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South Terrace Engagement – Chloe & Alex

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  • Sunset proposal
  • Smiling at one another
  • Veal Gardens Engagement
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Chloe & Alex

South Terrace Engagement

It was a lovely sunny afternoon when Chloe, Alex and I headed out to South Terrace for a little engagement shoot before their wedding in July. I really wanted to make use of the wonderful winter sun shining through some foliage, so I suggested heading to South Terrace to make use of the stunning Himeji gardens, and Veal gardens. Chloe and Alex also wanted to head to a beach for some sunset shots, so towards the end of the engagement shoot we headed down to Brighton beach.

I offer my wedding couples the option of having an engagement shoot before their wedding day for a few different reasons. In Chloe and Alex’s case they wanted some nice photos to use on their thank you cards directly after their wedding so they didn’t have to wait too long before they were sent out. But other reasons would be to use on your ‘save the date’ cards or your invitations, they could also even be used on your wedding’s website if you choose to have one made. They also look fantastic printed and put on display at your wedding reception.

South Terrace Engagement shoot

Himeji Gardens

We started out at the picturesque Himeji Gardens, and despite the chilly weather, the gardens were quite busy so we had to be careful on which direction we were shooting. The beautiful foliage in the gardens combined with the setting sun made for some wonderful scenery.

Embrace
Sitting in Himeji Gardens
Holding one another
Laughing together
Sunset in Himeji gardens
Smiling at one another

Veal Gardens

Just down the road, on South Terrace is Veal gardens, a popular wedding venue close to the city that boasts a lovely meandering man-made stream and small ponds, dotted along the walking path. The well manicured gardens always provides for a lovely backdrop for a photoshoot!

South Terrace Engagement
Veal Gardens Engagement
Walking through Veal Gardens
Under a tree
Veal gardens bridge

Brighton Beach

As the sun was setting at an alarming rate, we jetted off to Brighton beach where Alex and Chloe staged a bit of an engagement scene. It was quite entertaining as many passing onlookers congratulated them thinking he had just proposed, despite them already being engaged 🙂

Sunset
Sunset proposal
Brighton Jetty
Walking along Brighton beach

The entire shoot was over in around 90 minutes and was a tonne of fun! I’m looking forward to their wedding even more now!

Winner of the 2020 Wedding Photo of the year!

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Winner of the 2020 Wedding Photo of the year!

I’d like to thank once again all my couples I covered as their wedding photographer in 2019, and all those who submitted their favourite photo for my little annual wedding photo of the year contest! It’s always a little bit of fun to run this contest each year as I get to reconnect with all the couples I spent their wedding day with throughout this contest and find out which of the photos I took were their favourite. This in turn helps me in the future to be a better photographer!

So without further ado, here is the winner of the 2020 Wedding Photo of the year with 100 votes!

Winner of the 2020 Wedding Photo of the year!

Congratulations Leah and Jarron in receiving the most votes on their favourite photo from their wedding at Kuitpo Hall. I’ll get in contact soon to discuss details of your prize of a large framed print! They were lagging the photo from Hailey & Brad’s big day at Al-Ru Farm for quite a while, but a surge of Leah and Jarron voters last night put them over the line in a frantic finish hailey and Brad ended with 67 votes! There were also quite a few voters for Astrid and Corey and Chelsea and Nathan online last night, but unfortunately not enough 🙁 Chelsea and Nathan’s wedding at St Francis Winery came in third place with 55 votes.

Photo of the year contest HaileyBrad
Photo of the year contest ChealseaNathan

In all, this year’s contest, with 22 weddings entering recieved a total of 581 votes which is more than any of the previous 4 years in which I have run this contest, so that is an awesome turnout! Hopefully there will be even more in next year’s edition – providing of course I get out and shoot more weddings this year! There were a significant number more in total votes, however some people like to think I can’t detect those of you who try to vote twice or more by using different devices, emails addresses, etc 🙂

Winner of the $100 cash prize for voting

I also like to give away $100 cash to a random voter simply for casting their vote, so if your name is the one below, check your emails as I’ve sent you an email asking for your bank account details 🙂

Jasmine P.

Once again thanks to everyone who participated and congratulations to those who won! 😀 Looking forward to when the world returns to normal after all this COVID-19 stuff :/

Idyll and Co Wedding – Monique & Anthony

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  • Monique & Anthony

    Idyll & Co Wedding

    Idyll & Co wedding photo

Monique and Anthony’s Idyll and Co Wedding was simply devine! Nestled in amongst thick bushland, the Idyll & Co Bed and Breakfast turned out to be the most brilliant of venues to host Monique and Anhtony’s wedding! The combination of the thick foliage in every direction, with the cloudy weather and beautiful people made me thankful that they chose me as their wedding photographer as I had an absolute blast all day, and I had a smile on my face the entire time I was editing their photos!

Idyll and Co Wedding Ceremony

The spot that Monique and Anthony had chosen to host their Idyll and Co Wedding Ceremony was hidden down the hill a little from the main bed and breakfast house which meant that their whole ceremony was shaded in all directions by the most magnificent Ausralian bush land I had experienced when compared with any other wedding venue I have visited.

The fun part about hosting a Idyll and Co wedding is the mode of transport the bride and her entourage gets to make use of to arrive at the ceremony! The owners of the venue actually makes the use of a little ride-on tractor available for anyone who wishes to make use of this unique feature which put a smile on everyones face as soon as they laid eyes on it!

Monique and Anthony’s ceremony itself was full of smiles and heartfelt vows, intermingled with personal anecdotes of funny times when they were dating and readings from close friends. You know you’re doing something right when emotion shows all everyone’s face!

Smiling groom 4
Bride arriving at Idyll & Co bed and breakfast
Idyll & Co bridal transport
bride about to walk down the aisle
groom looking on at bride
Bridal approach 5
Idyll & Co Wedding Ceremony 3
smiling bride 7
Wedding ceremony 8
Groom smiling at his bride
Idyll & Co Wedding Ceremony 2
Holding hands during wedding ceremony 2
Reading reader
Idyll & Co Wedding Ceremony
Bridesmaid emotions
Best man pulling rings out
Exchanging wedding bands at Idyll & Co wedding
Wedding ceremony at Idyll & Co
First kiss at Idyll & Co Wedding
Bridal exit at Wedding ceremony at Idyll & Co Wedding

Glamour Photos

I could have spent all day roaming the grounds taking Idyll and Co Wedding photos with Monique and Anthony! The grounds simply suit my style of wedding photography perfectly and in fact was a big reason apparently what Monique and Anthony had chosen me in the first place which is lovely to hear as I really try to bring in the surrounding details of the venue itself within my photography.

I like to point out to all my bridal couples that while I’m super passionate about wedding photography, I’ve also had past successes being an Australian reknowned landscape photographer, taking out numerous state and national awards for my work in other genres and I like to bring in that knowledge to create some unique wedding photography.

It was that uniqueness that drew Monique and Anthony to me, and they specifially stated on the day to make them as small as possible within the more ‘landscapey’ shots I was going to create for them, so hopefully they enjoy the shots I took! The Idyll and Co grounds was a perfect space to do this in too, with rolling hills, thick forests and even a pond to make use of; I had a blast!

Sitting on a fallen tree together
Sitting on a fallen tree together at Idyll & Co
In amongst the Idyll & Co forest
In amongst the Idyll & Co forest together
Bride and groom with bridal party amongst the trees
Bride and groom with bridal party amongst the trees 2
groomsmen flasks
Bridal party going for a ride
Bridal party at Idyll & Co
Bride and groom surrounded by pond
Groom surprising his bride 2
Amongst the tall trees at Idyll & Co
Amongst the tall trees at Idyll & Co 2
On the water’s edge together
Walking around the Idyll & Co grounds
Idyll & Co wedding photo
Cuddles in amongst the leaves
Bridal party with Idyll & Co bed and breakfast
Bride and groom at Idyll & Co bed and breakfast
Kisses between thebig trees
Walking about Idyll & Co’s forests
Walking about Idyll & Co’s forests 2
Sunset through the trees at Idyll & Co

Idyll & Co Wedding Reception

Monique and Anthony has set up a temporary gazebo to expand on the space of the nearby the small shed the venue has set up to host small parties, and up the hill, they had enlisted the help of Daisy Burger to cater their reception with their lovely burgers. My photobooth was also set up spitting out photos all night, and it was awesome to be a part of 🙂

The light faded fairly quickly during the night due to the overcast weather, meaning that some amazing light started to filter throughout the surrounding bushland. This made for a good opportunity to take a few more photos of the bridal party before everyone got too jovial, and I even coerced Monique and Anthony to traipse about in the darkness to take some spectacular shots nearby a gnarly old tree 🙂

bride and groom arriving at reception
bride and groom arriving in gazebo
Guests hanging out at Idyll & Co
Wedding cake under the tree
Cutting the wedding cake under a tree
Cutting the wedding cake under a tree 2
Groom cutting cake enthusiastically
Bride and bridal party together
Girls having a laugh
Groom and groomsmen together
Dip kiss
Speech Giver
Speech Giver 2
First dance near gazebo
First dance hugs on dance floor
Idyll & Co Wedding Photography
Wedding at Idyll & Co

Thanks so much to Monique and Anthony for having me be your phtoographer on your big day! Your was an amazing wedding to shoot and I hope you enjoy your photographs! 😀

Botanic Gardens Adelaide Wedding – Georgia & Nick

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  • Georgia & Nick

    Botanic Gardens Adelaide Wedding

    Bride and groom holding one another in the undergrowth

On what must have been the busiest wedding day in decades, October 10th was the date for Georgia and Nick’s wonderful wedding at the Botanic Gardens Adelaide. Based mainly on the repetition of the date and fun addition of the date and month numbers ot make the year, then combined with COVID-19 rescheduling, I must have had dozens of enquiries for 10/10/20! And what a wedding Georgia and Nick’s turned out to be! Beautiful weather, lovely people and possibly the best spot to take photos in the Adelaide CBD :).

Preparation

I began the day as I usually do with Nick and his groomsmen getting ready in a hotel room in the city. Their room overlooked the northern part of the Adelaide CBD in quite a striking fashion with a great view of the new royal hospital and even Adelaide Oval!

When I arrived the boys were sitting about watching some horse racing, so I began the day by getting them to get a bit hyped up by placing fake bets on a horse race – this allowed for everyone to let go of any nerves thay may be lingering around and loosened everyone up for their preparation photos which we took in and around their room.

Wedding rings box 2
Wedding rings perched on shoes
Groom watching TV 2
Adjusting his shirt
Adjusting shirt
Groomsmen looking fab
Groom leaning on wall
Groom basking in sunlight
Smiling groom in his suit
chilling groomsmen

Georgia and her bridal party were being prepared at the couple’s house in Hillcrest. The girls were getting ready along side their paresnts and some well wishers that arrived half way through. The atmosphere was very laid back with allowed for some beautiful natural smiles and showing of emotion. It was especially endearing when Dad first saw his daugher sporting her wedding dress!

Bridal bangle
Engagement ring in bouquet 3
Bride having hair done 2
Bride’s Mum having makeup done
Bride having makeup done
Bride silhouette
bride getting ready 4
Putting on bridal shoes
Bride looking at bouquet
Bride in hallway 2
Mum looking on 2
Father’s first look of his daughter

Botanic Gardens Adelaide Wedding Ceremony

Finding a park at the Botanic Gardens Adelaide at the best of times can be quite tricky, but on a wonderful warm day such as Georgia and Nick’s wedding day it was extremely hard which led to Georgia being a little later than she had planned to be on the day, leaving Nick to pace about at the front of their congregation showing that he was not aty all nervous.

Georgia and Nick’s wedding ceremony took place at the Araucaria Avenue ceremony spot which boasts a lovely row of New Caledonia Pines (or Araucaria columnaris) leading off into where the sun sits which makes for a lovely,m sunlit backdrop for any wedding ceremony.

As the weather on Georgia and Nick’s wedding day was perfectly sunny, the whole ceremony was delightfully backlit creating a nice halo effect over everyones’s heads all throughout. It does make it ricky though to take phtoos from the side as the light makes for some harsh shadows form that angle. Still beautiful none the less. 🙂

My favourite part of the ceremony was the level of coordination Georgia and Nick’s guests showed with the birdal sendoff, blowing ample bubbles into the aisle to create quite an impressive send off! It’s often the case that not many bubbles show up in photos, but in this case it worked very well!

Groom waiting 2
Groom waiting patiently 2
Groom’s first look of bride 2
Botanic Gardens Wedding ceremony 2
bride during wedding ceremony
Wedding ceremony botanic gardens
Wedding ceremony botanic gardens adelaide
Wedding ceremony botanic gardens adelaide 2
Groom looking at his bride during the ceremony
reciting vows
Exchanging wedding bands 2
Wedding cermeony at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 3
First kiss 2
Bridal exit under bubbles

Botanic Gardens Adelaide Glamour Photos

Directly after the group pho0tos and a bit of a rest to thankeveryone for coming, we hopped right into the glamour photos wandering about the botanic gardens. It was the plan to do this and then head out to North Terrace, or even the Adelaide Zoo to take photos with the animals as that’s where their reception was taking place, but on the day we opted to stay within the botanic gardens which made things easier.

As the sun was beating down rather harshly, I tried to stay in shaded areas for the most part, utilising the lens flares the sun was throwing up through the foliage and occasionally using the brightness as a backdrop to some of their photos.

All the plants at this time of year in the Botanic Gardens Adelaide are super green and lush which makes taking shots throguh the foliage that much easier and satisfying to see!

In between the Botanic Gardens and the Adelaide Zoo we also made use of some of the Morten Bay fig trees around the adjacent Botanic Park for some photos!

Bride and groom next to tree 2
Bride and groom under a hollow tree
Bridal party walking away form ceremony
Standing in amongst the foliage
Bride and groom amongst the bamboo 2
Sun shining on the bride and groom
Wedding party in the bamboo
Bride and groom closeup in bamboo
Wedding photo at the Adelaide botanic gardens
bride and groom in the bamboo at the Adelaide botanic gardens
Botanic Gardens Adelaide wedding photo
Bridal party together in the tree
Botanic Gardens wedding photo in the elms
Bride and groom holding one another in the undergrowth
Bride and groom together under the trees
Bride and groom looing at the camera
Sun shinging through the leaves on the bridal couple
Botanic Park wedding photo
Bridal party in the Adelaide Botanic Park

Adelaide Zoo Wedding Reception

Georgia and Nick’s wedding reception at the Adelaide Zoo took place within the Sir Thomas Elder Rotunda which is a huge, circular structure that was draped with weather proof plastic sheets to keep guests warm. When sitting inside this marvellous structure, the decorations that were set up really made this space feel like a pretty wedding space with ribbons hanging from it’s center and soft lighting illuminating the whole scene. It’s quite and impressive sight!

Georgia and Nick’s guests were quite happy to make the most of the recent change to COVID-19 regulations in South Australia and very much enjoyed ‘virtical consumption’ of alcohol and of course made the most of the newly allowed dancefloor!

3 tier Wedding cake
Bride and groom entrance
Cutting the wedding cake 2
First dance at Adelaide Zoo wedding reception
First dance at Adelaide Zoo wedding reception 2
Guests talking to bride at head table
Guests at a table
Adelaide Zoo wedding reception
Main course
Maid of Honour with stick
Maid of honour toast
Groom shaking hands

I’d like to thank Georgia and Nick for having me as their wedding photographer at their Botanic Gardens Adelaide wedding, and I hope they enjoy their photos! 😀

How to Make the Most of a Rainy Wedding Day

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  • Under the jetty

 

How to Make the Most of a Rainy Wedding Day

 

If rolling clouds and light showers are to stay on your Big Day, there is still room to get creative. The best wedding photographers will know how to play with shadows and make the most of a rainy wedding day amd get the best out of raindrops and puddles. Chances are, your wedding album will make a statement rather than be tucked away in the attic. A little bit of rain shouldn’t dampen the festive air around the soon-to-be-newlyweds, in fact it’s tradition that rain on a wedding day is actually good luck!

Tips to Make the Most of a Rainy Wedding Day

Tip 1 – Think Ahead

When selecting a venue, always account for inclement weather by falling back on covered spaces and indoor ballrooms. If you’re tying the knot in an area home to unpredictable weather, don’t take your chances—study reports ahead of time.

Thorngrove Manor

Tip 2 – Say Yes to the Wet

Is the prospect of a little mud on your dress a no-go or something playful to think about? Most wedding photos occur before dinner time—no one is going to pay attention to spots on your gown while you’re seated. While a muddy dress doesn’t typically pique anyone’s interest, it can make for an interesting character on the dance floor.

Ekhidna wines wedding vineyards

Tip 3 – Arm Yourself with the Right Rain Gear

No, we aren’t talking about a waterproof bridal gown or tuxedo. In case of rain, you want to have an umbrella handy. Avoid brightly-coloured or black products, instead opting for a simple white or transparent to add a touch of chic to your photos. Carry a set of matching umbrellas for you and your partner—your wedding portraits will thank you later.

A neat shot that a wedding photographer can shoot on a wet wedding day is having some background smoke, or umbrellas light up with an off-camera flash. Looks awesome!

A spare set of wedding shoes can become costly. While hitching up your dress or pants from location to location will certainly do, a pair of wellies or sneakers won’t hurt—especially if they’re invisible under your gown.

Smokey greenhouse

Tip 4 – Allow Some Time to Tidy Up

Always allow ample time to dust off or wash up your wedding attire before photos. Keep a stain stick handy in case you get spots on your gown.

As I mentioned earlier, don’t worry too much about a bit of mud on the hem of your dress, particularly if you’ve spent the last few hours traipsing through vineyards! People simply wont notice during your reception.

Dog running in the Ekhidna WInes vineyards

Tip 5 – Know When to Call it a Day

Shooting in the rain is all good fun if you aren’t fussy about it—but it’s best to know your limits. Torrential downpours and gale-force winds aren’t very forgiving, so you won’t want to be out for more than a couple of shots. If you’re worried about your outfit or are shivering in the cold, it’ll come through in your photos.

Bride and groom through the window

Tip 6 – Take Photos on a Different Day

There’s no reason you have to take your wedding photos on your actual wedding day – take for example what Sarah and Ricardo did for their wedding day. Allow the flexibility to reschedule your shoot if the weather doesn’t support it. Consult with your wedding photographer regarding pre or post-wedding shoots.

The only issue with doing this is that you’ll have to get ready twice, which may mean booking makeup artsists and hair dressers twice – but it’s very doable if you wish.

Sharing a kiss under seagulls

A little bit of rain isn’t the end of how you envision your wedding photographs. By preparing ahead of time, coming up with a contingency plan, or simply embracing the weather, the joy in your photos will shine through. Hopefully these tips on how to make the most of a rainy wedding day helps you realise this.

Book your wedding photography with Sven Studios, where we fear no weather and are committed to showcasing you and your partner at your best. We’ve been known to wade out into the ocean or hang off cliffs to get the best shot! Love travel too, so we are certainly going to make the most fo the location! Our wedding packages are expansive, perfect for couples who love a little adventure.