Sara and Zac’s The Cedars wedding could not have taken place on any better day for the weather, and the incredible light that seeped it’s way through the trees!
It had been a while since I was last at the Hans Heysen House, or The Cedars as it’s now called for a wedding – and I had very much been looking forward to shooting here again as I knew that for a wedding venue, the gardens here literally inspired one of the defining Australian Artists in Hans Heysen.
Preparation
When hosting a wedding at The Cedars, it’s not unsual to take advantage of the package deals that The Haus group offers. The Haus group now being the custodian of the Cedars wedding venue also runs quite a few spots around the historic town of Hahndorf, including accomodation, and places to hold receptions – like The Haus Restaurant.
Sara and Zac were preparaed at one such hotel, and then held their reception at The Haus – which was all very convenient as everything was very nearby and travel time between locations was minimal for everyone involved. Particularly good in a tourist town like Hahndorf on a Saturday!
Sara’s preparation was a quick affair with me trying top hang her dress in a nearby tree first, then her bridesmaids came and helped her put it on – it was all done within 30 minutes.
Engagement ring in large orange flower
Wedding dress hanging on large tree trunk
Bride’s family out the door
Bridesmaids helping bride in hotel room
Bridesmaids helping smiling bride
Bridesmaids helping smiling bride on deck
Smiling bride on htoel room deck
bride holding bouquet in double doorway
Bride laughing with bridesmaids
The Cedars Wedding Ceremony
The first time I saw Zac was in front of his arbour set up within the bushiest part of The Cedars’ gardens so that all their wedding guests would be shaded from the sun.
Sara and Zac’s dog was a centre piece for their whole day so I made sure to get a few nice photos of their fur baby before he was taken home!
Sara and Zac’s wedding ceremony itslf was a lovely, simple affair with a few readings being read by family and friends, and emotional vows from the two of them, helped along by ample pats of their lovely doggo!
Black dog in bowtie
Arbour set up at The Cedars wedding
Groom waiting by Arbour at his The Cedars wedding
bride arriving at her The Cedars wedding
Grooms first look at the cedars
The Cedars wedding ceremony
bride holding bouquet during wedding ceremony
Groom looking and his bride just before the ceremony starts
The Cedars wedding ceremony Hahndorf
bride and groom holding hands under arbour at The Cedars
Bride and groom during The Cedars wedding ceremony
First kiss at The Cedars wedding
The Cardars wedding ceremony bride and groom
Singing the registry in the sunlight
Bride and groom exiting The Cedars wedding ceremony
Wedding Party in heart shape at The Cadars wedding Hahndorf
Glamour Photos
After the group photos were taken on the large, grassy area just behind where The Cedars wedding ceremony was set up, we used the beautiful natural lighting that was peering through the trees to amplify the Autumnal colours from the trees. Honestly, this spot was a joy to photograph in due to the way the sun was behaving and the colours on the trees – it was all just stunning!
sara had made it clear to me that they had chosen me as their wedding photographer mainly due to how I’m able to incorperate nature and the l;andscape into my work, so this was just perfect for what I do best!
We were planning on heading up the road a little to make use of the Mt Barker rail tunnel, but the sun was fading quite fast, and I figured the best use of the remaining sunlight was really to stay at The Cedars – and maybe use some of the Autumnal colours on display on the Hahndorf Main street before heading in for their reception.
Black Dog Portrait
Bride and groom under autumn colours
The Cedars wedding Photography
Bridal party under the autumnal colours
bride and groom walking their dog through The Cedars
Bride and groom looking back at camera on bench
Bride and groom through foliage in the gardens of The Cedars
Bride and groom standing in amongst the garden
Bride and groom standing in amongst the sunlight
Bride and groom against tree in The Cedarts wedding garden
Bridal party walking along dirt path
Bridal aprty next to old stone wall
Bride and groom walking throguh long grass together
Bride and groom in the grass
Bridal party in the long grass
Bride and groom with old building in background
Wedding rings in sunlight
Bride and groom looking at one another under lights
bride and groom surrounded by Autumn colours
Bride and groom looking out onto main road in Hanhdorf
Bride and groom with smoke and Autumn colours
The Haus Wedding Reception
After taking ample The Cedars wedding photos, we head back to the main street of Hahndorf for Sara and Zac’s reception at the Haus restaurant where I had already set up my photobooth prior to their day starting.
Their night was full of fun filled people, happy to be there, celebrating Sara and Zac’s special day, and the photobooth got a good workout during the rest fo the night!
Bridal kiss through cheers
Place name for guests
Cupcake wedding cake
Thumbs up wedding guests
Guests enjoying the photo booth
First dance at the Haus
First dance at the Haus bride
Dancing
Cutting their wedding cake
Feeding each other wedding cake
Thanks so much to Sara and Zac for having me shoot at your Hans Heysen – The Cedars wedding! Was a great day and I hope you enjoy the resulting photos!
Being adventurous with your wedding photography can lead to some of the most unique and beautiful shots that people will stare at in awe. Rather than relying on the tried-and-true locations, you can take advantage of your surroundings and try something new—or at least different. Being adventurous with your wedding photography can mean that your photos will capture your true emotion and personality so much better than ‘playing safe’ and relying on tired cliches.
Your wedding will be a day filled with joy and happiness, and your photos should reflect that. But how can you go about making these decisions? What are you getting yourself into? And what does being adventurous even mean in the context of wedding photography? If you’re completely lost, don’t worry—we’re here to help.
Below I’ll go over what adventurous wedding photography can entail as both a photographer and the couples, as well as some tips and tricks to make sure you have the best experience possible. So, without any further ado, let’s get started!
Be Adventurous with your Wedding Photography for best results!
1) Think Outside the Box
If you’re looking to take your wedding photography up a notch, think outside of the box. Rather than cliche poses and plain backgrounds, experiment with various settings and find something interesting in your surroundings. You’ll want to be careful not to get too avant-garde or abstract; after all, you don’t want your photos to look like they were taken by M.C. Escher (though some may argue that would be pretty cool).
Keep it real and go with something authentic, but new and exciting at that. If you need inspiration, get out there are search for artistic landscape photographs from your wedding venue and surrounds that you like and simply put yourself in those scenes after discussing with your photographer.
Wedding photo on cliffs
2) A Necessary Conversation Between Bride and Groom
Expectations can often get in the way of enjoying yourself on your wedding day, and that’s completely normal. You’re expected to look a certain way, act a certain way, etc., and these pressures can take their toll over time. One good thing you can do is make sure to have a clear conversation about expectations with your partner before you head out for your big day.
Make sure you’re on board with each other’s ideas before anything else—this will ensure everyone gets what they want out of their photographs, which will ultimately result in more enjoyable pictures!
Out on pride rock
3) Spend Time in Your Location
While you’re getting used to being adventurous, try heading out of your comfort zone and spending some time in your potential wedding location before you take any photos. Doing so will make you feel more at ease during that special day—you’ll know where everything is and have a good idea of how to get around. You might even stumble upon a few photo opportunities along the way.
So don’t be afraid to head into uncharted territory—the worst thing that can happen is you won’t end up using it for anything. Be brave and find something new that works with your story!
Burbrook Kuitpo forest wedding photo
4) Keep An Open Mind to Suggestions
A big part of being adventurous with your wedding photography is keeping an open mind to suggestions from others as well as coming up with ideas on your own. If you don’t feel like you’re in a position to make decisions about how you want your wedding photography taken, that’s perfectly fine—your photographer has experience and can point you in a direction that will work best for both of you.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or try something new! And just like before, if it turns out you don’t like it, it was all a learning experience. In fact, most photographers suggest trying many different looks during your session; what works for one shot might not work so well for another and vice versa.
Kuitpo Forest wedding
5) Stay Light on Your Feet
While you’re doing everything else on your list, don’t forget to have fun. Most photographers will tell you that good pictures come from having fun and feeling comfortable with one another (which is why it’s so important to have that conversation about expectations beforehand). So go ahead and dance a little, jump around if you want—it’s your wedding day, after all. And as long as you stay light on your feet, everything should work out just fine!
Remember, most of these suggestions are based on experience, but there are no strict rules when it comes to taking great photographs. Your best bet is going with what feels right for you and being excited about it; if nothing else, being adventurous will make your big day much more memorable.
The grooms men in rocks at Second Valley
6) Think About Storytelling Through Composition
When it comes to composition, there are so many different factors you have to think about. The first and most obvious one is framing—where do you want to place your subject within that photograph? Do you want them in front of a beautiful landscape or a famous landmark? What if they’re doing something interesting with their hands or body? How close should you be as a photographer when capturing an image?
In addition, consider depth of field (the way everything looks sharp and in focus or blurry), color schemes (everything from clothing to flowers), light exposure (for example, bright outdoor lighting versus more dim indoor lighting), shutter speed (how long your camera’s shutter will stay open), etc. All of these things can add up over time—so once again, be adventurous!
Beautiful light on the rocks
Have Fun, It’s Your Wedding Day!
And last but not least, don’t forget to have fun. Remember that whatever you decide to do, it doesn’t matter as long as you’re both happy with it. If your photographer suggests an idea that seems silly or uncomfortable at first—but gets you excited—give it a shot. Go ahead and plan something new and exciting—the best thing that can happen is you get great photos and memories from your special day; worst case scenario is nothing comes of it. Just try to be adventurous with your wedding photography and I promise it will all pay off!
I was once again out at one of my favourite Mclaren vale wedding venues, and what an amazing day it was! Kait and Brayden’s Mclaren vale Ekhidna Wines Wedding was blessed with some amazing weather, fun filled people and of course the beautiful surrounds that is the Ekhidna Winery.
Kait and Brayden’s big day was lovely and laid back, with their entire day taking place on site and not wasting any time by going off site, allowing them to spend as much time as possible with their family and friends.
Preparation
I arrived at Brayden’s place of preparation and was quite surprised to see all the boys fully dressed and ready to roll! Quite a rarity when it comes to the groom and his groomsmen in the morning! It’s more often I have to poke and prod everyone to start getting dressed!
As a result we used their bed and breakfast for a few portrait style shots and used the magnetic button hole flowers as a bit of a prop for some ‘getting ready’ photos.
Shiny groom shoes
Wedding rings in box next to shoes
Wedding recovery kit
Groom fiddling with jacket
Groom playing with flower on jacket
Smiling groom playuing with flower
Dad stepping in to straighten tie
Groomsmen stubbie holders
Groom being pushed around
Groom standing out front of groomsmen
Groom and entourage walking down road
Kait and her bridal party were getting ready at another bed and breakfast in Mclaren Vale with the most lovely backyard I was keen on using by hanging up her dress and later having photos doen of their little flower girl and Dad’s first look on the lawn!
Kait’s preparation was full of fun, with the girls all laughing all the time and keen on just having a great time.
Wedding shoes next to bouquet
Photos on bouquet
Engagement ring in large rose bouquet
Bridesmaids laughing it up
Wedding dress hanging in yellow tree
Bridesmaids in denim jackets
Little flower girl sitting in grass
Flower girl jacket hanging in tree
Laughing bride as she gets ready
bridesmaids buzzing about helping
Laughing bridesmaid during prep
bride standing alone in front room
Bridesmaids reactions to bride
Dad’s first look of bride reaction
Bride standing looking through foliage
Mclaren Vale Ekhidna Wines Wedding Ceremony
Brayden had a little time to wait before Kait showed up, but once she did, he was full of emotion and seemed to have the best time during the ceremony. Kait arrived via Bently motorcade which made for quite the entrance!
The wind was reasonably strong, but that diddnt stop the joy emanating from both Kait and Brayden, and also their guests of honour who read some poignant messages.
Mclaren Vale Enkhidna Wines Wedding ceremony
groom waiting at Ekhidna Wines
Wedding cars lined up
bride and Father walking toward ceremony
Grooms first look reaction
Bride arriving at Mclaren Vale Ekhidna Wines Wedding ceremony
Mclaren Vale Ekhidna Wines Wedding ceremony in progress
Page boy and rings
bride and groom exiting their Wedding ceremony
Love heart photo of Ekhidna Winery
Happy bubs
Glamour Photos
As I mentioned earlier, Kait and Brayden spent as much time as possible with their family and friends, so after their Mclaren Vale Ekhidna Wines Wedding Ceremony they made the most of the surrounding grounds to take their glamour photos.
We began with their stunning wedding cars, which which we took a few group photos. We then walked a short distance away inbetween the vineyards for more group photos before heading down the road a bit where I knew there are some amazing gum trees which made for a great framing device for the sunset.
Kait and Brayden’s sunset turned out amazingly!
Bride and groom amongst their wedding cars
bride and groom share a kiss with cars
bride and groom with celebrating bridal party
Bridal party laughing together
Bride and groom front the air inbetween vineyards
Bride and groom front the air inbetween vineyards offcenter
Groom hugging bride walking
Bridal party together in front of Mclaren Vale Ekhidna Wines wedding
bridal couple walking together on road
Bride and groom walking towards sunset and vines
Groom dragging bride along in sunset
groom sneaking up on bride
Bride snad groom inbetween gumtrees at sunset
Bride and groom looking at camera between trees
Bride and groom looking at camera between trees landscape
Bride and groom dance at sunset
bride and groom in Mclaren Vale Ekhidna Wines Wedding vineyard
Kiss in the Ekhidna Wines vineyard
Bride and groom looking at one another in vines
Night time photo in vineyard
Mclaren Vale Ekhidna Wines Wedding Reception
Kait and Brayden’s reception took place in the patio area of the Ekhidna Wines cellar door with several lines of tables set up to enjoy a sit down sidder, while their head table was in frotn of the wooden paneling at one end of the area.
I had my photobooth set up and running all night, so their guests had a blast with that, while also enjoying the amazing culinary fare afforded to them by Ekhidna wines – including their stellar ginger beer! Love that stuff!
3 tier white wedding cake on barrel
Bridal entrance at Ekhidna Wines
Bride and groom kiss under cheers and lights
Excited guests
Shaka speech giver
Kisses for bubbles
Ermergerd a ring!
After cutting the cake
Groom hugging bridesmaid
bride and groom shots
Daddy daughter dance hugs
First dance fun
Sparkler exit
Thanks a bunch Kait and Brayden for having me as your wedding phtographer! Your Mclaren vale Ekhidna Wines wedding was a blast to be a pKait and Brayden’s Mclaren Vale Ekhidna Wines wedding was full of fun filled people who all wanted to celebrate as much as they could!art of and I hope you enjoy your photos!
Help Your Photographer Get Better Shots at Your Wedding
Every wedding photographer wants to capture their clients’ weddings perfectly. As the bride or groom, you also share the same goal. Of course, it can be tricky for you to assist them on your wedding day. That may leave you wondering whether there is anything you can do to help your photographer do their jobs as well as they can.
Invite your photographer to your venue or rehearsals
It may not be part of the service offered by your photographer, but it will not hurt to invite them when to your wedding rehearsals, or even arrange to meet up and have a walk around. It is the best way for your photographer to see the venue and check the ambient lighting. They even get the chance to meet you and your family and friends before the big day, and this can help everyone feel comfortable with each other.
Alternatively if you can view a wedding your photographer has shot at your wedding venue in the past, it can give you an idea of what can and can’t work for your own day.
What I usually do is when I meet a new couple as their prospective wedding photographer, is to show them a wedding I had shot at their venue in the past, or failing that something similar so that they get a bit of an idea of what they will look like when being captured by me.
Burbrook forest wedding ceremony
Include buffers in the schedule
Make sure you allot a time buffer for each activity listed on your wedding day, as schedule changes are common in most weddings. For example, the bride may need to have her makeup and gown checked after the ceremony, and the groom might need to take a quick break at the same time. Even finding a location for the after-ceremony wedding shots may take several minutes. Some brides will also have a difficult time walking in heels, and this can slow everything down.
I’ve found that if I allocate 1 hour per location you’d like to take photos in this provides for ample time to take plenty of shots while also keeping things relaxed and not rushed.
Ekhidna wines wedding at sunset
On Your Wedding Day
Make sure your venue is spacious, bright, and clean
You can get beautiful photos if the location is clean, well-designed, well-lit, and with a stunning backdrop or view. It will make the job of producing quality and beautiful photos easier for your wedding photographer. The same goes for your place of preparation – a clean house will always look nicer than if it looks as though a tornado had just hit.
Ask your venue to ensure that the space has been cleared and tidied before the photographer arrives. That way, you can ensure that there are no distracting items in the background.
Reception setup
Know where you should stand during the ceremony
Traditionally, brides stand on the left-hand side, but this is entirely up to the couple. Wherever you choose to stand, try to make sure that there is enough natural lighting for both you and your partner and also so that one of you isnt staring into the sun. Another thing you need to ensure is that you stand in the middle of the aisle. If not, your photographer will have a hard time taking well-balanced wide shots from the aisle.
Botanic Park wedding ceremony with trees in background
Inform the Photographer on Schedule Changes
Keeping your photographers aligned with what is about to happen will help them get better photos of the event. While they may be following a schedule that you provided beforehand, keep in mind that these events do not always go as planned.
Make sure you, or ask your MC to give a heads up to your photographer before every special highlight, such as the grand entrance, the first dance, or the speech. Your photographer might need to change batteries or their camera settings in these special cases.
first dance in blue smoke
While it is important to trust your wedding photographer, there are many factors you can help your photographer work to their highest potential. Several factors will determine the quality of their work. As the bride or groom, there are ways you can help your photographer. Once you do your part, relax and enjoy your big day.
Are you looking for a wedding photographer? Sven Studios, headed by award-winning wedding photographer Steven Duncan, captures your precious moments in a fun and relaxing experience, giving you amazing photos you can treasure forever. Get in contact as we’d love to hear more about your day!
Sarah and Tom’s Beach Huts Middleton wedding was a delightfully intimate family affair with the focus being on enjoying themselves with their friends and family without ducking out too much to have photos taken. Due to this Sarah and Tom opted to have their glamour photos done before their ceremony at the nearby Middleton beach which was super busy due to the warm weather!
Middleton Beach First Look
While I’ve called their photoshoot beforehand a ‘first look‘ truth was that Sarah and Tom both arrived together so that whole idea of getting over the nerves with a first look photoshoot had already been done that morning :). All Sarah and Tom were really after were a couple of nice photos together without having to spend too much time away from their family and friends at the Beach Huts Middleton.
So after they arrived about 30 mins late due to usual wedding morning shenanigans, Sarah and Tom only had about half the amount of time originally allocated to have their photos done – but it was plenty of time to walking up the Middleton beach board walk and walk about the beach a bit. A bit of photoshop was required to remove all the other beachgoers though!
Walking the steps at Middleton Beach
Standing above Middleton Beach
Surprising his bride
Walking up the sand dunes
Spinning aorund
Walking along Middleton beach together
Bride and groom under a cloud
A bird flys over the bride and groom
Bride and groom walking along Middleton beach
Close up of Brides hands
Bride and groom standing together above Middleton beach
Beach Huts Middleton Wedding Ceremony
As is usually the case with a Beach Huts Middleton Wedding, Sara and Tom opted to hold their ceremony on the grassy area nearby the tennis courts, surrounded by the delightful little beach huts which the venue gets it’s name from.
While Sarah and Tom had opted to do thir photoshoot beforehand, they still did the traditional bridal entrance where she walked down the aisle with father on one arm and veil covering her face before approaching her soon to be husband.
The ceremony was a lovely, simple affair spearheaded by vows full of in jokes and funny anecdotes of the couple’s lives together.
Wedding sign at Beach Huts Middleton
Groom arriving at ceremony
groom waiting patiently for the bride to show
bride walking out Beach Huts Middleton
bridal arrival at the beach huts middleton
Groom look at his bride as she walks towards him
Beach huts middleton wedding ceremony
Groom smiling at his bride at Middleton
Beach Huts Middleton wedding congregation
Bride and groom under archway
Smiling bride during her wedding ceremony
Middleton beach huts wedding ceremony on the grass
Beach Huts Middleton wedding ceremony on the grass
Bride giving wedding band
First kiss at Beach Huts Middleton
Bridal escape
Reception
After the ceremony and before heading to the Blue’s restaurant on site at the Beach Huts Middleton for the evening reception, Sarah and Tom hosted a laid back afternoon reception for their guests which they were keen to be a part of.
The afternoon was full of lawn games, having fun with friends, and a couple of guests even picked up the tennis racquets and tried to hit my camera 😛 Every now and again I might catch Sarah and Tom and pull them aside for a quick photo, but I was aware they diddnt want to leave their friends and family for too long 🙂
The reception within Blues restaurant consited of a nice sit down dinner, with simple addons like a photobooth in the corner run by ‘In the Booth’, a kareoke machine set up as the DJ and Tom acted as his own MC – even going as far as announcing himself and Sarah as they entered the building!
It was a beautifully fun filled afternoon with plenty of lovely people laughing, playing and having a great time being together to celebrate this lovely couple’s love for one another.
Sunder the sun at Beach Huts Middleton
Having fun with the bride’s veil
Walking along the road at Beach Huts Middleton
Wedding bands on fence post
Talking best man
Engagement ring in the flowers
Guest playing lawn games
Boys being silly
Sarah looking pretty
Bride and groom amongst the roses
Guests playing games
Guest playing tennis
groom talking to guests
Guest playing lawn games
Laughing guests
Wedding reception table flowers
Flowers at wedding reception
Groom MCing own wedding
Bridal couple entrance to reception
Groom celebrating entrance
Bride and groom in the photobooth
Guests having fun
Guests out the front of Blues Restaurant
Little girl dancing to the music
Thanks so much to Sarah and Tom for having me capture their delightful Beach Huts Middleton Wedding for them! I had a blast taking the photos and I hope you guys enjoy them as much as I did taking them! Cheers!
