Getting wedding inspiration for your Melbourne Wedding

You are planning your wedding in Melbourne. You just got recently engaged and wedding planning can be overwhelming. Weddings in Melbourne can be very different. You might have looked at some wedding blogs already. We have the vibrant Melbourne city with the urban more grungy look for hip weddings. Modern Docklands venues with harbour view – which is also great for wedding photography. There are also lots of very stylish venues for a classic city wedding – overlooking the rooftops of the most livable city in the world – Melbourne!

Then there are plenty of beautiful beaches for the seascape wedding. From St Kilda down to the Mornington Peninsula. You have Elwood beach, St Kilda Beach, Mentone Beach, Mordialloc Beach, Sandringham Beach,  Chelsea Beach and it goes all the way down to Portsea and Sorrento beach. All perfect for photography and lots of wonderful venues at these beaches so that you don’t need to travel far. You also have beautiful vineyards out in the Yarra Valley. From the small intimate wedding to the large party at one of the bigger venues such as Stones, Chandon or Yering Station. And last but not least you can have a beautiful country wedding not far from Melbourne.

With all these options for your wedding, it can be super hard to decide. It’s already difficult to decide on your wedding photographer. Choosing the style of your wedding is a very personal decision. A garden wedding, a hip cafe, a funky warehouse in Melbourne, your private home, a vineyard or a fancy restaurant. So many options. Marrying your loved one can overwhelming in the planning phase. What invites do you design? Have you selected the table decorations – from the centrepieces to the printed menu or seating chart? Do you have your wedding dress and does it suit the location? What about the flower arrangements? Did you think about the bridesmaids dresses?

Don’t worry! There is help for your wedding planning … lots of help.

The best Wedding blogs – Ultimate list

The internet is full of inspiration. As photographers, we create a lot of images of the weddings which we showcase on our website. But at the end of the day, we are taking the images – we are not creating styling advice and compiling lots of images for your wedding inspiration. There we have lots of wedding blogs which publish so many wedding ideas and inspiration every day that you can browse them forever. From stylish Melbourne Weddings to outback weddings and country weddings in Victoria, international destinations and elopements. You find every possible styling idea. We compiled a list of our favourite wedding blogs in no specific order. Be aware when you browse the blogs – there are a lot of styled wedding photoshoots out there. Some are done for advertising purposes and some blogs get paid to post certain features. Most directories are paid advertising. You will always find weddings with perfect light situations and often “model” brides in styled shoots – make sure you keep it real.

1. Nouba – An Australian Wedding Blog

Nouba is a beautiful Australian Wedding Blog. It has lots of styled shoots on the website and lots is a bit too much advertising for my liking – especially in the wedding inspiration section.  But the images and ideas presented are beautiful. You find lots of same-sex weddings and funky and hip weddings in Australia. Lots of great ideas are found in the weddings section which features lots of real weddings – this is a great resource for every bride and groom.

Nouba – Wedding Blog

2. HelloMay – Stylish Australian Wedding Blog

Another popular Australian Blog is HelloMay. This blog has so much Australian content it’s mindboggling. The inspiration section is beautiful but you find mainly styled shoots (nothing wrong with them … just be aware that they are not real weddings). The weddings section is extensive and covers a lot of different venues and locations in Australia. And when you are can’t get enough you can also buy their print magazine.

HelloMay – Wedding Blog

3. Ivory Tribe – Australian Wedding Blog

Let’s stick to Australia for the third wedding blog – Ivory Tribe. Lots of inspiration and real weddings to be found here.

Ivory Tribe – Wedding Blog

4. Polkadotbride

It’s not a .com.au domain but still a wedding blog created in Australia. You find lots of weddings and the big advantage is that you can select by style, colour, season and setting. So when you already have an idea about your wedding you can search for the match inspiration for your wedding. Search a black tie, bohemian, casual, classic, coastal, industrial, minimalistic, romantic, rustic, retro, modern wedding … the list goes on … you get the idea. The link below goes directly to the search form to get you started.

Pokadotbride – Wedding Blog

5. Together – New Zealand Wedding Blog

Let’s go across the ocean to New Zealand and we find “Together”. It’s a New Zealand Magazine which also has lots of wedding content on their website. And you never know you might just want to celebrate in New Zealand. Of course, you also find lots of Australian wedding content.

Together – Wedding Magazine

6. The Lane – Luxury Wedding Blog

You are after exclusive weddings. The absolute high end weddings. Have a look at the Lane. From French castles to Italian Mansions, Islands in the Caribbean sea … you find it there. Luxury pure. Every location you find on the blog is very unique. Impeccable styling and stunning details wherever you look. Compared to other blogs not that much content but what you see takes your breath away.

The Lane – Luxury Wedding Blog

7. The Bride’s Tree – A Sunshine Coast Wedding Blog

Getting married in Queensland? How about a sunshine coast wedding blog? Here you go. The Bride’s Tree features lots of Queensland weddings You also can download a free digital wedding magazine.

The Bride’s Tree – Wedding Blog

8. Farewell Fiance!

You find lots of real weddings in their love stories section! Lots of wedding style and inspiration. The blog is also looking a bit beyond the typical wedding with info on wellness and your honeymoon (some brides book this first!).

Farewell Fiance!

9. Wedshed.com.au

Are you looking for a unique wedding venue in Australia? This is not really a wedding blog. But it in is a great collection of unique wedding venues in Australia. An extensive list of wedding venues. I am usually not a big fan of directories … but this is good! From the unique industrial warehouse to the teeppee in country Victoria – you will find it. When you still don’t have your wedding venue – have a look on Wedshed for ideas.

Wedshed – Wedding Venue Directories

There are lots more wedding blogs overseas and we will add soon a few more form other countries. It’s very interesting to see some inspiration from other cultures and regions.

Wedding Inspiration

As you see there is lots of wedding inspiration available. Don’t forget to browse our portfolio and gallery to get even more inspiration – we also have plenty of images available on our website. Take some style elements you like, create some DIY and combine all the elements to your wedding.

But with all this inspiration don’t forget to plan your wedding. It’s easy to get lost in all the beautiful images and overthink things.

Basic steps of wedding planning

Step 1: Get a theme for your wedding

With all the wedding inspiration available it’s easy to get lost. It is important to find your wedding theme and style for the wedding and stick to it. It’s a personal thing. You decide on your theme. You might mix your theme up and create It’s easy to get blown away by all the different things possible. Stick to your wedding theme and then plan from there. This will get you the foundation of your wedding planning. When the planning is all too much for you just hire a wedding planner and they do it all for you. But in most cases, you will want some control over the process.

Step 2: Plan one item at a time

Create a little list of the most important things to plan. Then tackle one at a time. You will slowly tick off the list and your wedding will form shape. Start with the big bullet points such as choosing your wedding day, wedding venue, wedding photographer, celebrant and ceremony. You can get married when you just have your celebrant and your witnesses. Take a few more extra steps and you have already a fully planned fun wedding.

Step 3: Style your wedding

After you have chosen the big items you can think about making your wedding theme reality. Get the styling elements for your wedding. Also one thing at a time. Organize the wedding flowers, create the wedding invites, listen to different wedding bands and wedding music to decide on your entertainment. How to get from one spot to the other – think about your wedding transport. Where do you get ready? Still lots of things to figure out and make it as personal as you can. It’s your big day!

Step 4: Fine-tune your wedding planning

You are actually finished with the wedding planning. But of course, there are so many little details you can plan. You are a perfectionist and every detail is important. Just one big tip here: Don’t do last minute things. Just relax the days before the wedding and have a good night sleep before you get married

Enjoy your wedding planning! And let us know when you have the perfect wedding to photograph … we would love to capture it.

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How to find the right wedding photographer?

Find a photographer who listens to your needs. The day is stressful enough so find someone who you can trust to deliver you the images that you will love. Some photographers have strong personalities and will take control of the day whereas some are quiet, like a fly on the wall. There’s a photographer to suit everyone’s needs and personalities so do your homework and find the right one for you! A good photographer can be left alone to do what is required. They will even have some great input into the way that your day should run to achieve the best photos. A good photographer may even seem pushy and suggest you go to certain locations at certain times for your photoshoot (but never too pushy – there is a fine line!). This might mean that you leave your guests to enjoy the party for a little while. At the end of the day, you want some great photos. This will be what’s left of a day which goes by too quickly.

Budget, Prices, Packages

Good photographers are usually more expensive. You get what you pay for. They are confident in their skills and want to be paid appropriately for it. If a photographer that you love the style of is a little out of budget, think of ways which will help you enlist their services. This might mean cutting down on a few guests to do so. Cutting costs on some unnecessary wedding features may help you to get your desired wedding photographer. In the end, expensive floral displays die away. Those guests which you don’t have much to do with won’t be missed. Maybe re-think the idea of hiring that fancy car for the day. In the end, getting beautiful wedding photos to remember your wedding by is something you will not regret. Or just maybe cut down the hours.

Do a pre-wedding photoshoot – check them out!

Some wedding photographers offer smaller photography packages if their full day coverage is too pricey. Enquire to see if they will do your photoshoot only and not worry about the rest of the day. You might even opt for a photoshoot with them on a different day to your wedding day! This is a great idea for those who are after some beautiful bridal portraits in a more relaxed scenario. The photoshoot of the bride and groom is the most important part of wedding photography. It’s these photos that are the most cherished images of the couple if photographed well. It’s worth getting in a great wedding photographer just for these shots if you can’t afford them for the full day. A great wedding photographer will deter you from a photoshoot in harsh sunlight and insist that you have photos taken later in the day. They will insist that you head out at sunset (providing that there is one) to capture the couple in the best light.

Meet your wedding photographer!

Finding the right wedding photographer for you takes some research. Once you find the style of photography that you’re after, go and meet them before you decide to book them. This meeting is a great way to get to know the photographer and discuss what you are wanting. The photographer which is right for you will listen to your photography ideas and let you know if they can deliver the style that you seek. The right photographer will suit your personalities and put you at ease and you will leave the meeting wanting to book them.

Have a look at our wedding photo gallery or some weddings in our portfolio.

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Great camera does not equal professional photographer

A good camera does not make a good photographer! Yes, you need decent equipment to photograph a wedding but a professional wedding photographer could also create stunning images with less equipment. This is something we like to remind people of all the time. Just because you have the latest camera with the best lense does not guarantee that you will take great photos. Don’t get the impression that your uncle or cousin will capture your special day with their fancy new camera as well as a professional will! Most guests want to relax and have fun at your wedding. A professional wedding photographer has their mind on the job all day long! As professional wedding photographers, we’ve allowed people (normally a relative) to follow us around with their cameras on the request of the bride and groom. They even had the same camera as we do! To this day, there haven’t been any better photos taken of our couples on their wedding day than the ones we deliver.

Great wedding photographer – What does it take?

To become a great wedding photographer takes a lot of practice and experience. It requires a high level of organisation to be ready for all the key moments. A good wedding photographer will advise their brides and grooms on how to achieve the best photos of their day. They will give tips on how to make the day run smoothly concerning photography and when it is the best time for photos (make use of this when you book your wedding photographer). It takes a good eye to know what the bride and groom would want to look back on. Great photography skills are needed to photograph the bride and groom in the most pleasing way. There is no room for mistakes as these moments can not be repeated after the day is over. So much money, time and effort is poured into a wedding so each couple deserves some beautiful images to remind them of it all.

Professional wedding photographer for all budgets

There are different photographers to suit everyone’s budget. It all depends on what style of photography the couple is after. Unfortunately, the best ones do cost a little more for a good reason. The skill level of a professional photographer is generally represented in their price. Occasionally you’ll get lucky and find a good one who is just starting to enter the wedding photography market so their price will still be affordable. There is an easy trick when you want a more affordable photographer. If you like someone’s photography style but they are out of your price range, consider hiring them for fewer hours. Make your wedding interesting and unique so that they want to photograph your wedding. They may also be happy to do a photoshoot with just the bride and groom for an hour or two or decide on a pre wedding shoot. If beautiful photos of the two of you are important, have it captured by the best that you can afford!

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If you’re getting married on a vineyard or a farm, a rustic theme would be a perfect choice. You are after a more glamorous or elegant wedding, a city venue would be more ideally suited to you. Or do you prefer the beach?  A beachside wedding and function venue would suit you perfectly. Your personalities will steer you into choosing the theme which will compliment you. Take in the surroundings of your wedding venue and let it help guide you towards a theme.

Wedding Themes for your wedding in Melbourne, Australia

Choosing a venue and theme by going with your favourite colours is a great idea. Black, white, silver and gold suits a traditional and elegant theme which would suit a city venue. Pastels and brighter colours would be more suited for a garden, vineyard or beach wedding. Choosing a theme for your wedding is all about what kind of mood you want to bring to your special day. Will it be a party full of dancing, lots of food and loud music or will it be a more refined celebration with a jazz band playing? Take your time and do some self-reflection to come up with the theme which will make your wedding day perfect.

Some Wedding Themes – Suggestions for your wedding:

Romantic Wedding

Decorate with lots of flowers in pastel colours, candles and soft lighting. Fairy lights or hanging lights set a romantic tune. Maybe even hang chandeliers. Use swirling fonts for the seating chart and place cards. Set up a flower wall for your photo booth backdrop.

Alternative Wedding

Do you gravitate towards moody colours and unconventional decor? Does ‘normal’ bore you? The alternative theme may be for you. Go as wild as you like to create a beautiful scene which represents the cool couple that you are.

Bohemian Wedding

If you’re a fan of Boho style, you’re probably going to be a boho bride. A bohemian wedding theme suits you to a tea. Keeping things cool, relaxed but yet still beautiful.

Modern Wedding

The modern couple will opt for clean lines, minimalistic decor and geometric shapes. Both bride and groom might choose non-traditional colours for their wedding dress and suit. The venue will be sleek and architectural and their colour choice will be bold.

Vintage Wedding

Your choice of wedding outfits and beauty look is an easy way to give your wedding the vintage vibe you’re after. Spread antique decor around. An antique typewriter and an old-fashioned bike in a venue with antique decor will set the vintage mood. Hire a vintage car for transporting you around and for your wedding photo shoot.

Rustic Wedding

Pick a barn or a farmhouse for your rustic wedding. If you love DIY projects, a rustic wedding is a right choice for you. Make it feel homey. The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating a rustic feel for your wedding. Decorate with mason jars, mismatched glasses, vases and plates.

Formal/Traditional Wedding

You’ve chosen a black-tie event for your special day. The guest will be dressed formally. The ladies will be wearing evening or cocktail dresses and the men will be required to wear ties. A full sit-down dinner will be served to your guest. There are posh seating and complete table settings. Grand floral arrangements will adorn your venue.

Garden Party Wedding

A fabulous choice for the relaxed bride and groom who are after an intimate, casual wedding. Best to plan a garden wedding for the warmer seasons. Get a caterer in to serve your guests a bbq feast and light fires in a fire pit as the night gets cooler. String fairy lights through trees or above a make-shift dance floor.

Cultural Wedding

Different cultures have different traditions. In Melbourne often a couple comes from two different backgrounds and it is beautiful to see the combination of different traditions and cultures. Each wedding is unique and different. Make it your own wedding!

There are so many more wedding themes for you to consider. If you can’t agree on one, choose what you like from different themes and put them together to create your own dream wedding theme. There are no hard rules so do it the way which will make your wedding the best day!

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After all the rain we got in the weeks before we were lucky to get some beautiful sunshine. It was a perfect day for an outdoor ceremony on the lawn. The nighty still a bit too cold for an outdoor nighttime function. It’s a pity as Flowerdale Estate would have the perfect spot for a dancefloor under the stars. All these fairy lights.

Flowerdale Estate is not too far from Melbourne between the Yarra Valley and the Macedon Ranges in Central Victoria. It was just an hour drive from Melbourne. The historic venue (founded in 1893) is a wedding photographer dream.  There are so many different spots to photograph. We had the pleasure of photographing Carla & Joe’s beautiful wedding here. Special!

Photographing a country wedding near Melbourne

Carla and Joe planned their beautiful wedding for a long time and they were very lucky – they got married just before the Victorian lockdown which limited weddings to 5 people. It was the last wedding we photographed before the country came to standstill. Flowerdale Estate was able to easily accommodate the wedding. It was just under 100 guests.

Flowerdale Estate – A wedding photographers dream

Carla and Joe got both ready at Flowerdale Estate. The couple got ready in beautiful rooms in a wonderful setting.  The gardens surrounding the accommodation give you lots of options for photos. Plenty of rooms and space offer plenty of privacy before the ceremony and it’s easy to guarantee that the bride and the groom don’t meet before the wedding ceremony.

A glass of whisky before the wedding for the groom. Enjoying the drink in the pool room playing with the best man. The beautiful bride on the other side had some champagne while getting ready with their family and maid of honour. For instance, the large bridal room featured a piano and 4 poster bed – just magnificent to photograph.

A unique wedding venue – Flowerdale Estate

This wedding venue is truly unique. Firstly set in wonderful gardens and bush-land you can venture out to explore the grounds. Our wedding couple on the day had a vintage Ford Mustang to drive around and we made a little trip up the road to get a breathtaking view over the hilly landscape. Sadly you can’t hear the noise of that car in the photos.

Secondly, Flowerdale Estate offers lots of locations for the photoshoot. There are the old rustic looking stables (with an old Furphy cart) and picturesque gardens throughout the grounds. During our wedding photoshoot, we ventured down the hill to the open fields and haybales – it’s just a minute walk away but you can easily forget the wedding party at the Pavillion. It’s a special feature of this venue that your wedding guests are entertained while you can have your wedding photoshoot on the grounds and be totally separate and can relax a bit.

Outdoor wedding ceremony at Flowerdale Estate

Flowerdale Estate offers several spots for your wedding ceremony – lakeside or in the gardens. The large oak tree with old stone steps can be used for the family photos and the group shot – all close to the ceremony so no one needs to walk that long. The arbour in the gardens was decorated with stunning flower arrangements and framed the couple during the ceremony. What a romantic garden wedding setting. The spaces at Flowerdale Estate are very versatile and suits smaller and larger weddings without looking too cramped or being too empty – perfect for a rustic garden wedding. The couple went through a lot of effort and planned lots of little details – an amazing setup.

Fun at the wedding party

The wedding party started in the glass pavilion. What a location – in summer it’s pretty much an outdoor Pavillion but we had it nice and cosy inside. A unique architectural design which makes every wedding party special.  The couple made an entrance cutting a ribbon and straight away ventured to the amazing cake. After that, we had some divine food. A perfect wedding party. Some surprise wedding music, Cuban cigars and romantic moments under the fairy lights made it the perfect wedding day!

A wonderful victorian country wedding at Flowerdale Estate. I had lots of pleasure photographing this wedding.

More info about the venue: flowerdaleestate.com.au
Planning your own wedding at Flowerdale Estate – let us know – we would love to capture your wedding.

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Wedding Photography combines a lot of major types of photography. You actually need to be a perfect allrounder – seeing the moment and predicting the future. It’s a challenge for the photographer to make wedding photography as relaxed as possible.

The couple should enjoy the big day and not be stressed. Relaxed couple equals better photos. To make your day run smooth we have lots of tips on our website – especially check out the article the “Top 50 Wedding Photographer Tips for Melbourne Weddings” – we took all of our experience to write up the most important tips for your wedding.

How do you find a top Melbourne Wedding photographer?

There are hundreds of top Melbourne Wedding Photographers. Lots of big photography studios and plenty of top boutique wedding photographers (like us) who only take a certain number of wedding per year. The selection of your photographer is a near-impossible task. But in the end, it is fairly simple when you look at a few important points.

Wedding Photography skills

Wedding photography is one of the most difficult types of photography. It’s a fast-paced environment and you only have one shot at it. The photographer needs to be the perfect allrounder. Macro and product photography, landscape photography, Portraits and family photography, photojournalism, understanding difficult light situations, night time photography, … you name it. It’s pretty much all types of photography rolled in one. A lot of photographers startup with wedding photography – which is clearly the wrong thing (as it is so challenging). This leaves some clients disappointed.

Make sure your photographer is up to the task – don’t only look at the best of images. Check a few full wedding timelines (have a look in our portfolio). Make sure he has the experience. And mostly make sure that your photographer shoots the wedding himself and does not send you another photographer.

A view for wedding details

Does your photographer have the view for the images? A wedding consists out of lots of little details which are easily missed. A top Melbourne Wedding Photographer will see the smallest detail you want to have covered in your wedding story. Make sure you look at some wedding samples of your selected photographer to be able to judge if the attention to detail is what you expect (Of course, you can help your photographer by pointing out some things before the wedding.).

Predicting the future – Waiting for the right photo

To be a top wedding photographer in Melbourne you have to be able to predict the future. Serious! Not kidding! Prediction of the future is one of the most important tasks of a top wedding photographer. You say this impossible? Let me explain this.

After photographing so many weddings you somehow can predict what will happen next, anticipate reactions during the ceremony, speeches or first dance. This knowledge helps to get the right shot – to position yourself that you can capture the next big moment. You are in the right spot before the moment happens and can snap away. It’s not really predicting the future but more anticipating what will happen next and get the right shot.

The more experienced photographers in Melbourne are always asking for a timeline and an overview of some special events during your wedding. This helps them predict the future. (sorry … nothing mystical about it!).

Patience and Calmness – Wait for the right moment

Sometimes even a top wedding photographer in Melbourne doesn’t get it right the first time. Some images require patience that all the elements in the image come together. Imagine a wedding couple on a beautiful beach. The waves are breaking in the background. You have to wait for the perfect wave combined with the perfect pose of the couple. This might not happen straight away. Patience. Your wedding photographer knows when it’s time to wait for the right moment.

Every detail in the image needs to work together- foreground, middle and background. Stay calm and patient – as a top wedding photographer, you will get the shot!

Photography with Creativity – Challenge yourself with something new

Photographing wedding day in day out! You know it all – even as a top wedding photographer. No! You always learn something new. There is always the image you wanted to create and never had the chance to. There is this special creative lens you always wanted to try out on a real wedding – manual focus and hard to use – too difficult for a wedding! Challenge yourself to do something new at a wedding. It might not work out but there is a high chance that the photographer creates something special.

It’s easy to give the photographer a shot list. And it’s helpful for inexperienced photographers to get such a list – but be aware that you will limit the creativity of Melbourne top wedding photographers when you work of a shot list.

Local knowledge for Wedding Photography

Melbourne is a big city. There are so many wedding venues that even a top wedding photographer can’t know them all. You have city venues, beach venues and even farms and rural setting are not that far from Melbourne. Beautiful parks for weddings, on top of skyscrapers, on a boat on the Yarra River, in the modern venues of the Docklands or the vintage feel of period style venues. Melbourne has it all. Something for every wedding.

We often get asked if we shot at a certain wedding venue. And most top wedding photographers have shot at a big variety of wedding venues. Is it important that your photographer knows the venue? Top wedding photographers will research any location and maybe even visit the location before the wedding. When the photographer has been there before this is out of the question – he knows the venue and how to get around there. It’s always helpful to know a few things about a location.

On the other hand, we personally love the challenge of a new venue and location. You see something new. You get excited. Your photographer might see the location with different eyes and create something new and different. A wedding is always unique. Local knowledge is helpful but absolutely not necessary to create fantastic wedding images.

The wedding photographer plans the wedding with you

Use your wedding photographer to plan your big day. An experienced wedding photographer has lots of knowledge about planning a wedding day. What works – what doesn’t work. This might not be available in the big studios but smaller boutique top wedding photographers will always offer you to help with the planning. When you planned the day with your wedding photographer beforehand there will be more time to relax. The day will feel light and easy.

Another option is to hire a professional wedding planner. We sometimes work with wedding planners and see the benefit.  It will help yourself saving time. But even when your budget doesn’t cover a wedding planner it’s in the photographers best interest to plan the day with you. A more relaxed timeline will help you to get wonderful wedding photos.

Connection with the Wedding Couple

A top Melbourne Wedding Photographer will always offer you to meet up before the wedding. Before you meet with the photographer look at the style of the images on the website. Make sure it’s the style you prefer. It’s usually not possible to change the style of your photographer.

The wedding photographer is there all day with you on your wedding day – so make sure you have a connection with the photographer. Ideally when possible try to schedule a meeting before you book the photographer. The photographer should understand what you are after in your shots – keeping it natural, high end or photojournalistic. The photographer learns about your story, your values and your wedding vision.

The meeting is not there to get lured in with fancy wedding albums and cool images – look for a connection with your wedding photographer. Can you imagine spending the day with your photographer? There are so many different personalities in the wedding photography world. Look out for the top wedding photographer you prefer. You select – let your feeling guide you a bit.

How many wedding photography gigs does your photographer take on?

We personally like to limit the number of weddings in the wedding season to be able to focus on each couple and treat each wedding as a very special occasion. It helps to not burn out. Imagine you have every day a wedding – not possible.

Especially back to back weddings can be very exhausting (try to shoot a wedding 3 days in a row – an early start and late finish and backing up photos in the middle of the night. You might be able to do this one weekend but not a few in a row. It’s sometimes hard to tell a potential client you have no availability as you reached your maximum number you are personally able to shoot. When you are a wedding photographer and read this – we highly suggest to limit your numbers and concentrate on your clients.

Trust your feeling when selecting your photographer. Ask questions and meet your photographer! Your wedding day will run smoothly with the right photographer. Feel free to contact us to set up a meeting or shoot us any question you have.

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Flexible Wedding Photography – also for existing bookings

The Covid19 rules here in Melbourne Victoria change every week. It’s hard to plan at the moment. The restrictions for weddings are limiting your number of wedding guests. While you still can hold a wedding in Melbourne most couples decided to postpone their wedding. A wedding with only 5 people is pretty intimate and can be very romantic. You have the option to celebrate at a location you usually would not choose as you have only a few people to look after. Even the new restrictions with 10 people at a wedding will make weddings look a bit different in Melbourne.

On the other side your family and friends can’t be part of your big day and celebrate.  All the hugs are difficult with social distancing in place. For that reason, there is the option to change your wedding date – not an easy decision with all the planning you put in so far. Your wedding had to be changed or postponed? Don’t worry!

We offer you flexibility – also for all existing bookings. All of our weddings clients are allowed to change their wedding date free of charge. Should we not be available on your new chosen date you will receive a full refund. Easy! Peace of mind! We also allow splitting your coverage in case you opt to have a small ceremony and photoshoot now and a big wedding party at a later date. No extra cost. Whatever you plan to do … just talk to us and we find the right solution for you.

Small wedding party photography

Some couples just don’t want to wait until all the restrictions disappear. With the Covid19 restrictions in Melbourne, Victoria in place for a longer time we offer a special coverage for smaller weddings until 30/07/2020 – even last minute bookings – just contact us and we can discuss your wedding photography.

Shooting a bit further away (lucky someone invented the ZOOM lens) – no handshakes and hugs (that’s a tough one!). Melbourne weddings would look a bit different. How to practice social distancing on a packed dancefloor. It’s not possible. The solution might be a smaller wedding with less people.

With many locations closed down at the moment you could choose an outdoor ceremony (Winter does not make this easier :-). Maybe in a remote location. Get married on the cliffs of Cape Schanck, in the forest of Warburton, in the wine fields of Yarra Valley Vineyard or on a boat on the Yarra River. Lots of possibilities when you think outside the box. Book us as your Melbourne Wedding Photographer in 2021 (or earlier).

Melbourne Wedding Photography in 2021

We are nearly half way through 2020 and the wedding season is starting to become very busy. With all the wedding photography booked for the spring and on top the postponed weddings from autumn and winter it looks like it is getting very busy in the 2020/2021 Melbourne wedding season. There are lots photography dates available – especially in 2021.

Let’s hope the world is back to normal by then and we can have a fun and relaxed wedding day with all your friends and family – lots of hugs and dancing.

Don’t wait too long to book your 2021 wedding photography. Just contact us and we can discuss your wedding photography in Melbourne.

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While most wedding venues will have all your table settings sorted, there’s room to make your wedding photos more awesome. Add some special touches to seperate your wedding from the rest. Styling can cost as much or as little as you want. Add one thing or go all out.

For those on a budget or would love to do things themselves, a lot of time, planning and thought is required. Start early with the planning and get lots of people to help out. Find one style which really suits you as a couple and stick to the theme throughout your whole day.

Great wedding photography backdrop ideas

A homemade arbour for your ceremony

It’s quite lovely to have an arbour framing you during your ceremony. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. An arbour is also great for photos after the ceremony. One father-of-the-bride made his daughter a gorgeous rustic arbour for her wedding in the Dandenongs. An arbour may have flowers wrapped around it or some floaty fabric.

A pretty photo backdrop

This is a great idea instead of a photo booth. You just need to have a creative idea as to how you want one. Look through Pinterest for plenty of designs and just copy one which you love. Make sure it’s big enough for a small group of people, namely your bridal team! Your wedding guests will also love to have photos in front of it. Make the photo backdrop sparkly, floral, or as colourful as you want. Different textures make for an interesting backdrop.

Fancy Cars

A large limousine is always fun if you have a bridal team to transport. Some fun photos can be produced inside a limousine. A hummer is a great choice or stick with the traditional one. For others, maybe some nice vintage cars which you can be chauffeured around in. It all depends on the overall styling of your wedding what cars would suit.

Food Trucks

We’ve attended weddings where food trucks have been brought in for the catering. This gives a wedding a fun festival vibe. If you just want a touch of this, an ice cream van is just fabulous. Your guests would love it for the yummy ice cream and you’ll get some fun photos of yourselves with ice cream!

Furniture in the wild

This is such a cool idea for a photo prop. Put a couch or other chilling out furniture and put it in the middle of an open space – providing the weather is nice! You could also go low-key and set up a lovely picnic area with cushions and beautiful throws which can be just as cool. Don’t forget the champagne!

Large Letters with Lights

These are commonly in the words “LOVE” or “MR&MRS” or “JUSTMARRIED”. Whatever you want. These are effective inside or outside.

Lighting

Chinese lanterns or fairy lights all over your function area gives it a magical vibe, especially if it’s outdoors! Candles in candleholders or jars create a lovely ambience as well – just make sure they’re stored safely and can’t burn anyone or anything! Again, it’s all dependent on the weather.

Melbourne has so many different options – from beach weddings to country weddings to a stylish city wedding. There is something for everyone.

Wedding Photography Props

There are also lots of options to make your wedding photography shoot more relaxed. Not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera and having their picture taken. Wedding Photography Props will help you to relax a bit – they give you something to do and you will forget the photoshoot.

A few wedding photography prop ideas:

• Take a old vintage film camera – snap some shots of your partner (or pretend to snap some shots) – you will have lots of fun. After the wedding you can develop the film and have some unique memories. Alternative take a Polaroid Instant camera and you can see the results straight away.
• Balloons – a single white big balloon or a bunch of colourful balloons – depends on the style of your wedding. Hold on and walk along the beach.
• Smoke bombs – want some crazy fun! Light up some colorful smoke bombs and be surrounded by smoke. You will have not much time to think about the wedding photoshoot.
• Take some champagne glasses and a nice bottle – relax during your photoshoot and sip a glass of champagne to celebrate
• Bring an instrument and play a song – it will melt hearts and instruments like a guitar make also good props.

Think outside the box – some crazy ideas might be lots of fun. A wedding is something very personal and there is no right or wrong – style your wedding to your personal needs. We are happy to capture your ideas.

The post Styling Your Wedding in Melbourne appeared first on freshPhotography.

We’ve photographed so many weddings and have learnt what works for a great set of wedding photos. If you do want a picture perfect wedding, do consider following our guide. With some careful planning, it can be achieved. The only thing we can’t control is the weather but, rain or shine, we will give you magazine worthy photos of your special day regardless. Melbourne Wedding Planning – let’s get started.

The Melbourne Wedding Venue

This is normally the first on the wedding planning list. Venues can be booked up to a year in advance so book that venue of your dreams first. Choose a venue which will suit your style and cater for your needs. Picking a venue based on the price or it’s availability can sometimes lead to the wrong choice. Try not to cram a lot of people into a small space, making sure there’s enough room to move and dance. The catering can also make or break a wedding.

Consider parking for your guest, or some available transport (such as a bus) which will pick guests up and drop them off at the end of the night. This is great for places in the country or inner city venues where there is limited parking. 

Choose a venue which has a great interior finish. Will the furnishings or the rooms and the surrounding areas look lovely in your photos and give a good reflection of the type of couple you are? Is there enough natural or artificial light in your chosen venue? Light is the most important factor for good wedding photography. We are very capable of shooting in the most difficult of lighting situations should you have your heart set on a venue with inadequate lighting.

Picture Perfect Locations for Melbourne City Couples

• The Windsor Hotel
• Crown Towers
• The Langham Hotel
• The Docklands
• Alto (Melbourne GPO)
• Carlton Exhibition Building
• Melbourne Town Hall
• Mon Bijou (Flinders Lane)
• Federation Square
• State Library
• The Dome
• The Prahran Hotel

Picture Perfect Locations for Country Couples

• Stones (Yarra Valley)
• Gum Gulley Farm
• The Briars (Mornington)
• The Farm Yarra Valley
• Yerring Station
• Chandon
• Baxter Barn (Mornington Peninsula)
• Tanglewood Estate (Mornington Peninsula) 
• Olivigna (Warrandyte South)
• Tanglewood Estate (Dromana)
• All Smiles Sorrento 
• RACV Cape Shank Resort
• Red Hill Lavender Farm
• Sault Daylesford
• The Lake House Daylesford

There are of course plenty more options but these are ones which we love and consider to offer a lot of wedding photo opportunities.

The Wedding Timeline

To ensure your day runs smoothly, it’s good to map out how things will unfold. The timeline is especially useful to keep you on track throughout the big day. It’s helpful for the photographer who will use it to prepare for each special moment as they happen so that shots are not missed. A good photographer will help you plan your timeline, advising you on what is possible in regards to getting some great photos. 

To get the most out of your wedding photographer, have a detailed timeline ready. Lots of couples make the mistake of trying to cram too much into the day and planning the day too tightly. If there are two different locations at which you are both getting ready, consider having the locations close together. If the venues are far apart, factor in the time that the photographer needs to travel. 

Another mistake couples make is wanting too many different locations for their photo shoot. One or two locations is ideal. Any more than that will result in more time required for the photo shoot and possibly a stressed-out looking bride and groom and a flustered photographer! You’d be surprised at how much time is required to move from one location to the next! Parking can get tricky at some locations and a bridal team can slow everything down. Limit your photo shoot locations and your photographer will be more relaxed to create you those gorgeous images you’re after.

Always keep your photographer informed about anything which you wished to have photographed. Give them some prior warning! We have been caught in situations where we’re scrambling to capture moments because we were not given sufficient warning!

How To Start The Wedding Day in Melbourne

We always suggest that both bride and groom Start the day off with some celebratory activities with their wedding party. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, but adding something fun to start the day off with will add to your wedding story. This could be a nice breakfast at home or out at a cafe. Have little gifts for your bridesmaids or groomsmen to open during the course of the morning. Maybe include the parents. 

For the boys, there’s a little more time to do something fun before the ceremony. Go play a sport to calm the nerves down or pick up an instrument and entertain your groomsmen. Just sitting around waiting for the ceremony is fine, but there won’t be a lot for your photographer to capture.

Brides might consider getting matching robes for their bridal team and serving a champagne breakfast. Give each bridesmaid a gift which shows your appreciation for what they’ve done for you in the lead-up to this day. Exchange some memories of each other. Moments which evoke emotion are always beautiful to have captured.

Have one room designated to getting ready. Ideally, this room is neat and tidy. We’ve walked into many rooms where clothes and bags are strewn everywhere! It definitely does not make for nice photos! Choose the room with the most natural light. The room needs to be big enough for someone (if not the whole bridal team) to help you into your dress – and enough room for your photographer to capture some of those moments!

Hair and Makeup

It’s highly advisable to organise someone to come to you to do hair and makeup. One of my brides found herself fashionably (an hour) late because her hair and makeup artist was running behind at the salon she went to! It’s just a lot more controlled when the preparations are all done at the venue you are getting ready at. The bride’s hair and makeup should be done last. The bridesmaids should all be ready to go by the time the bride is ready to step into her dress. 

Tip: If you’re wanting some photos of your makeup artist while they are working on you, have them set up near a window for some natural light. Some makeup artists now have lights which mimic natural light. This will ensure that your makeup will look the same when you step outside. Ask your makeup artist to supply you with your own lipstick to re-touch with later on in the day. 

The Transport 

Organise a nice mode of transport for the day. It’s really worth forking out a little for your transport if you want it in your photos. Find something which fits your style. It’s helpful to have someone to drive the couple around to take away the parking stress, especially if you’re in the city at any time throughout your day.

The Wedding Ceremony in Melbourne

Having the ceremony at the same venue as your reception takes away a lot of stress for both you and your guests. For some, a different ceremony location just can’t be helped. Allow some time at the end of your ceremony for people to congratulate you when planning your timeline.

Keep in mind that photos with family members and friends are best done just after your ceremony. You’re then free to go off for your photo shoot. Have someone who knows your family and guests to coordinate the group photos. This saves time and ensures that everyone who should be in the photos are there.

Tip: Take your time when walking down the aisle. If anyone (including bridesmaids) rush down the aisle, we’ll miss capturing them. Take time with the first kiss! A quick peck will not be captured! We need a few seconds to photograph your special moment. 

The Melbourne Wedding Photo Shoot

Don’t go overboard with locations for your wedding photo shoot. Treat yourself to some relaxing time during your wedding photos. One or two different locations is ideal as discussed earlier. Some locations require permits (and a charge) for wedding photography which is paid by the bride and groom. Check with the council of the location or your wedding photographer. 

Some out of the box ideas are great for Wedding Photography. Choose locations which shows your personality, especially if you’ve chosen the city for your backdrop. Consider if you’re a couple who loves the modern or vintage backdrops. Open spaces are good for those who just want some nice photos of themselves together without too much distraction in the background. The beach is one of the most beautiful locations for simple yet beautiful photos. Open fields in the countryside are perfect as well. You might want to consider incorporating some props or fun activities into your photo shoot. 

These can include:

• A picnic laid out on a nice picnic blanket
• Some champagne and glasses
• Your own pets or other animals if you’re on a farm.
• Hoping onto a tram if you’re in the city.
• Grabbing a coffee or something to eat at a cafe
• Fancy car

If there is an amazing sunset, go outside for some photos! We’ve had to coax so many couples to leave their functions for a few minutes to get some amazing shots during that magical sunset time. We’ve also been unsuccessful in convincing some couples and it’s such a pity. After all the effort put into weddings, your photos will be the best memories of your special day. Make the effort to step outside if the light is right. It’s only for a few minutes but will give you beautiful photos for your lifetime. 

The Melbourne Wedding Function

The music you select for your function will make or break your party. Some couples have got it very right, having their wedding guests dancing until the last song. Others have struggled with getting guests onto the dance floor. Ultimately, it’s your party and you can play anything you want to but if you’re wanting photos of a great party – get your guests dancing!

Try to limit speeches to a decent length. This might mean upsetting someone but a long, boring speech can really put a damper on the party atmosphere. If the people giving the speech are pre-warned about the time limit, they would be happy to accommodate. 

With any significant happenings through the night, give the photographer plenty of notice to get ready! 

These may include:

• The speeches
• The first dance
• The cake cutting 
• The removal of the garter by the groom
• The bouquet toss
• The leaving circle

Also make sure there’s plenty of room for the photographer to get into the scene to photograph it! Sometimes it’s as easy as setting things up in the right spots. Your wedding photographer requires time to set up for some of these situations. It’s not always as easy as pointing the camera and shooting. Sometimes some adjustments need to be made, maybe a tripod setup is necessary, flash lighting may have to be added. It all doesn’t take too long but some advanced notice is required or your special moment could be missed.

So there it is – our guide to creating a picture perfect wedding. Follow some of our advice and you’ll get a better documentation of your day. These photos will be the most beautiful reminders of your wedding so it’s worth putting in that little bit of effort.

Happy wedding planning!

The post Picture Perfect Wedding – Melbourne Wedding Planning appeared first on freshPhotography.

A dog (which was first afraid and then hyperactive) and cat (which ignored me totally) made this photoshoot a bit of a challenge – I am not a pet photographer. The beautiful designed home had lots of little surprises (such as a mini museum) and made it lots of fun to photograph the cute couple.

It’s like documenting life – preserving the status quo in pictures and creating memories. We all do this with our phones and capture moments – and it’s  to important to document these little moments.  (so when you are travelling don’t photograph the sights and landscape – snap your loved ones).

To photograph in a home it is important to have a sunny day and lots of diffused light through the windows – Melbourne summer … easy!  The hyperactive dog inspired me to do a moving gif – he was just too fast running and dancing around. Cute crazy dog. After he ran out of energy we took him to the local park to capture a few outdoor shots.

Thanks for a fun photoshoot …

The post Couples Photography in Melbourne appeared first on freshPhotography.