Recently I was asked to head out for a family photoshoot, nearby Mt Compass in Nangkita – but I’m going to put this under Mt Compass Family Photography as I hadn’t heard of Nangkita before being asked to head out here!
The family was enjoying a get together for the Christmas and New Year period, that sounded like a rare occurance considering the last time they had a family photoshoot done was when the ‘kids’ were 6, and now in their mid thirties – and also that some are now living overseas and makes it hard to get together.
Their little family photoshoot took place on a family farm, which was lush with Australian bush and off the beaten track so much that they kept asking if I had any trouble finding the place! All I can say was thank goodness for GPS in cars!
We held most of the shoot under a gnarly old tree on the property which provided ample shade and a neat backdrop for group photos. After the majority of group shots, we then did individual portraits and also some coupley shots in amongst the pretty overgrowth of trees.
Your wedding pictures are one of the most important things to think about when planning your big day. Although hiring a skilled and experienced wedding photographer is crucial, it is also essential that you know what you want for your pictures. Hiring the right photographer coupled with knowing the outcome you want will help set the stage for a successful wedding photoshoot.
No matter how many selfies they’ve taken, many couples have little experience with professional photography and don’t know exactly what type of photos they want. Fortunately, wedding photographers are here to help.
One classic that never goes wrong is Golden Hour photography. This style entails taking photos during the hour that comes immediately before the sun sets. The golden hue and softness of the sun’s rays these last moments of the day will produce radiant and striking images that can’t be beat.
Wedding Golden Hour Photography – How to Get It Right
Here’s what you should know about having wedding golden hour photography done right:
1 – Plan Ahead
It’s smart to check the weather forecast and make sure your location will be available before settling on a schedule for the shoot. Golden hour photography only gives you so much time, after all. You’ll get best results on a clear day when your location isn’t too populated. In case the weather forecasts are wrong (which they sometimes are), talk to your photographer about a backup plan, just in case.
The best golden hour photography are usually taken on a day with a bit of cloud on the day – so consider the weather on the day and guage whether or not it’d be worth heading to the spot you scouted earlier or use your back up ideas.
Ekhidna wines wedding vineyards
2 – Set Aside enough time for the Shoot—and Start Early!
One of the reasons golden hour photography is so tough to get right is that you’ll have a very narrow time frame to get the perfect pictures. The sun waits for no one!
No matter how busy you may be during the wedding planning process, it is important to set aside at least one to two hours for the wedding photo shoot—and that time should start well before golden hour. This ensures that your photographer can strategically plan poses, locations, and more to make the most of golden hour.
Planning ahead will ensure that you will have plenty of beautiful shots for your wedding album! Keep in mind that some of the most popular spots for wedding phtoography – like this list of wedding photo locations in Darwin can be busy – particularly for golden hour photography! So definitely plan a backup spot.
Darwin’s Pride rock
3 – Clear Your Mind and Carpe Diem
You will not be able to get good wedding photos if you let the stress of planning your wedding cloud your mind. On the day of your wedding shoot, make it a point to go into it with a clear and relaxed mind. This will help you get the best wedding photos and enjoy the process.
Adelaide Botanic Gardens Sunset wedding
4 – Give Your Ideas to Your Photographer
Your photographer will often help direct you and your partner throughout the shoot, but you’ll have to do your part. After all, the photos will be yours to keep! If you have a particular style or pose you want to try, communicate all this to your photographer early on. They’ll then be able to plan based on your vision. A mood board can be helpful, too! Be sure to visit their portfolio well ahead of time and point out some photos you particularly enjoy so your photographer has a good idea of what you want to achieve.
This said, some ideas given to your photographer would be helpful, but try not to encroach too much on your photographer’s artistic freedom to to what they do best!
Semaphore Beach Sunset
5 – Enjoy It and have fun!
Keep in mind that your feelings will come through to your photos. Remember that this is your wedding day! This occasion is supposed to be one of the happiest and most momentous moments of your life. Enjoy every moment of the planning and ceremony itself, your wedding photoshoot included.
Your wedding photos are meant to immortalize your wedding. Making sure that you hire the services of a good wedding photographer will help you cherish the moments of your wedding and all the effort that went into planning it even if years or decades have passed.
Darwin wedding sunset
For all your wedding photography needs, contact Sven Studios! Our style allows you to capture your special moments as a reminder of your big day’s love story in the most natural way. Get a wedding photographer that can capture all the feelings and emotions of your big day by setting an appointment with us today!
Lovely vibes, happy guests and good weather—these are the things that a bride and groom wish to have at their wedding. But before the big day plenty of people opt to have an engagement photoshoot done beforehand to make sure they get those specific wedding photos they had already dreamt of. Occasionally a wedding day’s photoshoot may be rushed or at certain times of the day not best suited for taking photos, so having a separate shoot beforehand can help here.
Of course, if you want to have memorable and high-quality photos for a keepsake, you must have the perfect theme that you want for your shoot. If you have chosen a vintage theme wedding photoshoot, you are at the right place because we will give some tips that you can use to nail your vintage themed wedding photoshoot
What Is a Vintage Themed Wedding Photoshoot?
Before taking you into the details, let’s understand vintage themed wedding photoshoots first. A vintage themed wedding photoshoot is perfect if you are aiming for a timeless and romantic look. It is not just sepia-tinted background and vignettes – which seems to be a popular trend in wedding photography – an experienced wedding photographer should be able to make use of a vintage vibe without the filters.
A vintage themed wedding photoshoot should only give a touch of the past that evokes nostalgia and romanticism influenced by your favoured era. It’s a popular wedding theme for most couples today because of its sophistication and elegance. If you choose a vintage theme wedding photoshoot, your photos will forever be in style.
First dance at Quince Brook wedding
What Are the Things to Consider to Achieve a Vintage Themed Wedding Photoshoot?
After knowing what a vintage themed wedding photoshoot is, you need a guide to achieve this kind of theme. If you choose to do your wedding photography before officially tying the knot, it’s time to look for the things you need to achieve your vintage setup.
Preparation is vital so that you can find the perfect venue and props. Here are some of our tips for you before you contact your wedding photographer to do your pre-wedding shoot:
Tip #1: Immediately Look for a Location with a Vintage Vibe
The first and most crucial thing you must do is look for your shooting location that shouts, “I look vintage!” It’s the primary key to make your photographs as vintage as possible. You need to do this first before anything else because you might have difficulty reserving a place. You need to consider your photographer’s availability when booking a location, too. A location with a vintage vibe can be an old house, a historic building or a retro-themed restaurant.
Thorngrove Manor
Tip #2: Go for a Retro-Themed Dress Code
To achieve a vintage vibe, you need to have a retro-themed dress code to complete the look. Men can wear a classic tuxedo, and women can choose old-fashioned attire paired with a classic hairstyle. There are many choices of garments you can choose to achieve a vintage look. You can take some inspiration from the internet and send it out to the people involved in the photoshoot so you can have a uniform look.
Hanging Thorngrove Manor wedding dress
Tip #3: Complete Your Look with a Full Glam Vintage-Inspired Makeup and Hairstyle
Your look should be the centre of attention for your photos, so you need to be on point, from your dress to your hair and makeup. You can attain this by getting your hair and makeup done inspired by your favourite era. You can show some inspiration to your makeup artist, or you can watch tutorials on how to get a vintage makeup look. This tip also applies to the groom because there are vintage-style hairstyle options for men as well.
Putting on Makeup in car at SC Pannell Winery
Tip #4: Utilise Retro-Themed Props for Your Shoot
If you think the place does not give enough vintage vibe, you can add some props to make it more vintage-y. While the location, your dress and your makeup look already indicate that your theme is vintage, the props will tie everything together because they can help set the mood in the photographs. You can look for antique items to serve as decor in your location. Here are some of the classic examples:
Vintage Vehicles – Antique cars are a classic, and they will take your photographs to a whole new level of class and sophistication. This prop is an excellent addition if you have the budget. You can make the most out of it since your photographer can do different shots and angles.
Passionate kiss in between wedding cars
Antique Tins and Glass Jars – Another romantic vintage vibe you can have for your photoshoot is a nice table setup paired with vintage tins and glass jars. Your table setup should have a completely vintage look, so be careful with all the details.
Wedding reception table flowers
Antique Record Players – Vintage record players are a perfect go-to if you don’t want to have extensive props in your photoshoot. This prop is so popular, and you have probably seen this from one of the movies you’ve already watched.
Antique Typewriters – Having a vintage typewriter as a prop is another perfect way to set the vintage mood on your engagement shoot. Try typing a few romantic phrases or even your names to make the photo look more intimate.
Antique Camera – A vintage camera is a cute addition to your vintage theme, especially if you both love photography. Instead of going with digital cameras, replace them with a vintage one to align with the theme.
Homemade decorations
Balloons – Even if you opt for a modern design, you must have balloons. Balloons are easy to play around with, and your photographer can do various shots with balloons. It’s just a matter of creativity on how you will use it.
Balloon man
We understand that you only want the best for your shoot. Hopefully, this guide has helped you with your preparation to achieve the vintage themed wedding photoshoot you want. Even with all these tips, your photographer will still be the one to make your desired theme successful. For this reason, you need to find the best photographer to work with so that you’ll feel comfortable in front of the camera during your vintage-themed shoot.
If you are looking for the best wedding photographer in Adelaide, Adelaide Hills or around Australia, Sven Studios is here to help! We offer professional wedding photographer solutions, no matter the theme you have in mind. Allow us to make your vintage-themed wedding photoshoot possible. Get in touch with us today to book your session!
So it’s finally your wedding day. You spent so much time planning it and making sure all the preparations go accordingly that you found yourself stressing over it for the past several months. Now that the much-awaited moment of your life has come, all you have to do is live your best day and hope it doesn’t end too soon!
When you hire wedding photographers to document the most memorable occasion of your life, you may tend to feel conscious about each pose you and your partner make. You can’t help but be nervous about how the photos will turn out, especially if you aren’t used to being in front of a camera. It’s crucial to avoid overthinking the situation because you aren’t strictly required to pose. In fact, depending on the style of photographer you choose, your photographers will prefer it if you keep it as natural and candid as possible!
Keep reading below to find out some of the best wedding moments that can be perfectly captured on camera without the need to pose so much.
Monique Anthony
5 Wedding Moments That Look Good When Naturally Captured
Trying on the Dress
It’s every bride’s dream to wear the perfect wedding dress on their big day. You spend months or even years finding inspiration for the dress you want, looking for a reliable tailor, and waiting for the day you can finally fit into it. On your wedding day, when you finally put on the gown, you don’t have to think about anything and let the natural emotions flow—and that precise moment makes for an unforgettable wedding photo.
Al-Ru Farm bridal preparation
The Groom’s Preparation
Just like the bride, the wedding is also a groom’s big day, so he should also be given his fair share of the spotlight. While a groom’s preparation can much faster than the bride’s, every step involved counts—from putting on the shoes, buttoning the suit jacket, and buckling the belt, to wearing the watch and securing the bow tie in place. The groom’s preparation should also be best captured as naturally as possible to really showcase the emotions leading up to the actual ceremony.
Groom staring out window
The Walk Down the Aisle
The most stereo-typical moment of every wedding is when everyone is gathered at your wedding venue waiting for the bride to finally walk down the aisle. As soon as she enters, the groom finally gets to lay his eyes on his soon-to-be wife—which is a moment of pure magic.
Given its intense nature, it’s the very moment that has to be captured candidly because you don’t have to think about anything else—not even the photographers. All you have to do is focus on the moment and see the people you love, especially the person you’re looking forward to spending the rest of your life with.
Bride arriving
The Slices of Life
Part of wedding photography is ensuring that not all the necessary poses have to be serious and planned out all the time. The random moments where everyone is laughing and having a good time are the ones that are best captured on camera, without you even remembering that there are photographers present. They often happen during the preparation and the reception.
Laughing couple
The Couple Shots
Even though there will still be times that a wedding photographer will ask you to do specific poses, you can play around with the shot however you like. If it comes down to the intimate couple photos where you’re strolling along the wedding venue, you can genuinely be yourself with your partner. It’s one of the few moments you can be together, and there’s no one with you, so you should savour the moment and let the photographers do their magic.
Kangraoo Island Elopement photoshoot
A wedding happens only once in your lifetime. Instead of going over how you want it to happen, it’s best to let things be and enjoy every second of it. When it comes to wedding photography, you can leave it to the experts and let them handle the shots—because more often than not, the candid photos make the best memories. The wedding moments captured by your photographer will better represent you as a couple, rather than a contrived overly-posed ‘representation’ of the day.
Clare and Craig’s Mount Torren’s Hotel wedding took place in lieu of a larger wedding they had planned right back before all this COVID stuff happened. Instead of having dozens of friends and family members in attendance, they opted to hold a tiny little ceremony at the delightful new Mount Torrens Hotel wedding venue in late August, with the plan of holding a large reception once everyone is able to travel again.
Mount Torrens Hotel Wedding Ceremony
The Mount Torrens Hotel wedding spot is an old, rustic little barn which according to Craig they had only just emptied of trash ready for their wedding ceremony! The Hotel boasts a delightful rustic vibe with old-world charm within and without the hotel itself, while also being surrounded by a beautiful little town, and a grassy area that would be suited for a large marquee – should the need arise.
Clare and Craig were drawn to this simple little corner of the world as they said they enjoy seeking out the simple beauty in smaller locations like this – which I felt made this wedding that much more intimate.
Around 10 witnesses were in attendance, those which could not attend made use of my 360 virtual reality recording I produce for all the weddings I cover, which makes the fact that not being able to attend that much more bareable.
Clare walked down the aisle to some very untraditional heavy metal, while the area was also decorated with fluffy dinosaurs and other things which made the space uniquely theirs.
Groom waiting patiently
Mount Torrens Hotel wedding decor
Bride arriving in gown
Bride arriving at Mount Torrens hotel wedding
Groom seeing his bride for the first time
bride arrival at Mount Torrens hotel wedding
Holding hands during ceremony at Mount Torrens hotel wedding
Groom looking at his bride
Wedding Ceremony at the Mt Torrens Hotel barn
Wedding Ceremony at the Mt Torrens Hotel
Smiling bride looking at her groom at the ceremony
Bride and groom holding hands during the ceremony
Mount Torrens Hotel wedding
Exchanging wedding rings during the wedding ceremony
Mount Torrens Hotel wedding ceremony
First kiss at Mount Torrens Hotel wedding ceremony
Groom thanking guests
Bride hugging guests
Glamour Photos
After the group photos which we took in front of the barn’s brick wall behind the Mount Torrens Hotel wedding venue, we head off to a nearby farm which Clare and Craig had found online after a bit of a shout out on social media, simply looking for someplace nice to take photos in.
The farmstead boasted a lovely curated garden, somplete with walkways and little wooden brides and huts which we made use of, before also making use of the natural Australian bush land in the dying sun of the day. I really enjoyed myself here as the sun was shining through the foliage in the most delightful way!
Clare and Craig told me that they had chosen me as their wedding photographer as they liked the way I managed to capture not only a bridal couple, but also the simple elegance of the landscape around them without drawing too much attention away from the subject of the image.
Getting comments like this is really what being a photographer was all about and it really made me smile! Not only because these lovely people enjoyed my work, but also the fact that I was with them on such a delightful day in which it was super easy to produce such wonderful work!
Bride and groom together at their Mount Torrens Hotel Wedding
Mount Torrens Hotel wedding photo
groomsmen
bride and groom under little hut
bride and groom under little hut traditional portrait
bride and groom through flowers
Bride and groom amongst the foliage
Bridal party together on the road
Together on the road surrounded by gum trees
Groomsmen cufflinks
bride ad groom in between two trees
bride ad groom in between two large trees
Bridal party amongst tree plantation
Bridal party amongst trees
Bride and groom backdropped by sunlight
Bride and groom with sun peeking through
Bride and groom in tree plantation
bride and groom amongst young trees
bride and groom together
I had an absolute blast photographing Clare and Craig’s wedding day, doubly so as I wanted to help them out as much as possible as Clare is a member of the CFS, who battled the huge fires at the beginning of 2019 – and are just lovely people all round. I wanted to do my part in putting some smiles on Clare and Craig’s faces and I hope they weren’t too dissapointed in not holding their large wedding, and having to postpone to a later date!