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Tips For Dealing With Wedding Day Family Drama

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  • 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!

Annie Reserve in Happy Valley Family Shoot

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  • Little girl looking at water

Annie Reserve, Happy Valley Family Shoot

It’s so much fun to shoot the same family as I have done in the past to see how the little members of the family are growing up. In this case I head out for a Happy Valley Family Shoot with Miranda and Jake to celebrate little Hadley’s second birthday, just as I had done a year prior for Hadley’s first birthday!

Miranda told me that having family portraits done at about the same time each year was a bit of a family tradtion in her household, and she wanted to continue it which I think is fantastic! Especially consdiering the benefit for children seeing their family portraits hanging on the walls around their house.

Taking photos during the winter months makes things easy in a lot of ways as a photographer – as the sun is usually not casting overly glaring shadows on faces, and the colours of the surrounding nature really comes alive. In the case of Annie Reserve for this Happy Valley family Shoot, we were also treated to a well stocked creek with running water that little Hadley thought was amazing!

We began the shoot rather early in the morning which further enhanced the fact that there were no harsh shadows anywhere, and also allowed for that magical feeling you can get walking through a park like Annie Reserve on a cold winter’s morning.

We made good use of the running creek, the beautiful trees and even the rocky outcrops dotting the shoreline throughout the park for some lovely photos I hope the family cherish forsever!

Little girl on picnic
Girl Playing with balloon
Mum and toddler playing
Family Photo in Annie Reserve
Sitting winter family photo
Laughing family photo
Mum holding belly
Little family walking together
Annie Reserve Family Photo
Annie Reserve Family Photography
Happy Valley Family Photography
Little girl holding balloon string
Dad and his little girl
Family looking at the creek
Mum and her little girl
Mother to be standing in forrest
Happy Valley Maternity Photo
Maternity Photography
Mum and Dad standing together
Little Family photo
Swinging little girl
Family photo under a tree
Mum and Dad swinging little girl
Family photo on picnic
Little girl in grassy area
Little girl running on grass

Hadley’s First birthday shoot

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  • Hadley sitting pretty

 

Hadley’s First birthday shoot

I got to meet up with little Hadley for her first birthday shoot after having shot her newborn photos a year ago! She’s all grown up and as cute as ever!

Even though the weather wasn’t fantastic early in the morning, Hadley and her Mum and Dad were still keen to head out to a small forrested area nearby my house for some family photos in amongst the beautiful greenery that’s about at this time of year.

I was keen on heading back here after bringing my own little one out for a walk this way to make use of the nifty reflective duck pond, the wonderfully thick gum trees and swatches of clover and thin grass that makes for a lovely backdrop for family shots like these!

It’s sometimes hard to get people out on days like this one to take photos as generally little knees get muddy and everyone gets home wet, but the fact is that this kind of weather really brings out some lively, and intimate colour tones which suit timeless family photogrpahy like this!

Now Baby Hadley and her Mum and Dad will have a proper heirloom of amazing photos of this special moment in time! 🙂

Happy baby in grass
Hadley in the grass
Hadley with Mum and Dad
Family portrait
Hadley and her family
First birthday photoshoot
Hadleys first birthday shoot
Hadley sitting pretty
Thumbs up!
Look
Family photography
Looking over Mum and Dad’s shoulder
Above the duck pond
Walking together as a family
Family shot
Happy bub in the grass
Mummy cuddles

Family Portraits and How Important they can be

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  • Looking over Mum and Dad's shoulder

 

Family Portraits and How Important they can be

Many people are easily overwhelmed by the thought of preserving their family history. You may not know where to start as you stare at the family photos piled up in your living room. You are not alone in this; preserving family photos and making them heirlooms can be a daunting process for anyone.

How would you feel if you look at your family portrait ten years from now with your grownup kids and see no picture? It’s hard to imagine, but that’s what happens when you don’t make the effort to record your family in that moment of time. That is the primary goal of family portraits – to transform images into heirlooms that can be treasured forever. We all want to treasure our family as it is right now, and create memories that will last for a lifetime.

Imagine looking at your family portrait, and all you see is a special place and time you once cherished in your life. You see the memories, the connection and emotions rushing back in like the waves of the ocean. You see the ones your heartbeat for staring back at you. Yes, that is the feeling an ideal family portrait helps you to nurture.

For those that have lost their loved ones, staring at a well-captured family portrait might prompt them to say, “Each time I look at these photos, I feel dad is still with me.” Or maybe it’s all about remembering how cute and little your children were back then.

Family photographer Adelaide

Family Portraits as Heirlooms

As a professional family portrait photographer, I have a keen interest in storytelling using images and words. Family portraits can become heirlooms when there is a secure connection between the family photo and the story behind it. Years to come, as you share these portraits with other family members, you subconsciously create more stories that deepen the connection and unite the family even more.

Family portraits connect us to those who were born before us. When we go through these photos, we are reminded of the things that matter. It makes us travel back in time and discover details that were long forgotten about our family history. As we hold these photos close to our hearts, we desire to pass them on to other generations. Thus, we are preserving our family history subconsciously out of love.

Heirloom photography is not an old-fashioned phenomenon. The timeless quality they possess radiates more meaning as time passes. You can use it to capture special moments in your family history, and show it to others. So when you look back to it, you can’t help but cherish how far you all have been together as one united family.

Family photography

A Family Photographer That Knows You

Are you searching for a family portrait photographer whose mission is to create memories? Then, search no more! I love heading out with a family and conducting fine art portrait sessions they will cherish. Moreover, I deliver studio portraits to families in their own homes, along with newborn and children photography if desired.

The physical products I can produce to showcase your family portraits in pride of place on your wall are second to none and are guaranteed on lasting for generations.

Because quality matters and most families will go the extra mile to get it, I strive to build a robust relationship with my clients before the actual photoshoot session begins. My job is not just to take photos but also to prepare the family in what to expect and how best to prepare for the best possible photographs.

Heirloom family portraits and photography is an investment that is worth every cent spent. I know your quest to preserve your family history is unending. You are not alone in this journey. Fortunately, I’f be happy to help out! Hire a professional family portrait photographer that will help you to preserve those precious moments forever.

 

Our Tips For Taking Keepsake Family Photos

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  • Our Tips For Taking Keepsake Family Photos 1

Taking Keepsake Family Photos

Nowadays, almost everyone’s phone is equipped with a decent camera. People take photos of one another and of themselves at any old time of the day. Candid photos are nice to browse through every now and then. However, having proper family portraits taken by a professional are excellent keepsakes that you can look back on and pass on to your children and grandchildren.

Tips For Taking Keepsake Family Photos

If you want to capture milestones, take advantage of loved ones being in the same location, or you simply want to immortalize the present moment for future generations, here are few tips you can use to create beautiful family photos:

Hadley and her family

Dress using a similar theme

One way to elevate your family photos from the ordinary candid shots to encourage everyone to dress up a little more than usual. Decide on a color palette that you can all agree on. Be careful to choose muted, non-distracting colors that will flatter everyone’s skin tones. You don’t need to dress up in costumes or wacky attire, but rather give everyone some loose guidelines like wearing denim, or outfits in predominantly cream or light blue colors.

Family photographer Adelaide

 

Go natural

You and your family’s future generations will look back on your photos and will want to know all about you. Make it a point to look like yourselves, wearing your usual style of clothing and only a light layer of makeup. Avoid trying a new hairstyle in the week or a few days prior to your portrait session. You might end up with something you regret, and the way you look in that moment will be immortalized forever.

Little Family 🙂

Choose a photographer you are comfortable with

Professionals experienced in taking family photos will put you and your group at ease during your photography session. You may want to choose someone who has experience working with very small children, so they know how to get a good shot even with a fidgety baby in the group. The right kind of photographer will also be able to calm your nerves and elicit laughs and smiles from everyone in the group during the shoot. Be sure to have a chat with your photographer before you agree on services so you can see if they are the right fit for you.

Fussing family

Use levels

Make the photo visually interesting by providing a set-up that has two to three “levels’ all the participants can take turns shifting around on. Put a lower layer, with young children sitting on the floor or grass. Seated in the middle, you can have the head of the family, parents, or any grandparents holding infants. Finally, your top layer can consist of older children and adults standing around the rest of the family.

Duncan Family

Include those who can’t be there

If you have loved ones who can’t be physically present for the photo, there are still ways you can include them in the portrait.

For family members who have passed away, some people like to hold on to a framed photo of them, or even photoshop them in. Others wear a special dress, hat, or accessory that represents their family member. Even if they aren’t present to pose for the photo with you, there are still ways you can pay tribute to them and make them feel they are part of the memory.

Family together

If you are wondering when the best time for family photography is, the answer is: right now. Your children will grow up in a flash, your parents are advancing in age, and commitments may take you or your loved ones far and away from each other. Don’t worry about picking out fancy outfits or posing in front of a fanciful set. Find the right photographer and take your portraits now, so you can keep your memories for a lifetime.

Are you looking for family photography services in Adelaide? We’d be happy to help you capture your family’s special moments. Contact us to learn more and have a chat!