Emma and Stephen’s wedding at Auchendarroch house in Mt Barker was the coming together of two people who went through quite a bit in order to keep a world-spanning long distance relationship alive!
As soon as he was able due to COVID restrictions, Stephen flew to Australia, all the way to Virginia to meet and marry his sweetheart to the tune of the Portal theme music and their celebrant re enacting certain lines from Lord of the Rings 🙂
As Stephen had travelled from Virginia, many of his family were still back in the United States , meaning that having a live stream set up was quite important to both Emma and Stephen in order to include those who could not attend. They not only had my free livestream, but also a much more elaborate setup which left nothing to chance!
As I mentioned earlier, their celebrant was asked to have a little fun during their ceremony by putting on voices and reciting lines from The Princess Bride – which made everyone giggle.
After the ceremony, they retreated into a back room to have a proper chat with Stephen’s family back home via facetime.
Auchendarroch House window
Limo
Happy bride arriving
Bride on red carpet
Groom waiting under Auchendarroch House window
Bride arrival at Auchendarroch House window wedding
Grooms first look at Auchendarroch House window wedding
Celebrant doing speech
Bride and groom holding hands in front of window
Speech from family
Auchendarroch House bay window wedding
Holding hands smiling
Exchanging wedding rings at Auchendarroch House
Celebrant talking
First kiss at Auchendarroch House bay window wedding
Head butt
Bridal party facetiming family
Glamour Photos
Emma and Stepehen’s Glamour photos were taken in and around the Auchendarroch house grounds, not straying too far away as they wanted to spend as much time as possible with their family and friends. As their wedding took place in the morning, their glamour photos were taken at around midday, which most phtographers would cry about due to the harsh shadows on display at this time of day – but we managed to keep out of the sun for the most part
The inside areas of this old manor is gloriously ornate which makes for some very opulent scenes when moving some furniture around. The less in the photos the better, as the architecture can really do the talking in a place like this. I love the windows, and curtains which I used quite a bit to frame Emma and Stephen being all romantic with one another, which is always good fun!
The gardens out the front of the house is also awesome to use, even in the midday sunlight, as the trees available block out most of the light and their leaves make for nice framing devices for a nice composition.
Auchendarroch House wedding photo
Bride and groom on bench under tree
Wedding rings in pink flowers
Bride and groom in the Auchendarroch House gardens
Smiling bride looking at camera
Bride and groom in amongst the garden foliage
Under the pretty trees
Groom leading his bride on a walk
Head butt under the tree
Auchendarroch House door
wedding photo at Auchendarroch House
wedding photo at Auchendarroch House dancing
Gallant kiss on the hand
Bride and groom dancing on wooden floor
Bride and groom enjoying the bay window
Groom looking out window at Auchendarroch House
bride looking out window at Auchendarroch House
bridal head butt in front of red curtains
Kiss under the sweeping veil
Traditional wedding photo
Wedding photo under tree leaves
Auchendarroch House Wedding Reception
Emma and Stephen’s lunch time reception was a nice laid back affair, scored by some wonderful music played by a band of young musicians. I made sure to record some of the music in order to use in the background of Emma and Stephen’s highlight film. It’s always a bit of fun hearing music like the portal theme song being played at a wedding!
The afternoon came to an end when Emma threw her bouquet to the waiting group out on the lawn – twice as some of the guys were running about messing things up 🙂
Square wedding cake
Bride lovingly glacing at groom
Musician
Glancing at his bride
Holding hands
Cutting the square wedding cake
Bouquet toss on the lawn
Thanks so much to Emma and Stephen for having me be your wedding photographer – I hope you enjoy the resulting photos!
Your wedding day is likely one of the most important and memorable days of your life, and it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll want to cherish every moment of it! As one of the most photographed events, you can be sure that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to pose for pictures, from getting ready in your hotel room to cutting the cake at the reception.
However, with so many photos being taken throughout the day, it can be difficult to ensure that you always look fantastic in wedding photos! This list will give you five simple tips to help ensure that you always look your best in wedding photos.
5 Ways to Always Look Fantastic in Wedding Photos
1) Go Easy on Orange-Y Makeup
Bridal makeup is all about bringing out the natural beauty of the bride. Makeup is meant to help you, not take over your face. And when it comes to wedding photos, it’s important to look like yourself so that you can look back on these photos in ten years and still feel beautiful.
The first (and most important) step to achieving this look is to go easy on orange-y makeup. Too much orange will make your skin look sallow, and the last thing you want is to match the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses.
The keyword is “sheer.” The best way to wear orange-y makeup is by choosing a sheer wash of peach or coral blush on the apples of your cheeks. This will give you a healthy flush without going overboard. If this isn’t enough for you, add some light shimmer with a cream eyeshadow that matches or complements your skin tone. Be sure to blend thoroughly so that there aren’t any harsh lines or bright spots anywhere on your face. To complete your radiant look, consider enhancing your lashes with lash extensions by Lilac St.. They offer a fuller, more defined lash line without the need for layers of mascara, ensuring your eyes pop in every photo.
You can also try adding some subtle shimmer in the form of a highlighter along your cheekbones, brow bones, and down the bridge of your nose for an extra pop of radiance in front of the camera’s flash. Once again, be sure to blend thoroughly!
All this is great – but the most important tip I can make about all of this is to simply talk to your makeup artist – and be sure not to skimp on the cost – the best out there of course cost a bit more.
Concentrating on makeup
2) Never Underestimate the Beauty of Laughing
If you want to look amazing in your wedding photos, always remember that smiling is the key. Not only does a good smile show off your pearly whites, but it also instantly brightens up your whole face and makes you look radiant.
Speaking of smiles, if you really want to make sure that your wedding photos are ones that you will cherish for a lifetime, then make sure to smile in an authentic way. A fake smile will not have the same effect as a genuine smile and can actually be painful to look at once you see the photo.
To get the most organic-looking smiles out of yourself and others in your wedding photos, try making people laugh instead of saying “cheese.” It is almost impossible not to laugh when someone tells a joke and when people laugh, they cannot help but smile. This will give you genuine smiles every time and a perfect picture.
Close up of bride and groom laughing 2
3) Try Body Grooming on the Day Before (Or earlier!)
If you want to look your best in your wedding photos, you’ll want to make sure that you’re well-groomed. While it may not be feasible to go for a full waxing on the day of your wedding, try doing any necessary body grooming the day before your wedding instead.
You’ll also want to avoid taking a long hot shower right before your wedding as this can cause puffy eyes and redness. Instead, take a short, lukewarm shower and use an alcohol-free toner on your face.
Don’t forget to moisturize with an oil-free moisturizer or aloe vera gel afterward. After all, the last thing you want is a case of chicken skin on your big day!
Bremer Farm wedding photo
4) Shoulders Make All the Difference
Want to present yourself in a flattering way? Then always be sure to stand up straight and keep your shoulders back. This will help you appear more confident, making you look slimmer in wedding photos. And since no one is born with perfect posture, do a few yoga poses on a regular basis—or even try standing against a wall and pulling your shoulders back while holding it for 20 seconds at a time. Practice makes perfect!
It’s a bit of a sterotype for the feminine form to have beautiful, curving lines leading up the beauty that is your face, the best way to be sure this occurs naturally is to be as relaxed as possible – dont try to force poses you’ve seen in magazines as chances are they were paid actors – and you are not. Want to look fantastic in wedding photos? Just be you, as fantastic as you are!
Bride and groom boarding aircraft
5) Be Goofy, Candid, Fun
When all else fails, and you’re worried that your wedding photos will come out stiff or awkward looking, think back to times when you’ve had fun with other people and try to bring that feeling into your photos. If you try too hard to smile for a picture, it can come across as fake, but if you just go with it and smile on your own, then it will look much more natural. You might feel silly at first, but it’s a small price to pay for great pictures! And always remember: laughter is contagious!
Laughing bride as she’s carried
As always, trust in your wedding photographer to take the most amazing photos of you – if you do that, and youve done your research into selecting the best wedding photographer for you, then you’re bound to look fantastic in wedding photos!
Sandi and Daniel’s Chapel Hill WInery wedding took place on a gloriously sunny day overlooking the vineyards of this picturesque winery nestled amongst the Mclaren Vale wine district. It’s a wedding venue I had not ventured to before Sandi and Daniel’s wedding, despite being very familiar with Mclaren Vale wedding venues, and I certainly enjoyed the experience!
Preparation
After having set up the photobooth for later, I met with Daniel and his best man who had opted to make use of a rather convenient little room at the Chapel Hill Winery restreat area – which is also where their wedding ceremony and reception were to take place. It was quite a surprise finding a little self contained unit attached to the main reception hall – but all the more convenient for Daniel!
While Daniela nd his best man were being prepared, they were also able to over see the finishing touches of the florist and other suppliers who were buzzing about setting everything up.
Wedding rings atop toes of shoes
Groom affects on wood floor
Groom putting on cufflinks in window
Cufflinks putting on
Laughing groom at best man
Groom reading letter
Best man putting on groom tie
Groom using circle mirror
Groom glancing out window
Groom and best man outside
Sandi, along with her mother and maid of honour were being prepared a short walk away at the guest house. It’s neat little set up actually as the bride can walk straght up the walkway and begin the wedding ceremony later on – all very convenient.
The guest house is a large, wooden clad cabin which made for some lovely ambient light bouncing about the place off the wood, while there are some fun spots for photos like the stained glass window within the dining room and the long, dark corridoor where the bedrooms are.
The highlight of the morning was the father’s first look of Sandi as she walked down the stairs!
Wedding dress hanging on stairs
White rose engagement ring
Engagement ring in between shoe ends
Bridal party gowns back
Wedding dress hanging in stainglassed window
Bridal watch
Mum putting on necklace
Bride getting ready in top room
Bride peering into mirror
Bride through veil in doorway
Bride looking out bright door
Dad’s first look on stairs
Bride through dark hallway
Chapel Hill Winery Wedding Ceremony
Sandi and Daniel’s Chapel Hill Winery wedding ceremony took place on the grassy area just below the Chapel Hill retreat building, which allowed for sweeping views of the vineyards stretched out over the rolling Mclaren vale hills.
As the day was a very warm, and sunny day – it was a little unfortunate that their celebrant’s PA system overheated shortly after beginning causing some broken audio – thankfully I always have a backup microphone system handy to capture clear audio whenever I can for the video!
Bride and father approaching ceremony
Grooms first look at Chapel Hill winery wedding
Chapel Hill WInery wedding ceremony
Groom looking at his bride during
Bride and grom holding hands at Chapel hill winery wedding
Wedding under arbour with vineyards behind
Bride looking at her groom during
Celebrant giving her speech
Groom giving bride wedding ring
First kiss at Chapel Hill winery wedding ceremony
Bride and groom exiting Chapel Hill winery wedding
Chapel Hill winery wedding
Glamour Photos
Once the mandatory groiup photos were complete, we head out to make the most of the Chapel Hill Winery Wedding photo locations!
I was made aware that we were not able to make use of the vineyards proper – but thanks to some creative angles – nearby the vineyards we can make it looks like the bridal couple are standing amongst them. But I think the killer shot of the entire day was when I brought out the ol’ smoke in a can in front of the Guest House’s window for a bit of a bridal silhouette shot!
We also made the effort to find our way back to the winery cellar door for the proper chapel’s stained glass window area – however unfortunately due to communication errors, we could not find a way in, so we used the outside areas a bit, and also the wine making area.
Bride and groom holding dog
Dog running in front of bride and groom
Bridal dog
bride and groom walking at Chapel hill winery wedding
Hugs against wooden fence
Chapel Hill winery wedding photo
Chapel Hill winery wedding photography
Bridal kiss in front of stainglass window
Bride and groom sitting on back of 4 wheel drive
Bride standing in wine making room
Out the front of Chapel Hill winery cellar door
Bride and groom in front of dreamy vineyards
Bride and groom walking between gum trees
Bride and groom in vineyard golden hour
Bride and groom between vineyard leaves
Sun in between bride and groom
Chapel Hill Winery Wedding Reception
Sandi and Daniel’s Chapel Hill Winery wedding reception was spear headed by what might be my favourite guest entertainment – which is an on site caricature artist who sits there drawing everyone all night! it’s so much fun to see! Once he left then it was my photobooth’s time to shine!
The night was a blast to be a part of, surrounded by lovely people who just wanted to see Sandi and Daniel have the night of their lives!
Table places
3 tiered wedding cake
Bride and groom entrance to reception at Chapel Hill
Cutting the wedding cake together
Chapel Hill winery wedding reception
Groom speeches
Bride listening to speeches
Groom doing the bouquet toss
Bride holding bouquert for toss
Groom talking to guests
nan in between bride and groom
nan in between bride and groom
Thanks so much to Sandi and Daniel for having me as your wedding photographer! I hope you enjoy your photos!
I had been looking forward to covering Heather and Nick’s wedding as their photographer as they had chosen such a lovely unique venue that I knew would produce absolutely awesome results with my style of wedding photography! Their Bremer Farm wedding was one of those weddings where no matter how hard I tried, I could just not take a good photo! I even went so far as smashing my camera! haha
Heather and Nick had a beautiful family and group of friends who simply wanted nothing more than seeing this delightful couple get married in the most beautifully rustic setting.
Preparation
Nick and his groomsmen got ready at the parent’s house, just north of Adelaide – and the interior decor was quite a find. The light coming in the ornate windows, and the decorations lovingly placed around the hallways made for a nice, rustic start to the day which I was expecting at the Bremer Farm wedding ceremony, not so much the places of preparation, but I wasn’t complaining!
The highlight of the preparation was when Nick opened Heather’s gift to him, which was a lovingly chosen, elobrate chess set – which made Nick smile quite a bit! We had to take some shots of the Best man besting the groom!
Wedding rings and bowtie
Grooms affects for wedding
Groom walking about in tshirt
Groom buttoning up
Pointing out Grooms shirt
Groom helping with shirt sleeve
Groomsmen getting ready together in window
Dad helping out with bowtie
groom and Dad in Mirror
Smiling Dad looking at son
Smiling Mum helping son get ready
Groom adjusting flower
Groom walking out doorframe
groomsmen playing chess
Queen defeats king
groomsmen between gate
groomsmen together on road near reflector
Heather and her entouage got prepared a bit closer to Bremer farm, at a B&B in Mt Barker. The atmosphere was delightfully laid back with the appearance of a rather large 8-legged guest, to which heather was keen to give a bit of a kiss and I presume an invite to celebrate the day with her! Such is the humour of country girls – I was told!
Engagement ring perched between bridal shoes
Wedding dress reflection
Putting on makeup in bathroom
Bridal party in gowns before getting ready
Bride standing in gown on porch
bride having her bridesmaids help out
Bride looking at bridesmaid
Putting on bridal shoes close
Bride standing alone in wedding gown
Bride peering out window
Bride admiring bouquet in black and white
bridal bouquet
Bride in doorframe
Bridal party under greenery
Bridal party under pink
Bremer Farm Wedding Ceremony
The Bremer Farm wedding ceremony location is at the end of a nice little patch of grass, surrounded by an old, rustic stone wall and lines of lush green trees. At one end is a permanent arbour made of what looks like repurposed railway sleepers, which all comes together so a nice, rustic surrounds for wedding ceremonies.
Heather was walked down the aisle by her son, and their ceremony involved a reading from an important person. Their vows were shared and they were married! Simple as that!
Bremer Farm wedding arbour
bridal car arriving
Groom waiting at Bremer Farm wedding
Bride walking down aisle at Bremer Farm wedding
Bremer Farm wedding ceremony
Bremer Farm wedding ceremony photo
Bride looking over shoulder during ceremony
bride and grom together under Bremer Farm wedding arbour
Smiling bride holding yellow bouquet
Portrait bremer farm wedding ceremony
groom standing listening to reading
Celebrant doing her thing under wooden arbour
bride and groom holding hands at Bremer Farm wedding ceremony
Closeup of hands being held
Groom listening to vows of bride
bride laughing during grooms vows
bremer Farm wedding first kiss
Sneaky bridesmaid
Glamour Photos
After a short group photo session, we made sure to use the rustic old buildings scattered around Bremer Farm for some awesome photos. I expecially enjoyed using the old stables – although it was a bit of a shame that the hay bails that were there when I came out to visit the venue a few months prior had gone, but the atmosphere was still there!
Heather was keen to get photos with the wildlife a short walk away before going for a short drive to a ruined cottage we had scouted out prior to the day.
This cottage is quite a find! I really enjoyed the fact that there is a tree growing from inside the old house, while there are bullet holes, and huge craters along the walls of the place – which otherwise looked in fairly good condition or an abandoned ruin.
While there I also had a ball of a time using the rolling clouds which before long scattered Heather and Nick’s reception with a bit of rain, but thankfully they had a bit of a marquee set up to keep everyone dry.
Photo with waving grandad
bridal party with white wedding car
Cow Pats
bridal party framed by ruin
Kiss framed by ruin
bridal party peering around ruin
Bride and groom framed by window
Bride using groom as pillow
Bremer Farm wedding photo
Bride and groom leaning on brick wall
bride and groom in ruin of old cottage
Bride and groom framed by window of old cottage
Bride and groom under a huge gum tree
Bride leading groom away from gum tree
Bridal lift under stormy skies
Bride and groom walking over horizon
Bride and groom amongst fluffy clouds
Bride and grrom in the chair storage
bride and grrom under Bremer Farm arbour at night
Bride and groom in storage shed
Bremer Farm Wedding Reception
Heather and Nicks Bremer Farm wedding reception was full of heartfelt speeches from quite a few people from their lives, and their dance floor was set in the large shed right near the marquee they had set up.
One big reason why they had me as their wedding photographer is my love for the more candid photos at this time of night, so I had a bit of fun running about catching people just enjoying the night – it was a great atmosphere to be a part of!
Wedding favour coffee jars
bride and groom entering reception
Bride sitting with grandad
Wedding cake lined with candles
Talking guests at bremer Farm
Laughing guests at Bremer Farm wedding
Wedding Cake in front of Bremer Farm house
Bride and groom cutting cake
Bride holding little one
Speeches under awning
Speech under awning
Groom Speech under awning
First dance at Bremer Farm wedding
First dance at Bremer Farm wedding in shed
Family hugs on dance floor
Dancing guests in front of caravan DJ
Guests having fun at bremer Farm wedding
Bremer Farm wedding reception
I had an absolute blast at Heather and Nick’s wedding as their photographer! Even though I broke my camera again (second time in a few months) Their day was awesome to be a part of due to the laid back nature, the genuine people and the awesome venue they had chosen! They also gave me a nice bottle of whiskey! woo!
Your wedding is a really big deal. For the rest of your life, you will remember the day you got married as one of the most joyful and memorable moments of your life—and we’re not just saying that because we’re photographers, we’ve also been married ourselves!
Whether your wedding is indoors or outdoors, there’s something special about being able to capture those memories in photographs so that you can look back at them years later and remember how it felt to be standing there, looking into your partner’s eyes.
Taking outdoor wedding photography presents its own challenges. From wind to bright sunlight and harsh shadows, there are a lot of variables that can affect your shots (and we mean a lot). And so today, we’re going to share with you our tips for making beautiful photography work even in those extreme situations—or just on any sunny day!
5 Tips for Stunning Outdoor Wedding Photography
Capture the magic of your special day with breathtaking outdoor wedding photos. From natural lighting to creative angles, every detail can be enhanced beautifully. Here are the top 5 outdoor wedding photography tips to inspire you and make every moment unforgettable.
1) Discuss With the Bride and Groom on the Best Times of Day to Capture Every Precious Moment of Their Wedding
One of the most important things that you can do as a wedding photographer is to connect with your clients and ask them if they have any preferences or restrictions. For instance, when planning their wedding, many couples decide to get married during the “golden hour,” which is when the sun is low in the sky and casts a soft glow on everything. This is also one of the best times for taking pictures!
If you know that your couple want to get married during this time, then you can plan ahead and make sure that you’re able to use natural light for all of those beautiful sunset shots! Of course, it’s important not to limit yourself to one particular time because there are lots of great outdoor weddings taking place throughout the day—but having this information beforehand will certainly help make scheduling easier.
Semaphore Beach Sunset
2) Use Fill Flash to Compensate for Bad Lighting
No matter how hard you try, sometimes the lighting isn’t going to be the best. Maybe it’s a bright and sunny day, or maybe it’s cloudy and overcast. Maybe it’s just a little too dark for your liking, so it seems like there’s no easy fix. Well, whether you’re dealing with poor lighting conditions or just want to add some extra flair to your pictures, fill flash is a great option.
Fill flash is when you use a flash on your camera that is set at lower power than the ambient light. It will help illuminate the parts of your subject that are in shadow from the main light source.
This helps create a natural look, which you can see in a lot of outdoor photography. For instance, if you’re photographing a couple on a beach during sunset, but it’s still very bright outside, and there are shadows covering their faces—and you want to brighten them up—just pop on your flash. It’s a quick fix that doesn’t take too much time.
Penneshaw beach Wedding
3) Use a Polarizing Filter to Make the Sky Pop
We could go on for hours about using polarizing filters, but here’s the simple version: if you’re trying to take a picture of a scene that includes the sky, or lots of reflections – a polarizer helps.
Why? Because without one, you can get a washed-out white sky. Not always the most flattering background for your wedding photos!
A polarizer works by cutting out any light that is not polarized and absorbing it into the filter. This leaves behind only polarized light, which is what gives color to your image.
For example, when you look at a cloudless blue sky on a sunny day, that beautiful blue color is what’s being left behind by the polarizing filter—if you were looking through one!
This isn’t to say that you must have a filter to get this effect – only that it does help – and if you have time on a wedding day to make use of one, it does give an effect that is very pleasing.
Wedding photo at Pt Willunga Beach wedding
4) Showcase The Wedding Venue with Wide Shots
The wide shot is a powerful tool that can add dramatic impact to your photos. They help establish context, scale, and scope while also building excitement and anticipation. You see them in all kinds of movies and television shows—but you’ll also find them in wedding photography! So, if you’re looking to wow your audience with beautiful pictures from your outdoor wedding photography, be sure to take some time capturing wide shots before settling into medium or close-up shots!
This is one aspect of wedding photography I am super passionate about – my background is in landscape and science photography, so telling a story with the landscape, and tying it together with wedding photography I feel is very important – doubly so when talking about outdoor wedding photography!
Groom leading bride through forest
5) Use Foregrounds to Give Wedding Photos Context
The magic of wedding photography lies in capturing the fleeting moments between people, and if you can do that without making it obvious that you’re taking their photos, then so much the better. But one thing that will help your images is to make sure they have a context. You want to make sure they are not just a portrait of two people but actually show how they fit into the world around them.
How do you do this? Simple: Use foregrounds. Not only does this give your photos a sense of scale, but it also helps to draw people into your images. And by playing around with different foreground elements, you can add an extra element of interest to your shots. Also, don’t forget to use the bride and groom as additional foreground elements. You can also use them as focal points by placing them in front of something interesting and then using a shallow depth of field to blur out the background.
Creative Outdoor Wedding Photography Ideas
Outdoor weddings offer endless opportunities to create unique and memorable photographs. From sweeping landscapes to intimate close-ups, every element of nature can be part of your story.
Incorporating the environment creatively can also add depth to your images. Think of using archways of trees, beach horizons, or floral backdrops to frame the couple beautifully.
Silhouette shots against sunsets or starry skies bring a dramatic and romantic touch. For candid moments, spontaneous laughter under string lights or barefoot dancing on the grass can create images that feel alive and genuine.
By combining creativity with technical skill, outdoor wedding photography ideas transform simple moments into extraordinary keepsakes. The goal is to let the surroundings complement the love story while ensuring the couple’s emotions remain at the heart of every shot.
Planning Your Outdoor Wedding Photography Session
A little preparation goes a long way in ensuring your outdoor wedding photos turn out beautifully. The most practical of all outdoor wedding photography tips is to plan around natural light. Early mornings and late afternoons usually offer the most flattering conditions, while midday sun may require clever shade use or added lighting support.
Discussing the venue with your photographer in advance helps identify the better angles and hidden gems. Whether it’s a garden, vineyard or beach, every location has unique features that can be highlighted. Bringing a backup plan for unpredictable weather is equally important, ensuring the photography session runs smoothly regardless of conditions.
Another helpful tip is to allow enough time in the schedule for both candid shots and formal portraits. By planning ahead, you reduce stress on the day and give your photographer freedom to focus on creativity. These thoughtful outdoor wedding photography tips ensure the final gallery is as magical as the day itself.
Bride and groom under a fallen tree
feel free to get in contact to have a bit of a chat for your vision of your outdoor wedding photography – it’s something I really enjoy doing and love to talk about!
