Tips on Selecting a Wedding Photographer

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  • Wedding rings on slab

 

Selecting a Wedding Photographer

Every step of the wedding planning process can be a daunting one. From saying yes to the dress to building your bouquet, selecting a wedding photographer is yet another task you’ll want to get perfect. You only get one shot at capturing a gone-too-soon flurry of memories, and you won’t want to regret the outcome. As a wedding photographer, I may be a bit biased but selecting a wedding photographer is possibly the most important selection you make besides your wedding venue.

Tips on Selecting a Wedding Photographer

Shopping for a wedding photographer who suits your budget, aesthetic, and schedule is challenging. After narrowing down your shortlist of contenders, don’t forget to ask yourself the following questions.

Question 1 – How Much Weight Does Photography Hold Over My Wedding Day?

Sometimes, professional wedding photography is a must. Other times, it’s merely another box to tick. The answer to this question will likely dictate your decision to compromise your budget to accommodate a pricey wedding photographer or vice versa.

Have a think about how you are going to use all these amazing photos you’ve had taken of the two of you. Are you going to be seeing them every time you open your front door, or will they stay stuck on the USB you’ll be given?

Perhaps also weigh up how much appreances mean to you in your social circles, maybe you want to pay for for a photographer who you know will make you look amazing, despite your lack of experience in front of a camera?

In amongst the trees 2

Question 2 – How Much Extra Cash Am I Prepared to Shell Out?

As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to select your wedding photographer amongst the first 3 suppliers as soon as possible. The other two being your venue and celebrant – and perhaps your videographer. The best wedding photographers book out at least a year in advance and if you love their work it’;s best to lock them in as soon as you have made your choice.

An average wedding photographer in Australia according to the annual Easy Weddings survey of bridal couples is just shy of $3000, so pricing of photographers should be around, or just above that figure for someone who truely knows what they are doing and who you can trust.

Thera, Santorini Wedding

Question 3 – How Long Do I Need My Photographer to be Around?

Some photographers offer whole-day packages or more affordable hourly services. Consider events you need to have documented. Is it the wedding itself? The reception? Both?

I’d personally suggest having a photographer with you all day, as if you consider your wedding album as a storyline – then the preparation photos are the beginning of the story, the ceremony the middle then the photoshoot and reception the glorous happy ending 🙂

The longer your photographer is with you the more they can gel with your personalities and create work that truely speaks to who you are. A similar option to better cater to this is to have an engagement shoot done before your day.

Bridal exit under bubbles

Question 4 – How Comfortable Are My Partner and I With Being Photographed?

Some couples will hire a wedding photographer simply because it’s custom to do so. If you’re camera-shy, having a photographer hover around you all day might take away from the overall experience of becoming a newlywed even though a good candid and natural wedding photographer will do their best to become invisible during the day.

On the other end of the spectrum, some couples love being photographed and might even consider an engagement shoot. Which category do you and your loved one fall under?

This all being said however, If I had a dollar every time I heard that a couple is not good in front of a camera I’d probably be on a yacht in the bahamas somewhere.. The trick to taking nice candid photographs is simply having the couple do something while you’re taking your photos.

Bride and groom on Maslins Beach

Question 5 – What Other Products Do I Want from My Photographer?

Nowadays, wedding photographers offer more than just their service. They’ll also print your photos in an album, provide a photo booth for guests, produce wall art, or even offer hybrid shooting where they also produce a short highlight video so you save money on a separate videographer.

Think about what products you must have versus those that are merely nice to have. Alternatively, you might be entirely satisfied to receive a digital copy of your photos—nothing extra. Selecting a wedding photographer that offers exactly what you want is important. You don’t want to be stuck with albums or prints you’d never use, but it’s also important to select a wedding phtoographer that do offer such things as an option.

Digital Deluxe Album

Question 6 – Have I Received Any Recommendations?

If a married friend is suggesting their previous photographer, it’ll likely be for a good reason. Look into their portfolio and give them a call—you might even get a discount thanks to the friend referral.

Make sure they suit your own personal style though. Plenty of people opt to have a photographer that shoots in a current ‘trendy’ way that may age or rub you the wrong way to look at. You have to remember that these photos you’re having taken need to speak to your own personal style and allow them to store your memories in a way you’d want to look at them

Out on pride rock

Question 7 – What is My Style?

Every wedding photographer is unique in their methods and aesthetic. Are you a fan of candid photos, or are you looking for something more editorial? Maybe you love the vintage look of sepia-toned photographs, and have an entirely posed wedding? Up to you.

Typically, you’ll find the answers you’re looking for in a photographer’s portfolio or website. Whatever the case, your photographer will adjust their techniques according to your preferences.

bride looking out windows

While reliving your Big Day in your head might bring about nostalgic feelings, being able to reminisce over a collection of photos provides a different experience. Don’t rush your decision when it comes to selecting your wedding photographer, the memories will last you a lifetime and the process of selecting a wedding photographer will allow you to hold onto those memories in exactly the way you want.

At SvenStudios, we capture every moment of your Big Day with passion, romance, and joy. We are consistantly rated as some of the top wedding photographers in Australia and our packages come full of value. Keen to travel anywhere too!

5 Tips for Travelling with Your Wedding Gown

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  • Santorini Wedding

 

Travelling with Your Wedding Gown to your Destination Wedding

A destination wedding is a fabulous way to start married life and is a great excuse to have a holiday. When you look back at your wedding photos, you will have a lovely time remembering how you spent time with the people closest to you and your fiancé in an amazing destination!

I realise that not many people are heading overseas at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I do know that many of your are still planning on having a destination wedding, and it may well be at a location you can still travel to! Like within Australia! I’ve covered many weddings in Darwin, Hobart, Canberra and Rural South Australia that beat many international destinations easily!

Before you jet off, though, you have to figure out one important thing—how to get your wedding dress to your destination.

5 Tips for Travelling with Your Wedding Gown

Avoid checking it in luggage

Whatever you do, avoid checking your wedding dress as luggage. It will get battered in transit, and there is always a risk of it getting lost. As much as possible, fly with your wedding dress as a carry-on item.

Check with your airline about their policies on carrying wedding dresses – as it may be an exempt item when it comes to the number of pieces of luggage you’re allowed. Also. label the bag containing it with your name, e-mail address, and the contact details of your destination.

Bride hanging her dress

Buy or recycle a garment bag

The bridal shop will likely use a garment bag when sending you your wedding dress. However, check if this is strong enough to stand up to travelling with your wedding gown. If you have your doubts, invest in a tougher garment bag. Ask your bridal shop to show you how to fold your wedding dress as well.

When you get to the gate, arrange for the attendant to hang your dress in a closet. Some airlines will preload your dress if you call ahead, so explore this option as well. Sometimes, though, there is no hanging space since surfboards and wheelchairs are the priority for closets.

In this case, you might lay your dress over bags in the overhead, but be considerate of the other passengers and ask permission. If you have the money to spare, you can resort to buying an extra seat just for your dress, or upgrade to business class – this allows you to have an additional carry-on bag!

Wedding dress

Invest in a vacuum bag

For brides with voluminous wedding gowns, a vacuum bag is almost mandatory when travelling with your wedding gown. Pack your dress while inside its garment bag into a similarly-sized vacuum bag and suck the air out, which will make the carry on much smaller – and if you’re lucky the checkin gate wont weigh it! Just dont try and fly with an airline known for being sticklers on weight.

You can then pack this into a tri-fold carry-on case, and store it in the luggage just like you would another bag. Remember to pack a garment steamer or request for one at your hotel or resort to iron out the creases. You do not want to memorialise the wrinkles in your wedding photos!

Putting on dress

Use a carry-on suitcase

A regulation-size carry-on suitcase is an excellent storage place for a wedding dress. For this to work, you need to pack your gown carefully. Use a hard shell suitcase; this protects your clothing from rain or other fluids. When packing, turn your dress inside out.

Turning your dress inside out will protect things like lace details, needlework, and other delicate embellishments. You can also put tissue paper in between the folds, to preserve the garment better.

Santorini destination wedding

Have your dress professionally packed

Your bridal shop can pack your dress to fit in your carry-on suitcase. You can specifically ask them to pack it for travel; this should be part of their services. You can also get a specially-designed box that meets carry-on size requirements for airlines or chartered planes. These boxes also have acid-free tissue paper which you can put in between folds.

Taking the wedding dress for a spin

 

You can pack a wedding dress for your destination wedding, but it will require a bit of planning from you. Travelling with your wedding gown can be tricky, but don’t let the hassles of travel prevent you from having a picture-perfect day!

Ensure that you have photos that will last a lifetime with Sven Studios. We are experienced destination wedding photographers super keen to travel and dedicated to perfectly capturing one of the most special days in a couple’s life. Browse our previous work or get in touch with us for more information!

 

 

How to get stunning wedding preparation photos

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  • makeup

 

Get stunning wedding preparation photos

Sometimes the best parts of a wedding aren’t the bride’s entrance or the fun reception. It’s the moments leading up to the actual event when all the preparations are still taking place. These make for great photographs because they give a behind-the-scenes look at what it took for the couple, their loved ones, and guests to prepare for the big day.

If you consider your wedding album as a story, then the preparation photos are all about the personalities of the two main characters of your story, and the lead up to the big moment of your wedding ceremony – then the lovely dovey ‘living happily after’ bits at the end 🙂

How to get stunning wedding preparation photos

If you’re planning on having preparation photos with your wedding photographer, there are some aspects of your photography session that you will want to get just right. Here are some tips on how to get stunning wedding preparation photos –

Lighting

The most important component of photography is lighting as it will determine how well your photographer can capture the moment. Locations with good lighting sources will make it easier for both you and your photographer to get a good shot. While a photographer can make the best out of a bad situation, having difficult lighting conditions will definitely take more time and effort to work with.

For wedding preparation photos, it’s best to prepare the location beforehand. Most wedding preparations take place in a hotel or house, so scout for a good room that offers plenty of natural light and some nice ambient lighting as well. It’s important to visit the rooms themselves when checking wedding photo locations around Adelaide as they tend to look much larger in photos featured on the hotel’s websites. You’ll want to make sure your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and the photography crew will fit comfortably in the space you choose.

Bride looking out window at Thorngrove Manor

Tidy Spaces

Photographers can work with almost any environment they’re in, but most photos look best with plenty of open space and a minimal amount of clutter. Preparations tend to be quite a flurry of activity with make-up and clothes all over the place. Cleaning up the room where the photographs will be taken will have them looking much cleaner, more professional, and more worthy of keeping in your collection of wedding photos.

Wedding dress hung in window

Less is More

When getting ready for your wedding, try to limit the number of family members who help you get ready, at least for the duration of the photoshoot. Although it’s nice to have everybody involved, photographers will sometimes have to contend with multiple requests for photos with the bride and groom when the focus should be on the couple getting ready for their big day.

It will likely become a process that will stress you out, especially with getting ready being as hectic as it is—and adding extended family to distract you can be extra trying for your patience too! For preparations to go smoothly, it’s best to have just the bridal party and groomsmen, parents, and siblings to help the couple.

Taking the wedding dress for a spin

Hair & Makeup

Great preparation photos will also depend on the quality of hair and make-up. While it’s fun to have a few photos with rollers in your hair, it’s best to have variety in your shots to show the progression of your getting ready. Most photographers will recommend that you have most of your make-up and hair done before the shoot begins so that there’s not as much waiting to do.

Hiring a professional make-up artist is strongly recommended to get the best results since they’ll know how to make it flattering for both the camera flash and in-person. It cannot be understaated the importance of this to get stunning wedding preparation photos! It would also be worth doing a trial make-up run before the actual day to make sure that it is exactly the look you’re going for to avoid being late and having the photoshoot take longer than usual.

Saving time on hair and makeup will allow the photographer to get more pictures of you getting ready. Fixing up your dress, talking to your bridal party and family, and perhaps even enjoying a glass of champagne before the walk down the aisle are all important moments to capture!

Bride having makeup done

 

Having wedding preparation photos is all about capturing the moments leading up to the one monent everybody has been waiting for: when the bride and groom are finally married. Finding a photographer that you can trust to capture your most intimate and precious times with your soon-to-be spouse is crucial to make those memories in between the big event last a lifetime.

Having photos taken while you’re getting dressed, isn’t the most natural thing in the world, so it’s important you ‘click’ with your photographer so that you feel that much more comfortable and get stunning wedding preparation photos.

Some wedding photography packages in Adelaide will include wedding preparation photos. Here at Sven Studios, we offer professional wedding photographer solutions that will capture the best moments of your wedding day in a natural, fun, and relaxed way. To book us for your wedding, feels free to look through our website and browse our packages.

 

 

 

 

3 Tips to Consider for a Smooth Family Portrait Session

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  • Family walking though trees

 

Preparing for a smooth family portrait session

Family portraits are a classic in almost every household, but the ear-to-ear grin, effortless poses, and loud personality behind each imagery aren’t as simple to capture as you would think. From screaming children, camera-shy teens, to impatient moms or dads, there are various factors that can make or break your smooth family portrait session.

Family photoshoots are tough for professional photographers too, especially since there are tight deadlines and temperamental subjects to consider. With that in mind, the simple tips below should help you nail your photoshoot and strike the perfect pose with your family:

3 Tips to Consider for a Smooth Family Portrait Session

Tip #1: Choose The Location That Suits Everyone

A picture at the beach with the sun beaming down everyone’s shining faces may look visually stunning, but behind the scenes, not all members can beat the heat on a hot summer’s day. The same goes for a snapshot of your family in a winter wonderland, as standing in uncomfortable conditions won’t make it realistic for everyone.

With that in mind, be sure to pick a time, day, and location where everyone can stay comfortable for an extended period. It’s also a good idea to have a back-up option when shooting outdoors, so you can get ahead of unexpected weather reports.

I personally actually prefer to shoot in a shaded, wooded area. It makes for a much easier shoot without any harsh shadows or highlights streaming across people’s faces, and people tend to appreciate that!

Smiling family photo in the grass

Tip #2: Wear Or Bring The Right Clothing

It’s often a good idea to change into themed clothing when everyone is ready to shoot, especially if it’s for a festive holiday set in an outdoor backdrop. This ensures everyone stays comfortable for the most part of the shoot, but if you find yourself experiencing a cold snap, always go for a look where everyone can feel cozy.

Forcing everyone to follow a dress code may result in sour moods and unwillingness to have fun in front of the camera, which will mostly reflect in your images. To that end, it’s best to discuss clothing plans with the family so everyone can agree on the right outfit to wear for the shoot.

Walking together as a family

Tip #3: Be Sure To Prep Your Kids

Kids that are bored, hungry, and see no purpose in what you are doing can often result in a disastrous portrait. If you want to ensure they stay in their best behavior, at least, for the most part, talking to them beforehand should give them an idea of what to expect in the photoshoot.

Giving an incentive such as ending the shoot with a treat – be it ice cream or dinner to their favorite place – are some simple ideas that push your kids to join the bandwagon with you. It can also help to choose a location which you know your little one has enjoyed in the past and make it a bit of an outing. The best family photographers can work without being overbearing and forceful on children.

Baby looking over shoulder 2

The Bottom Line: Preparation Is Key When Unlocking The Ideal smooth family portrait session

Family portraits capture special moments between your loved ones, but the picture-perfect imagery isn’t as easy to achieve. Ideas can clash, outfits don’t match, and some members are too shy to let loose in front of the camera.

Working with the right photographer can make all the difference – be it in breaking the ice or finding everyone’s best angles. Speaking of which, SvenStudios are experienced, award winning professional photographers in Australia that can capture a family portrait that is worth keeping for generations.

Get in touch with us today and see what we can do for you!

4 Crucial Details Your Wedding Photographer Must Know

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Details Your Wedding Photographer Must Know

Your wedding photographer has the job of ensuring that the most precious moments of your big day are captured. Right from your preparations to the moment you walk down the aisle and even to your reception, the photographers are there to document the most memorable day of your life. 

With their skills and experience, they can produce photos that you will surely love looking at for the years to come. 

However, it’s worth mentioning that your photographers will still need your instructions. Whilst they are skilled in what they do, they won’t be able to provide the documentation you want if you do not communicate any details your wedding photographer must know. If your photographers are not aware of that special, unique moment you had planned, this will only stress you out on what is supposed to be your special day. 

Bride and groom under the leaves at the Stockade Botanic Park

On that note, here are four of the many crucial details your wedding photographer must know about the day:  

4 Crucial Details Your Wedding Photographer Must Know

  1. The Day’s Schedule 

The big day will be full of events that you may want to be captured in beautiful pictures. Considering this, it is best to let your photographers have a copy of the day’s schedule along with the locations they need to be in. 

This copy will help them get a better idea of how the day is going to flow. On top of that, this will enable them to be where they need to be and when they need to be there. Ultimately, this helps them anticipate the next activities and set up their gear in advance. 

Once a photographer has this schedule, it would also be easier for them to use their experience and perhaps provide advice on how long things actually take. Knowing this and planning for it makes any wedding day that much less stressful.

Dog running through vines on wedding day
  1. Parking Space 

This is perhaps one of the most essential things you need to sort out in advance and prepare for your wedding photographers. 

Reserving a slot for them will help them park easily and spring into action right away. If your chosen venue has limited capacity, they will not have to spend minutes finding a vacant spot. Rather, they can park quickly, unload their equipment, and start setting up their gear. 

This is particularly important when holding a wedding within the city where parking is often at a premium and hard to find, also if asking your photographer to also provide a photobooth or other bulky equipment.

With the Wedding Car
  1. Group and Specific Photos

If you want to take several family and group photos, it’s a great idea to let your photographer know beforehand. However, take note that you will not be able to accommodate everyone as this will consume a lot of time. You need to pick out the important ones to give time for the other parts of the ceremony or reception. 

You must also let your photographers know if you have any family or friends who have a disability or a strong aversion to flash lighting. This will help them plan the location and lighting for the group shots appropriately. 

Finally, let them know about other special shots of you and your partner that you want to be taken. If you have any location in mind, feel free to share it with them as well. They will take it into consideration when planning the locations. 

Informing your wedding photographers of your preferred group and specific photos will allow them to prepare in advance. Ultimately this will help save time and make it easier for everyone to get the pictures taken. 

Drone group shot at Ekhidna WInes
  1. Surprises 

If you are planning a surprise for your partner, you must also let them know about it. When photographers know what is to come, they can position themselves beforehand to capture your partner’s reaction clearly and from the best angle. Don’t worry – we are usually pretty good at keeping secrets 😉

Surprise!

Finding the best wedding photographers for your big day is the fundamental step to gaining great memories of it. You also have a part to play in this—you must fill in your chosen people with details your wedding phtoographer must know. Supplying them with the information listed above will help them do their job well. Ultimately, this will enable them to get the best snaps of your love story’s momentous day.  

Looking for skilled wedding photographers in Australia? We’ve got you covered! At SvenStudios, we offer award-winning photography as well as a variety of customisable wedding photography packages you can choose from. Get in touch today to know more about our services!