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5 Tips For Taking The Perfect Wedding Photo

Do you want to take some good-looking wedding photos? Well, of course you do! Weddings are one of the most precious days for all couples, and if you’re a wedding photographer, it’s your job to capture all the best moments on that day. Thus, it’ll be your responsibility to create an album that couples will love and cherish for the rest of their lives!  

And in this article, you can read the best tips for taking the perfect wedding photo.

5 Tips For Taking The Perfect Wedding Photo

  • Research The Venue

From the time the couple has called you to become their official wedding photographer, you should start doing your work by researching the venue. Check out the location and see how you can utilize it to take some stunning shots.  

You should visit the venue at least once before the big day to see if the outdoor space of the venue can be used for capturing some post-wedding shots. It also allows you to scout the venue and list the different shooting scenarios that might need to deal with. Also, don’t forget to check how the lighting conditions change in the venue day and night.  

Drone shot of Glanville Hall

 

  • Get To Know The Couple

You should spend time getting to know your clients during your initial meetings. Ask them a couple of questions like how they met or how long they’ve been together. You can use their answers as inspiration for covering their wedding.   

If possible, ask them to hire you as their prenup photographer as well. It can provide an opportunity for the couple to be comfortable with you and vice versa, which is crucial as the big day comes. Additionally, it also allows you to figure out their best angles for taking pictures that are photo frame-worthy.  

You might also want to use this opportunity to give them some insights and information on how they should preserve their wedding photos by putting them on picture frames. Give them recommendations and ask them to use this link to get high-quality and good-looking picture frames.

Laughing bride and groom amongst ivy

 

  • Test Your Gear In Advance

It’s also important that you test your gear in advance to ensure that they are in good working condition before you go to the venue and take great wedding photos.  

Don’t forget to pack all the gear you need for the task, such as a tripod, several camera lenses, external flashes, spare batteries, memory cards, etc. If the photo is taken indoors, you might want to bring some lighting equipment.  I personally just take everything I have to every wedding! I even have a submersable drone if anyone ever wants to go swimming?

And if you’ve done your research and scouted the venue beforehand, you can be better prepared to deal with different shooting scenarios you might encounter throughout the day. For that reason, it’s always a good idea to bring all the necessary equipment you’ll need for the job.  

Waterfall wedding photographer Hobart

 

  • Consider Bringing An Assistant With You

Depending on the wedding. capturing every detail of a wedding might be impossible if you don’t have someone to assist you. You may be covering a wedding with lots of dancing, movement, and excitement, so you’ll also need another professional photographer to help you with managing the lights and capturing other wedding scenes that you’d miss if you’re alone.  

It’s a good idea to get an assistant photographer with you. You can either have them carry around your gear or ask him to capture other parts of the wedding while you focus on the main events.  Or you can do what I do and ask them to focus on creating video.

Darwin’s Pride rock

  • Create A Shot List

Couples these days prefer hiring professional photographers who can document their entire wedding. Every couple wishes to look back at their wedding photos after a couple of years and be reminded of how everything was perfect on that day.  

Creating a shot list can work against the whole natural flow of a wedding – but it can help ensure that you capture all the most important shots ou may forget, such as: 

  • The groom’s first look as her bride enters the venue
  • The emotions of the couple as the bride walks down the aisle
  • The couple’s first kiss as a newlywed
  • The emotional family moments
  • The wedding dance
  • The cake-cutting ceremony

Be sure to ask the couple, their family, friends, and guests for any specific shots they want and list them all down.  

 

A photographer who prepares in advance knows the best camera settings and has a creative mind to come up with unique wedding photoshoot ideas that can capture the best wedding photos that couples will surely cherish for their entire lives. We hope you can use these tips in taking the perfect wedding photos and help you with your next photography shoot.  

 

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6 Best Picture Frames To Display Your Favourite Wedding Photos 

Weddings are considered one of the best days in a person’s life. Given its value, surely you won’t let the amazing photos just sit on your computer or in a box. You can show those gorgeous captured events honourably by documenting them in wedding photo frames. They become valuable home décor that tell the story of your love and of that magical day. Whatever your style, whether glam, rustic, classic or something in between, you’re sure to find some frames that suit your home perfectly.

You can get these frames as gifts for your wedding, shower, engagement, or other occasions, so don’t forget to put them on your registry. To help you decide what to get, here are the six best picture frames to display your wedding photos.   

6 Best Picture Frames To Display Your Favourite Wedding Photos

 

  • Personalized Wedding Picture Frames

Personalized photo frames for your wedding shots are fabulous items to feature your wedding photo. Who wouldn’t adore this affordable style produced from scratch with love? 

Materials can be wood, metal, glass, or plastic. It is the perfect variation of materials to make a personalized picture frame that features grey edges, the couple’s name and wedding year in a charming script. Not just that, there are many more ideas to choose from, widening your imagination to reach your preferred design. 

white wall with photos of the family in various photo frames

  • Floating Frames

Floating frames are trendy these days to ensure your photo is at the centre of attention. Depending on what will complement your home decor, you can choose between a variety of materials such as brass or matte black bolts. With a plain light background theme, it will contrast with the frame and highlight it with some warm spotlight.   

  • Touchscreen Digital Picture Frame

If you seek to be in the modern style, go high-tech with this touchscreen digital picture frame. This frame allows you to display hundreds of photos that rotate throughout the day. Aside from that, you can also highlight your favourite picture from your best wedding photos. Therefore, this saves you from the heartbreak of having to select a few ones to feature on your home, as you can have them shown throughout the day. 

  • Customized Two Frame With Sand Ritual

This customised picture frame is a good option if you seek to elevate your beachy wedding theme. Such an item can display two photos, and the frame is designed for a couple who had their wedding on the beach, using coloured sand as a ritual symbol.  

Thus, this customized frame is the best picture frame for a couple who wants to treasure the rituals made on their wedding day and seek to highlight them in their home.

  • Wooden Photo Ledge

If a classic picture frame for your wedding or any event is what attracts you, why not go for a classic wooden photo ledge? 

Such an item can help you display several photos at a time and effortlessly rotate or replace them as your mood changes. This frame is easy to install and use. 

If you’re interested in it but couldn’t purchase it anywhere near you, it’s easy to make it yourself too. Materials needed are only basic materials for carpentry, like wood, metal or plastics. Paints and polishing can be used, too, depending on your preferred design and liking. Simply put, you can definitely do whatever your mood will lead you.  

  • Acrylic And Brass Picture Frame

Couples with an extra and ultra-modern aesthetic attitude will love the combination of acrylic and brass with a sleek frame or wooden stand design. Adding some small glittery lights or a spotlight pointing to the structure is undoubtedly an excellent way to feature a wedding photo. 

It’s also beneficial because it can be in a trio of versatile sizes. These frames can be designed to stand alone as blocks or thin with a wooden stand. They’re great for narrow surfaces or on a centre accent table. 

Acrylic mounted prints

 

You’ve spent months preparing, planning, and designing your wedding day, and once it’s over, the most pleasing way to relive it for years is through beautiful and captivating photos. So Display your favourite wedding photos!

Possibilities are limitless when it comes to framing your bridal portraits and wedding photos. You can devote an entire wall in your home to a set of gallery frames by gathering all your hundreds and favourite images. A large frame at the centre of a lighted wall is also classy.  

Whatever your tone, likes or style, there’s always a perfect frame to exhibit your treasured memories and help you reminisce those events that happened for years.

 

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10 Honeymoon Tips For An Amazing Trip

You deserve an eventful trip to beautiful places for your honeymoon. Planning a great wedding is crucial, but you also need a perfect honeymoon to complete your experience. Your wedding requires you to be conscious of your guests, friends, and family as you make memories. However, your honeymoon is the real introduction to married life where you and your spouse would get to know each other intimately. This is why you must take note of some essential honeymoon tips to guide you through your trip.

10 Honeymoon Tips For An Amazing Trip

1.   Plan it Together

Marriage is a partnership. You can start living the reality of that fact even while planning for your honeymoon. Make sure that you and your spouse are actively involved in the planning process to ensure that it is not one-sided. Consider your partner’s interests when choosing the right destination, the duration, and the convenient time to travel. Considering these factors would require a lot of compromises and selfless thinking so you can meet each other’s needs.

Santorini Couple Shoot

2.   Plan Early

Planning a wedding is tiring; however, combining it with plans for your honeymoon can be nerve-wracking. This is why you must ensure that everything goes smoothly. Check out for events you both might want to attend and see if you could schedule your honeymoon around that period. Also, take the necessary breaks off work to ensure you can enjoy your honeymoon to the fullest. You can book your flight tickets ahead of time to cut down on costs and even get hotels that offer special services to new couples.

3.   Set A Realistic Budget

To enjoy an eventful trip, you need a reasonable budget that can cater to both of your needs. There’s nothing cheap about a memorable trip for your honeymoon, and it’s best if you set money aside to cater for it. You need to consider the cost of flight tickets, accommodation, food, and other experiences you would love to have during the trip. If you want a worry-free experience, you should settle the financial aspect.

4.   Create The Perfect Itinerary

It’s normal for you to get excited about your honeymoon. However, you can plan hectic activities, touring, and sightseeing that will wear you out easily. Avoid the temptation to do many things within a short time; it would only leave you to steal the perfect moment from yourself. Create a plan with lazy walks across the beach or intimate talks on the balcony. These activities would help you regain energy and make you spend quality time with your spouse. Take out time to relax your nerves; you can even schedule a spa session that would help you achieve that.

couples photography small

5.   Get Some Help

You can always find ways to lessen the workload when planning an eventful trip. Instead of handling it, you can get a travel agent to book a package for you both. Choose the one that covers hotel bookings, tours, and feeding. Also, some agencies offer discounts for new couples that can help them save costs while having the best time of their lives. Perform thorough research to find the best agencies that provide premium service for new couples.

6.   Choose The Right Timing

Most couples assume they have to leave for their honeymoon immediately after getting married. However, that’s only a myth that happens in fairy tales. Planning your wedding can be exhausting and it’s only fair that you get some rest before you go on a trip.

One of the great Honeymoon tips I can give you is take some time to blow off steam from the heavy dancing and singing you’ve done at your wedding reception. Afterwards, you can go on your honeymoon, that way; you’d be refreshed to enjoy the pleasant experience. Timing is key which is why you must carefully consider it when planning your honeymoon to avoid unexpected situations.

7.   Plan Surprises

Since you would be spending the rest of your life with someone you love deeply, it’s only proper for you to make them feel special during the honeymoon. You can spice up the entire trip by paying for an event that you both didn’t plan for initially. Make sure you choose something that would delight your spouse; if your husband loves games, you can find the nearest game centre to get him excited. On the other hand, you can take your wife shopping for new clothing items. Whatever you decide, make sure it suits their needs.

8.   Capture Your Moments

Although you would go on multiple trips as a couple, your honeymoon only happens once. This is why you need to capture every moment to help you remember this lovely event even after you’ve gone home. Imagine showing your children cute pictures from your honeymoon after decades of marriage. You can take a camera along or use a smartphone that captures vivid images. Don’t forget to make videos also because they always have a way of putting a smile on your face when things get difficult.

What would be even better though would be to enlist the help of a local professional photographer for a bit of a photoshoot – similar to an engagement shoot!

Belair National Park engagement photo

9.   Pack Smart

If you plan to visit multiple destinations, it can be burdensome to pack too much stuff. New brides, don’t try to take all of your new shoes and clothes. It’s good that you’re excited but you need to reduce what you pack. Try to study the weather of your destination to determine the perfect clothes to take along. Also, take out materials that would take too much room in your bag.

10.  Try Out New Meals

What’s an amazing trip with great food? One fun part you must explore during your honeymoon trip is the food, especially the ones specific to the culture of the people. This way, you can spice up your adventure and include something new in your archives. No need to stick with boring meals when you can explore new ones.

Santorini Food

 

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A list of the best 8 Adelaide Wedding Celebrants

Almost every weekend I’m out photographing a wedding as an Adelaide wedding photographer and I’m always meeting new lovely people that officiate the ceremony, but there are a couple out there that I either run into so often, or that I know by how they conducted themselves that they are worth recommendation.

Of course there are quite a few Adelaide wedding celebrants, so I simply cannot list all the great ones here – but these are the ones that come to mind immediately whenever people ask me for recommendations. I will be adding more to this list as more come to mind, as I know there are more that are just on the tip of my tounge and I can’t put a name to their face.

The Best Wedding Celebrants Adelaide

Wedding rings on rock

Maria & Richard – https://www.itmustbelovecelebrant.com/

Maria and Richard Rowland are a husband and wife team in Adelaide that conduct wedding ceremonies together. They offer a unique service where they can create seamless ceremonies with all the boxes ticked. Richard is bantering with the groom and queuing your music while Maria is off greeting the bride, fluffing her dress, and settling any last-minute nerves. They each bring their own personality and style to your ceremony. With their combined wealth of life experience, and their philosophy that life should be full of fun, along with their passion for meeting new people, they will take you by the hand and guide you along your wedding journey to create your dream ceremony.

Richard’s expert DJ/MC services are also included in the package, meaning your party can start at the ceremony and go through to midnight. They are proud supporters of marriage equality and welcome all couples with open arms. They are creative writers who will listen to your love story and retell it so that you and your guests will laugh and cry, making it a memorable experience. Maria and Richard believe in creating something unique and special for their clients, and they only charge a single celebrant fee.

 

Vicky Flanegan – https://www.vickyflanegan.com.au/

Vicky is one of those names that is synonymous with weddings in Adelaide, always keen to have a bit of fun at weddings, and likes things to be light hearted – her personality suits being a wedding celebrant perfectly.

She has a nice loud, crisp voice and very rarely makes any diction mistakes – very easy to understand! I also love her car’s number plate – which you’ll just have to chat with her to find out what it is 😉

Married!

Peter Champion – https://www.creativecelebrant.com.au/

Peter is a delightful chap, always keen to have a bit of a joke throughout his ceremonies, but also carries with him an air of prestige and formaility simply by his physical appearance as a tall, well dressed bloke.

I think I’ve photographed around a dozen weddings with Peter at the helm, and each one has gone off without a hitch – a true professional at what he does!

Celebrant talking

Jacqui Leopardi – https://www.jacquileopardi.com/

When it comes to Adelaide wedding celebrants, Jacqui is a super popular choice, often being booked out years in advance, she brings an air of adventure and fun to her ceremonies. In fact as of writitng this, shes currently on a several month tour of Australia, adventuring about witrh her family!

Always with a smile on her face, Jacqui is one of those celebrants who you know just loves her job!

Laughing

Jen Attard – www.jenattard.com.au

Jen is one of those Adelaide wedding celebrants who always has an idea on how to make your ceremony more special in ways you might not have thought of. Very approachable and easy to talk to, she knows what makes a ceremony work and makes planning a wedding super easy, regardless on what type of personality she is presented with.

Celebrant talking during ceremony

Deborah Lilley – https://lilley-cmc.com/

Deborah is one of those celebrants in Adelaide that just doesnt say no to any request you might have. I’ve seen her dress up in medieval garb, put on voices, manage music playlists and even stay all day as an MC on a wedding day. Whenever I arrive at a wedding and see Deborah at the helm, I know that this ceremony is going to be memoriable!

The Manor Basket range wedding Ceremony

Bob McGilchrist – http://www.bobmcgilchrist.com.au/

Bob is always nioce to have around, keen to chat and have a bit of fun with his wedding ceremonies. As of writing this, last time I was photographing him he was quoting lines from the Princess Bride with full voice acting and all!

A very experienced Adelaide marriage celebrant, he is able to facilitate all kinds of wedding ceremonies from the simple, to complex and everything inbetween!

Holding hands smiling

Penelope – https://www.celebrationsbypenelope.com.au/

As with all wedding celebrants on my list, Penelope is another very experienced wedding celebrant, officiating at over 500 weddings in the last 10 years, alse even being rated in the top 5 marriage celebrants in all of Australia according to the 2022 National ABIA awards.

Always with a bubbly personality, Penelope is keen to make everyone at ease throughout their ceremonies and loves a bit of humour throughout!

Celebrant
I’m sure I’ve missed some Adelaide Wedding Celebrants that should be on this list!

Hopefully this little list of wedding celebrants Adelaide helps you find the perfect celebrant for your big day – again I hate to miss out on any of the other hundreds of celebrants I’ve worked with other the years!

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Top Secrets For a Fun Wedding Reception

The best way to make your wedding reception stand out is to personalise every aspect of the night event with thrilling moments that keep your guests entertained and wanting more – think of it like a concert, or any other entertainment event – it’s not justb a trip to a restaurant!

For a start, you can take out some of your time to ponder (with your spouse) what both of you represent. Shared interests, travel experiences, and childhood memories are also great sources of inspiration when planning out fun-filled wedding reception.

As much as your wedding is all about celebrating your union with your spouse, it’s also vital that you put your guest’s enjoyment to heart. Here are a few top secrets that will create that spark of excitement during your wedding reception.

NB: If you’re short on time and still want to cop some amazing reception ideas, below are a few areas to put into consideration.

  • Where you both met
  • Your first dinner
  • Mutual interest
  • Your favorite sport
  • Your first travel or holiday trip
Ivybrook Farm wedding first dance

Top 8 Secrets To a Fun Wedding Reception

This list of fun wedding reception secrets is in no defined order as every suggestion is unique in its way to bring some spark of fun to your event.

1.   Strategic Seating Arrangement

As obvious as this idea may sound for a wedding reception, do not make the mistake of discounting the Importance of having a rock-solid seating arrangement. Ensure you strategically place your guests right beside people that you’re sure will easily get along with. This might appear like a matchmaking idea, but you intend to create a more engaging night for your guests.

To make it a little more interesting, you should make your college mates seat beside each other or force your guests to seat with strangers. This will lead to sharing interesting discussions and ultimately an amazing dance party.

Guests cheers

2.   Hire a DJ to Spruce Up The Place

Alright, this appears to be the norm at every wedding reception but there’s the need to make mention of it. This is primarily because music happens to be a crucial part of any enjoyable event. Talk to your DJ about songs that should be played as you don’t want to witness an empty dance floor when an obscure song is being played.

Serafino wines wedding dancefloor

3.   Request For a Song

Do you want your guests to enjoy every moment of your wedding reception? Then proceed to get a request for their favorite song. You can ask all of your invitees to write down what song they would like you to perform on their RSVP card. Another way to go about this is to allow your guests to send their song requests to your email.

If you have a wonderful voice, you can surprise them by performing alongside a live band or take it up a notch by making a duo performance with your spouse. If on the other hand, your voice is not that great, compile the list of song requests and hand it over to your DJ for an entertaining jam all through the event.

Guests having fun on the dance floor

4.   A Short and Sweet Toast Will Do

What other way can you lighten up the atmosphere of a wedding reception other than to make an exciting toast with your guests? When you’re in to give everyone a treat, never undermine the power of a timely toast. Take note of the time when the party enjoyment is building up and pause to make a quick toast that climaxes the reception fun. You can toast to memorable moments shared with friends and family, to carry everyone along with the event

Groom Speech under awning

5.   Step onto The Dance Floor

The perfect opportunity you get to wow your guests is to show them what great dance moves you’ve got. Hit the dance floor with your spouse and start with a slow dance before carefully transitioning into something more energetic like a Latin not break dance song from Bruno Mars.

To leave an indelible mark on the heart of your guests, you can have a few of them join you on the dance floor or challenge a random invitee to a dance battle.

Dancing guest jumping

6.   Prepare The Kid’s Quarter

Remember to keep the kids entertained while their parents have fun on the dance floor. Prepare a designated area for the kids, in a different room and make proper arrangements for a babysitter that will oversee their affairs like organizing crafts, games, and kid-centric parties. A fun wedding reception should be fun for everyone – especially the kids as it keeps them out of the way!

children dancing

7.   Go Neon

There’s no doubt about the charming look of an elegant mirror or wooden sign at your wedding reception. The problem however with these is that everyone makes use of them at their reception. To host your guests in an outstanding way that sends shivers down their spine, opt for a creative sign that communicates your theme. Having a love-centric neon sign as the backdrop of your photo booth will turn the event around for the best.

Bride and groom kiss under neon wedding signs

8.   Map Out a Food Station

Nothing else makes for an exciting celebration other than good food. However, offering great dishes that each guest can customize to their taste makes it even better. Here’s where having an interactive food station comes into play. By considering a sushi rolling setup as well as a mac-and-cheese bar where guests can have suitable bites, you will leave an impression on their hearts that makes them anticipate more fun.

Food platter on display

Here you have it! The 8 top-secrets that promise to crack open the shell of excitement at any fun wedding reception. Although there are a dozen ways to achieve the goal of entertaining your guests, our list has been carefully curated to meet the basic needs of any reception theme.

Have Some Fun!

Enjoy every aspect of your wedding reception to the fullest. Dance with the love of your life and save yourself from worries. Make sure that you keep yourself in a good mood throughout the day. Once you’ve assigned the various aspects to the planners, your job is to show up looking great. Ditch the formalities and make the most of the time to have a fun wedding reception!