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3 Tips for Choosing the Right Family Photographer

  • Happy bub with Mum 2

How to Choose a Right Family Photographer

When you’re raising a family, time goes by in the blink of an eye. At one moment, you’re juggling a newborn baby while your two toddlers are running around and making a mess; the next, they’re off to college or starting a new job. Capturing these moments is a great way to preserve the memory forever, especially while your children are the smallest they’ll ever be.

An excellent way to do this is to take family portraits every year, especially while your kids are still young. You can track the subtle changes and growth in your family from one photograph to the next. You’ll want to make sure that you’re choosing the right family photographer to artfully yet genuinely express your family’s spirit. Understanding how to choose a family photographer is essential to ensure you capture these moments beautifully.

3 Essential Tips on How to Choose a Family Photographer

Check Their Portfolio

The first thing you should do is to have a look at their portfolio. Your family portraits will very much resemble their previous work, so if you like what you see, then that’s a great sign. The right family photographer will have photos that you sincerely enjoy looking at even though the people in them are total strangers. Even though the subjects in the pictures aren’t saying anything, you can clearly tell the story going on in them.

You’ll also want to check out their family photography photos and check whether they’re relatively uniform or have some vital differences. Ideally, look for a family photographer that changes their style up a bit to take advantage of different settings and scenes to produce creative, original, and memorable photos. You’ll also want to check their family photography photos for different types of families under varying conditions.

Family photography

Ask About Their Style

Each photographer has a unique style that can be seen across their work. When it comes to portraits, some prefer classic shots where the subjects are seated and posed. Other photographers opt for more dynamic photos where the subjects are interacting with each other or their environment.

There’s no right or wrong style; it all boils down to personal preference. Whether you like fun and quirky poses or traditional style portraits, ask the photographer about the techniques they use and see if it reflects in their portfolio.

Walking along the pond edge

Look For Reviews

Lastly, an essential tip on how to choose a family photographer is to look into what people say about them. There are numerous websites dedicated to reviews and referrals of different services, so you might be able to find testimonials from previous clients. You’ll want to find out if they were easy to work with, if they were flexible, and how they dealt with difficult situations.

An excellent place to start would be checking the photographers’ own website and social media accounts. Once you’ve adequately combed through them, cross-reference the reviews you’ve seen with reviews on other platforms. Although you should be on the lookout for positive reviews, keep in mind that there may be negative reviews submitted by customers who are challenging to work with and satisfy.

The less than perfect reviews can be most interesting – not because of how bad the photographer was, but more how they reacted to the poor review. You can’t make everyone 100% happy, but you can try your best to right any percieved wrongs!

Family hugs

Choosing the right family photographer is essential to ensure you get the family portraits you’ve always wanted. These professionals know how to tell your family’s story while capturing the magic and spirit. By following these three tips on how to choose a family photographer, you’ll find the perfect photographer to preserve your most precious memories and have them proudly displayed on your walls!

Looking for photographers in Adelaide to help you with your family portraits? Let us know at Sven Studios! We are professional photographers that specialize in wedding and family photography. Contact us today to see how we can help!

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Keep Great Memories With These Family Photography Tips

Family Photography Tips

One of the best ways to remember moments is by looking at pictures that bring back good memories. When you have old photos at home and spend time looking at them, you will be brought back into time and reminded of the feeling you got when those photos were taken.

Fortunately, with the advances in technology, it is easier for people to take pictures and store photos safely to look at in the future. Hiring a family photography professional is still your best bet when it comes to taking stunning and heartwarming photographs, but many people either just dont like the idea of having a professional take their photos, donbt have the budget, or simply think they themselves can do a good enough job!

Hopefully these family photography tips can help anyone take some nice family photos!

Family photograph in studio

 

Family Photography Tips for Capturing Timeless Moments

Taking family photos shouldn’t be intimidating. Here are some tips you can follow so that you can start taking great family photos yourself:

Consider what type of device you’ll use

One of the most convenient ways to take photos is by using your smartphone. Recently, tech companies have been upgrading and making mobile phone cameras work better than ever. Most of the smartphones in the market produce high-quality photos that can look very similar to high end cameras. They aren’t, but for the mayperson the difference can be indistinguishable. The great thing about smartphones is that they are readily accessible for quick moments that need capturing.

If you want a crisper and clearer quality, investing in an entry-level, mirrorless camera will do the trick. After some practice, you can upgrade your camera’s lenses, helping you take better family photos. This said however, the best camera in the world is the one in your hand – so don’t get too hung up on equipment.

Mobile photos

Focus on the moments

Most people think that family photos are supposed to be more like portraits, standing about aand staring straight down the camera. However, what you would want to look back at are the mundane and spontaneous moments. For example, you can take a picture of your partner preparing breakfast for your children. Another could be a photo of your children in the backyard playing with your dog.

These are the moments you would want to cherish and remember because things will be entirely different years later. Although taking portraits is a great way to see physical growth and development, taking pictures of moments will help tell the story of your family’s growth.

Fussing family

Experiment with angles and lighting

Once you understand how to handle your device and take a few photos, it is best to learn and experiment with different techniques.

Natural light is a photographer’s best friend. When you find an area in your home with the best lighting, family portraits shouldn’t be a problem. An area in your home that lets in natural light is the best place to stage a photograph.

If you’re outside generally it’s best to situate the sun behind your subject, however the quiality of your equipment may come into play here causing images that are too dark, or light. Just makes the understanding of your device that much more important.

Another thing to remember is that camera angles give a different type of perspective and story. Experiment outside while your kids are playing, or when your partner is going up the stairs. These angles and framings can give your photos a story and memory to remember.

Walking along the pond edge

With any new hobby or project, the best way to produce quality output is by practising and experimenting. Compared to other types of photography, family photography is one of the most heartwarming and less-intimating of its kind.

When you practice family photography at home, you’ll continuously be keeping different memories you can look at in the future. Enjoy this new family project you are about to begin and get ready to capture moments that you’ll be thankful you didn’t miss. Hopefully these family photography tips will help out with your shoots!

If however you’re finding the whole situation too much to bear, we are experts in our field and provide specialised wedding photography, family photography, and other photography services. Get in touch and book a session with us today!

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How to Make the Most of a Rainy Wedding Day

  • Under the jetty

 

How to Make the Most of a Rainy Wedding Day

 

If rolling clouds and light showers are to stay on your Big Day, there is still room to get creative. The best wedding photographers will know how to play with shadows and make the most of a rainy wedding day amd get the best out of raindrops and puddles. Chances are, your wedding album will make a statement rather than be tucked away in the attic. A little bit of rain shouldn’t dampen the festive air around the soon-to-be-newlyweds, in fact it’s tradition that rain on a wedding day is actually good luck!

Tips to Make the Most of a Rainy Wedding Day

Tip 1 – Think Ahead

When selecting a venue, always account for inclement weather by falling back on covered spaces and indoor ballrooms. If you’re tying the knot in an area home to unpredictable weather, don’t take your chances—study reports ahead of time.

Thorngrove Manor

Tip 2 – Say Yes to the Wet

Is the prospect of a little mud on your dress a no-go or something playful to think about? Most wedding photos occur before dinner time—no one is going to pay attention to spots on your gown while you’re seated. While a muddy dress doesn’t typically pique anyone’s interest, it can make for an interesting character on the dance floor.

Ekhidna wines wedding vineyards

Tip 3 – Arm Yourself with the Right Rain Gear

No, we aren’t talking about a waterproof bridal gown or tuxedo. In case of rain, you want to have an umbrella handy. Avoid brightly-coloured or black products, instead opting for a simple white or transparent to add a touch of chic to your photos. Carry a set of matching umbrellas for you and your partner—your wedding portraits will thank you later.

A neat shot that a wedding photographer can shoot on a wet wedding day is having some background smoke, or umbrellas light up with an off-camera flash. Looks awesome!

A spare set of wedding shoes can become costly. While hitching up your dress or pants from location to location will certainly do, a pair of wellies or sneakers won’t hurt—especially if they’re invisible under your gown.

Smokey greenhouse

Tip 4 – Allow Some Time to Tidy Up

Always allow ample time to dust off or wash up your wedding attire before photos. Keep a stain stick handy in case you get spots on your gown.

As I mentioned earlier, don’t worry too much about a bit of mud on the hem of your dress, particularly if you’ve spent the last few hours traipsing through vineyards! People simply wont notice during your reception.

Dog running in the Ekhidna WInes vineyards

Tip 5 – Know When to Call it a Day

Shooting in the rain is all good fun if you aren’t fussy about it—but it’s best to know your limits. Torrential downpours and gale-force winds aren’t very forgiving, so you won’t want to be out for more than a couple of shots. If you’re worried about your outfit or are shivering in the cold, it’ll come through in your photos.

Bride and groom through the window

Tip 6 – Take Photos on a Different Day

There’s no reason you have to take your wedding photos on your actual wedding day – take for example what Sarah and Ricardo did for their wedding day. Allow the flexibility to reschedule your shoot if the weather doesn’t support it. Consult with your wedding photographer regarding pre or post-wedding shoots.

The only issue with doing this is that you’ll have to get ready twice, which may mean booking makeup artsists and hair dressers twice – but it’s very doable if you wish.

Sharing a kiss under seagulls

A little bit of rain isn’t the end of how you envision your wedding photographs. By preparing ahead of time, coming up with a contingency plan, or simply embracing the weather, the joy in your photos will shine through. Hopefully these tips on how to make the most of a rainy wedding day helps you realise this.

Book your wedding photography with Sven Studios, where we fear no weather and are committed to showcasing you and your partner at your best. We’ve been known to wade out into the ocean or hang off cliffs to get the best shot! Love travel too, so we are certainly going to make the most fo the location! Our wedding packages are expansive, perfect for couples who love a little adventure.

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Tips for candid wedding photos

  • Leaning against a lamp post

Candid wedding photos

There are different reasons for having a photoshoot. Some may just be to capture a new profile picture for your social media accounts or to document a turning point in your life. However, wedding photography is special, because it is supposed to be one of the happiest moments of your life and you want your photographer to document this emotion.

A wedding represents a major milestone in your life where you are taking on responsibilities as a spouse and have found a signifant other in which you will spend the rest of your life with.

Knowing that this rite of passage into a new life is extra special, you’ll want photos that capture the pure essence of what it means to be in the moment on an important day. Candid photos capture the raw emotions of people, and this can give the photos on your wedding day that unique look that will be amazing to look back to.

I’ve put together some tips on how to looking amazing for your wedding photography in the past, but I thought I’d expand a bit with these new tips for more candid wedding photos.

Tips for candid wedding photos

Here are tips to ensure amazing candid photos on your wedding day:

Put Your Trust in Your Photographer

If you have any doubts in your mind about whether or not the photographer you hired will be able to deliver the photography you expect, this will cause problems as it adds worry on the day. Make sure you have a casual chat with your photographer, and make sure you have them walk throguh an entire wedding shoot they have done in the past so that you develop a sense of trust and chemistry with them.

Having  this confidence in your photographer will allow you to just enjoy each moment spent with your soon-to-be spouse.

Bride and groom between the trees

Don’t Mind the Cameras and Just SMILE!

This may be difficult for some, as they are simply just camera shy or do not enjoy photos being taken. However, once the day of the event comes, emotions just absolutely take over and people just forget about everything and focus on the beauty of their wedding.

The trick is to pretend that you are not being photographed, and just focus on the event itself and take in all the euphoria and love that weddings radiate. Let the photographer melt into the scenery and just focus on the more important aspects, like your family, friends, and your spouse.

There will be moments where wedding photographers will ask you to step into the light for a better shot, but while that is not being done, know that you are doing great and it is visible to everyone around you.

What I like to do when shooting a wedding is doing a bit of a warm up with photos that dont require too much in the way of posing – and then maybe if needed bring out the posed shots – but they often arent needed.

Walking through the trees

 

Live In and Savour the Moment

Weddings often go by in the blink of an eye due to all the emotions and fleeting moments that occur within the day.

Needing to focus on anything other than the moment you are in will be visible in your final photos which is the oposite to what candid wedding photos are all about! Sometimes it is advisable to get a wedding planner or someone who can organise things well to remove burdens of logistics off of your shoulders.

When the day is planned well, there is nothing much to worry about and it becomes easier to live in the moment. Of course, it goes without saying that timelines and plans may often derail to a certain degree, but the trick to moving on with it is just to trust that all will go well and you prepared well.

After the day is done, you will have amazing photos to look back to, so forget about the worries and go with the flow!

Inglewood Inn wedding photo at the cottage

Don’t Rush the Timeline

Wedding days can seem chaotic, but rushing timelines are what no wedding photographer wants to deal with. With less time for people to be themselves and savour the moment, there are limited opportunities for nice photographs.

Wedding photography is best done at a slow pace, as photographers try to look for the best possible shots and angles for amazing photos. Having a relaxed schedule will allow people to warm up to wedding photographers, and ultimately give a better experience.

Bride and groom walking about Burbrook forest

Weddings require your full attention and presence for you to truly have an amazing experience. This is why having professional photographers around is an invaluable asset because you will have high-quality photos to refer to in the future.

Wedding albums in particular can be super important as they are often handed down for generations to come as family hairlooms. Just imagine 40 years in the future with possible grandkids, reliving the emotion you were feeling in the candid wedding photos you’re looking through together. It really is an investment in the future.

Here at Sven Studios, we offer high-quality wedding photography in Adelaide and around Australia. Contact us and let us talk about your special day now!

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5 Tips for Travelling with Your Wedding Gown

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 Dress

Travelling with your wedding dress doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little planning and care, you can keep your gown in perfect condition throughout the journey. Whether you’re heading to a local venue or a destination celebration, here are five helpful tips to make sure your dress arrives safely and beautifully, just like you imagined.

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 Fold Your Wedding Dress for Travel

If you’re planning a destination wedding or flying to a special venue, knowing how to travel with your wedding dress is key to keeping it safe and photo ready. One of the most important steps is folding your gown properly, especially if you won’t be carrying it in a full-length garment bag.

Here are a few tips to help you fold your dress with care:

Start with clean hands and a large surface

Lay a clean sheet or towel on a flat surface like a bed or table. Make sure your hands are washed to avoid transferring any oils or dirt onto the fabric.

Use tissue paper between folds

To protect delicate fabrics and prevent creasing, place sheets of white, acid-free tissue paper between each fold. This adds structure and protects beadwork or lace details.

Fold from the bottom up

Gently fold the train or skirt upward, tucking it under layer by layer. Avoid sharp creases and keep the folds soft. If your dress has multiple layers, start with the underlayers first and work your way out.

Protect the bodice

Once the skirt is folded, lay the bodice flat on top. If the bodice has structure or embellishments, cushion it with more tissue paper to prevent damage during travel.

Place it in a carry-on or garment bag

Whenever possible, avoid checking your dress with luggage. Whether you’re driving or flying with your wedding dress, keeping it close ensures you can monitor how it’s handled. Choose a carry-on suitcase or a travel-friendly garment bag designed for delicate items.

By planning ahead and folding carefully, travelling with your wedding dress can be much smoother and less stressful on your special day.

Storing Your Dress Safely During Flight

Flying with your wedding dress can feel nerve-wracking, especially when you’ve spent so much time choosing the perfect gown. The good news is that many brides successfully travel with their dress by taking a few simple precautions to ensure it stays safe, clean, and wrinkle-free during the flight.

Here’s how to store it properly while in the air:

Avoid placing anything on top

If your dress ends up in the overhead bin, make sure nothing is placed on top of it. Consider asking your seatmate for a bit of space and keep the bag flat and undisturbed during the flight.

Pack a travel steamer

Even with the best care, some creases may still appear. Packing a small, handheld steamer can help refresh your dress once you arrive, so it’s photo-ready before the big moment.

By preparing in advance and handling your gown with care, flying with your wedding dress becomes much more manageable, giving you peace of mind before your celebration begins.