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5 Tips To Achieve Perfect Wedding Photos Without A Photographer

5 Tips To Achieve Perfect Wedding Photos Without A Photographer 

Planning a wedding is perhaps one of the most exciting journeys in one’s life. The joy of sharing such a milestone with the person you want to spend the rest of your days with is quite an experience you wish to intimately remember in more ways than one. However, a wedding is also a bed of roses that consists of challenges you need to overcome as a couple. 

Among these challenges would be the financial burden that a wedding can painstakingly take its toll on you. Even if you want the best for your special day, the budget can restrict you from having the best and the most expensive things. But of course, there’s no way you’re letting the burden get the best of you. Instead, you have to think of ways to achieve the wedding of your dreams on a budget. 

Wedding Photography 101: Sans The Photographer 

Naturally, your instinct would be to make a list of wedding preps and effects that you can downgrade or possibly get rid of so you can save more money. For sure, not hiring a professional photographer has crossed your mind, especially after knowing the typical rates of such services nowadays.  Capturing wedding photos without a photographer is sure to save a chunk of money!

Personally as a professional photographer myself, I’d always advise against foregoing such an expense, as the photography you receive as a result of your wedding often represents the only memories you will retain going forward with your life. However I am also realistic with the notion that photographs are not always the most important items on people’s checklists. Hence this blog post! This may also help you realise how valuable having someone who has the experience is!

Wedding Photos

If you’re wondering if you could make it work, here are some tips you can try to achieve the perfect wedding photos without a photographer: 

  • Invest In A Good Camera 

You may think that this isn’t a practical tip since you still have to shell out money to purchase your first camera. However, if you think about it, investing in a good one won’t only mean having the ability to take beautiful and high-quality photos for your big day. Even when the day is over, the camera stays with you, and you can use it for other special memories you want to capture as you embark on your married life.  

Moreover, there are several digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras in the market that you can consider based on your budget. They’re fairly easy to use and won’t even require professional skills to operate them. Alternatively, you can consider buying a second-hand camera that can serve the same purpose.

  • Know What Accessories You Need 

To make sure your camera will work as expected, you might want to consider purchasing additional gear and accessories for an ultimate setup. A tripod, for one, can greatly help in stabilizing the camera. Hence, you won’t need to worry about blurry or out-of-focus shots.  

Having a tripod also makes it possible to get photos of you and your spouse together, mainly if no one else knows how to use the gear. Group shots are also achievable because of this incredible accessory.

Just make sure you learn how to assemble and attach the timer so you won’t have a hard time navigating it when the day of the wedding comes. Also, find out how to set the camera’s timer, which will be greatly useful when you’re taking group and couple shots. 

  • Make Use Of Beautiful And Natural Backdrops 

If you’re having an outdoor wedding, you won’t run out of beautiful and creative ideas for a backdrop. Trees and flowering plants will suffice if you want to capture candid and romantic photos of yourself and your partner. If you can’t find such options, you can also take pictures in the venue with a stunning view or setting. 

If you know you won’t have enough natural backdrops to utilize, you can prepare a dedicated corner in the venue where you can set up a photo booth of some sort. You can then adorn it with artificial or fresh flowers, depending on your budget. 

  • Ask Your Guests And Friends 

Although you can try, it’s nearly impossible to do all the picture taking yourself. There’ll be times when you need to entertain your wedding guests, so it’s also a good idea to ask your friends if they can hold the camera for a few minutes and start snapping away when you’re too occupied to do it. 

If you have friends who are good with cameras, try to ask for their help. Just be sure not to burden them entirely because, of course, they also want to enjoy the day as much as everyone else does. 

You could also host a bit of a ‘photo hunt‘ with your guests using a QR code based photo collection app like Selfbooth. This gives your guests a bit of a gamified reason to head out and take photos for you during your day, and with everyone with a smart phoone on them these days should result in a lot of photos.

Wedding photo hunt invitation encourages guests to capture and share memorable moments using a QR code, with a list of suggested shots to photograph.

  • Seize The Lighting 

If you don’t know it yet, certain times of the day are considered the best times to take amazing photos. The golden hour, for example, is when the sunlight is less squinting and can look naturally beautiful when taken at a good angle. To achieve perfect wedding photos, it’s recommended you start your pictorial at least an hour before sunset.  

You can use the camera’s flash to avoid getting annoying shadows on faces, especially if you’re doing the shoot outdoors. Additionally, pay extra attention to everything around your image. Eyesores can easily get captured in your photos, such as garbage cans or a tree branch obscuring your face.

Wedding photos in album

Final Thoughts 

Wedding photos don’t have to be expensively taken for them to be beautiful. Sometimes, all it takes is a good eye and enough preparation on your end. If you want to save chunks of money on your wedding day, consider taking your own photos. Just be sure to consider some of the tips above so you can have perfect photos.

I’m not going to lie, being your own photographer and shooting wedding photos without a photographer is going to be tricky, but it probably can be done!

 

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A Professional Wedding Photographer’s Advice to Every Couple

A Wedding Photographer’s Advice to Every Couple

Every couple should make sure they have done all the research to ensure their big day’s success. Look up the do’s and don’ts and the must-have lists, so you don’t miss any essential details in your wedding photography, videography and your day in general! While searching online and asking friends can give them good advice, one crucial source they might miss out on is their wedding photographer themself. 

Your wedding phtoographer is bound to be an endless source of wedding information – particularly if they are someone like me who not only loves the idea of being at weddings every weekend, but also the reason why we do what we do at weddings – from historical traditon to modern day convenience or prestige.

This article will enumerate five pieces of advice to every couple that professional wedding photographers want everyone to know about planning their wedding day. 

Family together on wedding day

Advice to Every Couple

1: Let Your Photographer Join You When Making a Shot List

The shot list a crucial document for every wedding. This list includes the wishlist of images that the couple wants captured. While any couple is free to write whatever they want, seeking the photographer’s opinion could result in a better list. 

Wedding photographers have attended and witnessed more weddings than any other likely at attendance at your wedding, so they have a fundamental understanding of the must-haves in wedding photography. Moreover, they are creative, so they could help you develop portrait concepts that are unique and more meaningful. By consulting them, you could ensure that you do not miss any vital shot. 

Try not to go overboard though with your list – the best wedding photographs are always taken using the unique combination of your photographer’s creativity and the circumstances on your day. A list is best for making sure the images you imagine in your minds eye are captured in addition to all the other images your phtogroapher will be taking.

Whats most important though is to make a group shot list so that we do not miss any group photos as your phtoographer will not know anyone in attendance and how any one relates to anyone else.

group photo at Alru Farm wedding

2: Add a “First Look” to Your Shot List

It’s traditonal that that the soon-to-be husband and wife should not see each other until the ceremony. However, if you’re the type opf people not overly beholden to the whole ‘traditonal’ thing, having a “first look” is a nice thing to consider. It is the moment when a couple can have their alone time before the ceremony.

Capturing the raw and intimate moment between asoon to be wedded couple is an excellent memory to keep, letting them enjoy each other’s company before the busy celebration also means they are at their best—less stressed. It also allows for your phtoographer to get a little closer as opposed to being out the front of your wedding congregation for the same emotion-filled shots.

Bridal first look

3: Draft a Timeline 

Aside from the list of group shots, it is imperative to set up a general timeline of your day. Make sure that you and your photographer, along with all your other wedding vendors are aligned.

Backed with their experience, they could help you draft the most efficient and straightforward schedule. They can suggest adjustments to ensure that your wedding would not run behind schedule, even with all the breaks to take photos. Involving them in the planning process guarantees, they do not miss your special photography notes and requests. 

It’s usually the case that when first meeting your wedding photogrrapher they will probably run you through a simple timeline themselves using what they consider, using their own experience to be a good, steady flow of a day.

Wedding dress reflected in mirror

4: Prepare All Props and Keep Them in One Place

Wedding props, such as wedding invitations, bouquets, and wedding rings, are essential elements of your day and you;’ve probably spent hours agonising over them leading up to your day. They should be part of your wedding photography too. Your photographers will be on the lookout for such personal touches on your day, however they are are not mind readers though, so my advice to every couple is that if there is something important that you must have a photo of, feel free to alert them to this fact.

Table settings

5: Only Hire Photographers You Trust

It is usual for couples to want to be hands-on even during the ceremony to make sure their requests are followed, but it defeats the purpose of them enjoying their day. That is why it is important to collaborate with reputed providers—the right caterer, wedding planner, DJ, and so on. If you believe in the talents and capabilities of your wedding crew, then you have nothing to worry about. You would just be surprised by what they can bring to the table.

Bride and Groom in Wellington park

Memories are important and can never be repeated or forgotten. That is why it is essential to have a well-documented wedding day. Wedding photographs have now become one of the most crucial elements in modern weddings. While there is a huge amount that goes into planning a wedding, these simple pieces of advice to every couple might make things a little easier on you. Would love to have a chat about your spoecific day as everyone is different!

For your wedding photography needs, Sven Studios is more than happy to capture beautiful memories on your special day. We provide our clients with professional wedding solutions and capture the best moments of their life in the most natural way possible. Contact us today!

 

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Quince Brook Wedding – Verity & Jake

bride and groom checking out the cow

bride and groom checking out the cow

Quince Brook Wedding – Verity & Jake

Verity and Jake’s Quince Brook wedding took place on an absolutely sunning day in late August. The wedding venue being the fortunate backup to another nearby, and what a spot it is!

Quince Brook boasts rolling green hills over farmland that goes on for as far as the eye can see, and suited Verity and Jake’s care free personalities to a ‘tee’.

 

Preparation

I started out the day just up the road from the Quince Brook wedding venue, at a delightful bed and breakfast where Verity and her entouage were being prepared. The Evansdale Villas are perched right at the top of the rolling hills that surround Strathalbyn, and are surrounded by farmland, complete with cows and wonderful looking trees that are great to hang dresses in!

verity and her bridesmaids were jovial all throughout the preparation process, and had little flower girls and page boys to run about to have a bit of fun.

It ‘s always nice to see the reaction of the father of the bride when he first walks in and shees his little girl done up in her wedding dress!

makeup
Engagement ring in flowers
Bridal ugg boots
Bride looking in mirror
Wedding dress hanging in tree
Kids squishing faces
Looking at the camera
Father’s first look at daughter
bridal party fussing over bride
Bride standing by herself
Bride and bridal party together
Bridal party on dirt road

Quince Brook Wedding Ceremony

Verity and Jake’s Quince Brook wedding ceremony took place under a large gum tree, behind the large shed that serves as a rustic hall suitable for receptions. Their guests sat and stood around them on the lush, green grass as they witnessed these two beautiful people come together.

Verity and Jake’s little dog got special mentions during their ceremony, and included numerous heartfelt tidbits from their relationship.

Smiling groom
Groom striking a pose
Kids arriving
Bridal entrance at Quince brook wedding
Grooms first look at his quince brook wedding
Smiling bride looking at her groom
Fur baby
bride and groom together at their Quince Brook Wedding
smiling groom looking at his bride
Quince brook wedding ceremony
Quince brook wedding ceremony landscape
Exchanging wedding rings
First kiss at Quince Brook wedding
Bride and groom exit from their Quince Brook wedding ceremony

Glamour Photos

Walking about and taking glamour photos at Quince Brook was an absolute breeze. My affinity for the natural surroundings really helped out with what was available surrounding the property!

After a short time of mingling with guests and enjoying themselves, Verity, Jake and I went for a little walk out over the rolling hills to take some intimate photos together in amongst the gum trees, before calling on the bridal party to come with us in the opposite direction to make use of the driveway and the setting sun.

I big fun part of a Quince Brook wedding is the fact that there are rather tame cows just wandering around the property, which allowed us to get a few different shots featuring these bovine friends! A really sweet aspect of the day was that a calf was born on the morning of Verity and Jake’s wedding, and the owners named the newborn Verity – after the bride!

Very cute.

Bride and groom with their fur baby
Flower girls playing in the bride’s veil
Bride and groom leaning on a gum tree
Sharing a hug under the sun light
Bride and groom standing looking at the camera
Bride and groom through the gum trees
Bride and groom dancing in the gum trees
head butt
Close up of bride and groom looking at camera
Bride and groom leaning on separate gum trees
Getting close and personal
Quince Brook wedding photo
Bride and groom in front of the Quince Brook wedding venue
Cow watching the bride and groom
Bride and groom in the cow paddock
bridesmaids and groomsmen
bridesmaids and groomsmen through the faces of the bride and groom
Skipping towards the bridal party
Bridal party
bride and groom in the sunlight
Ministry of silly walks wedding photo
bride and groom checking out the cow
bridal party lost amongst the trees
bridal party trying to rip the bride and groom apart
The calf named after Verity
Wedding photo during Quince Brook Wedding

Quince Brook Wedding Reception

Verity and Jake’s wedding reception which look place in the large shed, just behind where their held their ceremony was full of heartfelt speeches, plenty of food and a bunch of people there to really have a great time!

Verity and Jake’s beautiful personalities shone through with the way their speech makers talked about them, and in the way they went about celebrating their big night! From the first dance, to the cutting of the cake, it was all just a joy to be a part of!

Wedding sign at Quince Brook wedding
Green wedding cake
Bride and groom entrance to reception
Bride and groom dancing
Bride and groom with their wedding cake
Food platters
Speeches
Speech giver
bride and groom giving their speech
First dance closeup
First dance at Quince Brook wedding
Mother son dance
On the dance floor

I’d like to thank Verity and Jake for having me as their wedding photographer! I had an absolute blast shooting your wedding, and I hope you enjoy your photos! You guys are absolute gems, and I wish you all the best in your married life!

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5 Wedding Moments That Look Good When Naturally Captured

Natural Wedding Moments

So it’s finally your wedding day. You spent so much time planning it and making sure all the preparations go accordingly that you found yourself stressing over it for the past several months. Now that the much-awaited moment of your life has come, all you have to do is live your best day and hope it doesn’t end too soon!

When you hire wedding photographers to document the most memorable occasion of your life, you may tend to feel conscious about each pose you and your partner make. You can’t help but be nervous about how the photos will turn out, especially if you aren’t used to being in front of a camera. It’s crucial to avoid overthinking the situation because you aren’t strictly required to pose. In fact, depending on the style of photographer you choose, your photographers will prefer it if you keep it as natural and candid as possible! 

Keep reading below to find out some of the best wedding moments that can be perfectly captured on camera without the need to pose so much. 

Monique Anthony

5 Wedding Moments That Look Good When Naturally Captured

Trying on the Dress

It’s every bride’s dream to wear the perfect wedding dress on their big day. You spend months or even years finding inspiration for the dress you want, looking for a reliable tailor, and waiting for the day you can finally fit into it. On your wedding day, when you finally put on the gown, you don’t have to think about anything and let the natural emotions flow—and that precise moment makes for an unforgettable wedding photo.

Al-Ru Farm bridal preparation

The Groom’s Preparation

Just like the bride, the wedding is also a groom’s big day, so he should also be given his fair share of the spotlight. While a groom’s preparation can much faster than the bride’s, every step involved counts—from putting on the shoes, buttoning the suit jacket, and buckling the belt, to wearing the watch and securing the bow tie in place. The groom’s preparation should also be best captured as naturally as possible to really showcase the emotions leading up to the actual ceremony.

Groom staring out window

The Walk Down the Aisle

The most stereo-typical moment of every wedding is when everyone is gathered at your wedding venue waiting for the bride to finally walk down the aisle. As soon as she enters, the groom finally gets to lay his eyes on his soon-to-be wife—which is a moment of pure magic.

Given its intense nature, it’s the very moment that has to be captured candidly because you don’t have to think about anything else—not even the photographers. All you have to do is focus on the moment and see the people you love, especially the person you’re looking forward to spending the rest of your life with.

Bride arriving

The Slices of Life

Part of wedding photography is ensuring that not all the necessary poses have to be serious and planned out all the time. The random moments where everyone is laughing and having a good time are the ones that are best captured on camera, without you even remembering that there are photographers present. They often happen during the preparation and the reception.

Laughing couple

The Couple Shots

Even though there will still be times that a wedding photographer will ask you to do specific poses, you can play around with the shot however you like. If it comes down to the intimate couple photos where you’re strolling along the wedding venue, you can genuinely be yourself with your partner. It’s one of the few moments you can be together, and there’s no one with you, so you should savour the moment and let the photographers do their magic. 

Kangraoo Island Elopement photoshoot

A wedding happens only once in your lifetime. Instead of going over how you want it to happen, it’s best to let things be and enjoy every second of it. When it comes to wedding photography, you can leave it to the experts and let them handle the shots—because more often than not, the candid photos make the best memories. The wedding moments captured by your photographer will better represent you as a couple, rather than a contrived overly-posed ‘representation’ of the day. 

Are you looking for wedding photography packages in Australia for your special day? Sven Studios offers wedding photography and videography services in Adelaide and around Australia. Get in touch with us today to inquire about our prices!