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3 Reasons to Have an Engagement Photoshoot

  • Engagement ring

 

Why have an Engagement Photoshoot?

Hiring a professional photographer is essential to modern weddings. It’s an art that captures special moments – from the blushing bride’s walk down the aisle, the bittersweet dance between father and daughter, to everything in between. One aspect of a couple’s relationship that is overlooked on a wedding day however is the pure, unfiltered love that you show to one another outside of such a formal occasion – which is where an engagement photoshoot steps in.

Wedding photography is a widely common practice, but having an engagement photoshoot is steadily gaining the spotlight as it offers a sneak peek into the couple’s love story leading up to the big day. Couples shoots can be a lot of fun too!

It’s easy to think that an engagement photoshoot only adds to your expenses, and isnt really needed, but the list below explores the reasons every couple should say “I do” to it.

3 Reasons to Have an Engagement Photoshoot

Benefit #1: Establish Trust and Familiarity

You may have hired a photographer that matches your style, but there’s nothing more effective than putting your chemistry together to the test. An engagement photoshoot can reduce your jitters and make you feel more comfortable in front of the lens, allowing both parties to understand each other’s best and worst angles and what each other would be comfortable with.

It helps reveal any instances that make the bride or groom uncomfortable, allowing the photographer to ensure you can smile confidently and capture it easily on your wedding day. Not to mention, feeling relaxed can go a long way in creating natural-looking shots that you can cherish for the rest of your life.

From above

Benefit #2: Provides an Opportunity to Do a Make-Up Trial

Your dream hair-do and make-up may look stunning behind a mirror, but it’s possible to capture something you may not have noticed when in front of a camera, and Photoshop only helps so much. With that in mind, having a pre-wedding engagement photoshoot gives room for you to experiment with your look.

makeup

Benefit #3: Makes For a Unique Save the Date, or invitations

Pre-wedding photography not only provides an opportunity to do trial runs, but you can also use it to add a more intimate and quirky touch to your Save the Date cards and/or invitations. Attaching a snapshot of the happy couple can be exciting and gives it a more personalized approach, making it a memento to keep as your friends and family anticipate the special day.

If you’re planning on placing a photo of the two of you on either a save the date or your invitiations, please dont resort to a shot you took on your phone! Invest in an engagement photoshoot for much better results!

Hugs under the maple leaves

 

The best wedding photography is one that is filled with special moments that capture the intense emotions of your big day. Engagement photography gives you some time to break down your awkwardness, allowing you to embrace candidness and celebrate your love together without any limitations. Can be a great date idea too! 😀

Don’t be afraid to opt to have a destination photoshoot either, as this would allow for you to make use of some incredible scenery, while not having to pay for an entire destination wedding!

If you’re looking to capture the beautiful moments leading up to your special day, I offer great deals on engagement photoshoots, both locally and around Australia! We’re the best wedding photographers in Australia to ask, so get in touch with us now!

 

 

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The Importance of a Photo Schedule on Your Wedding Day

  • Bride and groom silhouette

 

Having a Photo Schedule on Your Wedding Day

Weddings are hectic affairs. You spend months and months preparing every detail like picking out the perfect dress and suit, decorating a venue, and sorting out a seating chart. When the wedding day finally arrives, it all whizzes by in a flash. Having a photo schedule on your wedding day will help certain ‘must capture’ events be remembered in your album.

There are so many things that have to fall into place in the span of a few hours. If even one element is late, it throws the entire day off. You will need to go from dressing up, getting to the venue on time, having the ceremony, and then entertaining guests at the reception. Somewhere in between, you will have dozens of precious moments with family and friends that you will want your wedding photographer to capture.

Wedding photographers are experts at observing events as they unfold and figuring out the best moments to capture. However, they can only be at certain places at once. The thing with modern, journalistic wedding photography is that they can’t ask you to repeat the moment because they got the angle wrong or the lighting was off. They have to work within the situation in front of them, timing included.

If you don’t want your photographer to miss out on anything during your wedding day, it’s best to take a small amount of planning time to make a deliberate effort to plan certain photos you’d like to have taken. You may have a general schedule of the major events, but getting down to the details such as having specific call times for bridal parties, setting aside an hour after the ceremony for intimate couple portraits, and making sure there are ample opportunities for group photos during the reception.

Having a photo schedule on your wedding day is an excellent way to ensure that you, your bridal party members, and your guests are camera ready at the critical moments. Modern wedding photography is all about ‘capturing the moment’ so to speak, so having a photo schedule on your wedding day seems a little counter-intuitive to that – however having a timeline still has merit when you’ve got your heart set on a certain type of photo, or specific setup you MUST have.

The Importance of a Photo Schedule on Your Wedding Day

If you are in the middle of planning your wedding day, these are the reasons why having a photography schedule is important:

You will want to take preparation photos

These will be your last moments as a ‘single’ man or woman. This will also be the last time your family will have you all to themselves. Taking the time to capture some candid photos as you prepare for the most significant moment of your life is something a lot of people feel as though isnt important; however when considering your album as a story of your day, it’s a wonderful opener, leading into the rest of the story of the day.

Also, having your photographer document your preparation is a great way to warm up to the big event, and get used to having a camera around all the time.

Bride looking out window

You will be surrounded by family and friends that you don’t see often

Your wedding may be the only occasion to bring all your friends and family together in one place. There are only a few other moments in your life when you will get to have them all in the same place celebrating a happy occasion. You will want to make sure you have keepsakes of your time together, so having a photo schedule on your wedding day will help capture everyone there.

bridal party peeking through window

You will need as much natural light as possible

The timing of your photoshoot is especially important if you plan on shooting outdoors. If you are going to have individual shots or your newlywed photos in a garden or a beach, you will need to make sure you go at the right hour, so you have enough sunlight for your photographer to work with.

Semaphore Beach Sunset

The unexpected can happen

As much as you want everything to go smoothly, things may not always go according to plan – in fact chances are they won’t. Unfortunate things can happen, like getting caught in a traffic jam between your hotel or the venue, or there might be a hiccup with the venue. Having a schedule will get you back on track even if you have to push some things back a bit.

Having a photo schedule on your wedding day is simply a way to list things that you need to happen on your big day – so if you need to rearrange things, it’s right there in front of you so you don’t forget.

Laughing

You can relax and focus on other things

With a schedule to guide everything, your MC can corral the photography crew into the right position to save time. You don’t need to be anxious thinking about whether you got a chance to pose with your grandparents, your university friends, or your colleagues from school. You can leave your worries behind and focus on wearing your most radiant smile instead.

Fun in the sun

You can never go wrong by taking a few extra steps in planning – even if it’s a very simple list of things that *must* be done. Wedding photography doesn’t get a do-over, so it is vital to control as much of the frenzy as possible. Your wedding photographer will work their magic, but only if you point them in the right direction.

Are you looking for wedding photography services? Our team of professionals will help you so you can look back on all the precious memories of your perfect wedding. Contact us today!

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What Not to Do at a Baby Photo Session – A Guide

  • In a basket

 

What Not to Do at a Baby Photo Session – Our Guide

Despite how long the days might feel, your little ones are only babies for a short while. You may blink and find them running out the door to their first day of school or a playdate with friends. Taking family photographs during their newborn and infant stage is a great way to capture those priceless fleeting first years.

Newborn photography can be tricky, so it is vital to choose an experienced photographer who knows how to shoot around potentially fussy or uncooperative babies. As a parent, you should also manage your expectations and make preparations so you can get the most out of your family photography session.

What Not to Do at a Baby Photo Session

If you are planning to have your portraits taken, here are some tips on what not to do at a baby photo session:

Don’t assume it will go according to plan

Babies are mercurial creatures. Newborns might be easier to photograph since they will most likely be asleep or oblivious to what is happening around them. Older babies tend to get distracted or fearful of new settings, so it might be challenging to get them to pose, let alone smile. Discuss your worries with your photographer before the shoot. Someone who is experienced in newborn photography will be able to adapt well to the situation and will guide you through the process.

Baby Bub

Try to keep the surrounds familiar

Unless you have no choice, pick a setting your baby is familiar with. Have the shoot at home or in a park. If you are shooting at home, your baby may feel more at ease and respond better to the photographer and his camera trying to take their picture. Consider also having your portraits taken outdoors. It can make for great photos as natural light will illuminate your photos beautifully.

Happy bub in the grass

Don’t try to rush the photo session

No matter how well you know your baby, they may have a meltdown just as you are about to capture a precious moment. Give your photographer ample time to set up. Allocate at least a reasonable amount of time to have photos taken with allowances for nappy changes and tantrums in between. Most of the time with newborns, a quick cuddle with Mummy is all they need.

Choose a time when your child will most likely be in a good mood, and be sure to prepare any food or snacks that will help soothe them.

Baby Smiles

Don’t get fixated on a particular photos you’ve seen before

You can provide inspiration photos to your photographer, however, you should try to do something original with your portraits. Trying to recreate a photo you’ve seen before is a good example of what not to do at a baby photo session and just sets everyone up for dissapointment.

Pick a setting and props because they reflect your baby’s personality and preferences, not because you want it to look exactly like someone else’s picture.

Smiles

Don’t cover your baby in too many props

Some parents get carried away with decorating the stage and putting fancy outfits on their child. These tend to get too distracting. You want the focus to remain on your baby and not on unnecessary props.

Baby Turtle

 

Newborn photography is a beautiful thing to have as keepsakes. What is essential is capturing family photos is not to get too caught up in making fancy layouts or magazine-style photo spreads. Keep these tips in mind when planning your photoshoot, and remember that the only critical components you need to prepare are just you, and your child. The photographer will take care of the rest.

Are you looking for newborn photography services in Adelaide? We’d love to get in touch and help you capture your memories!

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7 Tips for Choosing the Right Outfit for Family Photos

  • Little Family :)

 

Choosing the Right Outfit for Family Photos

Taking photographs is a great way to capture meaningful moments and events in your life. If you and your family are scheduled for a family photoshoot, you want to ensure that everybody looks their best.

To ensure this, one of the things that you should pay close attention to are the outfits each of you wears. You can be surprised at how a single outfit can easily make or break the entire photo—which why it’s crucial to ensure that everybody is wearing the right outfit.

7 Tips for Choosing the Right Outfit for Family Photos

To help you pick out the right clothes, here are some tips for choosing the right outfit:

Skip the Matching Outfits—Colour Coordinate Instead

Matching outfits were once a novel idea, but they’re a thing of the past now. Today, it’s all about coordinating the colours of each family member’s outfits—which actually make photos a lot easier on the eyes. Aside from this, the colours will also let every personality in your family shine. To properly pull a family photoshoot off, decide on a colour scheme before you have your photos taken.

Duncan Family

Take It Easy On the Patterns

Too many patterns on an outfit can be distracting, especially in a photo—which is why it’s best to keep the patterns to a minimum. A good idea would be to choose just one particularly fun pattern or style for your family’s outfits; that way it will be easier for everyone to pick out coordinating colours. Makes things much easier on everyone to choose the right outfit for themselves.

Family photographer Adelaide

Always Plan Ahead

When the family has agreed to take a family photo and have finally booked a session, it’s now time to sit down and plan the shoot as well. Think about what to wear and what type of photos you want to come out of it. That way, everybody will be on the same page, thus allowing the photoshoot to run smoothly.

Walking together as a family

Think About the Background

If you will be using specific backdrops for the photo, then keep it in mind when picking out what to wear. You don’t want to clash horrendously with the background, or even worse, match with it! If you’re doing the shoot at a studio, then you can talk to the photographer ahead of time to discuss what type and colour of the backdrop will be used. This will help you plan out your outfits with your family accordingly.

Above the duck pond

Consider the Texture

Keep in mind that photos are static, which means that to generate interest, there needs to be eye-catching elements to make your photos look alive. You can do this by considering the textures of your clothing. Through it, your photos can depict subtle movement that will help make it come alive.

Proud Grandpa

Avoid Stripes altogether

When it comes to photos, wearing outfits that feature horizontal stripes by conventional wisdom be avoided! It’s an old wives tale that horizontal stripes can make you look wider in photos, which is why traditionally vertical stripes are preferred, as they are supposed to make you look more slender while outlining the curves of your body.

However this supposed illusion has been debunked by numerous studies and really just comes down to an individual person’s style and confidence in wearing any particular outfit. So when choosing the right outfit for you, simply consider wheather or not you like it or not – not if there’s any stripes or such nonsense.

Wear Outfits With Flattering Necklines

V-shaped necklines or a scoop neck tends to look good on a lot of people. Choose a flattering neckline that will make your outfit look better while suiting your body perfectly in photos.

Little Family 🙂

 

Choosing the right outfit to wear for a family photoshoot may be quite daunting, as everyone has different styles. By following these tips, you can make the shoot run smoother, while simultaneously giving you beautiful photos that you can look back on with fondness. Happy to get in touch if you’re planning on having some family photography done!

 

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What You Should Do Before Picking Your Wedding Photographer

  • Bride and groom under gum tree

Picking Your Wedding Photographer

Weddings are incredible events. You’ll put on a carefully selected dress or suit. You’ll be surrounded by close family and friends. You’ll be in a place or venue that holds some special meaning for you. Everyone will enjoy the evening partying and toasting your love for you and your partner. The entire occasion will be filled with memories that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your married life.

For a day that requires so much careful planning and preparation, you definitely don’t want to forget how special it is. That’s why it’s so important to pick a capable wedding photographer as you’ll be entrusting them to immortalise your memories.

Wedding planning can be extremely stressful. You might be tempted to book someone just to check this item off your to-do list. However, your photographer will have such an intimate role in your wedding day that it pays to do some research before settling on one.

Wedding cake

What You Should Do Before Picking Your Wedding Photographer

Here are five crucial things you should do before picking your wedding photographer:

1. Figure out your expectations

If you’ve never worked with a photographer before, you should know that one photographer does not equate to another. Everyone approaches their work in a different way and using their own personal styles. Do you prefer more candid photos? Do you want to achieve a certain look? If you’re not clear about what you want, it’ll be hard task picking your wedding photographer.

Try and find a photographer that utilises a style and has demonstrated the ability to form your vision of your wedding photography, and try to stay away from ‘directing’ them too much with requests that may not be a part of the photographer’s usual way of doing things. If you do their work will probably not what you’d expect.

Paxton winery wedding from the air

2. Ask for a referral or two

A good photographer will have many happy clients. Some may have worked at your family or friend’s wedding. A trusted contact will give you an honest review about how they felt about a photographer’s services and if they were able to meet or exceed their expectations.

Reading reviews online help too – but make sure you know what you are reading. Reviews on Google and Facebook can be faked (but not always) and other reviews like those collected by ABIA tend to be more accurate as each review is vetted by a committee.

laughing

3. Review albums and portfolios

Photographers will publish their portfolio and recent work online. If they haven’t, you can definitely ask for one. Each photographer has their own style and technique. Check if their previous work aligns with your taste.

When you meet, try and make a point of viewing an entire wedding album – one they have presented to previous clients as completed work. That way you get a better understanding of the quality of their work, and not just the ‘hero’ shots they might publish online.

They are the ones behind the lens, and they’ll be interpreting the event through their own eyes. If you aren’t a fan a photographer’s work style, it’s best to take them off your shortlist.

Digital Deluxe Album

4. Meet with your shortlist in person

Photography is a highly personal and creative undertaking. You’ll be able to tell more about the person by meeting them face to face. Ask about their work ethic and how they can work discreetly but efficiently. A friendly, approachable, and—most of all—professional photographer will put you and your guests at ease and create a good atmosphere for making memories.

grooms first look

5. Evaluate packages

Ultimately, you’ll need to find someone who falls within your budget. Give yourself time to find options. Some wedding photographers offer engagement shoots and additional services like video montages.

The wedding will only last a day, but the photos will last a lifetime. If you don’t set about picking your wedding photographer carefully, you won’t be able to do a do-over. However, if you’ve done your homework well, you’ll be able to find someone who will help you capture the day’s moments as authentically as possible and give you photos that you’ll be happy to look back on for years to come.

We offer professional wedding photography services in Adelaide and all over Australia. Get in contact, and let us know how we can help you capture your special day!

Semaphore Beach Sunset