Sydney Wedding | Jacqueline & Eugene | The Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks, Mosman, NSW
Jacqueline & Eugene’s wedding will be one I won’t forget for a long time. Not only did we have a storm arrive 5 minutes before the bride was going to walk down the aisle, they had one of the best looking guests I’ve seen – Kozmo the dog, wearing a tux and all!
I first met Jacqueline & Eugene in a café on Sydney’s North Shore. Once I saw they had ordered 2 Bloody Mary’s to the table, I had a good feeling about the meeting :)
One of the first things we spoke about was the style of photography they were after. Jacqueline as very adamant that she wanted only candid photos at her wedding, which suits my style of wedding photography perfectly. We chatted, and the next day we booked the wedding day!
Jacqueline & Eugene’s wedding was held at The Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks, Mosman. I arrived as the venue was being finalized and with Eugene already there, we took some quick photos and it wasn’t long before Jacqueline was due to arrive. Once she made her way through the venue and into the Bridal Room we took some photos with her bridal party, her mum and of course Kozmo!
Then, with 5 minutes to go before the ceremony – it starts to rain. Maybe STORM is a better word! With the original plan to have the ceremony in the courtyard, that quickly changed to the balcony with it’s cover extended. Still, a lookout over Sydney Harbour is not a bad backdrop for your wedding day!
With the ceremony only starting 15 minutes behind schedule (the staff at The Tea Room did a great job of getting everything ready so quickly!) rings were exchanged, papers were signed and Jacqueline and Eugene shared their first kiss as husband and wife!
Some quick photos afterwards with family and friends and then it was onto the reception with an amazing 3-course menu.
One of the highlights of the evening was a video montage of Jacqueline’s family and friends from overseas who couldn’t make it for her wedding. I don’t think there was a dry-eye in the house after it – some very beautiful moments and comments.
Following on from the speeches was their first dance. We decided to have this outdoors in the courtyard (it had stopped raining by now!) and with the fairy lights and lanterns still working, it set a beautiful backdrop for their first dance.
Thank you to the staff at The Tea Room, and mostly thank you to Jacqueline and Eugene for allowing me to capture their special day.
For any enquires regarding wedding photography, please feel free to look over my wedding packages or get in contact to discuss further.
A kiss during sunset with an amazing view down over Sydney Harbour.
Sydney Portrait | Ali, Steve & Evie | Lane Cove, NSW
I’m going to keep this blog post short. Not because the photo’s aren’t great (I love them!) and not because the portrait session was uneventful (it wasn’t!).
But because I think the photos below will tell you more than I ever could trying to write this blog!
I photographed Ali & Steve’s engagement party around 18 months ago. Since then they’ve been married (1 year ago today!), and had a stunningly beautiful child, Evie. She really was amazing during the whole photo session. Didn’t cry, happy to be wandering around Lane Cove parks and by the water and I could tell she really loved being with her parents.
That’s enough from me. Onto the photos. They’ve come out exactly how I imagined them and I really couldn’t be happier.
Thank you to Ali & Steve for having me down, and of course little Evie for being one of the best “models” I’ve dealt with!
Love this candid moment, captured.
Sydney Wedding | Candice & Luke | Seven Sins Restaurant, Drummoyne, NSW
Candice and Luke have three young children, been with each other since high school and own a house together. By their own admission, getting married was more of a formality than anything else…but that didn’t stop it being a fun day!
I arrived at Candice’s house at around 2pm with the plan to capture the bride preparation, a few dress and family photos etc.
Her son had a different idea! After some crying, a few tissues and some quiet time with mum, he calmed himself down and with only 10 minutes before it was time to leave, I managed to capture some great candid shots of the family and Candice.
Luke was waiting for his bride at St Luke’s Anglican Church, Concord. St Luke’s is a traditional style church with an amazing domed wooden roof which looks great in photos!
We were lucky with the weather on the day, so it allowed everyone to congratulate the newly married couple outside the church in the gardens.
After the ceremony, the bridal party made their way down to Bayview Park, Concord for some drinks and photos. Bayview Park has a boat ramp, jetty and ferry wharf that were surprisingly empty for our visit. The photos only last a short while and the rest of our time was spent relaxing where we captured some really great candid photos of Candice, Luke and their young family.
Making our way down to Seven Sins Restaurant on the water at Drummoyne was a pleasant surprise. Having driven past the venue almost daily but never seen it setup for a wedding, the staff did an amazing job! With large glass windows showcasing the beautiful Iron Cove and Sisters Bay at sunset, great table settings and a nice big dance floor for guests.
Candice and Luke’s wedding was somewhat of a formality for them both but as it turned out, it was a special day none the less!
I hope you enjoy the small selection of photos below. If you have any queries or comments please feel free to leave them at the bottom or via the contact link above.
Sometimes all it takes in a simple look. Love this photo, the newly married Candice & Luke with their beautiful baby daughter.
Sydney Wedding | John & Suzanne | Australis Retreat, Wisemans Ferry, NSW
An outdoor wedding by the river with the sun setting behind the happy couple with blue skies overhead. Sounds perfect, right? Well, that was John & Suzanne’s wedding!
When I first visited John & Suzanne at their home, I think we connected right away. I could see they were both so relaxed and happy and so sure of what they were after. I knew right away that I wanted this job! Also, Hurly their dog was jumping all over me, and I was told he was going to be part of the day.
The wedding took place at Australis Retreat, Wisemans Ferry which is around 1.5 hours drive north-west of Sydney. Suzanne was staying in one of the suites at Australis Retreat so once I arrived in the afternoon I made my way to the room to find her and the bridal party applying the finishing touches to their dresses and Suzanne’s veil. After some quick portraits in the room we walked down to the car park where their transport was waiting – golf buggies!!
By far one of the best types of wedding transport I’ve seen.
Since the ceremony was taking place on the grounds of Australis Retreat, it was a few minutes ride down to the riverbank of the Hawkesbury River where John and the other guests were waiting.
The grass was green, the skies were blue and the sun was setting behind them over the river. It really was a beautiful place to photograph.
After a few laughs (and tears) through the ceremony, John and Suzanne were husband and wife and the congratulations began! Everyone moved up to celebrate with the new couple and after a few minutes (and a photo with Hurly the dog!) it was time for us to move on and the other guests to enjoy canapés by the pool.
Being that the reception was at Australis Retreat as well, we simply walked up the grounds along the Hawkesbury River past the golf course. Since the sun was setting quickly by this stage we moved quickly and got some great shots along the river. Wisemans Ferry is at the base of a gully, and as we walked back along the golf course the hills behind us glowed gold with the setting sun. Stunning.
After a slight delay entering the reception, John and Suzanne were welcomed into their wedding reception with rose petals being thrown in the air and cheers raising the roof!
It was a pleasure to photograph a wedding in such an amazing location as Wisemans Ferry…and for such a great couple that John and Suzanne are.
I hope you enjoy the small selection of photos below. If you have any queries or comments please feel free to leave them at the bottom or via the contact link above.
The amazing ceremony venue – right beside Hawkesbury River
Sydney Wedding | Michelle & Dan | Narrabeen Beach, Narrabeen, NSW
Michelle and Dan approached me about 12 months ago to photograph their wedding. The details were a little sparse on our first meeting – April 2012, 50 people, Narrabeen Beach, midday ceremony.
Little did I know how amazing the photos would turn out!
Arriving at Narrabeen Surf Club a little early to set up my gear and have a chat to the groom, I couldn’t be happier with the weather! It’s exactly what we’d all hoped for – blue skies, sunshine, 25 degrees & a light breeze off the water. There was one small problem though – a large Streets Ice Cream tent on the beach, right in the middle of the ceremony, and in the middle of where Michelle and Dan would be standing!
After having a quick chat to the staff at the Surf Club I managed to get the large red tent, which was giving the hard-working Surf Life Savers shade during the day, pulled down for 30 minutes while the ceremony took place.
Michelle arrived with little fanfare, pulling up in her car outside the Surf Club, proud father right behind her. Michelle was one of the most relaxed brides I think I’ve ever seen. A great sign for things to come!
With the ceremony over and congratulations were shared, it was time for some family portraits overlooking Narrabeen Beach then the guests made their way upstairs to the Narrabeen Surf Club to enjoy some canapes, while Michelle, Dan and I jumped in our cars and drove to the cliffs and bush land overlooking the beach.
As we roamed through the tracks above the beach (Not even Michelle getting her hair caught in a bush could dampen the spirits!!), I saw an amazing photo-op! Sunlight glistening through a tree, shadows just right. I asked the newlywed couple to stand next to a tree in the shadows and, after asking “Are you sure? This tree?!”, they obliged and I captured one of my personal favorite images which I’m very proud of. (pictured below)
After spending about 45 minutes wandering around the bush land of Narrabeen we were about to head back, but decided to stop into the North Narrabeen Pools to see if we could find a free space to take some photos. I’m lucky we did!
The pools were fantastic! A large pool, split into two halves by a boardwalk which allowed some really great photos. Then with the waves crashing behind the some clouds starting to form right above us…stunning.
We were running a little behind schedule so we made a dash for the reception to arrive “Fashionably Late”.
After the reception we had planned to take some photos along Narrabeen Beach at sunset. Although the timing was perfect, the clouds had something to say about our idea and blocked most of the setting sun. But that didn’t stop us spending a few minutes relaxing and roaming around the beach, while Michelle and Dan enjoyed their first sunset as husband & wife.
I did mention earlier how happy I was with my photos. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do!
I’ve put a few of my favorite photos from the day below, and will also be updating my main website (www.ap-photography.com.au) in the coming few days.
As soon as I saw this tree and the sunlight, I knew it would be something special
Sydney Event | See Jane Run … Exhibition – Opening Night | Depot II Gallery, 2 Danks St. NSW
Last Tuesday 15th May I was fortunate enough to be invited to the See Jane Run … Exhibition to document the Opening Night. The exhibition is part of the Head On Photo Festival run in Sydney every year.
The Head On Photo Festival is one of the largest festivals of it’s kind in the world, with over 200 events across 100 venues spread all over Sydney. Now running in it’s third year, the festival not only fills galleries and museums with amazing artwork from local and international artists but also moves into less formal venues such as cafes, pubs and Centennial Park.
This year the festival runs from 4th May till 3rd June 2012.
As I mentioned earlier, the See Jane Run … Exhibition had it’s opening night on Tuesday 15th May. The basis of the exhibition is to explore gender roles, beauty ideals and body image. Like a lot of artwork, the basis of the project is to “stir the pot”, to get people thinking and talking about how we perceive ourselves. Also how society and the media influences that perception, especially towards women.
The project was started by four female photographers Emma Phillips, Julie Sundberg, Anna Warr and Fiona Wolf. With 50% of all donations and also any sales on the opening night going to White Ribbon Foundation, a foundation in Australia campaigning to stop violence against women. White Ribbon were on hand at the Opening Night to offer support, which also included their chairman & ambassador Andrew O’Keefe speaking to the crowd.
With artwork ranging from female rodeo riders in northern New South Wales to male models posing like centerfolds, the exhibition definitely got people talking!
The See Jane Run … Exhibition runs from 15th May till 27th May at Depot II Gallery, 2 Danks Street Waterloo NSW.
See Jane Run … Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SeeJaneRunExhibition
See Jane Run … Homepage & Blog – http://seejanerunexhibition.tumblr.com/
The Janes with White Ribbon ambassador Andrew O’Keefe
Sydney Wedding | Rhys & Jessica | Ecco Restaurant, Drummoyne, NSW
I knew Rhys & Jessica’s wedding would be one to remember from the beginning. You see, around lunch time on Friday (day before the wedding) I got a last minute phone call asking if I was available to shoot Jess’s preparation for her big day.
“No worries!” I said. I almost always keep the entire day free for this very reason. “Just send me over the address, and I’ll make it happen.” Finding out that Jess was getting ready approx 45 minutes away from the church (and my house) meant my day just got a lot more interesting!
Arriving around 1-and-a-half hours before the ceremony was due to begin, Jess was getting the final touches on her make-up and all the bridesmaids were dressed and ready to go! After some quick introductions and photos of her dress & accessories, it was straight down to fitting and some formal photos. Jess was getting ready at her mother’s house, who had a great main bedroom which was flooded in natural light, perfect!
After a little mishap (that is worthy of a whole other blog post!) I made my way to Mortlake for the ceremony which was being held at St Patricks Catholic Church. After seeing Rhys and his groomsmen standing down the front and everyone eagerly awaiting Jess’s arrival, I see David (Rhys’s father) come rushing out the church! Knowing this isn’t normally a good sign, I quickly ask “everything still going ahead?”
“They forgot the bloody rings!” was his only reply. Just a note to all the best men out there…remember the rings!
After a quick ceremony and Jess’s 94 year-old grandmother handing her a horse shoe for good luck, it was off to Elkington Park, Balmain for some shots in the parklands and by the water.
Coming across some dog walkers as we were heading to the car…we couldn’t turn down a photo opportunity like that!
When we arrived at Ecco Restaurant, it was a little before the start time of 6:00PM and the guests were still arriving. We had some time to spare so spent a few minutes doing portraits with the bridal party overlooking the river.
As the sun set over the water behind Ecco Restaurant, the meals were cleared and a few tears during some speeches it was onto the dancing…and these guests knew how to dance! I don’t think there was anybody left sitting once the music started, and kept going till the music stopped.
As I mentioned at the start, this wedding will be one I won’t forget for a long time. Partly due to some of the stories and events (who forgets the rings on their wedding day?!) but also because it was FUN. Everyone I spoke to, all the guests were there to celebrate this great day and have fun…which always makes my day a lot easier.
I’ve put a few of my favourite photos from the day below, and will also be updating my main website (www.ap-photography.com.au) in the coming few days.
Jessica just after she's fitted her wedding dress
Sydney Wedding | Rhys & Jessica | Preview
Here is a taste of what’s to come in the next few weeks. Shot an amazing wedding and couldn’t resist sharing a few preview images!
Hope you enjoy :)
Rhys & Jessica | Preview 1
Rhys & Jessica | Preview 2
Sydney Portrait | Bella | Darlinghurst, NSW
This photoshoot/portrait session was so relaxed & so much fun, I’d hardly call it work…
It was a cloudy Sunday afternoon and the amazingly talented Bella Sarris needed some promo shots done for her emerging DJ career and portfolio. With not much to go on and no real idea of what to shoot, we met at Darlinghurst and just started walking.
Bella was after some edgy, industrial type shots so we want wandering around the back streets and lane ways of Darlinghurst for around 2 hours. There’s some amazing little places there that not even I knew about. Simple colours and lines, faded paint and graffiti all turned out to be perfect for what we were after.
Not only is the beautiful Bella talented, she’s also finished studying Bachelor of Audio Production at SAE in Sydney, and is currently traveling Europe.
Facebook – http://facebook.com/bellasarris
Soundcloud – http://soundcloud.com/bellasarris
DJ Bio – http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/bellasarris/biography
If you’re interested in getting some portrait or portfolio work done, please feel free to Contact Me.
Bella Sarris
Perth Wedding | Jen & Aaron | Halcyon Bay, Dunsborough, WA
OK, before I start I have a confession to make – I may be a little biased about these photos and this event in general. Main reason being this is my lovely sister Jen getting married and I was given the honour of photographing her amazing day :)
Being that I am based in Sydney and only normally visit WA once a year, I was eager to get there and scout locations and had all my fingers crossed for the weather.
Most family and friends needed to travel some distance to get to Dunsborough (map), so all guests were invited to stay at the same place of the Wedding Ceremony, Halcyon Bay. Bring so close to the bride and groom as well as the ceremony location has its advantages. I had great access around the area, and it also meant I got to sleep in on the day! A walk down the driveway is a lot better than flying 5 hours!
Arriving at Jen’s house, she was already upstairs getting her hair and makeup done. The flowers had arrived, dress was hanging up and coffee was being made! After snapping a few details shots of the dress and other accessories (including Jen’s jewellery she made herself!), I took some candid’s of the bride then walked up the road to where Aaron was getting ready. These guys don’t waste any time! By the time I got there they were almost out the door and taking a casual stroll towards the beach for the ceremony.
The entire wedding was a very intimate event. The ceremony was very low key, with one of the main features being a sand ceremony in place of the traditional candle ceremony. Being so close to the beach, it worked perfectly!
I keep going on about the location of the wedding – it was that good! Everything so close, and picture perfect (excuse the pun).
After the ceremony, we walked 25 meters up the parklands and found some great shots with the lush greenery and trees. Then it was only another 15 meters and it was time to take off the shoes and get on the beach! Not a cloud in sight, the new couple looked amazing walking on the beach.
After the ceremony, we made our way to Busselton Jetty for the lunch time reception at The Goose Restaurant. After some great speeches from both sides of the family, it was time to finish the day and head back to Halcyon Bay. Before leaving, we got a great group photo in front of the restaurant and I asked Jen & Aaron if they’d like some shots down near the water. Not only did we get onto the sand, but we got into the water!
With the sun slowly setting, we drove to what is now one of my favourite spots I’ve ever photographed – Geographe Bay. This place is amazing. Crystal clear blue water, some great rock formations and white sand. The water was so blue it looked like it was painted there, and the setting sun cast a great light over the rocks. Jen & Aaron weren’t scared of getting on top of the rocks either - ”We’re only getting married once!”
After spending around 30 minutes taking photos, the shadows were chasing us and we made our way back to the guest house at Halcyon Bay for a well earned glass of Moet and a home cooked BBQ.
Looking back on this now, I can see I was incredibly fortunate to be able to capture this amazing day for Jen & Aaron. I hope they get as much enjoyment out of these photos in the years to come, as I do now.
As always, I’ve posted some of my own favourite photos from the day below, and added a few of them to my portfolio at www.ap-photography.com.au
Jen & Aaron at Geographe Bay