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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.

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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Jervois Park Wedding – Darwin – Kate & Dylan

I have never before seen such impeccable timing than Kate and Dylan’s wedding where they timed their big day the day before a major COVID lockdown in Darwin. The day itself was a typical stunnly sunny Darwin day that made their Jervois Park wedding – just south of the Darwin CBD such a wonderful experience!

Kate and Dylan’s big day was full of family fueled fun, joy and beautiful moments I was so glad to capture with both photography and videography!

Preparation

Both Kate and Dylan were prepared nearby their Jervois Park wedding venue, with Dylan in a bed and breakfast I had shot in before, and Kate in a hotel room within the CBD.

As per usual on a wedding day, small things often go wrong that just cannont be helped – in the case of Dylan’s preparation, unfortunately one of his groomsmen got on the wrong end of a chainsaw only days before the wedding was to take place! Thankfully the injury wasn’t as bad as it could have been, and he was certainly a champ powering through the rest of his mate’s big day!

The morning was fun filled, and the guys had the usual trouble tieing their ties before Mr. Youtube came along to help! A troup of male strippers also made an appearance! – More of Dylan’s mates trying to create some silly photos 🙂

Wedding rings resting on white tie
Wedding stubbie holder
Engagement ring in between grooms shoes
Groom tieing tie surrounded by windows
Father helping tie tie
Groomsman tieing tie
Groomsman putting on socks
Groomsmen gathered around groom
Groom putting on jacket
Smiling groom looking at camera
Groom at the top of the stairway
Groomsmen at top of staircase
groomsmen in front of pool

Kate and her bridal party had a slightly more straightforward preparation, with plenty of makeup and hair to sort out before the ceremony. The ladies were all in good spirits and were obviously having a great time!

A highlight of the morning with the bridal party for me was the arrival of Kate’s father where we set up a bit of a first look for him seeing Kate in her dress for the first time. Always a crowd pleasing moment!

Wedding dress hanging from roof
Bridal shoes with bouquet
bridal makeup
bridesmaids reaching for dresses
bride and bridesmaids in doorway
Bride sitting in makeup chair
Bride and bridesmaids with gowns
Bride and bridesmaids having fun under veil on bed
bride looking back
Bride being preparaed
bride looking at bridesmaid while being prepared
Bride standing alone in living area
bridesmaids looking at bride
Fathers first look
Bride and Dad
Bride and bridal party
Bridal party on balcony

Jervois Park Wedding Ceremony

Kate and Dylan’s Jervois Park Wedding Ceremony took place inbetween a few trees, providing shade to the majority of their congregation while looking out over Darwin Harbour as a backdrop. It’s a pretty nice spot to hold a wedding ceremony – with quite a bit of parking space for guests, reasonably isolated from passers by, and still being in the center of the city!

Kate and her bridal party arrived in huge all terrain vehicles, which spoke to their affinity for the outdoors, and the ceremony itself was a simple affair with Kate and Dylan sharing personal vows, before breaking off to celebrate with guests and have family photos done.

Jervois Park wedding sign
Arriving parent
Groom standing around
Guests mingling
Bride getting out of car
bride arriving with Father
Groom smiling at bride in jarvois Park
Smiling groom during Jervois Park Wedding
Jervois Park Wedding Ceremony
Holding hands during Jervois Park Wedding Ceremony
Smiling bride during her wedding ceremony in Darwin
Groom listening to his bride’s vows
Exchanging wedding rings under arbour
Closeup of wedding rings exchange
First Kiss at Darwins Jervois Park
bride and groom holding one another after the ceremony

Glamour Photos

For glamour photos, one of the main spots Kate wanted to head to were the marvellous trees located in Garden’s Park, just in front of the Darwin Botanic Gardens. The area in there provides for some stunning shots – particularly later in the day with the sun lowering and gleaming through the foliage, or the trunks of the huge trees growing here.

We then head to one of my favourite spots in Darwin for wedding photos – the East Point cliffs. Us along with 2 other wedding parties who also had the same idea! Thankfully we arrived just as one party was finishing up, so we managed to get the prime spot out on the ‘pride rock’ rock formation in time for the sunset. Unfortunately for the couple arriving after us they kind of missed out! Very popular spot!

Bride and groom in front of wedding 4WD
Bride and groom in green foliage
Bride and groom amongst the green trees
Bride and groom framed by the green foliage
bridal party in the large trees
bride and groom walking between the trees of Darwin’s Botanic Park
Wedding Photo in front of Darwin’s Botanic Gardens
Gardens Park wedding Photo
Gardens Park wedding party Photo
Bridal party at East Point
Bridal party at East Point together
bride and groom out on pride rock
East Point Wedding Photo
Darwins East Point Wedding Photo
East Point in Darwin wedding photography
East Point Bride and groom
Bride and groom Darwin sunset
bride and groom looking out at the sunset
wedding couple looking out at the sunset

Private Property Wedding Reception

Kate and Dylan then had a bit of a drive out to their wedding reception which was held on a pricate property out by Howard Springs. The front yard of a house was decorated with a beautiful display of fairy lights covering all the tables for guests which had also been set up.

What I found most striking from their reception setup was the beautiful tiki torches lining the entrance to the reception – really made the whole setting quite intimate and glamourous, despite the bobcat holding the drinks in it’s digger!

bride and groom arriving at reception
Bobcat holding drinks
Guests selecting drinks
Maid of honour speech
Hugs after speech
Wedding cake on display in circle
Cutting the wedding cake as husband and wife
Dad and daughter dance
Happy bride in first dance
Smiling groom during first dance
Bride sitting on grooms knee
Dancing guests at the reception
Guests on swing
Table setting
Shoe game under the lights
Bride and groom kissing on the dance floor
Dance floor
bride and groom between the tiki torches
Cooling off in the pool
Bride dancing on the dancefloor
Dancing guests

Kate and Dylan, I’m so glad you guys got to celebrate your big day before COVID decided to ruin anything! Thanks so much for having me as your wedding photographer at your Jervois Park wedding!

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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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4 Tips to Help You Get the Best Candid Wedding Photos

Wedding photos come in all sorts of styles. Some are incredibly curated and staged, whereas others are emotional, natural and tear-jerking. Some of the most popular wedding photo styles are candid ones—and for a good reason too! It captures the emotions in the moment felt by the couple, and for many people, such pictures tell excellent stories that are remembered forever. 

That said, candid photos, despite looking natural and relaxed, can be quite tough to get right—even for the ones in front of the camera. After all, there is a fine line between a candid picture that looks beautiful and heartfelt and one that puts a damper on the event because of any forced reactions.

4 Tips to Help You Get the Best Candid Wedding Photos

To help you get the best candid wedding photos possible from your day, here are some tips on how you can do it right.

  1. Be yourself

Perhaps the best tip to get the best candid wedding photos we can ever give you is to be yourself. Do not stress out about looking good or posing. While they both certainly are beneficial to a good photo, it probably will not happen if you worry too much about it! For that reason, you should simply enjoy what is happening around you for the best candid photo. 

Plus, when you finally see yourself in the picture, you truly know that the emotions you felt are genuine and true at that moment in time. Whether that be tears or laughs, what you truly feel during the wedding will be what is reflected in the picture.

A big reason why I like to be as hands off as possible while shooting a wedding – particularly before the ceremony is that nerves play a big part in how people act. There is nothing worse than a photographer telling you want to do on one of the most emotional days of your life! The emotion captures in a photo is key to the best candid wedding photos, so I like to take photos of things that are happening – not things that are too forced.

Santorini Wedding
  1. Grab a drink

Whatever it is you like to drink, be it wine or beer, then go ahead and grab a bottle! Alcohol does fantastic things to make people more talkative, happier, and show their true emotions. 

Of course, you should not be going overboard, as that will only end in tragedy. Just a drink or two is enough to get you relaxed and emotional, setting yourself up for a perfect candid photo. Even if you do not drink, simply holding a cup can make you feel all the more relaxed. So, for the sake of a candid photo, hold a cup at the very least! There is a reason why it’s sometimes called ‘liquid courage‘.

Woodstock winery wine bottles
  1. Put on your outfit

There will be a moment during the wedding that you will have to put on the best clothes to present yourself to your loved one. While it may seem a little counterintuitive to take pictures before you wear your dress or suit, it is one of the best times to do so! This is because, during this time, there will be plenty of emotions in the air. From friends making jokes and you simply looking happy, possibly a little nervous, these moments are perfect for stunning candid photos.

Al-Ru Farm bridal preparation
  1. Set a schedule

We all know that time is money, and more often than not, you are too busy rushing things to sit down and take a photo. This is fatal to candid photos, so it is always recommended that you plan everything with enough time to be relaxed. When you are not stressing about time, you are far more likely to be yourself and look like you are enjoying your time! 

With that in mind, take the time to create a detailed timeline, preferably with the photographer to ensure you have enough time for photos, candid or not.

Kangraoo Island Elopement photoshoot

While there is a place for formal photo-taking sessions, candid pictures are just on a whole other level. It captures the true essence of the wedding and the emotions felt by each individual in the picture. If you are interested in having such photos for your wedding day, then remember the tips above. They go a long way in ensuring this special day is captured in its best light, providing you with the best candid wedding photos possible to remember the wedding for years to come.

If you are looking for the best wedding photography services, then we’re the ones you’re looking for! At Sven Studios, our mission is to provide you with the best services that will capture this special moment in the best way possible. Connect with us today to book us for your event!