It was a beautifully sunny, and unseasonably warm day the day after fathers day this year, so what better way to enjoy the sunshine than head out for a fathers day shoot? I got to meet baby April, who was five months old and she had given her daddy a bit of a photo shoot for fathers day! Of course it was all Mum’s doing, but that’s not how we are remembering it 🙂
The original plan was to head out to the nearby pond and reserve area nearby my house at 7am, to catch the magical rays of the early morning, similar to what we did with another recent baby shoot I did there. However, the shoot took place considerably later which meant that the sun’s rays were a little bit stronger, causing the photos to become quite a bit brighter than I had planned. however I think they reflected the lovely sunny personality of little Baby April! She was such a good smiley bub!
Baby April’s Fathers Day Shoot
As it is the beginning of spring, we got to make use of some of the lovely wild flowers poppng up around the place, while the grass is still super green from the winter. All this combined with the strong sun made for some lovely airy portraits of baby April and her little family.
As I knew this was a fathers day shoot, I was keen to start off with a bit of a father daughter portrait, and I feel as though that worked out very well, very quickly! Usually the best shots of a shoot happen towards the end as everyone is more comnfortable in front of a camera, but they killed it straight up!
baby April had a number of different outfits to change into during the shoot, so while walking about the pond, we had a bit of fun chaging outfits and shooting some cute family shots.
fathers day photo
Baby with her father
Fathers day shoot 2
Smiling family photo in the grass
Walking along the pond edge
Family photo in the sun and trees
April and her Mummy
Fathers Day Shoot 3
Baby sitting in flowers 3
Family walking though trees
happy bub on a sunny day 3
baby in a basket in the grass 2
Smiling baby in a basket 3
In the studio
After out little walk, we finished up within my little home studio for some neat studio shoots. Thankfully April found my face to be absolutely hilarious so I diddnt have to work too hard to make her show her huge grin! Made for a lovely ending to what turned out to be a beautifully successful fathers day shoot!
Cute baby in pink
Alice in WInderland Baby photoshoot
Mum and bub playing
Family photograph in studio
Kisses for April
Thanks so much to little baby April and her parents for coming in for a fathers day shoot! Was a lot of fun and I hope you treat your photos as beautiful reminders of your little family as it is right now! 🙂
I was super excited to head back to the picturesque Thorngrove Manor for Darren and Nahal’s intimate wedding in mid July as I hadn’t been back this marvellous spot for several years! It’s quite a rare thing to shoot a Thorngrove Manor wedding as the owners tend to like to keep the number of people on their property to a minimum – which is fair enough considering how amazing this place is!
It was a magical time Darren, Nahal and I had walking around this gem of a spot for their small, intimate wedding/elopement!
Preparation
My time with Darren and Nahal began with Nahal in amongst the stone-hewn chambers of the bed and breakfast’s Queen chamber of the Manor where Nahal was completing her makeup. While nerves weren’t showing too much just yet, as time drew nearer to make the walk through the garden towards her fiance, it became a bit more of a thing.
Darren and Nahal certainly made their whole tiny wedding quite an easy wedding to photograph though! With two very good looking people and a stunning location like Thorngrove Manor, it’s certainly one to show off!
Hanging Thorngrove Manor wedding dress
Wedding dress hanging in Thorngrove Manor
Engagement ring in box
Bride looking out window at Thorngrove Manor
Bride playing with bouquet at Thorngrove Manor
Bridal approach at her Thorngrove Manor wedding
Thorngrove Manor Wedding Ceremony
Where else to hold a Thorngrove Manor wedding ceremony but right in front of the majestic view that is the driveway leading to the front door of this marvellous house? Nahal walked swiftly the the waiting arms of her finance and their intimate little wedding ceremony began.
Perhaps I should refer to their wedding as an ‘elopement’ as due to the unfortunate events unfolding in the world at the moment due to COVID-19, Darren and Nahal opted to have in attendance only their suppliers – Nahal’s makeup artist, their celebrant and myself, while having the owners of the Thorngrove Manor bed and breakfast act as their witnesses. It was only due to the fact that they were staying the night that they were allowed to use the grounds for their ceremony.
Darren and Nahal had me also produce a ceremony video for them, alongside my usual 360 degree virtual reality video I produce so that their friends and family can relive their precious moment.
Groom watching his bride approach
Smiling groom during his ceremony
Smiling bride on her wedding day
Exchanging wedding bands
Groom looking at his bride
Thorngrove Manor wedding ceremony
Standing together in the sunlight
First kiss at Thorngrove Manor wedding ceremony
Thorngrove Manor Wedding Photos
As their wedding ceremony took place at 4pm, we had around 1 hour to meander around the Thorngrove Manor grounds and make use of it’s manicured beauty for photos. As I had shot here in the past I knew what would and would not work so I devised a little itinerary of where we should go and when.
Despite having forecast to be overcast and rather dreary, the weather was absoutely delightful for Darren and Nahal’s photoshoot. The sun was shining and made for a lovely golden glow through the trees. We did however wait until the sun was a little lower before we took some ‘money shots’ of the Manor’s main keep in the background as it tends to really shine bright in the sun.
I can certainly spend hours using the manor as a backdrop for wedding photos, but unfortunately all good things have to come to an end!
Before I left, Darren and Nahl were sitting down for a lovely looking home-cooked meal, surrounded by the medieval splendor that only Thorngrove Manor can put on show! It looked to be a supurbly romantic evening!
bride and groom looking on as the registry is signed
Bride and groom looing at each other bathed in light
Engagement ring in red bouquet
Wedding rings on slab
bridal couple in amongst the gardens
Bridal couple just married in the garden
Bridal couple holding one another surrounded by greenery
Thorngrove Manor bed and breakfast wedding couple
having some fun at Thorngrove Manor together
in front of the interesting architecture at Thorngrove Manor
Thorngrove Manor wedding couple
Thorngrove Manor wedding couple in front of front door
Thorngrove Manor Portrait
Leaning in for a kiss at Thorngrove Manor
Stained glass windows at Thorngrove Manor
Through the harp at Thorngrove Manor
Thorngrove Manor
Thorngrove Manor wedding photography
bridal couple under the arch
Bridal couple holding one another
Bridal couple on the balcony together
Thorngrove Manor’s main tower
Bridal couple enjoying Thorngrove Manor
Thorngrove Manor wedding at sunset
Bride and groom in the Thorngrove Manor chambers
Congratulations to Darren and Nahl on their wonderful Thorngrove manor wedding / elopement! I’d like to thank you guys so much for having me as your wedding photographer as I had an absolute blast!
One of the essential elements of a successful wedding is great photography in order to look back at your memories in years to come. With the popularity of social media and the vast developments in photography, couples have begun to expect more from their photographers. They wanted prettier pictures, better videos, and more content overall.
Port Noarlunga wedding
And as the industry of wedding photography continues to grow, so too do the expectations upon photographers to get great wedding photos.
What makes a good wedding photographer?
A good wedding photographer is able to blend into the background, only stealing focus from the bride and groom when a bit of an act is needed to get everyones attention for a big group photo.
They should be able to employ a number of different techniques and styles, using these to tailor their photography to the couple’s preferences – but also staying true to the unique vision each photographer represents in their past work. You’re not like to hire a photographer that doesnt have a good track record in the ability to get great wedding photos are you?
A good, modern photographer should also be able to put their subjects at ease, to create photos that are more natural, real and authentic. A more traditional photographer might take a different stance on this, but that’s up to your preference.
Belair National Park wedding photo 2
How can I help get great wedding photos and make it easier for my photographer?
There are many things you can do to improve the quality of your wedding photos by working with your photographer. Keep in mind that every wedding photographer works slightly differently so adapations need to be made, but here are a few ideas to help get great wedding photos:
Build a relationship with your photographer.
A photographer understands that your wedding day is one of the most important events in your life and that there is an added level of vulnerability when it comes to taking intimate photos. It may be difficult to loosen up with a photographer present, but talking candidly with them while they are taking your photos can help build some trust.
Just like any relationship, the foundation of the connection between photographer and subject relies on trust. Trust your photographer, and your photos can come out a lot better. The best way to do this is meeting up with your photographer before your day, just to have a bit of a chat.
Sharing a coffee like this is the most effective way to find out if you share important personality traits and to simply find out if you’d be keen on spending any amount of time with this person – let alone your wedding day!
Driving toward Chateau Tanunda
Forget your photographer exists.
In modern wedding photography, if every single one of your photos is of you looking directly into the camera, then something has gone amiss. The happiest day of your life consists of more authentic and intimate moments than everyone smiling for the camera.
Allow your photographer to fade into the background so that they can take beautiful candid photos. Candid photos are just as important as photos posing for the camera. In many cases, they are more likely to recreate a real and important moment in your lives and evoke an emotion later on while reminicing about your day!
laughing
Inform your guests of your wedding day’s rules regarding photography.
Wedding guests are often the wild card at any event and can make or break your wedding photography. Telling them how you want them to behave for the cameras, or with their own cameras can prevent any unexpected incidents. Informing them of any theme can also make it easier for the photographer to frame and take photos that everybody will love.
Another option that is becoming more and more popular at weddings is going for device-less, or ‘unplugged’ weddings. Device-less weddings prevent amateur photographers from taking photographs of their own and getting in the way of your trained professional. This can prevent the awkward pointing of camera phones blocking your actual wedding photographer from taking a photo. It can also help the guests be more in the moment, which can help create better photos.
Mobile phone
Make sure your photographer is coordinated with the events.
It is not uncommon at weddings for a few of the guests to come up with a beautiful surprise for the bride and groom. It can be a large gift, or a surprise performance from the bride, groom, or a beloved musician.
If the photographer is not informed of such surprises, the chances of them being able to capture that moment in all its splendour are greatly diminished. If you have a wedding planner, make sure that the photographer is made aware of their plans.
What I usually do is ask for a simple timeline of a wedding day which helps me be in position for any events that are planned for the day, and it’s often the case that if the guests are planning a surprise then someone tells me about it during the day at some point.
If they dont then my experience kicks in when I think something is going to happen and this is a big reaosn why you’d want to hire an experienced wedding photographer!
Boys having fun on the dance floor
Weddings are a tender and historic moment in our lives. It is only right that you wish to capture them for all their beauty with great wedding photography. However you may decide to go about your wedding, a wedding photographer is a must. The right wedding photographer for you can make the joy of your most precious day last a very long time.
If you’re planning your wedding day, I’d love to put up my hand as an experienced wedding photographer! Whether it be in Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart, Canberra or international, you only need to check out my portfolio of previous weddings to understand that I’d be sure to get great wedding photos for you to enjoy for decades to come!
At present, the power of what a smartphone can do continues to become overwhelming. You can now capture memories with just a few clicks, upload them online, and keep them on the internet for as long as you wish.
As the digital world continues to evolve, the use of traditional documentation has dwindled. The presence of film photography and framed photos have become less needed since all your photos can be kept in a small handheld gadget. Yet despite this there is still the very real connection one had to a properly printed and framed photo on the wall that glorifys a specific moment in your life.
Viewing a photograph on a screen simply cannot compare to the viceral feeling of viewing a physicial print on the wall as a work of art.
For those who still believe in the essence of printing photos and preserving memories in the way that lasts forever, read on further below to find out why exactly you still need a family portrait taken today.
5 Reasons Why You Should Have a Family Portrait Taken Today
They Help Preserve Moments
Life goes by faster than expected. And before you know it, your kids have all gone off to college, or worse, someone has passed away unexpectedly. One of the best ways to keep memories alive is through family portraits. It’s an important part of capturing moments as a reminder of the good times.
Depending on your preference, family portraits can be done on location, in a studio, or your very own home if you prefer a genuine touch to it. So the next time you come across your family portrait, you will remember that exact moment when you had the people you love come together for theat fleeting moment.
Family portrait
They Turn Your House into a Home
Aside from filling your house with decorations and ornaments to bring colour into the rooms, there’s nothing quite like the presence of a family portrait to make your place seem more like a home that’s lived in.
Seeing pictures of your family all lined up on the wall or by the staircase warms people’s hearts, along with the feeling of nostalgia for the good times. They remind you where you came from, where you belong, and who you love.
Family photography Adelaide
They Add to Your Family Bonding Experience
No matter how many or how little you are in the family, getting a portrait done consists of having everyone reunited in one place, deciding outfits and the location, and practising the perfect smile. This becomes an enjoyable experience that will bring out the laughter and familiarity of having everyone complete again.
The idea of having a family portrait shot every few years or so requires finding the perfect day to fit into everyone’s busy schedules. It also serves as a way to keep the members together and prove the authenticity of each portrait shot over the years.
The best time to start a tradition like this was yesterday, but the next best time is to have a family portrait taken today!
Family on couch
They Construct a Vivid Timeline
Family portraits include capturing all of the family members’ best memories. Moments like your child’s first birthday, their first day at school, and their graduation. Time does go by fast, so the best way to make it stop is by recording your best memories through photographs.
When it comes to having a baby, an Adelaide newborn photographer can help you capture your child’s first moments better, so you have something to look back on with your child the moment they’re all grown up.
Baby Smiles
They Serve as a Permanent Way to Document Your Memories
Despite the countless ways you can save your photos and videos digitally, there’s nothing like having your family portrait professionally shot, printed out, and framed on your living room wall. Only an expert photographer can truly capture the essence of a family portrait.
The fact of the matter is that computer hard drives are only rated, and expected to survive for up to 5 years of continued use. Flash drives are what we use as professional photographers to supply images on as they tend top be rated at up to 10 years. The point is that these numbers simply pale in comparison to a properly printed and framed piece of art on the wall. Also make sure you back up, multiple times any digital files you may have!
It also serves as a time capsule that you can look back on every time you feel like all the kids have grown up and have gone to start their new lives. With the help of an expert, your present moments will be perfectly exhibited.
Family photography
Family photography in Adelaide has become an important part of keeping the legacy of a family intact. Professional photographers make sure to produce portraits of the highest quality to preserve your memories which you will have with you forever. As such, it would be a great idea for your family to have a family portrait taken today!
Sven Studios offers wedding photography services, including family and newborn photography in Adelaide. Get in touch with us now! We’d love to work with you.
I was so happy to cover Nikki and Toby’s lovely St Helens Park wedding in Prospect, North Adelaide. Their original plan when they asked me to photograph their wedding was to hold a small, breakfast wedding later in the year, only to have it change to the beginning of the year, but then COVID hit. So their little St Helens Park wedding, or rather elopement at the end of July ended up being their big day, and I was super happy for them 🙂
St Helens Park Wedding Ceremony
The plan was to meet at the gazebo at the center of the St Helens Park and sort out where the hold the wedding ceremony. One option was the gazebo itself, while I actually suggested the rather neat old tree nearby to stand in front of. It was a pretty neat spot as the sun was shining through the foliage quite nicely while Nikki and Toby shared their vows.
Nikki and Toby’s congregation was as tiny as possible, consisting only of themselves, their celebrant and a family of friends who acted as their witnesses. They opted to hold their tiny wedding due to the complexity of holding a slightly larger wedding during the height of COVID-19 restirctions. I often think these tiny weddings are much more intimate anyway!
Wedding ceremony at St Helens park
Sun through the tree
Happy bride in Prospect
Smiling bride looking at her groom
Smiling groom looking at his bride
Wedding ceremony under the tree
Wedding ceremony bathed in sunlight
Exchanging wedding bands under the tree
St Helens Park wedding ceremony
First kiss under the tree at St Helens Park
Looking at her bouquet
St Helens Park Wedding Photoshoot
In the early days of Prospect city, the area was a private subdivision of Yatala, which intersected at the village centre, which is now st Helens Park. The center piece of this historic park is a very neat old tree which is perfect for climbing and using as a framing device for wedding photos!
After the wedding ceremony, we went for a little walk around the Park, starting at the awesome tree right behind where they held their ceremony, and did a big lap of the area. We made use of the nice trees and nearby playground before finishing up back on top of the tree where they were married next to the gazebo.
Bride and groom holding one another in St Helens Park
Bride and groom together amongst the green
In amongst the trees at St Helens park
Wedding bands on the tree
Bride and grrom on their St Helens Park wedding day
Bride and groom together in the tree at St Helens Park
Walking together on the grass
Bride and grrom holding one another 2
St Helens Park wedding 2
Bride and groom looking at camera 2
Bride and groom having fun under a tree
St Helens Park wedding photo
St Helens Park wedding photo of the bride and groom
On top of the tree at St Helens Park
Thanks so much Nikki and Toby for having me as your wedding photographer! I had a blast and I hope you enjoy your photos.
