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5 Typical Wedding Themes to Explore

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  • Bride and grom holding one another in vineyards 5

 

Typical Wedding Themes

Your wedding is the most memorable day of your love story and there’s a way for you to make it even more unforgettable—by selecting a charming theme.

You should know that choosing a theme for your wedding day is not as straightforward as it seems. First, you need to find one that reflects both yours and your partner’s personalities. Aside from that, you must find one that suits your chosen venue and the time of the year you are holding the wedding. 

Long story short—it’s going to be quite challenging! 

Nevertheless, if you’re stuck in this stage of your wedding preparations, we’re here to help you out! Below you will find five of the many typical wedding themes you may want to explore, and perhaps improve apon that would better uniquely suit your own wedding!

5 Typical Wedding Themes

  1. Romantic 

This is perhaps the most commonly used theme in ceremonies. This does not mean that going with this motif will make your big day any less special! 

With this concept, your venue will be decorated with flowers in pastel colours. Usually, there will also be lighting fixtures hanging overhead that give off a soft glow to set the atmosphere. To top it off, the whole place is filled with candles emitting low light—just the right amount to create the perfect mood for romance!

Paxton Winery wedding ceremony
  1. Alternative 

If the first motif doesn’t appeal to you and your partner, taking the unconventional route with an alternative wedding is worth exploring. 

Weddings with this concept feature moody colours and distinctive decorations. They allow you to get creative with the scene you want to achieve and the elements you want to include. The best part is that it can let you show your family and friends how cool you are as a couple! 

Cutting the Harry Potter wedding cake
  1. Bohemian 

Boho style has been the talk of the town recently, thanks to its natural fabrics, retro patterns, warm shades and statement accessories. If you’re an avid fan of this style, you’ll never go wrong with a bohemian wedding.

In this theme, you’ll enjoy a distinct soft and romantic feel that is heavily inspired by the beautiful outdoors. It’s a great way to make your big day look like it came straight from a mythical woodland book! 

Sinclairs Gully Wedding
  1. Vintage 

If you and your partner are a big fan of all things retro, a vintage wedding is definitely worth looking into. 

In this concept, your venue will be furnished with antique decorations here and there. Your wedding entourage will be dressed in classic vintage attire, and you get to wear your favourite period wedding dress or suit as well. The best part? You may even hire a vintage car for your transportation or your wedding photoshoot! 

Homemade decorations
  1. Classic 

This is your best bet if you want to keep things formal and traditional for your special day. A classic wedding features grand floral arrangements in your venue and even a small orchestra playing classical music. 

On top of that, your guests will be dressed formally, too—ladies will be wearing evening dresses, while the men will be wearing ties. Ultimately, there will be posh seating and complete table settings. 

Inside St Laurence’s Church

These are just five of the many typical wedding themes you can consider for your big day. I hope that our list gave you some inspiration as to what feel and atmosphere you want to achieve for your wedding. As you decide, it helps to remember that there are no hard rules as to what theme you can use. As long as you come up with your own dream wedding theme, you’ll surely make the ceremony a truly memorable one! 

 

From wedding photography in Adelaide to destination weddings and around Australia, you can count on SvenStudios to capture your special moments! Since 2011, we have travelled all over Australia and the world to cover weddings in various themes. Let us do the same for you—get in touch with us today! 

3 Reasons Not to Make a Wedding Photographer Shot List

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Don’t Make a Wedding Photographer Shot List

During the wedding planning, many couples do not know how to deal with wedding photographers. Having a professional cameraman running about taking photos on the most nerve wrecking day of your life is not something people do very often! This leads to a lot of Google searching and perhaps even asking family and friends who may know what to do in this unusual situation. While that is all well and good, advice can be a little behind the times.

One tip that is usually found handy is to provide a shot list for the wedding photographer. A wedding photographer shot list is exactly what it sounds like—a definitive list of shots the photographer must take before, during and after the wedding. However, that could put a lot of unnecessary pressure on the photographer, and on you. 

Wedding photography can vary on the day itself given a number of reasons, such as the high probability that you and your spouse will likely be pulled in multiple directions. 

Amongst the tall trees at Idyll & Co 2

With that said, a wedding photographer shot list may not be a good idea. Here are three reasons not to give your wedding photographer a shot list:

3 Reasons Not to Make a Wedding Photographer Shot List

  • It implies a lack of trust

If you’ve already booked a photographer, then you’ve already shown you trust them. After all, you had to go through a rather tedious process of research to find a photographer you get along with and will take incredible photos. Given all of that, you should not have any need to give this professional any specific directions. 

Embrace the idea that you may not get all the shots you want, but know that you will definitely get the shots you need. Discuss things thoroughly with your photographer and make sure that you both come to an agreement on how each other expects the day to run. Being a little picky on having a few ‘must have photos’ is fine, but micro-managing someone who knows what they are doing just puts a lot of stress on everybody.

Bride and groom holding one another in the undergrowth
  • Weddings vary

There are so many variables during the wedding day. The weather could change, there could be adjustments or changes at the venue, the lighting will shift and more. Even the hair and outfits of the couple can change, whether it’s a last-minute style change or something brought about by wind or the general rush of things. The nature of the COVID-19 Pandemic is an excellent example of how things can change quickly!

Even if you put together all the elements to shoot a copy of the ideal images you spotted on Pinterest, something will be different. If your photographer has a shot list, they may focus on getting the exact shots you’d like instead of managing to capture a lovely candid moment which they would know will work based on their own experience and ability with the camera.

Thorngrove Manor wedding couple
  • Precious time gets wasted

More often than not, wedding photographer shot lists include photos that have to be staged. Considering how weddings can essentially move from beginning to end in the blink of an eye, that’s tricky. Even if it’s just a matter of standing a certain way at a certain spot, setting up the shot can take time. This takes away not just from your photographer’s capability to follow the day’s actions as they happen in a timely manner, but also your time within the day itself that could be better spent on other aspects.

Lightning wedding photo

While a wedding photgorapher shot list may seem like a good idea in theory, in the long run, it actually is not. Your photographer most certainly knows what they’re doing. More than anything, make sure to have a good sit-down talk with your photographer so things can go as smoothly as possible.

This isn’t to say that you should not make a list of certain photos you’d like taken – like for example a list of family photos. But try not to drown your photographer with photos you’ve seen elseware and say you want them done the same way – just with your faces in them. 🙂

For reliable, top-notch wedding photography, contact Sven Studios today! Nothing brings us more satisfaction than capturing precious moments.

 

Tips for candid wedding photos

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  • Leaning against a lamp post

Candid wedding photos

There are different reasons for having a photoshoot. Some may just be to capture a new profile picture for your social media accounts or to document a turning point in your life. However, wedding photography is special, because it is supposed to be one of the happiest moments of your life and you want your photographer to document this emotion.

A wedding represents a major milestone in your life where you are taking on responsibilities as a spouse and have found a signifant other in which you will spend the rest of your life with.

Knowing that this rite of passage into a new life is extra special, you’ll want photos that capture the pure essence of what it means to be in the moment on an important day. Candid photos capture the raw emotions of people, and this can give the photos on your wedding day that unique look that will be amazing to look back to.

I’ve put together some tips on how to looking amazing for your wedding photography in the past, but I thought I’d expand a bit with these new tips for more candid wedding photos.

Tips for candid wedding photos

Here are tips to ensure amazing candid photos on your wedding day:

Put Your Trust in Your Photographer

If you have any doubts in your mind about whether or not the photographer you hired will be able to deliver the photography you expect, this will cause problems as it adds worry on the day. Make sure you have a casual chat with your photographer, and make sure you have them walk throguh an entire wedding shoot they have done in the past so that you develop a sense of trust and chemistry with them.

Having  this confidence in your photographer will allow you to just enjoy each moment spent with your soon-to-be spouse.

Bride and groom between the trees

Don’t Mind the Cameras and Just SMILE!

This may be difficult for some, as they are simply just camera shy or do not enjoy photos being taken. However, once the day of the event comes, emotions just absolutely take over and people just forget about everything and focus on the beauty of their wedding.

The trick is to pretend that you are not being photographed, and just focus on the event itself and take in all the euphoria and love that weddings radiate. Let the photographer melt into the scenery and just focus on the more important aspects, like your family, friends, and your spouse.

There will be moments where wedding photographers will ask you to step into the light for a better shot, but while that is not being done, know that you are doing great and it is visible to everyone around you.

What I like to do when shooting a wedding is doing a bit of a warm up with photos that dont require too much in the way of posing – and then maybe if needed bring out the posed shots – but they often arent needed.

Walking through the trees

 

Live In and Savour the Moment

Weddings often go by in the blink of an eye due to all the emotions and fleeting moments that occur within the day.

Needing to focus on anything other than the moment you are in will be visible in your final photos which is the oposite to what candid wedding photos are all about! Sometimes it is advisable to get a wedding planner or someone who can organise things well to remove burdens of logistics off of your shoulders.

When the day is planned well, there is nothing much to worry about and it becomes easier to live in the moment. Of course, it goes without saying that timelines and plans may often derail to a certain degree, but the trick to moving on with it is just to trust that all will go well and you prepared well.

After the day is done, you will have amazing photos to look back to, so forget about the worries and go with the flow!

Inglewood Inn wedding photo at the cottage

Don’t Rush the Timeline

Wedding days can seem chaotic, but rushing timelines are what no wedding photographer wants to deal with. With less time for people to be themselves and savour the moment, there are limited opportunities for nice photographs.

Wedding photography is best done at a slow pace, as photographers try to look for the best possible shots and angles for amazing photos. Having a relaxed schedule will allow people to warm up to wedding photographers, and ultimately give a better experience.

Bride and groom walking about Burbrook forest

Weddings require your full attention and presence for you to truly have an amazing experience. This is why having professional photographers around is an invaluable asset because you will have high-quality photos to refer to in the future.

Wedding albums in particular can be super important as they are often handed down for generations to come as family hairlooms. Just imagine 40 years in the future with possible grandkids, reliving the emotion you were feeling in the candid wedding photos you’re looking through together. It really is an investment in the future.

Here at Sven Studios, we offer high-quality wedding photography in Adelaide and around Australia. Contact us and let us talk about your special day now!

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

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  • Groom picking up bride through window

 

Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

With your big day’s date set, your bridesmaids and groomsmen chosen, venue picked out, and invitations sent, much anticipation will come in the days leading up to your wedding.

As something that you’ve probably dreamt of ever since you were young, tying the knot with the love of your life is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience that should be done right.

Now that you’ve got almost all your arrangements in order and some deposits made, you may still looking for a professional wedding photographer.

Why it matters to choose wisely and what mistakes to avoid

Among all the different parts of your wedding ceremony that need to be sorted out, the wedding photographer you hire is especially important because they’re responsible for capturing the memories you’ll want to look back on in the years to come.

From the time before you walk down to the aisle to the first dance you have as a married couple, a photographer will be there to capture everything they need, and they’ll do it well.

Unfortunately, many couples end up overlooking this important detail and end up choosing poorly, only to find out that the photos they recieved didn’t quite capture the magic of the event.

Inglewood Inn Wedding Photo

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

Thankfully, making sure that your wedding coverage is in the right hands doesn’t have to entail going on some adventure or spending more than half of your wedding budget on a “pro-rated” shutterbug. In this article, we will share with you three mistakes to avoid when choosing your wedding photographer:

  1. Going for the cheapest photographer

Look, I dont like to say it, because it really doesnt hold true 100% of the time, but when it comes to your wedding photography: ‘you get what you pay for’. Going cheap, or asking uncle Bill with his fancy camera to take your photos may seem like a good way to save a few thousand dollars, but you’re more than likely going to regret it after.

Seeing that a wedding is a special event that you’ll never have again in your lifetime, it should make sense that going for a cheaper option is a tragedy waiting to happen. There are stories like this almost monthly on those horrible shows like Today Tonight. It happens, and dont think it wont happen to you.

That said though, you can do your own personal vetting, and you may find some very talented individual on the cheap as they might be startingout or something. I wouldnt risk it though.

During your search, it’s important to note that you should invest a bit more money into a team that has many good reviews, positive testimonials, and engaging shots. Try not to book a photographer without having looked through an entire album of a completed wedding they have done previously.

  1. Not having a meeting before the wedding itself.

Any professional photographer knows the importance of setting up a meeting with a couple before their big day because it gives a chance to iron out any requests and considerations. As a photographer, it also allows me to guage the kind of personality of the couple and work with that in order to produce images that perfectly reflect that couple’s day.

Overlooking the need for a meeting is a mistake to avoid when choosing your wedding photographer because you’ll go into your wedding day without any coordination or proper expectation of how your shots are going to look like.

By meeting up with your chosen wedding photographer, you’ll be able to make sure that you’re both on the same page in terms of style to ensure that they’re getting the shots you’ve always wanted! You can also browse previous weddings the photographer has shot and possibly samples of albums.

  1. Not checking out reviews

An easy mistake to avoid when choosing your wedding photographer is going for the very first option they see without first considering reviews. The beauty of the internet is that you’re able to gain access to many review sources of any wedding vendor written by previous bridal couples. Be sure they are from a reputable source though as some review sites can be exploited with fake reviews.

ABIA is one such review site with a good reputation as they thoroughly vette each review they recieve.

Thanks to the Internet, you can find out everything that you need to know about a particular professional, how they work, and what experience you should expect with them. With a quick search on the web, you can learn more about the past experiences and reviews that previous clients and couples have had with a particular professional and work up from there.

Photo of the year contest JessChris
Bride and groom amongst gum trees

As one of the most important parts of your big day, the photographer that you hire can make a huge difference in how it goes. This makes it even more important to avoid common and crucial mistakes along the way.

Thinking of these mistakes to avoid when choosing your wedding photographer, you won’t have to break a sweat over worrying about whether or not you have made the right choice!

Our team of professional wedding photographers based in Adelaide also services weddings in Darwin, Canberra, and Hobart. Schedule an appointment with us today to see how we can help!

8 Picture Perfect Moments you need to shoot at a wedding

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  • 9 Picture Perfect Moments You Have to Get on Camera

    Bride and groom amongst gum trees

As a wedding photographer, one of the foremost requirements is to have “the eye” for taking good photos, find ing the picture perfect moments in a day that just need to be taken. There are some moments in wedding photography that you know from experience will make for the best images. I’ve put together a list in the past for some of the most important wedding photos you need to capture, but this list is a little more direct, and more of a list of what most people tend to expect in their wedding photography without any fuss. More focussing on the wedding ceremony itself.

Whether you’re in the wedding photography business or just an avid fan of tear-jerking moments, here are nine of the most picture perfect moments in weddings that you simply have to capture on camera.

Picture Perfect Moments leading up to the Ceremony

The Details

The bride and groom spent copious amounts of time in picking out the details of the wedding—so capturing them on camera is a good way to show appreciation. The flowers, the layout, and the program are merely some of the things you can zoom in on.

Engagement ring in bouquet
Bridal affects
Wedding dress hanging in window

The Venue

Taking a panoramic shot of the wedding venue is always one of the best shots. The venue is one of the things that couples take so much time in choosing and reserving—a nice photo of the place makes for a perfect photo.

Sedan Lutheran Church 2
Inglewood Inn Wedding backdrop
Burbrook forest wedding ceremony

The Guests

A few shots of the guests milling about, finding their seats, and chatting joyously to each other makes for powerful photographs. Candid photos like these aren’t just picturesque, but they add colour and excitement to the wedding portfolio.

Guests
Having a good time
Hugs from guests

The Groom

More often than not, the groom will arrive first on the scene ahead of the bride. Some photos of his arrival and preparation, as well as zooming into his face for emotion are good picture perfect moments in the album. Make sure to watch out for him walking down the aisle, most of Groom’s emotions about the ceremony start showing there. Be on standby to capture his face when he sees the bride—these emotion-filled moments are the perfect time for photography.

Groom’s first lok of bride
Groom waiting patiently
groom waiting patiently

The Bride

The bride will definitely be the star of the show, so documenting her from start to end is a must. As soon as the bridal car arrives, try to capture her inside up to the moment she steps out. Some close-up photos of her face before her entrance is definitely a necessity—and taking a picture of her entrance is an absolute must.

Bridal entrance
Bridal arrival
bridal arrival

Picture Perfect Moments During the Ceremony

The Traditions

As the ceremony begins, ensure to capture the various traditions involved. Whether it’s lighting the unity candle, stomping on glass or hand fasting—these small gestures define the couple and the lives they live, making for a picture perfect moment and representation of themselves. If they write their own vows, it’s also the perfect time to zoom in and capture their emotions on camera.

Asatru hand fasting
Bride holding a wedding sword
Vows

The Reactions

While the guests may not have that big of a role in the ceremony, their reactions to various things happening is a key to capturing the story of a ceremony. This is where your photographer’s eye comes in, watching out for any sudden streaks of emotion which would make for picture perfect moments. More often than not, this will elicit some laughter and joy—further driving this joyous occasion.

Parents singing
little one in the aisle
Singing

The Kiss

Undoubtedly, capturing the kiss is basic for wedding photographers. No wedding is complete without this shot—as well as the couple’s reaction right after.

First kiss
First kiss under the trees
First kiss

 

Conclusion

 

Weddings are the perfect avenue for capturing beautiful moments on camera. With a couple of shots, you can be a part of something much greater than yourself—even if just for a few moments.

 

Are you looking for a wedding photographer in Adelaide to capture your perfect moments? Get in touch with us today and schedule a meeting to discuss what services best fit you.