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Keep Great Memories With These Family Photography Tips

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Family Photography Tips

One of the best ways to remember moments is by looking at pictures that bring back good memories. When you have old photos at home and spend time looking at them, you will be brought back into time and reminded of the feeling you got when those photos were taken.

Fortunately, with the advances in technology, it is easier for people to take pictures and store photos safely to look at in the future. Hiring a family photography professional is still your best bet when it comes to taking stunning and heartwarming photographs, but many people either just dont like the idea of having a professional take their photos, donbt have the budget, or simply think they themselves can do a good enough job!

Hopefully these family photography tips can help anyone take some nice family photos!

Family photograph in studio

 

Keep Great Memories With These Family Photography Tips

Taking family photos shouldn’t be intimidating. Here are some tips you can follow so that you can start taking great family photos yourself:

Consider what type of device you’ll use

One of the most convenient ways to take photos is by using your smartphone. Recently, tech companies have been upgrading and making mobile phone cameras work better than ever. Most of the smartphones in the market produce high-quality photos that can look very similar to high end cameras. They aren’t, but for the mayperson the difference can be indistinguishable. The great thing about smartphones is that they are readily accessible for quick moments that need capturing.

If you want a crisper and clearer quality, investing in an entry-level, mirrorless camera will do the trick. After some practice, you can upgrade your camera’s lenses, helping you take better family photos. This said however, the best camera in the world is the one in your hand – so don’t get too hung up on equipment.

Mobile photos

Focus on the moments

Most people think that family photos are supposed to be more like portraits, standing about aand staring straight down the camera. However, what you would want to look back at are the mundane and spontaneous moments. For example, you can take a picture of your partner preparing breakfast for your children. Another could be a photo of your children in the backyard playing with your dog.

These are the moments you would want to cherish and remember because things will be entirely different years later. Although taking portraits is a great way to see physical growth and development, taking pictures of moments will help tell the story of your family’s growth.

Fussing family

Experiment with angles and lighting

Once you understand how to handle your device and take a few photos, it is best to learn and experiment with different techniques.

Natural light is a photographer’s best friend. When you find an area in your home with the best lighting, family portraits shouldn’t be a problem. An area in your home that lets in natural light is the best place to stage a photograph.

If you’re outside generally it’s best to situate the sun behind your subject, however the quiality of your equipment may come into play here causing images that are too dark, or light. Just makes the understanding of your device that much more important.

Another thing to remember is that camera angles give a different type of perspective and story. Experiment outside while your kids are playing, or when your partner is going up the stairs. These angles and framings can give your photos a story and memory to remember.

Walking along the pond edge

With any new hobby or project, the best way to produce quality output is by practising and experimenting. Compared to other types of photography, family photography is one of the most heartwarming and less-intimating of its kind.

When you practice family photography at home, you’ll continuously be keeping different memories you can look at in the future. Enjoy this new family project you are about to begin and get ready to capture moments that you’ll be thankful you didn’t miss. Hopefully these family photography tips will help out with your shoots!

If however you’re finding the whole situation too much to bear, we are experts in our field and provide specialised wedding photography, family photography, and other photography services. Get in touch and book a session with us today!

 

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!

How to get great wedding photos working with your photographer

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  • hugs amongst the vines

How to get great wedding photos

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:

  1. 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
  1. 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
  1. 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
  1. 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!

2 Things That Affect Your Wedding Photos More Than Expected

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  • Groom looking at bride

 

What can Affect Your Wedding Photos

Planning for your wedding photography session is just as exciting as planning for the big day itself. You have different ideas on how you want the wedding photos to come out, where you want to hold the photoshoot, what theme you want to follow, and so much more. After all, you will want to make sure that the finished results are as beautiful and as remarkable as your wedding day.

Before you proceed with your photoshoot session, however, you should know that there are other factors that can affect your wedding photos. Other than you and your partner’s beautiful smiles and your chosen location, here are two important factors that impact your wedding images.

Bride and groom on the rocks on their wedding day

2 Factors That Affect Your Wedding Photos More Than You Expect

  1. The photographer’s style

If you want more personality and professionalism in your pictures, hiring a professional wedding photographer to capture your most precious moments is the way to go.

As you look for these professionals, you should remember that each wedding photographer’s style is different from another. While you are sure you will be getting professional service, their photos will have a different style or mood portrayed in them.

Some artists would be great in coaching and directing you, while others will have more of a photojournalist approach to capture your emotions in the most natural way possible. Some will have a bias towards light-coloured backgrounds like the sea and the sky, while others produce dark and dramatic portraits.

Considering all of these, you must look at the portfolio of the prospective wedding photographer to make sure that you are working with someone whose style is close to your preference.

Belair National Park wedding photo
  1. The time of your shoot and your wedding

Aside from your venue, the decorations, and your wedding’s motif, the time of your shoot will greatly affect your wedding photos. If you want to be very specific with the mood to be captured in your images and you have time around the pre-wedding photoshoot and the ceremony, coordinate with your photographer to determine which part of the day works best for your ideas.

If you have a preference for certain types of scenes you’d want captured on your day, a good idea is to show your wedding photographer examples and they would be able to provide advice as to whe would be the best time to have that certain shot done. After all your choice of wedding photographer themself would be the biggest affect your wedding photos.

If you want to achieve a bright mood, having your pre-wedding portrait session in the morning in a place where the sunrise is beautiful is a great idea. However, you will have to be strict with the time to make sure you’re getting the most of that rising sun’s beauty. If you want for something scenic, having a photoshoot featuring the setting sun is another excellent idea. Lastly, if you want to achieve an intimate and romantic mood, taking your portraits at night with candle lights is an idea that you might want to explore.

Paxton Winery wedding night shot

Your wedding is a momentous occasion for you and your partner, and it’s essential to keep these precious memories in images that you can always look back to after years into your marriage. As you search for a wedding photographer to cover your big day, keep in mind things that can affect your wedding photos, including the two factors we mentioned above, and you’ll surely achieve the images you desire.

If you are looking for a wedding photographer to work with, we are the one you’re looking for! We love travelling all around Australia to Hobart, Darwin, Canberra and of course Adelaide and also love International weddings! We know that your wedding is your ultimate celebration of love, so we work hard to capture your genuine smiles in stunning photogrpahy you will love looking back to.

The Importance of a Photo Schedule on Your Wedding Day

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  • Bride and groom silhouette

 

Having a Photo Schedule on Your Wedding Day

Weddings are hectic affairs. You spend months and months preparing every detail like picking out the perfect dress and suit, decorating a venue, and sorting out a seating chart. When the wedding day finally arrives, it all whizzes by in a flash. Having a photo schedule on your wedding day will help certain ‘must capture’ events be remembered in your album.

There are so many things that have to fall into place in the span of a few hours. If even one element is late, it throws the entire day off. You will need to go from dressing up, getting to the venue on time, having the ceremony, and then entertaining guests at the reception. Somewhere in between, you will have dozens of precious moments with family and friends that you will want your wedding photographer to capture.

Wedding photographers are experts at observing events as they unfold and figuring out the best moments to capture. However, they can only be at certain places at once. The thing with modern, journalistic wedding photography is that they can’t ask you to repeat the moment because they got the angle wrong or the lighting was off. They have to work within the situation in front of them, timing included.

If you don’t want your photographer to miss out on anything during your wedding day, it’s best to take a small amount of planning time to make a deliberate effort to plan certain photos you’d like to have taken. You may have a general schedule of the major events, but getting down to the details such as having specific call times for bridal parties, setting aside an hour after the ceremony for intimate couple portraits, and making sure there are ample opportunities for group photos during the reception.

Having a photo schedule on your wedding day is an excellent way to ensure that you, your bridal party members, and your guests are camera ready at the critical moments. Modern wedding photography is all about ‘capturing the moment’ so to speak, so having a photo schedule on your wedding day seems a little counter-intuitive to that – however the idea still has merit when you’ve got your heart set on a certain type of photo, or specific setup you MUST have.

The Importance of a Photo Schedule on Your Wedding Day

If you are in the middle of planning your wedding day, these are the reasons why having a photography schedule is important:

You will want to take preparation photos

These will be your last moments as a ‘single’ man or woman. This will also be the last time your family will have you all to themselves. Taking the time to capture some candid photos as you prepare for the most significant moment of your life is something a lot of people feel as though isnt important; however when considering your album as a story of your day, it’s a wonderful opener, leading into the rest of the story of the day.

Also, having your photographer document your preparation is a great way to warm up to the big event, and get used to having a camera around all the time.

Bride looking out window

You will be surrounded by family and friends that you don’t see often

Your wedding may be the only occasion to bring all your friends and family together in one place. There are only a few other moments in your life when you will get to have them all in the same place celebrating a happy occasion. You will want to make sure you have keepsakes of your time together, so having a photo schedule on your wedding day will help capture everyone there.

bridal party peeking through window

You will need as much natural light as possible

The timing of your photoshoot is especially important if you plan on shooting outdoors. If you are going to have individual shots or your newlywed photos in a garden or a beach, you will need to make sure you go at the right hour, so you have enough sunlight for your photographer to work with.

Semaphore Beach Sunset

The unexpected can happen

As much as you want everything to go smoothly, things may not always go according to plan – in fact chances are they won’t. Unfortunate things can happen, like getting caught in a traffic jam between your hotel or the venue, or there might be a hiccup with the venue. Having a schedule will get you back on track even if you have to push some things back a bit.

Having a photo schedule on your wedding day is simply a way to list things that you need to happen on your big day – so if you need to rearrange things, it’s right there in front of you so you don’t forget.

Laughing

You can relax and focus on other things

With a schedule to guide everything, your MC can corral the photography crew into the right position to save time. You don’t need to be anxious thinking about whether you got a chance to pose with your grandparents, your university friends, or your colleagues from school. You can leave your worries behind and focus on wearing your most radiant smile instead.

Fun in the sun

You can never go wrong by taking a few extra steps in planning – even if it’s a very simple list of things that *must* be done. Wedding photography doesn’t get a do-over, so it is vital to control as much of the frenzy as possible. Your wedding photographer will work their magic, but only if you point them in the right direction.

Are you looking for wedding photography services? Our team of professionals will help you so you can look back on all the precious memories of your perfect wedding. Contact us today!