Tag Archive for: beach

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Royal SA Yacht Squadron Wedding – Alex & Tom

Alex and Tom certainly knew how to have a good time as their Royal SA Yacht Squadron wedding can attest! Their day was full of fun loving people, who were keen on having a blast all day – particularly as the SA COVID restrictions had been recinded in regards to dancing only the night before!

Alex and Tom, both avid, successful sailors themselves had the run of the yacht club for their entire day, making things simple for themselves and their guests, who all had giant smiles on their faces all day!

 

Preparation

Tom and his groomsmen were being prepared in a nearby house. I was greeted by many of the guys wandering about in their underwear, stressing about not knowing where Alex’s gift to Tom – a watch – had vanished to! They had the wrist band, but not the watch itself. Crisis was averted after Tom had a proper look. 🙂

After finding the watch, Tom seemed to relax a bit and had a grand ol’ time laughing and making jokes with his mates while getting ready, culminating in a fashionshow-esque portrait shoot where each of the boys made it their mission to pose with the most awkward expressions possible.

Alex and her bridal party were being prepared in a larger house close by, with a grand entrance hall in which I made use of for shots of the bridal preparation and of course haning the dress in!

Alex made use of the grassy area out the back for what might have been the best champaign spraying I have ever seen, before heading back inside to put on dresses.

A big highlight of their preparation would have to be the father of the groom’s first look – not only for his reaction as he peeked around the door frame, but rather the emergance of Alex and Tom’s little boy first who waddled out like a little penguin to screams of delaight from the bridal party.

Royal SA Yacht Squadron Wedding Ceremony

Alex and Tom’s Royal SA Yacht Squadron wedding ceremony took palce under the umbrellas on the large open decking area overlooking the club’s marina. This allowed all their guests to excape the sunny weather, while also having quite a view to look at!

Again Alex and Tom’s little boy stole the show early in the proceedings with him making an entrance to the music of the wiggles, much to the delight of all onlookers, and made everyone laugh as they joined in with the song.

The ceremony also had a couple of heartfelt readings from important people and made sure to involve both laughter and tearjerking moments – all emotions were on display, even confusion when a couple of slight mishaps occured, including a stepping on the dress, and the slight oversight of the location of the wedding bands! This was all laughed off in good humour though.

Glamour Photos

As Alex and Tom’s plan for glamour photos did not involve heading off site anywhere, we made the most of the laid back time by spending some time with family and friends, and also a bit of down time enjoying a drink together in the club’s spectacular boat house.

We made use of the beautiful coloured doors quite a bit, while I also enjoyed shooting Alex and Tom witht he light scoming through the open door to create a ruustic frame around the dancing couple.

We also made use of the marina’s piers and docks as we walked about, and even clamboured on a large yacht for a few photos there.

Royal SA Yacht Squadron Wedding Reception

Alex and Tom’s Royal SA Yacht Squadron wedding reception was spearheaded by an immediate dance floor incursion by the entire bridal party – they were that keen on getting up there!

The entire night was well planned, with over an hour’s worth of heartfelt speeches throughout, which everyone jokingly heckled about, but all really enjoyed with laughter, tears and other shenanigans. After which everyone was keen to jump on the dancefloor, causing the rest fo the night to be a blur!

I’d like to thank Alex, Tom and their family for having myself and my wife there to document your big daya dn I hope you enjoy your photos and video!

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Pt Willunga Beach Wedding – Georgia & Chris

I was super excited to cover Georgia and Chris’ Pt Willunga Beach Wedding in front of the famed Pt Willunga Jetty ruins as I knew they were a couple that were keen on doing anything for the best possible photo opportunity – and boy did we managed to get some wonderful photos!

More of an elopement than a wedding – Georgia and Chris had me cover their short Pt Willunga Beach wedding ceremony as both their photogrpaher and videographer, before heading over to Mclaren Vale, and finally Blanche Point for their glamour photos.

Preparation

Both Georgia and Chris got prepared at the same bed and breakfast nearby at Sellicks beach. Georgia and her bridesmaid tried to keep away from Chris and his groomsman as much as possible while being prepared, but despite the plan being just to have photos done of Georgia beign prepared, it enabled me to also grab a quick few shots of Chris too.

Pt Willunga Beach Wedding Ceremony

I arrived at the beach only to notice that there were a few other weddings having their shoot done in front of the jetty ruins – momentarily being worried that Georgia and Chris may not be able to use the vista as their ceremony backdrop – but they moved on before they arrived.

Having a Pt Willunga Beach wedding ceremony is quite special in that not many people know this but this beach has a reputation of being the most photographed beach in all of South Australia – the unique forms of the sticks from the ruined jetty make for a stunning contrast to the serene waters that surround them.

Georgia and Chris’ Pt Willunga Beach wedding ceremony was beautifully intimate with both members of their bridal party also making a contribution in the way of a heartfelt speech – which was quite unique, before Georgia and Chris also reciting their own vows for one another.

Glamour Photos

After the marriage documents had been signed within the famed beachside cliffs, it was time to make use of the dying sun for some glamour photos! The beach was rather busy at this time, so it was rather tricky to keep the beach loking pristine for Geaorgia and Chris, but I think I managed with clever angles – and of course that ol’ Photoshop chestnut.

Chris was quite adament on having a variety of backdrops in their wedding photos, so we head into the center of Mclaren vale to make use of the delightful Olive Grove set up for anyone to use. It’s one of my favourite spots in Mclaren Vale to photograph at this time of day due to the amazing light that filters through the trees!

We also found a quick spot to stop at to make use of some vineyards.

Heading out to Blanche point at sunset for a wedding shoot was always a dream of mine – I’ve been shooting weddings for 10 years now and within the last few months I have head here twice now, but only once at sunset. This spot really allows my landscape photographer head come into play to create some stunning vistas for my couples!

Helps too that the sun set was absolutely spectacular! We had to squeeze through no less than 3 other weddings also using the location, but we found our own little spot and it turned out fantastically!

It’s honestly not common to manage having a bride climbing over rocks and cliffs in heels and a dress – so I thank Georgia for being such a trooper and I hope you enjoy your photos!

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Rivers End Retreat Wedding – Skye & Brandon

 

At the end of January, I was down at Goolwa for Skye and Brandon’s Rivers End Retreat wedding in the shadow of the impressive Randell rd bridge, and withing a stone’s throw of the Goolwa warf and Cockle Train station!

The Rivers End Retreat is a large, well presented bed and breakfast that usually caters for large group tour bookings, and not weddings overly often – so it was a delight to head to a new, and rare venue like this one!

Preparation

Brandon and his groomsmen were being prepared nearby at a separate bed and breakfast – with the highlight being the box and scrap book that Skye had prepared for him as a morning gift. Tears were flowing and Brandon’s groomsmen certainly played it up nicely!

Skye was being prepared with her bridal party at the main bed and breakfast on site, which allowed them to spread out quite a bit as the main living space is huge!

Skye also recieved a gift from Brandon, but could not open it before heading out for the cermeony, so we made sure we opened that a bit later.

Rivers End Retreat Wedding Ceremony

Skye and Brandon’s Rivers End retreat wedding ceremony took palce on a strip of grass, leading into the rustic brick wall that surrounds the property making for the Goolwa stretch of the end of the river Murray their backdrop.

Their ceremonyt was lovely and simple, with vows being exchanged defore the mandatory kiss and walk back down the aisle!

Brandon was an absolute trooper throughout the ceremony as apparently he was not feeling overly well throughout, and soon after the ceremony retreated to his room for a bit of a lay down before emorging again later in the day.

Afternoon Glamour shoots

Directly after their ceremony and drone group photo in front of the homestead, the bridal party and I quickly head down to the nearby train tracks where we knew a scheduled Cockle Train was about to set off on it’s short trip to Victor Harbor.

It was quite exciting as Skye and Brandon’s Rivers End Retreat Wedding Ceremony took place right in front of the beginning of the railway, so we managed to get in front of the train just as it began it’s journey!

Poor Brandon wasn’t feeling the best just prior to this, so the shot we got of the train heading past was taken only moments after he had been a bit sick on the ground behind – hats off to Skye for putting up with it for a kiss!

I’d just like to draw attention here to their little flower girl – who just so happens to be my daughter, Chloe – she was such a good girl all day!

Later in the day, as the light was fading, and Brandon was feeling for up to it, we head out along the Goolwa piers, on the other side of the Goolwa railway station for a few photos with the bridal party and the nice colours the sun was making on the clouds above!

Reception

Skye and Brandon’s Rivers End Retreat Wedding reception took place pretty much all afternoon, with lawn games, furry friends and delightful surrounds to keep their guests occupied and having a good time right through to the late hours of the evening.

The lawns surrounding the old homestead was the main area for mingling along side the rustic old stables which have been converted to a lovely space suited as a small undercover dance floor, or just a place to chill.

Skye and Brandon’s Rivers End Retreat wedding was a delightful escape down to Goolwa for a beautiful wedding, surrounded by beautiful people – thankyou for having me Skye and Brandon, and I hope you enjoy your photos!

7 Important Tips to Achieve the Best Beach Photo Shoot

Wedding beach photo shoots can always go both ways; It can be an excellent experience for everyone involved, especially since you’ll be working with the backdrop of the peaceful waves, and the calming breeze has always been therapeutic, after all. On the other hand, it can also be very stressful, especially if you have to deal with unpredictable weather and other sandy problems. It can be a dream project that can turn sour if everyone isn’t well-prepared. 

For this reason, we have listed down a couple of essential tips to consider before the crew can even begin to hit the shores.

7 Important Tips to Achieve the Best Beach Photo Shoot

When done right, these tips will ensure a great set of photos by the end of the project and minimise the amount of stress that the crew may experience and achieve the best beach photo shoot possible:

  • Conceptualise the Angles before the Photoshoot

You have the location and the wedding theme right in front of you, but what about the angles of the couple? Thinking of something on the spot is just going to make your job harder. Before you can even travel towards the location, conceptualise how you will place the cameras and your crew of photographers. 

Are you going to shoot at a higher angle, or perhaps shoot from the sides? Do you wish to aim the camera high while you’re crouching? These different angles can yield other effects, and they will all determine whether or not the photos will come outright.

A good piece of advise for any spot you’re heading to – not just for a beach photo shoot – is to scout the location befroehand – either in person or online. Google Earth is an incredible resource to scout around before heading to a spot, and it would also be helpful to check out what other photographers have done at the same location.

  • Look Up the Weather Reports before Going to the Venue

One main adversary that a photography crew has is the weather. It may be sunny today, but no one knows whether or not it will remain that way until tomorrow. Luckily, various weather reports on TV and the internet will tell you whether or not it would be a good idea to proceed with the photo shoot today. 

This is crucial, especially if you’re planning to take pictures by the beachside. You wouldn’t want the bride and groom to be soaked wet once the waves start splashing in. If you want to have a clear day of photo shoots, choose a month with the least amount of storms and pick out a day that you’ll think will not ruin the whole project.

Best way to check on the day for any poor weather is using the radar apps freely available on any smartphone.

All this being said though, depending on how adventurous your bride and groom is, you can get some incredible shots in the rain – on the beach with a storm in the background!

  • Pick the Appropriate Shoes for the Occasion

So, you’re planning to shoot on the sand. If that’s the case, you may advise the bride to wear her flats instead of her heels. It is hard enough to try to pose in a tight wedding dress, but it’s much harder to walk on sand if your heels are digging deep enough to plant your feet. 

Even if they’re insisting on wearing their heels, explain the whole situation to them. Let them know that they can wear their heels during the wedding day within the comforts of their wedding venue, but they have to wear their flats on the day of the beach photoshoot unless they are planning on getting stuck on the sand.

Your own shoes is probably something to think about too – I personally always wear dress shoes to a wedding which get destroyed in salty water, so if you have the chance, change to some run about sneakers – or even thongs.

  • Choose the Appropriate Colors for the Photoshoot

If you want the bride and groom to stand out against the sun’s rays and complement their backdrop, you may choose the colours red, fuchsia, and yellow. These may be bright colours, but they will not camouflage the subject of your photos with the brightness of the day.

On a wedding day – naturally most of the time the bride will be wearing white, which really makes for a nice beach vibe, but can be tricky to expose correctly on a sunny day with so many bright, light colours about. Be sure to expose for the white dress first and foremost, despite everything being under exposed – shadows can be brought back with modern camera – but blown out white wedding dresses cannot!

  • Choose Activities Instead of Mere Poses

The best thing about beach photo shoots is that they give the photographers a chance to put their creativity into play. The couple may stroll along the shores, swim in shallow waters, and even build sandcastles, so long as they will not end up doing cliche poses that almost all brides and grooms do on their wedding photos. 

If your client wants something unique, suggest this concept to them and feel free to let them know its overall appeal. After all, you are not just taking pictures of people in formal dresses doing typical romantic poses; almost anyone can do that. You are capturing their moments, a segment of their life that separates them from their average days.

  • Pick Out a Day Where People Aren’t Flocking to the Beach

It’s hard to achieve the perfect shot when the wind and the sun aren’t cooperating with you, but it’s much harder to regulate other people casually strolling in the background. Yes, some modern software will enable you to edit them out in the post-photography stage, but if there are too many of them, it may be time-consuming and useless since too many edits may ruin the whole image. 

Pick out a day when tourists and locals aren’t flocking to the beach for a swim. Don’t schedule your shoots on the weekend; instead, pick out a day in the middle of the week, where people are mostly in their offices. Your client will appreciate your choice, especially since most couples would like to keep their wedding preparations under wraps. This is important, especially if your client is a well-known personality.

  • Wear Comfortable Clothes for the Photoshoot

The bride and groom may need to be well-dressed for the shoot, but that principle doesn’t apply to the photography crew. The latter is required to dress so that their movements will not be limited while doing their job. Photographers usually have to stand, crouch, lean, sir, and even lay flat at times just to achieve the perfect shot. 

Wearing clothes that may restrict them from doing those positions may be detrimental to their work overall. Encourage your crew to wear light clothes as well, since you are at the beach and wearing layer after layer of fabric may get them dehydrated due to the heat.

Achieving the best beach photo shoot isn’t easy. There is a lot of planning and preparations to be done for the whole project to go smoothly. As a photographer, it’s your job to ensure your clients’ safety, convenience, and privacy. 

If the bride and the groom are comfortable with what they are doing and sincerely happy throughout the whole shoot, they will be able to express more raw emotions that you can capture on the fly. Just be sure to follow the tips above, and you’re on your way to having the best photoshoot ever.

If you’re planning to have your wedding day soon, chances are you are looking for a studio that can provide the best wedding photography in Adelaide. In that case, we at the Sven Studios are at your service. We craft only the most precious memories of your wedding day in a fun and relaxing way. Contact us now so we can discuss more your wedding themes and plans!

 

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Partridge House Wedding – Jemma & Jordan

Jemma and Jordan’s Partridge House wedding took place on a delightfully sunny day in late September, and their day was full of fun, love and adventure!

Jemma and Jordan had selected a number of photo locations to head to all around Adelaide to make sure they had a wide variety of photos, and we even had an improptu visit by the SA Ghostbusters![/av_one_half]

Preparation

It’s not very often, but occasionally a bride will ask me to start my wedding photography coverage with her and her bridesmaids at a beauty salon where they would be having their hair and makeup done. In Jemma’s case I was with her and her entourage early in the morning taking some shots of everyone putting on their faces before heading over to Jordan’s place of preparation!

Jordan was getting ready in a nearby house along with his groomsmen and father. As I’ve said before groomsmen often just dont know how to tie a tie, so much of the time during preparation was simply trying to make it look right on everyone!

The atmosphere was jovial and laid back, which made for a delightful start to the day!

After Jordan’s preparation, I head over to Jemma’s place of preparation, which was an another home, closer to Glenelg. The girls were running a little late from the beauty salon which meant I was sitting there twiddling my thumbs for a bit before they arrived. 🙂

When they did though, all efforts were focussed on hiding Jemma’s dress, which apparently was a secret to some of the family members – I can’t remember the specifics, but apparently some had gone dress shopping with Jemma and thought they knew what she was wearing – but evidently not!

Partridge House Wedding Ceremony

Jemma and Jordan’s Partridge House wedding took place under the stunning large tree located to the side of the house, which shaded most of the congregation from the harsh sunlight, and also made for an amazing backdrop for the ceremony.

During the ceremony I was asked to also live stream for guests who could not attend, so I also had that set up on a tripod. I’m so glad I’m able to provide such a service – particularly in these restricted times.

Jemma and Jordan’s ceremony was a delightful simple affair, punctuated by the cute flower girl, and of course Jemma and Jordan’s fur baby which made an appearance!

Glamour Photos

As I mentioned, Jemma and Jordan weere keen to travel about quite a bit to make use of some of the stunning locations available between their Partridge House wedding ceremony and their reception at Chateau Apollo in the city.

So we made a bit of a trip of it, after using the Partridge House’s stunning garden, we began at the Grange Beach Jetty, then heading to the famed Port Adelaide’s Crozier Street – which was were we bumped into the Ghostbusters, finally heading to Veale Gardens in the city.

Partridge House

The great thing about having a Partridge House wedding is making use of the amazing European-style curated garden that sprawls around the property.

The main large tree, under which Jemma and Jordan held their wedding ceremony under is the jewel of the garden, while there is also sprawling grass fields in front of the house suited for family photos, plus fountains, green plants and all sorts – you could spend a lot of time here discovering new spots!

Grange Beach

Grange beach was reasonably nearby so we head there instead of the usually busy Glenelg to take some shots using the jetty as a backdrop. The wind was picking up quite a bit, so it was a bit of fun for the girls to keep their hair from blowing everywhere, but we made it work!

Crozier Street

When I arrived at Crozier street, before everyone else I was worried to see that some ghostbusters had been called out for some paranormal activity! Thankfully they had already caught their ghost before we arrived, and agreed to have a bit of a photo with the bride and groom! This made for a rather unique wedding photo!

Crozier Street in Port Adelaide is a super popular spot to have some industrial themed wedding photos done, boasting grungy, but clean brickwalls and nifty corregated iron walk ways that span the road overhead. The street has also been made famous with recent films like Mortal Combat.

Veale Gardens

Veale Gardens was the last stop on our way to Chateau Apollo in the city for their reception. The plan was to use the gardens for a bit of greenery in amongst the beach and industrial stle photos we had been taking up until now. It was also a convenient spot to make use of the sunset nearby the reception venue without having to travel too far!

Chateau Apollo Wedding Reception

Jemma and Jordan’s Chateau Apollo wedding reception took place in the private function room, with the entrance on Frome road. Its a delightfully, rustic spot right in the middle of the city which made for a surprisingly intimate and private space for a reception despite being in the middle of the city.

The night was full of dancing, fun speeches and I got to sit on the head table – which was a bit of a first as a wedding photographer! haha Made me feel old though – as everyone around me was quite young.

I’;d like to thank Jemma and Jordan for having me photograph their delightful Partridge House wedding! Your day was a blast and I love how the photos turned out!