It wasn’t the nicest day to go out and do a photo shoot out and about high in the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, but I’m so glad Olivia and Dimitiri were keen to head out anyway as the colours you can get here are just incredible! Also the rising mist from early in the morning just made the feeling of their engagement photos that much more surreal!
Olivia and Dimitri were umming and ering over where to go for their photoshoot, thinking maybe a beach, or the Belair National Park but in the end were very keen on heading to the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, mainly due to it was where Dimitri had originally proposed.
As this engagement shoot was happening only a few weeks after when they were supposed to be married, I thought this was quite appropriate! Olivia and Dimitri had had to postpone their wedding due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Once a location was chosen, I really wanted to make use of the lovely light either in the late afternoon for the golden hour, or early morning.
We ended up getting up early on the freezing morning for the gates to open at 8:30 as the COVID-19 restrictions had just been lifted and we expected the Botanic Gardens to be packed with people trying to get out and about a bit! The early start, coupled with the drizzly weather meant we had the whole Gardens to ourselves.
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Engagement Shoot
We began our photoshoot walk at the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens lower carpark, nearby the dam wall. Our first reaction when arriving was that we were super lucky to still have some colours in the autumn leaves that made these botanic gardens so magical! I was kind of hoping to get a bit of fog into their photos, but it was fast rising.
We quickly hopped up the nearby hill to make use of some trees that were losing their leaves, then head down to the water’s edge as I wanted to use my favourite tree in all of the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, but unfortunately it had already lost all it’s leaves 🙁
Walking along the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens dam
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Autumn colours
Walking together in the Autumn colours
Cuddles by the water
Close up of engagement ring
Laughing through the red leaves
Holding one another at the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens
Olivia and Dimitri certainly made it easy as their carefree attitude was present all throughout the photoshoot and they had plenty of smiles on their faces!
We then head across the dam, which I feel is always an awesome shot to get, making the couple feel as though they are out in the middle of nowhere on ther path way. It’s a very tricky shot to get though as usually the dam walkway is always full of dozens of other people walking across!
Walking along the Mt Lofty Botanic Dam
Couple on the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Dam
The big draw of the Botanic Gardens are the wonderfully vivid autumnal colours you can get at this time of year, and thankfully we were able to capture some before they all fell from the trees. The colours, coupled with the misty morning really made for some wonderful scenes!
I had a blast taking photos with Olivia and Dimitri during this weather, but it’s so rare to get a couple to get up this early and head out in bad weather like this! 🙂
Just have a ook at the types of unique scenes you can get in weather like this! from fog, to muted autumnal colours!@ It’s a great time to take photos! Just not so great if you want to stay snug and warm :/
Couple under the yellow leaves
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Bridge
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens in winter
Couple under the orange trees
Laughing and playing
Hugs under the yellow leaves
Walking together with the mist
Hugs under the maple leaves
Looking at the camera under the maple leaves
Looking at a flower
I’d like to thank Olivia’s sister in law Thalia whose engagement shoot had been given to them by her mother for giving Olivia and Dimitri their engagement shoot! It’s always nice to know that people appreciate their photos so much they have their family and friends also have their photos taken with me! 🙂
It was a wonderful day that was laid out in front of us for Ellie and Nick’s Belair National Park wedding! The sun was out and everyone involved had a wonderful day celebrating the coming together of these two wonderful people! They turned out to be very lucky with the timing of their wedding being only a week before the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown in South Australia.
Preparation
My day started by shooting photos of Nick and his groomsmen who were being prepared at a house in Ingle Farm. Nick and his groomsmen were having a bunch of trouble tieing their ties before Nick’s best man and father stepped in to help! It was important for Ellie and Nick to get some shots of their dog in some of the shots too, so we had their fur baby model for us occasionally 🙂
Nick was a little distracted while getting ready partly due to nerves, but also because one of this groomsmen had a shirt that was a little too small for him – so they had to rush off and get a new shirt quickly before the ceremony.
Groom getting ready
Groomsman helping out
Father of the groom
Groom putting on tie
Groom looking in mirror
Groom and groomsmen on road
Groom putting on jacket
Ellie and her bridesmaids were being prepared at a lovely bed and breakfast along Waterfall Gully road. We were so close to the waterfalls it pains me to know we diddnt use them for any photos! The girls were all in high spirits all morning, singling songs and making Elllie smile while doing silly things, the atmosphere was quite laid back and fun!
bride getting ready smiling
Bride holding bouquet as she gets ready
wow a ring!
Bridal party in kimonos under tree
bridal jewellery
laughing birdesmaids
hanging wedding dress
bridal party in mirror
bride getting her hair done
smiling bridesmaid as she helps
Bride looking pretty in wedding dress
Bridal party helping bride get ready
Smiling bride as she gets ready
Rear of wedding dress
engagement ring in bouquet
Belair National Park Wedding Ceremony
Ellie and Nick’s Belair National Park Wedding Ceremony took place in the ‘Joseph Fisher‘ picnic grounds which boasts some very tall pine trees surrounding a lovely grassy area, perfectly suited to a wedding ceremony. Theres also a covered area and toilets on site. The only issue I had was that as it was a very sunny day, the sun was very harsh coming in one direction – thankfully the ceremony itself too place under the shade of one of the pine trees.
Part of Ellie and Nick’s wedding ceremony included a creation of a time capsule where they will open it again if they ever find the need to remind themselves why they married one another and read love letters they write each other while drinking the wine inside. It’s a nice addition to a wedding ceremony to do this, or something similar as it breaks up the usual talking and reciting of vows. Another way to incorporate a time capsule is allowig youselves to open it each anniversary.
Bridal motorcade arriving
Bride meeting flower girl
Groom waiting
Bride arriving
Grooms first look of bride
Smiling bride looking at groom
Groom looking at his bride
Belair National park wedding ceremony
holding hands during the ceremony
Wedding ceremony in Belair National Park
Belair National Park wedding in shade
belair National park wedding under tree
Smiles all round
wedding ceremony
Nailing the time capsule
Bride and groom exit
Glamour Photos
For Ellie and Nick’s glamour photos we began on site within the Joseph Fisher picnic area and made use of a love heart someone had engraved into one of the trees. Ellie was quite keen on getting that shot here! We then moved on throughout the national park to the Old Parliament House and then on to behind the Belair Train Station for more Belair National Park wedding photos.
The photos at the Old Parliament House were rushed a bit due to a small mix up of times which the area was booked – turned out the attendant on site expected us a good hour before we turned up for our photos – but she turned out to be a good sport and stuck around for us anyway 🙂
Bride and groom standing together in forest
Belair National Park wedding photo
Leaning against a lamp post
Belair National Park wedding photo 3
Walking together in the garden
Bride and groom standing in the sun
Close up portrait
Wedding photo in the Old Government House garden
Belair National Park wedding photo 2
Standing together under a tree
Bride and groom in an embrace
Bride and groom dancing
bride and groom standing in the Belair National park
Bridal party photo at old government house
Bride and groom walking together
Belair National Park wedding photography
The Summit Cafe and Function Center Wedding Reception
Ellie and Nick’s wedding reception took place at the Summit Cafe and Function Center at the Summit of Mt Lofty. It’s a nifty little spot, perfect for photographing the sunset from the top of the tallest mountain in South Australia and also the city lights during the night – although it was fairly cold and windy!
Wedding cake
Mt Lofty Summit cafe and function center
Mingling
Bride and groom cutting the wedding cake
Bride and groom at sunset
Bride and groom silhouette
guests having fun
Bride and groom on Mt Lofty Summit
Head table
Maid of honour speech
First dance
Smiling bride and groom
Nutbush at wedding
Bouquet toss
I’d like to thank Ellie and Nick for having me as their wedding photographer at their Belair National Park Wedding!
Brides having fun at their Adelaide Sailing Club wedding
Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding – Andrea & Gerry
The sun was hot and bright for Andrea and Gerry’s beautifully intimate Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding at the end of February! Gerry had scouted me out as she was an AUSLAN interpreter at another wedding I had done a few months earlier, and thought I did a good job there so asked me to be her photographer too! It’s always nice to know that people are impressed by what you love doing!
Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding Ceremony
I was Andrea and Gerry’s wedding photographer for a short while on their day, seeing me cover their ceremony on the Adelaide Sailing Club’s lawn with the beach in the background through to the speeches at their reception. The Sailing club is set off to the side of the West Beach Boat ramp and looks out over a small ‘private’ beach made by the boat ramp’s water break. I was a little worried about a surf life saving event happening right nearby with a hovercraft making a bunch of noise – but diddn’t make much of a noise during the ceremony thankfully.
It was a marvellous coincidence that both Andrea and Gerry arrived wearing almost identical clothing, neither opting for a white gown as brides; but rather white formal attire. It was lovely to see their reactions as they both arrived together and remarked at what each other was wearing.
Andrea and Gerry’s approach to the arbour was preceeded by a group of young children acting as flower girls and ring bearers, while also being flanked by family members before the two brides approached together.
The ceremony itself was quite moving with their celebrant talking about Andrea and Gerry’s family while also their story of coming together as a couple. The sounds of the waves crashing on the nearby beach added perfectly to the ambiance as the ceremony unfolded, coupled with the loving gestures made by both Andrea, Gerry and their guests.
Andrea and Gerry’s wedding sign
Andrea and Gerry approaching the ceremony
Holding hands
Approaching the wedding ceremony together
Approaching thre wedding ceremony
ready to start the ceremony
Kids out the front
Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding Ceremony
Smiling bride during the ceremony
Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding
Holding hands under the arbour
Smiling brides
All hugs during the vows
Ring bearer
Exchanging the wedding rings
Just married
First kiss under the arbour
Smiles at their beach wedding
The crowd swamping the couple
Glamour Photos
Often I would bust out the drone to have the group shots done, but the Adelaide Sailing Club is right in the flight path of the Adelaide Airport which means it would be quite illegal to fly there. So the group shots were done by having me run up to the top floor and shooting down at the group from the conveneint balcony. It was fun shouting down instructions while the AUSLAN interpreter was also trying to direct everyone down stairs 🙂
Andrea and Gerry weren’t overly keen on spending too much time having glamour shots done and were more concerned with spending their time with family and friends at the reception. As a result we went for a short walk down to a nearby beach and walked back again.
beach wedding photo
Bridal couple on the beach
Closeup of bridal bouquets
Brides having fun at their Adelaide Sailing Club wedding
Fun beach wedding photography
Walking along the beach together
Casual beach wedding photo
The two brides together on the beach
Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding Reception
I really like the reception area available at the Adelaide Sailing Club – it’s a nice big, closed off area with a huge bar and giant balcony perfectly suited to watch the always amazing Adelaide Sunset as it drops below the horizon. Andrea and Gerry had decorated the area with lanterns and lighting which made the whole space come alive with a bit of festivity.
There were also no less than 3 wedding cakes on display, one usual cake and two cheese cakes (as I understood) – that is two rolls of cheese that are made up to look like cakes – not ‘cheesecakes’. It’s something that has become quite a common sight at weddings as it caters to those who arent too keen on cakes, or have allergies, etc
Fun times
Having a good time
Cheers
Lit Candle
Adelaide Sailing Club Wedding Reception
Group shot
Brides sharing a laugh
Listening to her wife’s speech
Having a chat with one another
Chatting with guests
Close up of cheese
Wedding cakes
Guest group shot
Thanks so much to Andrea and Gerry for having me as your wedding phtoographer! I enjoyed myself immensely and I hope you enjoy your photos! 🙂
It was a stunningly sunny day for Kirsty and Andrew’s Sedan Lutheran Church Wedding. The small town of Sedan, near Renmark in the South Australian Riverland was the setting for this fun wedding where everyone just seemed to want to have a good time! I was asked to be their wedding photographer for their preparation through to the beginning of their reception, so lets jump straight into it shall we?
Preparation
I began the day at Kirsty and Andrew’s new house nearby the town of Sedan. I was quite excited to see some awesome gum trees on the horizon and rolling golden hills that I was hoping to use later in the day for their wedding photos.
Kirsty and her bridal party were being prepared here, and the atmosphere was quite laid back, with Kirsty more worried about where her boots were than any nerves she might have been feeling due to her being married a bit later.
As they had just moved into their new home, it was quite a neat thing to have the entire front room quite free in order to use while putting on the wedding dress – made taking photos that much easier! 🙂
Bride hanging her dress
Engagement ring in bouquet
Hanging wedding dress
Putting on makeup
Girls together in kimonos
Laughing bridesmaids on couch
Wedding boots
OMG it’s an engagement ring
bridal hanger
Helping put on the wedding dress
bride holding her hands
bridalparty lacing up wedding dress
Smiling bride while she gets ready
Bride looking pretty in black and white
bride playing with bouquet
Bride holding bouquet
bride on her own under a tree
Bride standing with bridal party
Andrew and his groomsmen were getting ready in another farm house nearby, but this spot had some very nifty old ruins, which of course I made use of in the short amount of time I had with the boys. One thing I found very co-incidental is that Andrew and his boys were enjoying some clay shooting prior to me arriving for their photos, which I had only ever seen for the first time at the wedding I covered just the week prior! Is this a new trend? 😀
Wedding rings on top of one another
Grooms wedding shoes
Helping put on tie
groomsman putting on tie
groomsman standing in front of car
Groomsmen messing about together
Groom and family in ruin
Groom standing with gun
Sedan Lutheran Church Wedding
You simply cannot miss the Sedan Lutheran Church as it towers over the rest of the small town with it’s huge steeple and traditional small town church styling. It’s also located right on the intersection of 4 roads that lead into the center of town. The church itself is a bit on the small side, with only a single aisle leading through the middle of the church. As it was a reasonably hot day, it was a struggle for some guests to stay cool – but it wasn’t overly stifling. One neat feature of the inside of the church is the ability for some guests to venture to the upper level – I got some neat shots from up there.
Kirsty and Andrew’s Sedan Lutheran Church Wedding was presided over a priest who was friend of the couple and began with the tolling of the church’s bells, which I dont see very often! It was a reasonably simple ceremony with a number of readings from guests and blessings from their priest.
One great thing about church weddings like this is when the bride and groom exits out the front, and if the guests are keen to help – I can tee up a fun shot of everyone throwing the rose petals over the couple – which of course I did!
Sedan Lutheran Church 2
Bride arriving in front of church
Smiling priest
Grooms first glimpse of bride
Standing together at the altar
Sedan Lutheran Church wedding from above
Bridal party at the front of church
Inside the Sedan Lutheran Church
Exchanging wedding bands
First kiss at the Sedan Lutheran Church
Preist blessing
After the ceremony
Bride and groom leaving the Sedan Lutheran Church
Bride and groom celebrating in front of the Sedan Lutheran Church
Glamour Photos
After the required group photos out the front of the church, we head back inside of the church in order to take a few glamour photos using the pews and interior a little before heading out to the Renmark foreshore to make use of the greenery there. My favourite glamour photos from Kirsty and Andrew’s Sedan Lutheran Church Wedding though were taken on a portion of Kirsty and Andrew’s family land.
We drove to a spot where there was a ruin of an old cottage and barn which we made use of for some great shots, before moving to the nearby hills which I had a lot of fun flying over with my drone! We finished off in amongst the lovely gum trees growing out of a dry creek bed nearby.
Bride walking towards groom in church
Standing together in front of altar
Holding hands on pews
Hugs under the rotunda
Dipping under the Renmark rotunda
Walking along the Renmark foreshore
Groom looking at bride in ruin
Bride and groom hugging in ruin
Hugging bride and groom
Groom picking up bride through window
Groom picking up bride
Bride and groom walking along hilltop
Bridal party on hilltop
Bride and groom amongst gum trees
Bride and groom under the sun
Walking together along the creek bed
Bride and groom under tree in the sun
Close up of bridal bouquets
Walking together
Holding hands Walking together
Fun together in front of bridal party
Bride and groom out the front of the Sedan Lutheran Church
I was with Kirsty and Andrew for the very beginning of their reception at a hall in Sedan before heading off! I’d like to thank Kirsty and Andrew for having me take their riverland wedding photography and I hope they enjoy their photos! 😀
Over the years of being an Adelaide wedding photographer I’ve been able to explore the Adelaide CBD and find a multitude of spots that are suitable to take wedding couples to to have their photos done without having to worry about having photo permits of permission to do so. So I thought I’d put together this list of wedding photo locations in Adelaide so that other have no need to do the scouting themselves.
I’ve purposely put this list together for those who do not wish to purchase a photography permit to use the area, and are only of those locations within the Adelaide CBD that are considered ‘public space’ and therefore need no prior arrangements to be made to have photos taken there. A good example of a popular wedding photo location in Adelaide that will not be on this list would be the Adelaide Botanic Gardens – as couples need a photography permit to have their photos taken within the gardens.
List of my favourite Wedding Photo Locations in Adelaide
Veale Gardens
If you’re planning on also having your ceremony in Veale Gardens, then you will need a permit from the council, but if you’re just looking to have your photo shoot done, then no such permission is needed. Located in the southern park lands, Veale Gardens boasts beautifully manicured lawns and a man made river sweeping through the whole garden area.
There are a number of different rock pools that also make for a great setting for wedding photography. One of the best things about Veale Gardens though is the variety of photos you can take here, as just behind the gardens is a small gum tree forest and a rather unkempt area for a more rustic feel to your wedding photos – something you’d usually have to travel outside of the city to find.
Veale Gardens wedding photo
Couple portrait at sunset in Veale Gardens
UNder the tree in veale Gardens
Himeji Gardens
The Himeji Gardens are also located in the southern park lands, and right nearby Veale Gardens. Himeji Gardens is build to commemorate Adelaide’s sister city relationship with the Japanese city of Himeji. The whole area is designed to look pretty as it’s a properly designed garden with the Japanese aesthetic in mind. Wedding ceremonies are not allowed to take place within the gardens, but you are able to walk through and take your glamour photos within.
Just be sure you try to use the gardens during it’s opening times. The best times to visit are during the autumn months as the Japanese maple’s start to show some incredible colours.
Sunset in Himeji gardens
Couple dancing in the Himeji Gardens
Couple in the Himeji gardens doorway
North Terrace
The old buildings along North Terrace, coupled with some of the nice trees and art installations along the road make North terrace one of my go to wedding photo locations in Adelaide. Many of the old buildings along here belong to the Adelaide University campus, but I felt as though the campus itself deserved it’s own mention on this list.
Wedding couple under flowers
Bonython Hall
Under a tree on North Terrace
The egg
Under an archway on North Terrace
Adelaide University
The Adelaide University campus itself has some wonderful spots hidden around the place as it’s such an old campus. One such spot has romenesque columns lining a walkway towards a door. This one spot – quite close to the Torrens footbridge – has become a huge hot spot for wedding photography often having to queue up behind other wedding couples wanting to have photos done there on a Saturday.
bride and groom at Adelaide University
Bride and Groom in Adelaide University
Adelaide University
Adelaide University
Old Police Barracks and Migration museum
The old Police barracks are located right behind the South Australian Museum and library. It’s a beautiful old building which is very much hidden from view and you’d be forgiven for not knowing it was there unless you had specially sought it out. It is public space, however can also be booked for wedding ceremonies so it would be best to enquire before your wedding day if it was being used or not before heading down there to have photos done.
Adelaide Museum
Adelaide museum wedding photography
Behind the Adelaide Museum
Adelaide Museum
Rymill Park
Rymill Park is one of the main venues used for the famous Adelaide Fringe festival held each year in February and March so if you want to have photos in Rymill Park during that period of time, it may be tricky. Rymill Park has a wonderful pond and beautiful trees and path ways meandering about the area which makes the spot one of the popular wedding photo locations in Adelaide.
On the bridge
Rymill Park wedding photo
Together under a tree
Next to the horse and carriage
Rundle Mall
Rundle Mall is the home of Adelaide’s defacto mascot of the Mall’s Balls art installation. Everyone from Adelaide knows the spot in Rundle Mall as an easy point of reference within the city. As a wedding photo location, it’s better suited at night, as there will not be as many random people in your photos, and it allows for the pretty lights that line the area to be used in your photos.
End of Rundle Mall
Walking down Rundle Mall
Adelaide Arcade
When thinking of wedding photo locations in Adelaide, the oldest shopping precinct in the city fits the bill nicely, with centry old architecture, and the ability to explore above the main shops a bit, it makes for a nicely unique spot to have your photos done.
Adelaide Arcade
Old Adelaide Market Area
One of the lesser known wedding photo locations in Adelaide is the old market area on East Terrace. The lane ways off Charlick cct and Vardon ave have some great scenes available for a wedding photographer – particularly during the autumn months as the trees are starting to turn some nice shades of yellow and red.
Looking back
Kisses
Wilson Parking Hindley St
Bit of an odd place to think about having your wedding photos done is in a car park, but the Wilson Park on Hindley street actually opens up onto it’s roof enabling your wedding photographer to get a unique perspective on the Adelaide skyline if that’s you’re thing. Sorry I only have some shots of batman to demonstrate what I’m talking about 🙂
Batman looking around
Batman cosplay looking out over the city of Adelaide
Elder Park
Elder park is the area where every postcard of Adelaide is shot from. The park is surrounded by a lovely stretch of the river Torrens, Adelaide oval, the Festival theater and convention center. One of the main draw cards as one of the best wedding photo locations in Adelaide is the huge rotunda sitting surrounded by beautifully manicured lawn. There is also the King William street bridge and of course the river itself.
Adelaide Botanic Park
Leading straight next door to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens though is the Adelaide Botanic Park. A popular spot to hold wedding ceremonies and have photos taken with the multitude of pretty Moreton Bay Fig trees. The area is often used for live music events so some of the park may be cordoned off, and is a nice spot to hold a family picnic so if it’s a nice day, expect a lot of other people using the area while you’re taking photos.
The fig trees scattered throughout the park have amazing roots that lend themselves well to wedding photos and at certain times of day the sunlight will seep through the foliage nicely.
bride and groom in Botanic Park
Adelaide Botanic Park wedding photos
bride and groom walking between the trees of Darwin’s Botanic Park
Torrens foreshore & footbridge
The Torrens meanders throughout the northern part of the Adelaide CBD and winds past the northern entrance to Adelaide University. At that point there is a pretty footbridge that traverses the Torrens river. You can use the footbridge itself as one of the great wedding photo locations in Adelaide, but there are also some hidden spots nearby like weeping willow trees and some nice footpaths.
Couple on Torrens footbridge
On the footbridge
Near the Torrens
Adelaide is a very pretty city, and it was designed to be so! This list is therefore not an exhaustive list of wedding photo locations in Adelaide, but more of a guide to give you an idea of some of the more popular, and in some cases lesser known spots to head to with your wedding photographer!
