It was nice to meet up with Cristina and Matthew again after having shot their engagement photos what seems like eons ago – well before this website was developed! We head out for a Himeji Gardens family shoot on Adelaide’s South Terrace with their grandparents. The weather was great, and everyone was all smiles – the only issue was how busy the gardens were!
I’d never seen the Himeji gardens so busy! It seemed like everyone was out just enjoying the weather – which was fair enough! But it meant that I had to get a bit creative when it came to the angles I was using – and a touch of photoshop – to make sure there was no one in the background of these family photos.
It was a little frustrating, as other times I had head out for a Himeji Gardens family shoot, I had no such issues and I could use all of the ‘money shots’ that the gardens are famous for. But it turned out ok as Cristine and Matthew were keen to take as many phtos as possible – but Grandpa and Yaya ran out of steam rather quickly.
The main goal was to get a few shots together as a family so I think we achieved that!
On a beautiful, sunny day, just prior to the recent CIVID-19 related full lockdown we’ve endured in South Australia, I was asked by Nadia to head out with her family for a bit of a family shoot!
Nadia and her husband were in Adelaide, from Perth and decided to make the most of their time with their family while here, considering the recent troubles in the world, times like this are precious and what better idea is there than to refresh their family portraits?
Himeji Gardens Family Shoot
We began our little family shoot by heading to the lovely, manicured surrounds you can find within the Adelaide Himeji Gardens. Gifted to Adelaide by our Japanese sister city, Himeji the gardens provide a stunning backdrop to photography all year round.
And the best thing is that the gardens are free to roam about in, and they cannot be booked as a wedding venue, or for other such private events, meaning they are always available during opening hours.
The lovely light shining through the leaves of the beautiful weeping willows at this time of day are always the biggest drawcard of the Himeji Gardens – they make for the best background for any Himeji gardens family shoot.
Himeji Gardens Family Shoot 2
Couple in Himeji Gardens
Couple under weeping willow tree
Family finding fish
Touching fingers under a tree
Couple portrait in Himeji Gardens
Couple portrait in Adelaide Himeji Garden
Family portrait
Sitting on the bench together in Himeji Gardens
Family portrait under tree
Veale Gardens Family Shoot
Whenever I head to south Terrace for a photoshoot, I tend to use both Himeji gardens and Veale Gardens to provide a bit of variety in the colours of the images I provide. Himeji Gardens – at this time of year – is lush and green, and well manicured, while Veale gardens just up the road also provides this, but also a bit of an Australian twist with a small Gum tree forest behind.
This allowsfor a bit more yellow and warmth in photos, while also having different trees in the background.
While walking about we made sure to take photos of both the full family together, and also couples shots, and individual portraits alklowing me to provide a huge amount of photos for Nadia’s family to use in many different ways – hopefully to fill their walls with beautiful physical prints!
family shot under veale Gardens Gum Trees
Family portrait under gum trees
Couple photo on log
Veale Gardens photo
Adelaide Veale Gardens Photography
I’d like to thank nadia for having me photograph her beautiful family, and I’m super glad she and her husband were able to get back into Perth before the big Adelaide shutdown!
It was super fun to be the wedding photographer at Katie and Stairs’ wedding at Adelaide’s St Patricks Church on Grote st as the entire day was super laid back and simple but still full of fun and laughter all day.
I was asked to be their photographer all day from preparation through to the end of their reception at the Jade pub in the city. We travelled to the South Terrace Veale and Himeji gardens for their glamour photos directly after their ceremony
<h3>Preparation</h3>
The day started as it usually does with the preparation of Stairs’ and his entourage at his parents house just outside of the city. Much of the morning was spent placing ribbons on his prized VW wagon before starting to get dressed.
Helping with tie
Cool dude
Shaking hands
Wedding rings
Putting ribbon on car
Walking down stairs
Shoes
Helping with tie
Car
Putting on shirt
Putting on shoes
Katie and her bridal party were being prepared in a beautiful house just to the south of the city, complete with stunning atrium and wood work all throughout the house, was an awesome spot for bridal preparation photos! The big surprise of a VW combi was a lot of fun for Katie and everyone there – apparently Stairs had organised the bridal car unbeknownst to anyone else.
Looking in mirror
Dad’s first look
Putting in earrings
Helping with flower
In gowns
Putting in earrings
Wedding dress
Helping with flower
Putting on dress
Ladies walking together
Bridal Party
<h3>St Patricks Church Wedding Ceremony</h3>
The St Patricks Church on Grote street in Adelaide has been described as one of the most impressive churches in the Archdiocese of Adelaide, having celebrated it’s centenary in 2014, this old church certainly lives up to it’s reputation in grandeur. With it’s tall central ceiling decorated in gold leaf and huge roman columns either side of the congregation pews it certainly make for an impressive view once walking in it’s doors.
Katie and Stair’s modest guest list barely filled the first half of the available seating within the church, but this only made the ceremony that much more intimate while their harpist strummed a delightful melody throughout the ceremony.
Sitting together
Bride and father
Holding hands
Groom waiting
Inside St Patricks Church Adelaide
Holding hands
Exit
Priest
Standing together
Inside Church
Wedding planners
First kiss
Smiling groom
Smiles
Bridal entrance
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<h3>Glamour Photos</h3>
After the mandatory family photos were finished out the front of St Patricks Church, we head over to the Himeji and Veale gardens on South Terrace to make use of the greenery for their glamour photos. It was very important to take it slow and have fun with the whole bridal party all throughout which made the whole experience super laid back and enjoyable.
Walking amongst the gum trees
Under the weeping willow in the Himeji Gardens
Leaning on a tree
Under my favourite tree in Veal Gardens
Under my favourite tree in Veal Gardens
Bridal party walking
Exiting the church
Under the Japanese Maple trees
Next to a hedge
In Front of a door
On a bridge
Together
<h3>The Jade Wedding Reception</h3>
We arrived at The Jade pub a little late for the reception party, but this really wasn’t much of an issue as one of the only traditional parts of their night was speeches and cutting their cake – the rest was just sitting back and enjoying themselves while surrounded by family and friends – which I think is an awesome way to spend your wedding night!
Cutting the cake
Pastry anyone?
Announcement
Inside the Jade pub
Groom speech
Having fun with the glasses
Love
On the road
Cheers
Hugs
Out the front of The Jade
Smiling guests
Wedding Cake
Entrance smiles
Smiling guests
Thanks so much to Katie and Stairs for having me as your wedding photographer! I hope you enjoy your photos.
Jasmine and Mervyl were in Adelaide for a short while and while here they figured they’d use the time to have a bit of an Adelaide glamour shoot before their wedding next year back in Singapore. They are also planning on having photos taken in Canberra also a few days later, so they’ll have quite a bit of diversity to show on a big screen at the forefront of their wedding reception.
Himeji Hardens
We began our short shoot in the Himeji Gardens, on South Terrace. We were very lucky at this time of day as the weather surrounding the shoot, both before and after was pretty atrocious, with wind and heavy rainfall – so i was happy to make use of any sun we had! Unfortunately the hem of Jasmine’s white dress started to get muddy towards the end, but lucky she had a change in dress! 🙂
Sitting about
Holding one another
Smiles
Walking about Himeji Gardens
Holding one another
Veale Gardens
After about 30 minutes walking about the Himeji Gardens, we head over to the nearby Veale Gardens – a popular wedding venue in it’s own right the gardens boast beautifully manicured grassy areas, with a splash of unkempt Australiana just in the rear which we made use of.
Suave
Walking together
Amongst the trees
Engagement ring
Under a tree
Holding hands in veal Gardens
North Terrace
After a bit of a dress change and makeup touch-up, we continued our Adelaide glamour shoot around the lovely North Terrace buildings, including the Adelaide University and Bonython Hall. It’s at this time when the heavens started opening on us and it looked as though our luck with the weather was running out.
North Terrace
Holidn one another
On the footbridge
Cathedral
Holidn one another
Walking alone
Grange Jetty
We ended the shoot at the historic Grange Jetty, when fortunately the sun peeped out from the clouds for just a minute allowing us to run about in the bitter cold to take a few shots 🙂
Under the jetty
On the jetty
Under the jetty
I hope Jasmine and Mervyl enjoy the photos from their Adelaide Glamour Shoot and hope their wedding in Singapore goes fantastically!
