I had a bit of fun heading out to Salisbury to the delightful; little Little para Linear park to meet Helen and David who’s daughter had previously purchased them a gift certificate redeemable for a bit of a couple’s shoot!.
Apparently Helen and David hadn’t had any professional photos done of them since their wedding day, and even then it was just a friend who happened to have a camera, so Helen and David’s daughter decided that it was high time they had some nice photos of themselves!
Little Para Linear Park Couples Shoot
We decided to time the photoshoot so that we made the best use of the spectacular light available just before and during the golden hour whcih allowed for some spectacular golden light to filter through the trees and foliage on display throughout the Little Para Linear Park.
We met at the corner of Riverview Dr and Riverglen Ct which alowed us to go for a bit of a lap of the dry dcreek that meanders through the park, lined with gum trees and tall grass.
Helen and David seemed pretty laid back and keen to make the use of their time in front of my camera, which made things very easy for me! Always laughing, and playing about while we did some rather odd things like traipse through the undergrowth did not phase this fun loving couple – and I feel as though their photos really show this!
Was a great little photo shoot and I hope Helen, David and their daughter enjoy the photos we took!
Little Para Linear Park sunrays
Hugs in the Little Para Linear Park
Couple in between the gum trees
Dusk photoshoot in Little Para Linear park
Close up of hands
In amongst the trees with the sun
peeking throught he foliage in the park
Dip between husband and wife
Photo next to a gum tree
Standing in the long grass in Little Para Linear Park
Emma and Stephen wanted to show off their love for one another with a Belair Train Station Engagement Shoot before their big day at Mt Barker’s Auchendarroch House.
With Stephen travelling half away across the world from the US to see Emma after several long years apart due to the dastardly effects of the COVID pandemic, they were finally able to be together so they wanted to celebrate as soon as possible!
Emma was in two minds throughout the day about whether or not to head out that night for their engagement shoot due to the weather in the morning being less than spectacular. Thankfully the weather cleared up during the day and we all head out for what turned out to be a beautiful evening.
Belair Train Station Engagement Shoot
We began Emma and Stephen’s Belair Train Station Engagement shoot in amongst the station’s historic platform and waiting shelter where we made use of the beautiful ‘Belair’ writing on the wooden structure and the delightful parallel lines leading all over the place makeing for some lovely scenes.
As Emma had explained before heading out, she had not seen Stephen for several years prior to their engagement shoot, so these two were full of lovey-dovey hugs and kisses all evening, which made my job that much easier!
Smiles in amongst the train station
Walking in front of the Belair Train Station
Belair Train station engagement shoot
Belair Train station engagement photo
Hugs on the Belair Train station platform
As we set out during golden hour, we wanted to make the most of the golden hues of the sun streaming in through the majestic gum trees that make up the Belair National Park. We went for a little walk just behind the Belair Train Station to make use of this amazing setting!
Hugs under the sunlight
In amongst the belair national park gums
Look over there
Belair National Park engagement photo
Two standing together inbetween gum trees
Emma standing out front
Couple standing together under gum tree walkway
Dancing under the gum trees
Engagement shoot in Belair
Leaning on his shoulder
Sitting on fallen tree
Engagement ring with purple gemstone
Dancing in between the gums
Walking toegther in the Belair national park
Just as we were wrapping up, and having a chat with a group of joggers who had just finished their excersises, a freight train thundered past the Belair Train Station platform, so we quickly jumped in front of it for a bit of a photo! The train operator obviously had a bit of a ssense of humour and made sure to be seen throughout. 🙂
Belair Train Station engagement shoot with train
Belair Train Station engagement shoot kiss
Looking forward to being your wedding photographer in March Emma and Stephen! Hopefully these photos will tide you over until then!
Last weekend, I found myself with no weddings booked so I figured it would be neat to offer my services at a very cheap rate in what’s known as a ‘minishoot’ or mini session. It was one week prior to mother’s day so I figured it might be a fun way to get some nice photos of the family for Mum!
The best thing about a mini shoot is that it’s really geared for people who aren’t overly keen on being in front of a camera, as the session only lasts for 15 minutes – and if the photos dont turn out as expected – ie the little one was upset, or the dog wasn’t looking, etc – then it’s no big deal as it was not that expensive!
It’s also great for people who want some nice family photos done, but don’t want to spend too long getting them!
The mini shoot was an up front cost of $65, which included the shoot and editing of the photos before being supplied via my online store, and each shoot received a $30 credit to spend – making the whole thing effectively only $35 and you get to go home with either some prints, or digital files – however you’d like to spend that $30 credit!
As a result, the sessions booked up fast, with 12 bookings coming in – the majority being young couples, with little kidlets in tow, but also a few couples and whole families. I held the shoot at the Cherry Garden’s Soldier’s Memorial Gardens with the aim of using the autumnal colours from the falling leaves with the park, while also making use of the impressive memorial trees that cast quite a bit of shade.
Each booking received an average of 54 photos in their album to choose from – which surprised myself, as generally I like to have 100 photos done for an hour photo shoot, let alone 15 minutes – but I guess that’s the benefit of a minishoot, it means that i am familiar with the surrounds and know what will work when for each group coming through. I can then use this knowledge to move quickly and get each shot.
All in all, I think the winter minishoot results speak for themselves – the autumnal colours of the leaves, and the happy smiling faces of each group really made for an awesome experience, that I’d be looking forward to doing again in the future – I’m thinking Christmas? Watch this space.
Winter Minishoot Results!
Little Ones
All the little ones who came through were really well behaved and quite enjoyed being in front of the camera! This made things rather easy, as the surrounding autumn leaves did the rest making for some awesome shots!
Bothers hugging in leaves
Sisters in autumn leaves
Smiling baby girl under autumn leaves
baby talking to stuffed elephant
Boy under autumn tree
Boys throwing leaves
baby girl in autumn leaves
baby under autumn leaves
Boy climbing tree
Baby boy sitting in autumn leaves
happy baby sitting on fluffy mat under tree
Boys climbing tree
Brothers laying in autumn leaves
Baby lying in autumn leaves
Smiling girl under autumn leaves
Family
The autumn leaves also made for some nice family portraits. I had the family groups walking through the trees, sitting on the dry leaves and basically treating their time with me as if it were a quick family outing to a nice park.
Baby peeking over shoulder
baby getting cheek kisses
Family sitting toegtehr under autumn trees
Family standing under autumn leaves
Lifting baby into sky
Carrying baby through trees
baby flying in sky
Family sitting on ground with baby
Family sitting in autumnal leaves
Holding baby in the sky
Family sitting in leaves
Family standing behind long grass
Holding baby girl
Family sitting on bench
Family hugs for baby
Couples
I had two sets of couples come through, which was treated as a simple date idea, and they got some nice photos out of it at the end!
Couple holding one another
Happy couple leaning against tree
Couple standing looking through leaves
Couple sitting in the autumn leaves
Couple walking between trees
Couple walking under autumn leaves
As far as winter minishoot results go, I feel as though we got some incredible photos, using the stunning natural light that filtered through the autumn leaves nicely. If there was one thing I would have done differently would be to schedule the last session a biut earlier as the light was fading quite a bit – but we still got some great shots!
I’m not sure why, but whenever someone mentions ‘One Tree Hill’ I just imagine a single tree on a beautifully landscaped green hill, similar to the famous Windows XP wallpaper. Perhaps it has something to do with the town’s name? 😛 Anyway when I arrived on Josiah’s family farm for Thalia and Josiah’s Engagement shoot, One Tree Hill pretty much lived up to it’s name sake. There were rolling green hills that made for beautioful vistas, and even an incredible flowering (cherry?) tree that would not have look out of place in a Harry Potter film! The only thing better would have been if the tree was on top of the hill!
We used this area for their engagement shoot as Thalia and Josiah shared one of their first dates here, in amongst the bushes, which were unfortunately a little sparce due to it being winter, but still made for an awesome spot for a little picnic. This little corner of Adelaide was a stunning spot to visit and I mentioned it to Josiah that they could probably rent out the space for wedding photography 🙂 I had a bunch of fun and captured some really unique shots!
It wasn’t the nicest day to go out and do a photo shoot out and about high in the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, but I’m so glad Olivia and Dimitiri were keen to head out anyway as the colours you can get here are just incredible! Also the rising mist from early in the morning just made the feeling of their engagement photos that much more surreal!
Olivia and Dimitri were umming and ering over where to go for their photoshoot, thinking maybe a beach, or the Belair National Park but in the end were very keen on heading to the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, mainly due to it was where Dimitri had originally proposed.
As this engagement shoot was happening only a few weeks after when they were supposed to be married, I thought this was quite appropriate! Olivia and Dimitri had had to postpone their wedding due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Once a location was chosen, I really wanted to make use of the lovely light either in the late afternoon for the golden hour, or early morning.
We ended up getting up early on the freezing morning for the gates to open at 8:30 as the COVID-19 restrictions had just been lifted and we expected the Botanic Gardens to be packed with people trying to get out and about a bit! The early start, coupled with the drizzly weather meant we had the whole Gardens to ourselves.
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Engagement Shoot
We began our photoshoot walk at the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens lower carpark, nearby the dam wall. Our first reaction when arriving was that we were super lucky to still have some colours in the autumn leaves that made these botanic gardens so magical! I was kind of hoping to get a bit of fog into their photos, but it was fast rising.
We quickly hopped up the nearby hill to make use of some trees that were losing their leaves, then head down to the water’s edge as I wanted to use my favourite tree in all of the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, but unfortunately it had already lost all it’s leaves 🙁
Close up of engagement ring
Walking together in the Autumn colours
Cuddles by the water
Laughing through the red leaves
Holding one another at the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens
Walking along the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens dam
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Autumn colours
Olivia and Dimitri certainly made it easy as their carefree attitude was present all throughout the photoshoot and they had plenty of smiles on their faces!
We then head across the dam, which I feel is always an awesome shot to get, making the couple feel as though they are out in the middle of nowhere on ther path way. It’s a very tricky shot to get though as usually the dam walkway is always full of dozens of other people walking across!
Walking along the Mt Lofty Botanic Dam
Couple on the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Dam
The big draw of the Botanic Gardens are the wonderfully vivid autumnal colours you can get at this time of year, and thankfully we were able to capture some before they all fell from the trees. The colours, coupled with the misty morning really made for some wonderful scenes!
I had a blast taking photos with Olivia and Dimitri during this weather, but it’s so rare to get a couple to get up this early and head out in bad weather like this! 🙂
Just have a ook at the types of unique scenes you can get in weather like this! from fog, to muted autumnal colours!@ It’s a great time to take photos! Just not so great if you want to stay snug and warm :/
Couple under the yellow leaves
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Bridge
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens in winter
Couple under the orange trees
Laughing and playing
Hugs under the yellow leaves
Walking together with the mist
Hugs under the maple leaves
Looking at the camera under the maple leaves
Looking at a flower
I’d like to thank Olivia’s sister in law Thalia whose engagement shoot had been given to them by her mother for giving Olivia and Dimitri their engagement shoot! It’s always nice to know that people appreciate their photos so much they have their family and friends also have their photos taken with me! 🙂
