bit of a Harry Potter theme going on in their reception, I also phtooshopped a bit of a cheesy Harry Potter photo where they were fending off the knights with magic. Bit silly 😛

Fighting Knights
Knight Fight
Knight tournament
Knight ready for a fight
Knight in front of bridal party
Fighting knights at The Manor Basket Range
Medieval Tournament at a wedding
Groomsmen with swords
Good looking guest
Grandma with sword
Grandma victorious
Bride and Groom standing over dead bodies
Harry Potter Wedding Photo

Glamour Photos

We then had some time to meander around the grounds and used the grounds to take some wonderful glamour phtoos of Kate, John and their bridal party.

The best time to take The Manor Bastket range wedding photos I found was certainly towards the end of the day, particularly as it was such a sunny day! The sun hides behind the nearby hills nicely to create quite a magical aura around the grounds to make some beautiful photos!

I also coerced Kate and John outside during their reception to make use fo the unique architecture the Manor offers!

Bridal party in the gardens
Kiss in front of the Manor Basket Range
In amongst the trees 2
Bridal party together in the trees
Having a bit of fun on their wedding day
Bride and groom in the castle gardens
Bride and groom in the castle gardens 2
Bride and groom in front of the manor basket range’s chapel
The Manor Basket range Wedding Photo
Birdal party acting out Charlies Angels
bride and groom in amongst the lights
Kiss under the lights
Bridal party on the foot bridge
Traditional wedding photo
Close up of engagement ring 2
The Manor Basket Range doorway photo
bride and Groom under the castle doorway
The Manor Basket Range Wedding Photo at night

The Manor Basket Range Wedding Reception

As the the COVID restirctions had eased before Kate and John’s wedding in South Australia, there were still plenty of rules to follow so that we minimised the risk of potentially spreading an infection. This included the banning of dancing on the dance floor, and drinking while standing throughout the night.

That being said though, I felt as though all of the guests respected these restrictions and really had a blast of a time anyway! The night really was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed my first large wedding back immensely!

Table setup
Nametag 2
Harry Potter wedding cake
Stein
Look its a camera!
Mobile phone photo 2
Kiss through the crowd
Cutting the Harry Potter wedding cake
Crossing arms
Having fun 3
Kiss during first dance 2
Hugs from relative
First dance at The Manor Basket Range wedding
Shoe game 2

Thanks so much to Kate and John for having me photograph your The Manor Basket Range wedding! Hope you enjoy your photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!

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2 Things That Affect Your Wedding Photos More Than Expected

  • Groom looking at bride

 

What can Affect Your Wedding Photos

Planning for your wedding photography session is just as exciting as planning for the big day itself. You have different ideas on how you want the wedding photos to come out, where you want to hold the photoshoot, what theme you want to follow, and so much more. After all, you will want to make sure that the finished results are as beautiful and as remarkable as your wedding day.

Before you proceed with your photoshoot session, however, you should know that there are other factors that can affect your wedding photos. Other than you and your partner’s beautiful smiles and your chosen location, here are two important factors that impact your wedding images.

Bride and groom on the rocks on their wedding day

2 Factors That Affect Your Wedding Photos More Than You Expect

  1. The photographer’s style

If you want more personality and professionalism in your pictures, hiring a professional wedding photographer to capture your most precious moments is the way to go.

As you look for these professionals, you should remember that each wedding photographer’s style is different from another. While you are sure you will be getting professional service, their photos will have a different style or mood portrayed in them.

Some artists would be great in coaching and directing you, while others will have more of a photojournalist approach to capture your emotions in the most natural way possible. Some will have a bias towards light-coloured backgrounds like the sea and the sky, while others produce dark and dramatic portraits.

Considering all of these, you must look at the portfolio of the prospective wedding photographer to make sure that you are working with someone whose style is close to your preference.

Belair National Park wedding photo
  1. The time of your shoot and your wedding

Aside from your venue, the decorations, and your wedding’s theme, the time of your shoot will greatly affect your wedding photos. If you want to be very specific with the mood to be captured in your images and you have time around the pre-wedding photoshoot and the ceremony, coordinate with your photographer to determine which part of the day works best for your ideas.

If you have a preference for certain types of scenes you’d want captured on your day, a good idea is to show your wedding photographer examples and they would be able to provide advice as to whe would be the best time to have that certain shot done. After all your choice of wedding photographer themself would be the biggest affect on your wedding photos.

If you want to achieve a bright mood, having your pre-wedding portrait session in the morning in a place where the sunrise is beautiful is a great idea. However, you will have to be strict with the time to make sure you’re getting the most of that rising sun’s beauty. If you want for something scenic, having a photoshoot featuring the setting sun is another excellent idea. Lastly, if you want to achieve an intimate and romantic mood, taking your portraits at night with candle lights is an idea that you might want to explore.

Paxton Winery wedding night shot

Your wedding is a momentous occasion for you and your partner, and it’s essential to keep these precious memories in images that you can always look back to after years into your marriage. Don’t forget your wedding guest books too! As you search for a wedding photographer to cover your big day, keep in mind things that can affect your wedding photos, including the two factors we mentioned above, and you’ll surely achieve the images you desire.

If you are looking for a wedding photographer to work with, we are the one you’re looking for! We love travelling all around Australia to Hobart, Darwin, Canberra and of course Adelaide and also love International weddings! We know that your wedding is your ultimate celebration of love, so we work hard to capture your genuine smiles in stunning photogrpahy you will love looking back to.

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How to get great wedding photos working with your photographer

  • hugs amongst the vines

How to get great wedding photos

One of the essential elements of a successful wedding is great photography in order to look back at your memories in years to come. With the popularity of social media and the vast developments in photography, couples have begun to expect more from their photographers. They wanted prettier pictures, better videos, and more content overall.

Port Noarlunga wedding

And as the industry of wedding photography continues to grow, so too do the expectations upon photographers to get great wedding photos.

What makes a good wedding photographer?

A good wedding photographer is able to blend into the background, only stealing focus from the bride and groom when a bit of an act is needed to get everyones attention for a big group photo.

They should be able to employ a number of different techniques and styles, using these to tailor their photography to the couple’s preferences – but also staying true to the unique vision each photographer represents in their past work. You’re not like to hire a photographer that doesnt have a good track record in the ability to get great wedding photos are you?

A good, modern photographer should also be able to put their subjects at ease, to create photos that are more natural, real and authentic. A more traditional photographer might take a different stance on this, but that’s up to your preference.

Belair National Park wedding photo 2

How can I help get great wedding photos and make it easier for my photographer?

There are many things you can do to improve the quality of your wedding photos by working with your photographer. Keep in mind that every wedding photographer works slightly differently so adapations need to be made, but here are a few ideas to help get great wedding photos:

  1. Build a relationship with your photographer.

A photographer understands that your wedding day is one of the most important events in your life and that there is an added level of vulnerability when it comes to taking intimate photos. It may be difficult to loosen up with a photographer present, but talking candidly with them while they are taking your photos can help build some trust.

Just like any relationship, the foundation of the connection between photographer and subject relies on trust. Trust your photographer, and your photos can come out a lot better. The best way to do this is meeting up with your photographer before your day, just to have a bit of a chat.

Sharing a coffee like this is the most effective way to find out if you share important personality traits and to simply find out if you’d be keen on spending any amount of time with this person – let alone your wedding day!

Driving toward Chateau Tanunda
  1. Forget your photographer exists.

In modern wedding photography, if every single one of your photos is of you looking directly into the camera, then something has gone amiss. The happiest day of your life consists of more authentic and intimate moments than everyone smiling for the camera.

Allow your photographer to fade into the background so that they can take beautiful candid photos. Candid photos are just as important as photos posing for the camera. In many cases, they are more likely to recreate a real and important moment in your lives and evoke an emotion later on while reminicing about your day!

laughing
  1. Inform your guests of your wedding day’s rules regarding photography.

Wedding guests are often the wild card at any event and can make or break your wedding photography. Telling them how you want them to behave for the cameras, or with their own cameras can prevent any unexpected incidents. Informing them of any theme can also make it easier for the photographer to frame and take photos that everybody will love.

Another option that is becoming more and more popular at weddings is going for device-less, or ‘unplugged’ weddings. Device-less weddings prevent amateur photographers from taking photographs of their own and getting in the way of your trained professional. This can prevent the awkward pointing of camera phones blocking your actual wedding photographer from taking a photo. It can also help the guests be more in the moment, which can help create better photos.

Mobile phone
  1. Make sure your photographer is coordinated with the events.

It is not uncommon at weddings for a few of the guests to come up with a beautiful surprise for the bride and groom. It can be a large gift, or a surprise performance from the bride, groom, or a beloved musician.

If the photographer is not informed of such surprises, the chances of them being able to capture that moment in all its splendour are greatly diminished. If you have a wedding planner, make sure that the photographer is made aware of their plans.

What I usually do is ask for a simple timeline of a wedding day which helps me be in position for any events that are planned for the day, and it’s often the case that if the guests are planning a surprise then someone tells me about it during the day at some point.

If they dont then my experience kicks in when I think something is going to happen and this is a big reaosn why you’d want to hire an experienced wedding photographer!

Boys having fun on the dance floor

Weddings are a tender and historic moment in our lives. It is only right that you wish to capture them for all their beauty with great wedding photography. However you may decide to go about your wedding, a wedding photographer is a must. The right wedding photographer for you can make the joy of your most precious day last a very long time.

If you’re planning your wedding day, I’d love to put up my hand as an experienced wedding photographer! Whether it be in Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart, Canberra or international, you only need to check out my portfolio of previous weddings to understand that I’d be sure to get great wedding photos for you to enjoy for decades to come!

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Babys First Year – 4 Stages for Great Professional Photos

First Year Baby Photos

The first twelve months of a child’s life is a bright and exciting time for both the parents and the child. As a parent, you’ll have many opportunities to capture photos of these early stages to cherish for years to come.

While some may opt for having their young children photographed every month, another option that can be more meaningful is to capture special milestones in their growth and development. These different stages during a babys first year can serve as treasured and lasting memories that you and your child (once they’re old enough) can look back on.

Baby’s First Year Photo Opportunities

To give you a better idea of these stages during babys first year, here are some key moments in your baby’s life when you might like to consider getting their photos taken by a professional:

  1. Newborn: The Sleeping Baby

You’ve probably seen this a lot—a baby sleeping soundly in a basket or wrapped in a blanket with a simple backdrop. These types of photos are usually taken with newborn babies.

If you have a newborn and want to take beautiful snaps of him or her, the sleeping baby pose is an excellent choice. They are ideal for babies who are only days or weeks old because this is when they sleep a lot and can still curl up in a fetal position.

Little ones dont stay this little for very long, and they are absolutely adorable when they are asleep!

Fast asleep
  1. At Three Months: The Tummy Time

Once your baby is three months old, their individual personality will start to shine through. This is also when they should ideally be able to prop their head up by themself while laying on their tummy. At this point, they should be spending more time awake and let out the occasional smile—the perfect time to snap a few photos and capture their innocence.

Happy bub
  1. At Six to 10 Months: The Seated Baby

Your baby sitting down on their own is a big milestone during baby’s first year, and you should document this stage as it’s a huge moment in their life. The “seated baby” photograph is best for babies between six to ten months old. The shoots are often styled, and you get to have better photos because this is when the baby frequently smiles and giggles. Additionally, they are very curious at this stage, which makes this photo session a lot of fun.

Happy bub in the grass
  1. The First Birthday

The first birthday is one of the significant milestones in your baby’s life, so it definitely calls for a photo session. Photographers can style the session based on your baby’s personality. Usually, you’ll get photos of your baby while they’re playing around, ‘smashing’ their cake, and other adorable moments that only a camera can capture. It;’s also a lot of fun to let them loose with a tin of spaghetti!

I have a cake!

Having baby photos professionally taken will give you keepsakes that will last a lifetime. Fortunately, there are plenty of professional photographers out there who specialise in capturing 1-year baby photos.

Make sure to choose a photographer who you’re comfortable working with and understands your tastes. You also need to ensure that they have proper training to handle your baby during the shoot. Even when you’re there, the photographer must know how to work with babies, especially newborns.

That being said, remember the different stages highlighted above and use them as our inspiration for your 1 year baby. Feel free to adjust them to your liking, as the memories are for you to cherish!

If you’re looking for a reputable Adelaide-based newborn photographer to take professional baby photos, then look no further! SvenStudios is happy to capture the special moments of your baby’s life. Contact us today for more information.

 

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3 Reasons to Have an Engagement Photoshoot

  • Engagement ring

 

Why have an Engagement Photoshoot?

Hiring a professional photographer is essential to modern weddings. It’s an art that captures special moments – from the blushing bride’s walk down the aisle, the bittersweet dance between father and daughter, to everything in between. One aspect of a couple’s relationship that is overlooked on a wedding day however is the pure, unfiltered love that you show to one another outside of such a formal occasion – which is where an engagement photoshoot steps in.

Wedding photography is a widely common practice, but having an engagement photoshoot is steadily gaining the spotlight as it offers a sneak peek into the couple’s love story leading up to the big day. Couples shoots can be a lot of fun too!

It’s easy to think that an engagement photoshoot only adds to your expenses, and isnt really needed, but the list below explores the reasons every couple should say “I do” to it.

3 Reasons to Have an Engagement Photoshoot

Benefit #1: Establish Trust and Familiarity

You may have hired a photographer that matches your style, but there’s nothing more effective than putting your chemistry together to the test. An engagement photoshoot can reduce your jitters and make you feel more comfortable in front of the lens, allowing both parties to understand each other’s best and worst angles and what each other would be comfortable with.

It helps reveal any instances that make the bride or groom uncomfortable, allowing the photographer to ensure you can smile confidently and capture it easily on your wedding day. Not to mention, feeling relaxed can go a long way in creating natural-looking shots that you can cherish for the rest of your life.

From above

Benefit #2: Provides an Opportunity to Do a Make-Up Trial

Your dream hair-do and make-up may look stunning behind a mirror, but it’s possible to capture something you may not have noticed when in front of a camera, and Photoshop only helps so much. With that in mind, having a pre-wedding engagement photoshoot gives room for you to experiment with your look.

makeup

Benefit #3: Makes For a Unique Save the Date, or invitations

Pre-wedding photography not only provides an opportunity to do trial runs, but you can also use it to add a more intimate and quirky touch to your Save the Date cards and/or invitations. Attaching a snapshot of the happy couple can be exciting and gives it a more personalized approach, making it a memento to keep as your friends and family anticipate the special day.

If you’re planning on placing a photo of the two of you on either a save the date or your invitiations, please dont resort to a shot you took on your phone! Invest in an engagement photoshoot for much better results!

Hugs under the maple leaves

 

The best wedding photography is one that is filled with special moments that capture the intense emotions of your big day. Engagement photography gives you some time to break down your awkwardness, allowing you to embrace candidness and celebrate your love together without any limitations. Can be a great date idea too! 😀

Don’t be afraid to opt to have a destination photoshoot either, as this would allow for you to make use of some incredible scenery, while not having to pay for an entire destination wedding!

If you’re looking to capture the beautiful moments leading up to your special day, I offer great deals on engagement photoshoots, both locally and around Australia! We’re the best wedding photographers in Australia to ask, so get in touch with us now!