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Bridesmaid gift ideas

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As a wedding photographer, I’ve been privvy to a vast variety of different bridesmaid gift ideas, so I thought I might make a list of some of the more thoughtful bridesmaid gift ideas that I’ve come across at my weddings. Giving your bridesmaids a gift before your wedding ceremony is a modern traditions and is seen today as a way for the bride to thank her entourage on a personal level for helping her plan and put together her big day.

Bride and Bridesmaids looking at ring

Bridesmaid gift ideas

Jewellery

The most common of bridesmaid gifts are pieces of jewellery. Usually given to accentuate what the bridesmaids are wearing on the day, and also to give a bit of uniformity between the bridesmaids – if that’s the style you’re going for at your wedding. Jewellery can also be very personal, it’s usually small and easy to package as a gift, so it one of the easier gift ideas to manage too! Generally jewellery gifted in this way should be something you’d know your bridesmaids would like to wear and enjoy after the day itself.

Personalised gowns

During your wedding preparation with your bridesmaids, it’s fun to dress up in matching gowns that have been embroiled with either their names, or fun monikers, such as ‘bridesmaid #2’ or even ‘bride’s b****’, depending on your personality 🙂 There are a number of different ideas when it comes to this sort of thing and while the gowns are personalised specifically for this one wedding, they can be used at home for lazy days also.

Gowns

A services gift certificate

Here’s one that’s not directly related to your wedding! How about gifting your bridesmaids a gift certificate for a massage, or a beauty treatment, or even a portraiture sitting with a professional photographer? This can be a great idea to allow your bridesmaids to pamper themselves after your wedding day and to show them that you think they are all beautiful and care about them outside the sphere that was your wedding day.

Personalised items

One common gift I’ve been seeing lately are personalised items such as wine glasses to drink from at the reception, or even clothes hangers to hang dresses on. These are easy, simple gifts people are bound to use more than once, or at least put them someplace in their home so that they will be reminded about your wonderful day and the role they had to play in it.

Wedding reception

Personal artwork

This one may not be to everyone’s taste, but if your the artsy type, one of the most personal bridesmaid gift ideas I’ve ever seen was a personalised piece of art drawn and painted by the bride herself. This is heartfelt, personal and cheap! And it’s something that your bridesmaids will no doubt put on display once they get home. Failing that I’ve also seen professional artists at weddings where they would hand out quickly drawn caricatures of guests at your wedding reception, but this really falls more into the reception souvenir category along with photobooth photos.

Clothing

Be it shoes, a bag, or even her dress, having a formal dress for each girl at a wedding can get expensive, so many brides opt to make this their bridesmaid’s gift. It’s practical too in many ways, as if it’s the type of dress that would not look out of place at a club, or even at work it may get quite a bit of wear out of it. This goes for shoes also, and you can never have too many clutch purses to choose from can you?

Bridal Party Dresses

There are of course a thousand other ideas for bridesmaid gift ideas, just to list a few other ideas – body products, candy, movie tickets, etc. But really whatever you decide to give, or not give your bridesmaids, I’m sure they’ll love you just the same 🙂

5 Tips To Achieve Perfect Wedding Photos Without A Photographer

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  • Wedding disposable camera

5 Tips To Achieve Perfect Wedding Photos Without A Photographer 

Planning a wedding is perhaps one of the most exciting journeys in one’s life. The joy of sharing such a milestone with the person you want to spend the rest of your days with is quite an experience you wish to intimately remember in more ways than one. However, a wedding is also a bed of roses that consists of challenges you need to overcome as a couple. 

Among these challenges would be the financial burden that a wedding can painstakingly take its toll on you. Even if you want the best for your special day, the budget can restrict you from having the best and the most expensive things. But of course, there’s no way you’re letting the burden get the best of you. Instead, you have to think of ways to achieve the wedding of your dreams on a budget. 

Wedding Photography 101: Sans The Photographer 

Naturally, your instinct would be to make a list of wedding preps and effects that you can downgrade or possibly get rid of so you can save more money. For sure, not hiring a professional photographer has crossed your mind, especially after knowing the typical rates of such services nowadays.  Capturing wedding photos without a photographer is sure to save a chunk of money!

Personally as a professional photographer myself, I’d always advise against foregoing such an expense, as the photography you receive as a result of your wedding often represents the only memories you will retain going forward with your life. However I am also realistic with the notion that photographs are not always the most important items on people’s checklists. Hence this blog post! This may also help you realise how valuable having someone who has the experience is!

Wedding Photos

If you’re wondering if you could make it work, here are some tips you can try to achieve the perfect wedding photos without a photographer: 

  • Invest In A Good Camera 

You may think that this isn’t a practical tip since you still have to shell out money to purchase your first camera. However, if you think about it, investing in a good one won’t only mean having the ability to take beautiful and high-quality photos for your big day. Even when the day is over, the camera stays with you, and you can use it for other special memories you want to capture as you embark on your married life.  

Moreover, there are several digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras in the market that you can consider based on your budget. They’re fairly easy to use and won’t even require professional skills to operate them. Alternatively, you can consider buying a second-hand camera that can serve the same purpose.

  • Know What Accessories You Need 

To make sure your camera will work as expected, you might want to consider purchasing additional gear and accessories for an ultimate setup. A tripod, for one, can greatly help in stabilizing the camera. Hence, you won’t need to worry about blurry or out-of-focus shots.  

Having a tripod also makes it possible to get photos of you and your spouse together, mainly if no one else knows how to use the gear. Group shots are also achievable because of this incredible accessory.

Just make sure you learn how to assemble and attach the timer so you won’t have a hard time navigating it when the day of the wedding comes. Also, find out how to set the camera’s timer, which will be greatly useful when you’re taking group and couple shots. 

  • Make Use Of Beautiful And Natural Backdrops 

If you’re having an outdoor wedding, you won’t run out of beautiful and creative ideas for a backdrop. Trees and flowering plants will suffice if you want to capture candid and romantic photos of yourself and your partner. If you can’t find such options, you can also take pictures in the venue with a stunning view or setting. 

If you know you won’t have enough natural backdrops to utilize, you can prepare a dedicated corner in the venue where you can set up a photo booth of some sort. You can then adorn it with artificial or fresh flowers, depending on your budget. 

  • Ask Your Guests And Friends 

Although you can try, it’s nearly impossible to do all the picture taking yourself. There’ll be times when you need to entertain your wedding guests, so it’s also a good idea to ask your friends if they can hold the camera for a few minutes and start snapping away when you’re too occupied to do it. 

If you have friends who are good with cameras, try to ask for their help. Just be sure not to burden them entirely because, of course, they also want to enjoy the day as much as everyone else does. 

  • Seize The Lighting 

If you don’t know it yet, certain times of the day are considered the best times to take amazing photos. The golden hour, for example, is when the sunlight is less squinting and can look naturally beautiful when taken at a good angle. To achieve perfect wedding photos, it’s recommended you start your pictorial at least an hour before sunset.  

You can use the camera’s flash to avoid getting annoying shadows on faces, especially if you’re doing the shoot outdoors. Additionally, pay extra attention to everything around your image. Eyesores can easily get captured in your photos, such as garbage cans or a tree branch obscuring your face.

Wedding photos in album

Final Thoughts 

Wedding photos don’t have to be expensively taken for them to be beautiful. Sometimes, all it takes is a good eye and enough preparation on your end. If you want to save chunks of money on your wedding day, consider taking your own photos. Just be sure to consider some of the tips above so you can have perfect photos.

I’m not going to lie, being your own photographer and shooting wedding photos without a photographer is going to be tricky, but it probably can be done!

 

Why a Professional Photographer at Your Wedding Is a Must

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  • Engagement ring in a rose

 

Why a Professional Photographer at Your Wedding Is a Must

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. Whether you’re just going to the registration office with a small group of friends or you’re planning an extravagant destination wedding, you and your spouse-to-be should be able to look back on all the memorable moments of your big day.

Reasons why a Professional Photographer at Your Wedding Is a Must

The best wedding photographers are unobtrusive, creative, and experienced enough to know what moments they need to look out for. Here are a few reasons why a professional photographer at your wedding is a must:

  1. Capture Lifelong Memories

Weddings can be nerve-wracking and stressful, especially if you’ve spent so much time, effort, and money planning it to the smallest detail. It’s one of the most significant milestones you will ever go through, after all. If you’re too immersed in the moment, anything you experience that day may become difficult to recall. This is why every moment, big or small, should be captured in photos.

Whether you’re stuck in a happy daze or a little too intoxicated during the reception, your wedding photographer will have your back. They take their role in your wedding very seriously so you can depend on them to deliver photos that you will treasure for the rest of your life.

Just be sure to communicate effectively and select a wedding photographer who you gel with and you’ll be sure to receive a collection of images which will make you smile for years to come.

Laughing groom
  1. Work with Professionals

It’s easier than ever to capture fantastic shots using a device that you carry around every single day. Most smartphones have high-quality camera lenses and software built right into their unassuming little rectangles. When you scroll through social media, it seems like many people have become amateur photographers overnight. 

Just because it’s easy to get a great shot from your phone doesn’t mean you can capture hundreds, even thousands of great shots in one evening. Photography is an art, and professional photographers study and practice for years to learn about lighting, angles, lenses, and shooting techniques to capture the perfect picture. During your weddings, so many things can happen all at once. For this reason, you need and deserve a professional with all the skills and experience to capture that abundant joy.

On the cliffs near Cape Willoughby Lighthouse
  1. Experience a Worry-Free Wedding

If you’re out travelling with friends or family, there is a constant pressure to capture every moment, landscape, and incredible view you see. The more often you document the special moments in your life, the more memories you can look back on in the future.

Your wedding is one of the biggest events in your life, and you shouldn’t be the one scrambling to capture these special memories. A professional wedding photographer will take on that task for you, giving you all the shots you will want to look back on after a day, a week, a year, or a lifetime of being with your spouse.

If you consider having a ‘friend’ who is not an experienced wedding photographer shoot your big day – you need only do a bit of a search on why it’s one of the biggest regrets of past bridal couples where they opted to do just that.

If you invite a guest, you want them to enjoy the day right? it’s a big reason why a professional photographer at your wedding is a must. They are there just to take photos, where as your guests are thinking about other things.

boys group shot
  1. Avoid the Hassles of Post Production

A wedding photographer’s job doesn’t end with capturing photos. The work continues in their studio where they will then touch up, crop, and edit the raw footage. The resulting product is a stunning album that captures not just personal memories but the overall aesthetic and feel of your wedding, too.

Post-production is a crucial step in delivering the best product to your door. An experienced wedding photographer will know exactly what to do to make every photo look absolutely stunning – or mind blowing.

Star wars wedding at Auchendarroch House

If you had doubts on why having a professional photographer at your wedding is a must, hopefully, this article has changed your mind. You deserve the best, smoothest wedding possible, and your photographer will help you achieve that. At the end of the festivities, they will give you a product that you can look back on for the rest of your life.

Sven Studios offers wedding photography services in Adelaide and all around Australia. We are also happy to travel to your destination wedding to help you capture all of your special moments as a reminder of your big day. We’d be happy to have a chat about more details on why a professional photographer at your wedding is a must!

4 Tips to Get The Best Engagement Photos

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  • OMG it's an engagement ring

 

Get The Best Engagement Photos

As a soon-to-be bride or husband, you may be wondering whether it’s essential to have an engagement photoshoot before your wedding. You may tend to overlook it, especially with how overwhelming the wedding planning and preparation can be, but your engagement photos can be just as important as your wedding photos. 

Getting your engagement photos taken is a great way to meet your wedding photographer and establish a connection with them. Remember that they will be with you for much of the day on your wedding day, which is one of the most intimate days of your life, so it’s important that you feel comfortable around them as soon as possible. 

4 Tips to Get The Best Engagement Photos

Your engagement photoshoot can also serve as your test run for your big day. This is especially important if you get anxious in front of the camera and start wondering if your photos will turn out great. To ease all your worries and get the best engagement photos possible, here are some tips you can follow:

  • Have your pets join in

Your pet may be a part of your life to the point that they are now considered one of your family members. To make your engagement photos more exciting and add more personality to your photos, you can ask for your cat, dog, or other pets to join your photoshoot. Just make sure the spot where you’re planning on having your photos done allow for pets!

Dog running in the Ekhidna WInes vineyards

  • Use unique and fun props

The conventional bouquets and balloons may now be out of style as props for engagement photos, but other unique and fun items are welcome additions to your photoshoot. For instance, you can use props that signify your passions. If you are a music buff, show off your guitar as you pose to serenade your significant other. You may also use books as props if you love reading. 

To have romantic, creative engagement photos, you can share one ice cream, use Scrabble letter pieces as titles, or ride cars or motorcycles. Just make sure to use those that help you create your desired theme and photography style.

Balloon man

  • Choose a memorable destination

While you can capture stunning engagement photos anywhere, you can make your pictures look more appealing and heart-warming by choosing a place that holds a special place in your hearts. Pick a spot that represents a big part of your history or relationship story. For example, the destination could be a restaurant where you first met together or a tourist attraction where you proposed.

You can even shoot inside the home you grew up in, or your future home. This way, you are assured there will be fewer distractions. You can simply focus on posing and getting your best photos taken without worrying about the weather or the people outside.

Consider your personalities or wedding theme too; for example – it would be a bit odd to have a fairy themed wedding, only to have a photo shoot in a modern hotel.

Tiwi Islands Sunrise

  • Shoot during the best time of the day

The best time of the day for photoshoots is the golden hour. It usually takes place just an hour before sunset, and it is when the natural lighting is at its best. It lets you have effortlessly breath-taking and romantic-looking photos. However, you can still choose any time slot according to your preference and convenience.

Sunset proposal

An engagement photo session is a fun and memorable way to be better prepared for being photographed on your wedding day. To ensure you get the best engagement photos taken and bring home unforgettable memories that you will cherish forever, follow the tips listed above.

Don’t forget to hire professional photographers who are skilled and have the necessary equipment to take high-quality photos and have a chat with them as they are sure to have further ideas to get the best engagement photos beyond what’s in this short list.

Capture your love story in the best way possible by hiring SvenStudios. Our team specialises in wedding photography and offers wedding videography, engagement photography, and photo booths for hire in Adelaide. Contact us to book your session!

Important Wedding Photography Dos and Don’ts

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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.

bride in the Watershed Wedding reception area

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.