Thorngrove Manor Wedding – Darren & Nahal

August 3, 2020/0 Comments/in Wedding preview, Wedding /by Steven Duncan

Darren & Nahal
Thorngrove Manor Wedding

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!

St Helens Park Wedding – Nikki & Toby

August 7, 2020/0 Comments/in Wedding preview, Wedding /by Steven Duncan

Nikki & Toby
St Helen’s Park Wedding

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.

What You Should Do Before Picking Your Wedding Photographer

August 31, 2020/0 Comments/in Wedding, ideas /by Steven Duncan

Picking Your Wedding Photographer

Weddings are incredible events. You’ll put on a carefully selected dress or suit. You’ll be surrounded by close family and friends. You’ll be in a place or venue that holds some special meaning for you. Everyone will enjoy the evening partying and toasting your love for you and your partner. The entire occasion will be filled with memories that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your married life.

For a day that requires so much careful planning and preparation, you definitely don’t want to forget how special it is. That’s why it’s so important to pick a capable wedding photographer as you’ll be entrusting them to immortalise your memories.

Wedding planning can be extremely stressful. You might be tempted to book someone just to check this item off your to-do list. However, your photographer will have such an intimate role in your wedding day that it pays to do some research before settling on one.

Wedding cake

What You Should Do Before Picking Your Wedding Photographer

Here are five crucial things you should do before picking your wedding photographer:

1. Figure out your expectations

If you’ve never worked with a photographer before, you should know that one photographer does not equate to another. Everyone approaches their work in a different way and using their own personal styles. Do you prefer more candid photos? Do you want to achieve a certain look? If you’re not clear about what you want, it’ll be hard task picking your wedding photographer.

Try and find a photographer that utilises a style and has demonstrated the ability to form your vision of your wedding photography, and try to stay away from ‘directing’ them too much with requests that may not be a part of the photographer’s usual way of doing things. If you do their work will probably not what you’d expect.

Paxton winery wedding from the air

2. Ask for a referral or two

A good photographer will have many happy clients. Some may have worked at your family or friend’s wedding. A trusted contact will give you an honest review about how they felt about a photographer’s services and if they were able to meet or exceed their expectations.

Reading reviews online help too – but make sure you know what you are reading. Reviews on Google and Facebook can be faked (but not always) and other reviews like those collected by ABIA tend to be more accurate as each review is vetted by a committee.

laughing

3. Review albums and portfolios

Photographers will publish their portfolio and recent work online. If they haven’t, you can definitely ask for one. Each photographer has their own style and technique. Check if their previous work aligns with your taste.

When you meet, try and make a point of viewing an entire wedding album – one they have presented to previous clients as completed work. That way you get a better understanding of the quality of their work, and not just the ‘hero’ shots they might publish online.

They are the ones behind the lens, and they’ll be interpreting the event through their own eyes. If you aren’t a fan a photographer’s work style, it’s best to take them off your shortlist.

Digital Deluxe Album

4. Meet with your shortlist in person

Photography is a highly personal and creative undertaking. You’ll be able to tell more about the person by meeting them face to face. Ask about their work ethic and how they can work discreetly but efficiently. A friendly, approachable, and—most of all—professional photographer will put you and your guests at ease and create a good atmosphere for making memories.

grooms first look

5. Evaluate packages

Ultimately, you’ll need to find someone who falls within your budget. Give yourself time to find options. Some wedding photographers offer engagement shoots and additional services like video montages.

The wedding will only last a day, but the photos will last a lifetime. If you don’t set about picking your wedding photographer carefully, you won’t be able to do a do-over. However, if you’ve done your homework well, you’ll be able to find someone who will help you capture the day’s moments as authentically as possible and give you photos that you’ll be happy to look back on for years to come.

We offer professional wedding photography services in Adelaide and all over Australia. Get in contact, and let us know how we can help you capture your special day!

Semaphore Beach Sunset

Mt Lofty House Wedding – Kate & Matt

May 16, 2019/0 Comments/in Wedding preview, Wedding /by Steven Duncan

Kate & Matt
Mt Lofty House Wedding

Kate and Matt travelled all the way from Sydney to have their wedding at the lovely Mt Lofty House, while the majority of their guests also travelled from places like Singapore, Egypt and other countries! You could tell by the guest list that the coming together of such a far flung family was a very special occurrence so I was so excited to be Kate and Matt’s wedding photographer!

Te only drawback to the day was the unfortunate weather which caused the location of their ceremony to be moved indoors, along with the family photos, and also forced the glamour shots around the gardens to be a little rushed. But this little set back couldn’t wipe the smiles off of Kate and Matt’s faces!

Preparation

The day started for me at Matt’s place of preparation at a delightful bed and breakfast nearby. The stunningly decorated house was surrounded by autumnal leaves hanging from some wonderful trees which we made sure to make use of in the photos! One of Matt’s groomsmen was running a bit late, but we managed to grab a shot together before I had to head off to Kate’s place of preparation.

Laughing

Dancing

Putting on tie

Looking out window

Hugs

Getting ready

Walking

Wedding rings

Walking about

Getting ready

Waiting

Wedding shoes

Grooms party minus one

Putting on tie

Grooms party minus one

Kate was being prepared in the Gatekeeper’s cottage at Mt Lofty House. It’s a nice little house suited for little romantic getaways, but with 15 odd people walking about here, the place was a little cramped 🙂 It does make for some nice shots around corners and through doorways though. While Kate was getting ready, it started to rain unfortunately so the ceremony was moved indoors.

Buttoning up dress

Dad looking on

Putting on veil

Helping out

Bridesmaids helping

Laughing

Wedding dress

Looking pretty

Putting on flower

Engagement ring

Looking in mirror

Bridesmaids helping

Makeup chair

Looking pretty

Putting on flower

Looking in mirror

Getting ready

Mt Lofty House Wedding Ceremony

Kate and Matt’s guestlist was around 100 people, so moving the ceremony indoors was not too much of an issue in regards to space as Mt Lofty House has a large enough area to hold both their reception and a ceremony. It did cause both the videographer and I to be a little stuck sometimes, but it wall worked out 🙂

Groom’s chest

Wedding sign

Bridal approach

Tearing up groom

Priest

Speech

Listening

Holding hands

Laughing

Vows

Exchanging wedding rings

First kiss

Married!

Holding hands

Kisses

Exit

Glamour Photos

After the (seemingly) several hundred family photos we took in the grand library that takes center place within the house, we made as much use of the Mt Lofty House gardens as we could before feeling the weather and having enough time for Kate to touch up her makeup before entering their reception party.

In front of the coach house

Walking around the coach house

Under the trees

Leaning on the old wall

Kisses

Looking dapper

Under the trees

In front of the coach house

The doorway of Mt Lofty House

On the staircase

Under the trees

The doorway of Mt Lofty House

In front of the coach house

Mt Lofty House Wedding Reception

Kate and Matt’s reception party was delightful mixture of customs and traditions from all over the world. We held a Chinese toast or ‘Yum Sing’, while also enjoying Egyption dancing and then of course the first dance and bouquet tossing. The night was awesome to be a part of and I had a great time while photographing and also manning the photo booth.

Daddy Daughter Dance

Entrance

Dancing guests

Dancing Groom

Bouquet Toss

Wedding Cake

Dancing guests

Yum SIng

Cutting the cake

First Dance

Speeches

Entrance

Speech

Dancing guests

Dancing Guest

Bouquet Toss

Photobooth Props

Table setting

Night Time Shots

During the night we went for a bit of a walk to make use of the unique fog opportunities we had that night in some night time shots 🙂

Kiss in the fog

Lamp Post

Mt Lofty House Doorway at night

Thanks so much to Kate and Matt for having me on your day and I hope your other ceremonies around the world are as much fun as the one you held at the Mt Lofty House! 😀 #kateisgettingknighted

Mt Lofty House Wedding – Naomi & Neil

October 22, 2019/0 Comments/in Wedding preview, Wedding /by Steven Duncan

Naomi & Neil
Mt Lofty House Wedding

Naomi and Neil held their lovely intimate Mt Lofty House wedding on a lovely day in late September. Unfortunately they could not hold their ceremony out on the house’s lawn, overlooking the Mt Lofty botanic gardens, due to it being a little chilly, but the great thing about a Mt Lofty House wedding is that there’s always a backup spot for a ceremony inside, just in case! I was asked to be their wedding photographer for 3 hours on their big day, and I was so pleased to be a part of their lovely day!

Preparation

My day started with Naomi being prepared on site inside one of the private cottages surrounding Mt Lofty House. Neil was also getting ready there, but left before Naomi had her dress put on, allowing for the traditional ‘first look’ of the dress as Naomi walked down the aisle.

The atmosphere within the house with Naomi and the girls getting ready there was upbeat and quite laid back, punctuated just before leaving for the ceremony with a little emotion as Mum and Dad came in just before she left. It’s always nice to capture the smiles and/or tear of the parents as they witness their little one all ready to be married! 😀 One of the reasons why I love being a wedding photographer, you never know how people will react, and it’s wonderful to share in the emotion of wedding days!

Wedding shoes

Flower

Engagement ring

Wedding dress

Helping bridesmaids

Using the mirror

Putting on dress

Looking pretty

Dad’s first look

Mt Lofty House Wedding Ceremony

As I mentioned earlier, Naomi and Neil’s Mt Lofty House wedding took place inside the hotel’s restaurant instead of the previously planned lawns overlooking the valley due to being a little cold. The space provided by Mt Lofty House in these cases has ample space for medium to large sized congregations, and it fit all of Neil and Naomi’s guests nicely. The space as they had it set up has huge windows overlooking the valley as if they were outside on the lawns anyway, while having the added confort of being inside. It was the second time in a row I’ve been the wedding photographer at a Mt Lofty House wedding inside.

Wedding sign

Groom’s first look

Bridal approach

Together

Holding hands

Dad looking on

Smiles

Mt Lofty House Wedding Ceremony

Exchanging wedding rings

inside wedding ceremony

First kiss

Exit

Glamour Photos

After some family photos which we took outside on the lawns, we used the gardens surrounding Mt Lofty House and the interior spaces of the house itself for some glamour photos. As the sky was rather overcast, walking about the gardens and taking photos there were an absolute dream and made the task of making pretty photos that much easier! The inside of Mt Lofty House was as always a super stately affair, and as Naomi and Neil were keen wine drinkers they were excited to head down to the well stocked wine cellar located below the house itself. Some very expensive wine bottles down there!

Walking about

Mt Lofty House steps

Against the wall in the Mt Lofty House gardens

On the steps

Mt Lofty House steps

Mt Lofty House cellars

Mt Lofty House Garden

Playing chess

Starway

Bridal party

In the library

Most interesting man in the world

Engagement ring

Narnia

Starway

Wedding rings

In amongst the trees

Mt Lofty House Wedding Reception

Naomi and Neil’s reception took place in the newly rennovated add-on room nearby the Mt Lofty House restaurant, which is a lovely airy space, adjacent to the gardens. They held a simple lunch time reception which allowed me to capture their cake and it’s cutting, and a photo of pretty much everyone there before I had to leave. I’ve noticed this before, but Naomi and Neil also opted to have a non-traditional wedding cake – which was actually several cheese wheels stacked upon one another. This is feel is a wonderful alternative for those of us who aren’t real cake eaters. Looks great too! I believe they had it cut up and distributed as part of their bonboneire gifts for their guests!