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.

Photographing a couple is really relaxed and fun. We get lots of men who are anxious about posing for photos. The stress is quashed by allowing each couple to just be them! There will be some direction from us in what to do, but nothing which isn’t fun or out of your comfort zone! Take our lovely couple, Ben and Michelle, for example. These two were asked to be a couple who were in love. Some basic dancing skills came in handy (but not necessary), adding a point of difference to their love story photoshoot. The rest just came naturally.

Couples Photography in Melbourne

Ben and Michelle are a real couple. They’ve been together for a few years now and are proud parents of a parrot, a cat and a dog. They are both busy photographers and haven’t got any great photos of themselves together. Fortunately for them, they knew who to go to rectify that!

It was a warm day in the middle of Autumn. Overcast weather at sunset gave us soft light to shoot with the sun making an appearance to light up Michelle’s amazing red hair! We chose parklands close by as it had large open spaces as well as some fallen tree trunks which made great photo scenes.

We also offer our couples styling advice. Michelle’s fair skin and blazing red hair looked fantastic in the black floral maxi dress. The dress was dramatic, moving as she strode along and twirled beautifully when dancing. For Ben, smart casual was the brief. You can’t go wrong with jeans and a white shirt. The brown suede shoes lifted the look.

Engagement Photography in Melbourne

You don’t have to be a couple engaged to enjoy a couple’s photoshoot. If your love is that special for each other, we’d love to tell your love story as well. We’re open to photoshoot ideas and will endeavour to capture what is uniquely you! Feel free to drop us a line to discuss your needs.

The post Melbourne Love Story – Couples Photography appeared first on freshPhotography.

Also, make sure you check out some of our Melbourne weddings:

The Docklands

Located at the fringe of the city, the Docklands is quite spectacular for photography. You’ll get a nice sunset here. There is water, boats, sculptures, cafes, bars and restaurants. Oh, there’s also Melbourne city in the background. Parking can get tricky if there is a football match on at the Etihad Stadium so go when there’s no football match on or catch public transport! There are enough places at the Docklands to keep you snapping for quite a while. The area is still developed and changing constantly.

• Light: Best at sunset! Late afternoon is okay here too and if you can get up early enough, you might try getting out there for sunrise which could be stunning over the city.
• Suggested photo shoots for this location: The Docklands is great for small family shoots, engagements, bride and groom photoshoots, fashion shoots or just nice portraits where you want the city as a background.
• Styling for this location: The Docklands is suitable for any outfit from super casual to evening wear. Some of the boats there would suit some vintage styling but I would keep things quite modern down there.
• More pictures: Have a look here for some more pictures of the Docklands.

AAMI Park (new Stadium)

We love this building for its architecture which resembles soccer balls. It’s located about 1km from the Melbourne CBD and is situated between the Yarra River and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). What a great spot for a modern photo shoot.

• Light: We shot here in full sunshine. One side of this structure (Richmond side) is great for up until the afternoon (the earlier the better). The other side (city side) would be fabulous for a late afternoon or sunset shoot. There is also the athletics track next to it which we’d love to do a photoshoot at one day too when it’s not too busy! The footbridge which joins AAMI park to the Rod Laver Arena is also an impressive backdrop for photography.
• Suggested photo shoots for this location: We would recommend engagement shoots, wedding shoots, family shoots or fashion shoots.
• Styling for this location: Keep the clothing black and white or go with brights like red or fuchsia. Keep clothing plain and avoid florals or really busy patterns which would clash with the style of the building.
• More pictures: Have a look here for some more pictures of the AAMI Stadium.

Hosier Lane – Melbourne CBD

This is such a well-known photo spot! Its ever-changing artwork provides fresh backdrops for photoshoots so you could return there again and again. It’s a busy photo spot so try to get there when others aren’t! Middle of the working day would be the most ideal time if you have that time to spare, then it would be very early on weekend mornings. This laneway is ever-changing – the artwork there is never the same for even a day. Make sure you visit more often and snap away.

• Light: Because it is a laneway, the best light you will get will be any time of the day apart from sunrise, sunset (it’s very dark at both these times) or when the light is directly above the laneway (harsh shadows are cast on your subjects face).
• Suggested photo shoots for this location: Fashion shoots are regularly conducted here. It’s a popular place for engagement shoots and is desired by some bride and grooms. This is definitely a place to take photos at if you are a tourist!
• Styling for this location: Almost anything goes for Hosier Lane! The artwork is so colourful here that you can dress in lots of colours to blend in or you can choose to stand out in a colour-block outfit.
• More pictures: Have a look here for some more pictures of Hosier Lane.

Trinity College

Bet you haven’t heard of this one! This building is just gorgeous all year round and is located at the top end of town on Royal Parade in Parkville. Trinity College is a residential college of the University of Melbourne. It reminds me of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies. The brick buildings and archways make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. I’d say that Autumn would be my favourite time of year to do a photoshoot there because the vines are beautiful shades of pinks and orange.

Light: If you want to shoot in the archways (undercover), any time will do as it does get a little dark in there. If you want to use the buildings as a backdrop, start one hour before sunset and stay until the light is gone!

Suggested photo shoots for this location: Wedding party shoots are popular here. Make sure you book if you want to do a wedding party shoot there as a permit is required. The costs vary and they don’t want more than one lot of bride and groom and their bridal party there at one time.  They will give you one hour and half to shoot there so book in advance for your preferred time.

Styling for this location: Think retro, vintage, romantic, floaty gowns or do as I did and wear a tulle skirt! It’s a pretty location for a pretty styled photo shoot.

More pictures: Have a look here for some more pictures of the Trinity College.

Degraves Street – Melbourne CBD

Degraves Street is one of Melbourne’s famous laneways where you can enjoy some great food and coffee right in the heart of the city, and feel like you are somewhere in Europe! The coffee found in most of the cafes here are pretty good. This laneway is busy all day long with food being served from breakfast through to dinner. Again, there are always photographers running around as there is so much to capture. You will get your typical Melbourne laneway pics here! You can get some pretty amazing bokeh with all the lights in the background.

• Light: Degraves Street is quite a dark area for photography any time that is not mid-afternoon. The bokeh that you get from the lights in the laneway help to create a beautiful image. Shoot there any time you please. Even when the sun is right above the laneway, there is plenty of shaded areas for you to place your models or subject. If just taking photos of the laneway itself, it’s probably best to wait until the sun is not directly above.
• Suggested photo shoots for this location: Degraves Street is great for fashion shoots, engagement shoots, the bride and groom photo shoot. It’s a tourist spot so go and see it if you are visiting Melbourne!
• Styling for this location: Almost anything you want! A vintage styled shoot would be fabulous here.
• More pictures: Have a look here for some more pictures of Degraves Street.

Spring Street – Melbourne CBD

Up at the top end of Melbourne city is where Spring Street is located. This street hosts the lovely Hotel Windsor, the Old Treasury Building and Parliament house. These buildings are impressive, especially the front of Parliament building! Those huge pillars are quite grand and makes this spot really busy with newlywed couples. The Hotel Windsor, along with its concierge provides a vintage backdrop for a photo shoot. Spring Street and some of its adjacent streets have a vintage vibe.

• Light: Sunset is our favourite time to take photos at this location. Hang around afterwards and you get some pretty city lights in your shots. Any time before that produces some harsh lighting unless it’s overcast! In overcast situations, you can produce nice shots any time of the day.
• Suggested photo shoots for this location: You’re going to struggle for space on the weekends, especially at sunset as this street is full of newlyweds! The steps of Parliament House is the most popular spot for wedding photography. They do charge for photography at the steps of Parliament House. There are always queues of brides and grooms at this spot most of the weekend. So, unless you are shooting a wedding, go on a weekday! Spring Street is great for an engagement or fashion shoot as well.
• Styling for this location: Spring Street has a vintage feel about it so it would probably be best to style your subjects in vintage too! A French look would be great for this location. Keep it classy.
• More pictures: Have a look here for some more pictures of the Spring Street area.

Port Melbourne Beach

5km away from Melbourne’s CBD is the gorgeous Port Melbourne Beach. We just love our beaches! Photoshoots at beaches are a lot of fun and can be stunning, especially at sunset when you get the sun to backlight your subjects. We like Port Melbourne beach for it’s close proximity to the city. The Spirit of Tasmania ship makes for an interesting background.

• Light: Sunset is the only time we would recommend that you hit the beach for a photo shoot. This best light being half and hour before sunset and half an hour just after the sun has set. This is the time where you can shoot in any direction and the light is just beautiful and soft. You need to be a little bit lucky to get some interesting colours or cloud formations.
• Suggested photo shoots for this location: Port Melbourne beach is great for weddings, engagement photo shoots, family photos, kids photography.
• Styling for this location: It all depends on what you want to achieve from your photo shoot. For our own family portrait at a beach, we keep the colours neutral. Bright colours such as red, orange and Fuschia are also great to blend with the tones of the sunset.
• More pictures: Have a look here for some more pictures of the Port Melbourne beach.

Elwood Beach

Just 8kms out of Melbourne’s CBD is Elwood Beach. During the summer, this place is jam-packed! It’s a great location for a swim or a family picnic. There are council barbeques available for use free of charge! There is also a great path for runners, skaters and bikers all the way along the bay. From Elwood Beach, you can see the city skyline which is really quite pretty at sunset. Some afternoons you can watch parachuters floating down onto Robinson Reserve.

Point Ormond is a great spot to go up and watch the sunset from. It’s a little hill just at the city end of Elwood Beach.

This is where we had our family portrait done. It was the end of January and the day was sunny, warm and breezy – the perfect combination of elements for a photoshoot!

Light: Sunset! This is unless you want to do some people watching! Most have headed for dinner by this time of day so it makes it the best time for a portrait shoot. Choose a day like the one we picked for our family shoot and there is hardly anyone there! Sand blown into the face is never any fun. The city skyline is also best seen at sunset.

• Suggested photo shoots for this location: Engagements, weddings, fashion, kids, family and landscape photo shoots are ideal at Elwood Beach.
• Styling for this location: We kept the tones for our family portrait session very neutral. When there is wind, a floaty dress or skirt works wonderfully and it gives some movement to the still picture. Bright tones such as yellows, oranges, reds and bright pinks would work well here. For family portraits, try getting everyone to wear different colours or different shades of the same colour. If you want a Hawaiian feel, go for the hibiscus prints. For all other types of portraits, stay away from patterns and florals as this may distract from the beauty of the beach and sea. Wear colour block items of clothing (solid colours).
• More pictures: Have a look here for some more pictures of Elwood beach.

Carlton Gardens

This is just located at the top end of the city. The gorgeous grounds of the Carlton Gardens is an extremely popular location for wedding photography, especially now that there is no permit fee for using it!

Even though we went mid-week around lunchtime, we were fighting for shooting space with two other photographers! During the weekend, there will be at least ten different couples running around at any time! It would also be advisable to check out whether there are any events which are being held in the Carlton Royal Exhibition building as these bring masses of visitors.

There are stunning tree lines, a duck pond and plenty of plants and flowers around the Carlton Garden grounds. The Imax and the Melbourne Museum is right next door to the Carlton Gardens. There you will find some modern structures, a giant Rubiks cube and a children’s playground which are also great to photograph at.

• Light: There’s plenty of spots around the Carlton Gardens which are suitable for photographing at any time of the day. Sunset is always best when you are photographing in an open area.
• Suggested photo shoots for this location: Weddings! Engagements, family portraits, children’s photography, fashion photography.
• Styling for this location: It’s a popular wedding photography location. Anything goes here. Our photo shoot saw me parading around in a tutu! Florals are great as it is a garden. The styling may be casual or evening wear. It’s the type of location which would be ideal for anything from gothic to vintage style. It might not be too great for a sci-fi themed shoot though (go to the Melbourne Museum behind the Exhibition building.)
• More pictures: Have a look here for some more pictures of the Carlton Gardens in Melbourne.

What are your favourite photography locations in Melbourne?

Hope there’s enough here to get you inspired to pick up your camera and head out for some photo shoots!

Of course, this list of photo locations around Melbourne can only be a small help for you. There are plenty of other locations – Melbourne is such a versatile city. We’ll be adding more locations from time to time so do visit us again. As we shoot lots of wedding in Melbourne we always get challenged with new locations (and we love this) and believe us or not every location can be shot in a beautiful way. As mentioned in our article think about styling and light as much as the location.

If you know of any other great locations which are not too well known, please let us know about it. We are happy to compile a new list soon …

Update: We wrote another article about Melbourne wedding photography locations which you can find here. Also, make sure you follow www.fabulous-femme.com where we always explore new locations and post wonderful images.

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Kids Photographer Melbourne

We used a simple photo prop – the mouse beanie. Our gorgeous “model” loved playing mouse in the Melbourne CBD.

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