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3 Things Professional Wedding Photographers Wish You Knew

  • Happy wife happy life

 

What Wedding Photographers Wish You Knew

Photographers have their fair share of difficulties, but that just comes with the stress of the job. We do everything we can to capture the magic of your wedding day in your photos. 

In this job you really wear your heart on your sleeve and the best of us are passionate about what we do to a fault, But while we try our best to provide the best possible service, there are some things we keep to ourselves that we hope you understand. Here are just a few things most wedding photographers wish you knew: 

3 Things Professional Wedding Photographers Wish You Knew

1 – We don’t want to replicate cheesy Pinterest photos

Wedding photographers have their own style. They have their own creative vision and want to be able to use it with their clients. While bringing in some inspiration is much appreciated (and even highly encouraged), we don’t want to commit a case of creative plagiarism. We do not deliver a replica of a fellow photographer’s vision because most of us have a great portfolio to show you as well. 

Plus, we want to give you a new and fresh concept that has never been done before. Every wedding is unique and special, so we want your photos to reflect your own personalities.  

Instead of searching for photos you want to imitate, compile a mood board with the vibe and feeling you’re going for and look for a photographer with an impressive portfolio that can interpret that vision. We love creative ideas, so don’t be afraid to tell us what you want to go for – sometimes cheesy can be fun – but too much is just silly.

OMG it’s an engagement ring

2 – Our rates are like that because we’re professionals

We understand that you’re on a budget. And as much as we want to help, we need to support our business and families too. Our equipment is an investment, and the skill we possess comes from years of experience and training.

Wedding photographers wish you knew just how much of our lives are poured into our craft and we price ourselves accordingly – it’s not just because it’s a ‘wedding’ and many people like to say.

We know that people are willing to do your shoot for two hundred bucks, but every photographer bases their rates on their skill and years of experience. If you want high-quality photos, you have to be willing to invest in a professional. At the end of the day, the adage, “You get what you pay for,” holds true.

Waterfall wedding photographer Hobart

3 – We wish you’d give us some credit online

It is completely your prerogative to do whatever you want with our photos. We’ve edited them the best we could, and it is our pleasure when you post them online. But tagging us in your photos and leaving us positive reviews can help out our business — especially if you post them without any filters. It would be much appreciated if you give us credit. 

It’s the best thing in the world to hear and to see that you enjoyed our work so it’s really put a smile on our face!

Happy groom

At the end of the day, wedding photographers can let these things slide. It is a special day for a lovely couple, so most photographers will do everything they can to make the newlyweds’ experience special. When clients show their appreciation for us and all the creatives who worked tirelessly on their wedding, it reminds us just how fortunate and special our job is.

Photography is more than just having good equipment and pressing a button. It’s a skill that takes years to develop, so every heartfelt “thank you” recommendation, online mention, and tip in any shape or form truly brightens our days.

Don’t let one of the best moments in your life go uncaptured. Contact Sven Studios, the creative company of the best wedding photographers in Hobart, Darwin and Adelaide. From lovely prenup shoots to formal wedding shoots, we help make this special time in your life last longer through breath taking photographs. Contact us today!

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Plan Your LGBTQI+ Wedding – Questions to Ask

Same-sex wedding cupcake display with dance figurines and floral accents.

Plan Your LGBTQI+ Wedding – Questions to Ask

If you have stumbled onto this blog post, then congratulations on getting engaged! Planning a same-sex wedding may be time-consuming and tedious—as well as exciting, don’t get us wrong—and it is important to make sure that you have everything figured out before the big day. One of these essential tasks is finding the right photographer to help you plan your LGBTQI+ wedding.

Since a LGBTQ+ wedding may not be exactly the same as a heterosexual one, there may be some considerations you need to think about before agreeing to hire a specific photographer. When it comes to taking pictures with your partner, you want to make sure that you are able to find a photographer that has experience approaching your wedding the way you would like.

Questions to Ask the Photographer when you plan your LGBTQI+ wedding

Here are a few questions that you may want to ask the photographer you are thinking about working with.

1 – Have you ever worked with a LGBTQI+ couple before?

It is important for you to ask this question. A photographer who has already had working experience with an LGBTQI+ couple will have an idea of what you may be interested in when it comes to the pictures on your wedding day. 

However, take note that you should never totally dismiss a photographer from the onset just because they do not have experience photographing a same sex wedding yet! It just may make things a little easier to educate them on what you expect and any social faux pas to avoid.

Lego brides

2 – What is your photography style?

Look into their individual style. Great photographers will be able to capture the emotions that are present in each moment. Many photographers are able to have various photography skills that may stretch across different styles to help you negotiate with them as to what type of style you want them to use for your wedding pictures.

Brides having fun at their Adelaide Sailing Club wedding

3 – May we see some of your samples?

It is incredibly important for you to ask for samples of past work and projects that they have worked on in the past. These samples may be able to give you an idea about what style they have. Not only samples too – try to view a full album of what they have presented to past clients – hopefully similar to the wedding you are planning for yourselves.

When it comes to wedding pictures, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What your friend or family member may consider to be a beautiful picture may not be exactly what you envisioned! Looking at a photographer’s samples will help you decide if their output is within your preference. 

Brides sharing a moment

4 – Is there any family drama that may rear it’s ugly head?

It’s an unfortunate fact that when you plan your LGBTQI+ wedding it can bring out the ugly side of certain family members. If you know of any such issues perhaps take certain steps to avoid these personal issues from impacting on your day, and let your photographer know.

When you plan your LGBTQI+ wedding, while it may be hard try not to invite guests you know don’t agree with your choices, or if unavoidable be sure to let them know they are loved so they can show the same.

It’s a tricky issue but thankfully society has finally come around to the idea of LGBTQI+ weddings abut there may still be some closet troglodytes around.

brides on the beach together

5 – All the other usual questions you might ask a wedding photographer

Your wedding is still a wedding, even if you plan your lgbtqi+ wedding, plenty of questions will be the same as a hetero wedding. Question about insurance, turn around time, how you will receive your photos, etc. I’ve written about this in depth in past blogs here.

Simpsons pig wedding cufflinks

Your wedding day will be one of the most important days of your life, as well as your partner’s. You will want to make sure that everything is as close to perfect as possible when you are planning for this special day!

If you are shopping around for wedding photographers in Adelaide, come to SvenStudios! We understand how crucial your wedding photos are, and we want to play a part in helping you immortalise your special day. We will be ready to show you wedding photo samples and discuss packages with you. Entrust your wedding day photography to our professional photographers; contact us today!

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Tips For Dealing With Wedding Day Family Drama

  • Group shot

 

Dealing With Wedding Day Family Drama

So, your wedding day is finally just around the corner, and you can’t help but be so excited for the new chapter you’re starting with the love of your life. Dealing with wedding day family drama though is weighing on the back of your mind as you know not everyone sees eye to eye with you.

Now that you’re well past the planning, hiring, and spending on vendors, there isn’t anything else to worry about and you’re probably spending far too much time wondering about about family drama during your ceremony or throughout the day.

Why family drama?

Let’s face it: no matter how much we’d like to believe that we came out fine regardless of how crazy life was growing up, the fact is that our families have their fair share of drama. Every family is different of course, with varying degrees of issues, but it’s important to think about dealing with wedding day family drama beforehand to that none of it ruins your day.

If you’ve searched the web for “best recommendations” and wedding day tips to put your mind at ease with your big celebration coming up, then you probably heard and read some family drama horror stories. In fact, watching a bit of reality TV may have opened your eyes to the fact that having a brawl, shouting match, or lots of tension break out during a special occasion can become reality. Although those TV shows are absolute trash…

I personally have covered weddings as a photographer where receptions have been shut down due to rowdy behaviour, or the bride and groom has enlisted the services of a security guard – so they certainly can happen.

group photo at Alru Farm wedding

Common wedding day family drama problems (and how to fix them)

Although we’d all like to think that our relatives love us so much that they won’t let pettiness drive them to ruin our special day, the fact of the matter is that there’s no such thing as too safe. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as immunity or full prevention for problems like these because you can’t really tell whether or not they’ll come up. This is why you’ll have to know how to effectively deal with wedding day family drama problems before they snowball into bigger ones that can ruin your day.

If you’re looking to ensure that the biggest moment of your life isn’t shadowed by wedding day family drama, here are some potential problems you can prepare for (and how you can solve them):

Drone group shot at Ekhidna WInes

You have an overbearing parent or sibling in attendance

One of the most common problems that soon-to-be-wed couples end up struggling with is an overbearing parent or sibling that can’t seem to keep themselves together. 

While your frantic family member may have the best intentions for you in mind, the fact that this is a day that’s also special for them may be causing them some excitement as they strive to make sure everything goes well. Fortunately, you can prevent your family members from pushing the boundaries on your wedding day and messing things up by setting them aside somewhere private and asking them to calm down.

A common way this rears it’s head as a photographer is the family friend who has a camera who loves to take photos, but don’t really realise that the official photographer is there for a reason.

All that needs to be done is before the wedding gently remind them that they are paying for the photographer to be there – draw on the fact that they want the guy with a camera there as a guest and not to worry about working too hard. This way it wont hurt their ego so much.

Guest group shot

You have family members that share a whole lot of family history

Whether it’s in the context of divorced parents who aren’t on good terms or an uncle that hates another uncle over something they said once during Christmas, feuding family members essentially present an imminent threat. Considering that family beef can bear so much tension during your big day, it’s important that you diffuse a potential bomb before it blows up. 

When it comes to preventing family members from feuding and turning your reception or wedding into an untimely boxing match, the key to success lies in learning how to separate them. Separation mostly involves doing everything to keep people with beef far apart from each other—something that can manifest itself in the form of special seating arrangements, timed sections, and the like.

One example of effectively separating feuding family members to avoid drama is to tell your photographers about such situations so that they can take the necessary precautions to avoid accidentally grouping them together!

It’s one reason why making a list of family photo groups is so important – as your photographer will not know any family history and has to rely on your direction on the day to capture any desired family groups.

Common Triggers of Family Drama in Weddings

Even with good intentions, weddings can spark tensions. Some common triggers include:

  • Guest list disagreements – deciding who makes the cut often leads to family drama before the wedding.
  • Cultural or religious traditions – differing opinions on rituals can create misunderstandings.
  • Finances – shared expenses may lead to conflicts over how money is spent, fuelling family wedding drama.
  • Seating arrangements – placing certain relatives together can cause tension.
  • Blended families – navigating the roles of parents, step-parents, or step-siblings can bring wedding family drama to the surface.

By recognising these triggers early, couples can plan ahead and reduce unnecessary stress on their special day.

Emotional Impact of Family Drama on Couples

Tension among families can affect couples in significant ways, such as:

  • Anxiety and stress – worrying about keeping everyone happy during family drama before the wedding.
  • Distraction on the day – conflicts can take attention away from the celebration, dampening joy.
  • Feelings of guilt or frustration – couples may feel torn between their own wishes and family expectations, leading to family wedding drama.
  • Memories overshadowed – unresolved wedding family drama can affect how couples look back on their big day.

Understanding these impacts allows couples to seek support, set boundaries, and focus on enjoying their love story.

Group photo

Dealing with family drama is never an easy task, especially when it happens during your wedding. Through this guide’s help, you won’t have to worry about these certain scenarios of wedding day family drama having problems bulldoze through your day and end up cutting your special day short (which can surprisingly lead to more problems in your own marriage)! 

Sven Studios is a team of Australian wedding photographers that you can rely on to have your priceless memories immortalised. If you’re looking to not only manage your potential family drama and have some amazing pictures to boot, get in touch with us today!

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Important Wedding Photography Dos and Don’ts

All photographers view weddings as a major day. This is because the amount of responsibility on the shoulders of wedding photographers is gargantuan. After all, it’s one of the biggest days in the life of the couple involved. In that case, there is no question that nerves will always be part of the equation for each and every wedding that they cover.

The key to successfully executing wedding photography is to ensure that both the groom and bride are comfortable in front of the camera’s lenses. A pre-wedding photoshoot is a great way to manage the nerves on both sides and establish better rapport between the photographer and the couple as well – but it’s not a requirement.

I feel as though being a successful wedding photographer is really all about putting the trust in oneself and your experience in order to be confident in capturing the day no matter what is thrown your way. Being flexible is very important.

There are also some wedding photography dos and don’ts that really need to be heeded at every wedding. While these guidelines are primarily for your wedding photographer, knowing these will help you be more mindful of photography details during your big day.

Some simple Wedding Photography Dos and Don’ts

  • DO focus on even the smallest details

Weddings are planned months in advance, and often, even years. It’s safe to assume that even the most minute detail was well-thought-out and has some sort of significance. Aside from candid couple photos, and even some sneaky shots of guests with their guard down, the photographer should look at the setting and small details the bridal couple has put effort into.

Your photographer should ensure there’s a photo of the entertainment at the reception, especially if it’s your favourite performer. Shots of buffet or plated meals are a must, too. If an heirloom has been passed down to either bride or groom, a captured snap of that should not be missed as well. 

This is something you should communicate to your photographer – as even the best wedding photographers may sometimes miss a ‘must have’ shot that you expect to have. Despite it being best to let your photographer have freedom to do their thing – pointing out small details would always be appreciated.

Guest gift

  • DON’T stand out so much or call attention to yourself

Weddings and the receptions that follow are incredible training grounds for photographers to be ninjas. It’s important that people are able to feel unobstructed by cameras suddenly in their face, or by constantly being asked if they’d like a photo. While there may be an idea for a great group shot, the photographer shouldn’t start pulling people from different corners together just for a shot unless it feels absolutely necessary.

OMG an engagement ring

  • DO use natural light where possible

Authenticity comes through in a photo well when natural light is involved. There’s a lot of family and friends at these events, which leads to emotions running high. These are some of the best moments in the life of both the groom and the bride, so it’s best to make sure the day is captured accordingly and reflects as much. Even if you have a flash kit, only use it when absolutely necessary; nothing beats the magic of natural sunlight.

bride looking out window as she gets ready

  • DON’T get caught up in capturing everything

Aside from the key shots, there’s a lot of room for candid wedding photos. If the photographer finds themselves missing a moment by a few seconds, don’t dwell on it. There should be another candid moment worth capturing after all. The photographer shouldn’t attempt staging the shot either. It’s natural to miss some things, since it’s practically impossible to photograph every minute or instance during a wedding and reception.

If a bride asks for a specific photo though – it’s certainly best practice to go grab it! haha

Laughing and playing

Weddings are undoubtedly special for the couple getting married, which is one main reason why wedding photographers feel immense pressure. A good way to start a good working relationship between you and the photographer is a pre-wedding shoot. There are several wedding photography dos and don’ts, and it’s vital you choose a photographer where these comes naturally.

Looking for wedding photography services? Contact SvenStudios today! Allow us to craft the precious memories of your wedding day in a fun and relaxed way.

 

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4 Common Misconceptions About Wedding Videography

  • Adelaide Wedding Videography

 

Misconceptions about wedding videography

Your wedding is probably going to be one of the most memorable moments of your whole life, so it’s only natural to want to capture every single detail of the day. Wedding videography helps record all the heartfelt emotions and standout moments of the event that photography alone may miss.

However, you might be a little sceptical about some hearsays from fellow brides and grooms who may have opted to give the videography little to no thought, or perhaps regretted their decision not to have a videographer after their big day.

4 Common Misconceptions About Wedding Videography

Here are some common misconceptions about wedding videography and why you shouldn’t take them at face value.

“Photos Are Enough”

Often it’s the justification for not getting a videographer or having a budget for it is because a wedding photographer is enough. We agree that wedding photography is an important part of planning, especially if you want to see all the stills, stolen shots and photos where you didn’t think you were smiling, but you were. However, wedding videography can be just as important.

Videos can capture the sounds and movement of a party that some photos are unable to emulate—the popping of the champagne bottle, the clinking of glasses during a toast, the song you first danced to, the messages from your parents. It’s an unmatched moment to have all that on tape and to watch the wedding through the cinematic lens of your videographer.

If it’s budget constraints you’re worried about, there are plenty of photographers out there – my self included – that offer ‘hybrid’ video coverage allowing a highlight video snippet of your day to be captured alongside photography as a single person – saving money on having a second dedicated videographer in tow.

“Anyone Can be the Videographer”

Although it seems tempting to cut costs and get a nephew of yours to take the video through their camera, you won’t get the same result as professional wedding videographers from a studio. There’s sound editing, transitions, angles and shots that have to be considered when all is said and done.

Let me highlight one of those points – SOUND RECORDING! While your nephew may have the camera, it’s not that often they also have the appropriate audio equipment and backups for if it doesn’t work out right.

You’ll get a better product and outcome if you get some experienced people into the venue. Check price lists and background for past work they’ve done that you might want in your mini-film. The quality of a great wedding video is simply incomparable and something to be treasured forever.

Mobile phone photo 2

“Choose a Videographer the Night Before”

It’s much more recommended to book a videographer in advance, especially experienced ones who might have their schedules full months, even years before an actual wedding. It also gives your chosen videographer a chance to get to know you and the vision you’re going for in the video.

It can be personalised as much or as little as you want to. If you want to incorporate a specific concept into the wedding video outside of the ceremony and reception, you could have a small discussion about that, too.

Gallop bridge Wedding photo

“Wedding Videos Are for One-Time Viewing”

This can be a personal choice, but wedding videos were made to stand the test of time. Rewatching it helps you observe new details. You can show the recording to other loved ones who might not have been able to attend due to different circumstances. You can even show the videos to your children and grandchildren! 

Or if you’ve forgotten what it’s like, you can always look back at it with a particular fondness, especially after so many years have elapsed. You have proof of experiencing that much happiness, laughter, love and tears. 

These misconceptions about wedding videography being that it tends to be watched once and never again tends to stem from the fact that traditional wedding videography products can be a chore to watch, being hours long. Modern videographers like to offer ‘highlight’ montages these days to combat this – providing a short snippet of your day edited to music that is much easier to watch.

 

Wedding videography can be a truly delightful thing that will help you earn a keepsake after the big day. And hey, we won’t judge you if you want to fast forward and skip it to the part where you both say ‘I do.’

Keep in mind these common misconceptions about wedding videography and hopefully you’ll think twice about having a video made on your day. We highly recommend it!

SvenStudios offers both wedding videography and wedding photography in Adelaide and around Australia. We help craft the precious memories of your matrimony so you can have a reminder of your grand love. Get in touch with us today!

 

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