Wet weather photography

Wet Weather Wedding Photography Tips

They do say it's good luck for it to rain on your wedding, but we're not entirely convinced! Don't get us wrong, rain is a wonderful thing - especially when Sydney is often so short of the wet stuff - but in most people's dreams about their wedding day it's a brilliantly clear blue sky day with not a cloud in the sky. Rain can put a real damper on this kind of perfect weather wedding day, so it's pays to have a think about what you will do if it rains.

Also, from a wedding photography point of view rain can be a real problem and unfortunately it can wreck havoc with your photography plans! So it pays to have a back up photography plan for wet weather, especially if you are having an outdoor ceremony or want a lot of photos outdoors in exposed places.
wet weather wedding photosCheck the forecast

We recommend beginning to check the weather forecast only 5-7 days before your wedding. Don't check it any earlier than this as you won't be getting an accurate forecast and if rain is on the way it will only mean you will have more time to worry, stress, and get upset! A good site for Sydney weather is the Bureau of Meteorology, click here for the short term Sydney forecast. If rain or bad weather is forecast, then it's time to swing your wet weather back up plans into action! These follow below but should ideally be done months before your wedding date.
Wet weather wedding ceremony plans

So what if rain is on the cards for your wedding day and you've planned an outdoor wedding? Well don't panic (or try not too) but do get organised to ensure you have a back up location for wet weather on the day. A good first option is your wedding reception venue. Check with them if this is ok and what sort of set up they can create for you. You should be able to make the place look good with decorations from your outdoor ceremony, and go down to the venue and see what it will look like the day before!

Another option is to find cover somewhere near your outdoor wedding location. This can work well if light showers or intermittent rain is forecast, as you might only need cover for a short period of time. If you are in a park there are often rotundas or picnic areas that can be used for wet weather shelter, or look to locate yourself somewhere out of the prevailing wind to get a little more cover from the elements.
Wet weather photography plans

Your wedding photographer should be able to suggest good places for wedding photos in the event of rain. If they are a local photographer their knowledge will be spot on for great places that can be covered and away from wild weather. Be sure to discuss this at your first or subsequent meetings and take some time to look at the suggested locations yourself to see if you like them. You might be surprised what a professional photographer can create in certain locations, even in the wet, so trust them that they will be able to take good photos.

Another option is to stick it out in the open, and if you plan on doing this you might want to schedule more time for your wedding photos (so you can shelter between showers!). It is also very wise to purchase several big umbrellas. Your photographer might have a preference for colour, but generally black umbrellas are the best option as they don't distract from the photos. Also, but be careful what colour or printing is on the underside of the umbrellas: you don't want lovely wedding photos with someone's corporate logo emblazoned across them all!




Is rain and wet weather all bad?!

From a photography point of view some wet weather is actually not all bad......ok it's bad, but it's not ALL bad! Wet weather can be good because clouds add a lot of drama and punch to your photos, whereas a flat blue sky can be rather uninteresting. Recent rain will make everything sparkle and look fresh and vibrant, whereas a baking hot day will make the colours washed out and flat. Ask any photographer and they would much rather shoot on a day with cloud cover than a bright sunny day. So there are some positives!
Will the photographer want to stop shooting?

As long as it's not pouring down your wedding photographer should be ok with shooting in a little bit of wet weather as their camera gear should be weather sealed. So light rain, some mist and that sort of wet weather should be fine to keep taking photos. It's more likely that you will begin to think twice about keeping going because the rain will ruin your hair, make you cold, and a white dress dragging on the muddy ground isn't a good look at all!
Remember: relax, smile and enjoy your wedding day!

We've seen some fantastic photos from a wet wedding day, and it's mainly because the couple smiled, laughed, and had a lot of fun! Wet weather will only ruin your wedding if you let it.

Wedding locations

Wedding Photo Locations Sydney

Sydney is a city with a wonderful range of great photo locations to make your wedding photos really stand out! There are world famous beaches like Bondi and Manly, the Harbour with it's sailing yachts and glistening waters, the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, classic old-world style of the Rocks area and much much more. So don't be boring with your wedding photos, get creative and find some stunning photo locations around Sydney!

We detail below a number of locations great for an wedding photos.

Location	Description	Photo
Sydney Opera House Sydney City Google maps	The Sydney Opera House is an icon of Sydney and can make for a great backdrop for your wedding photos. The Opera House steps are lovely, but this area can be busy on weekends. Generally people will move away from an area if you ask nicely. Get up close for some interesting shots with the Opera House, and use it as a feature in the back ground for photos from around the Rocks area.
Hyde Park Sydney CBD Google maps	Hyde Park is a favoured spot for wedding photos and deservedly so. The main fountain is a unqiue feature and looks wonderful at night. You get some great shots if you can use the long avenue with the trees making a lovely frame - just try and avoid the crowds! Close to Martin Place for another great wedding photo location.
Anzac Bridge Balmain Google maps	Anzac Bridge is a distinctive backdrop for wedding photos in Sydney. The long wires form great vertical converging lines that look brilliant in photos both colour and black and white. The end furtherest from the city is the best location as you can look back towards Sydney CBD and have all the skycrapers and lights at night of the city. Another option for those with a convertible wedding car is some shots driving over the bridge itself!
Macquarie Lighthouse Watson's Bay / Woollahra Google maps	Macquarie Lighthouse which marks the site of Australia's earliest and longest continually operated light station. The lighthouse forms an impressive back drop to your wedding photos, distinctive and beautiful on a blue sky day. It's a great spot with Watson's Bay and Neilsen Park also close by for photos.
McKell Park Vaucluse Google maps	McKell Park is small and private park tucked away at the end of Darling Point road between Rushcutters and Double Bay. It has a quiet aspect but a wonderful position right on the Harbour, and access is easy for boats or yatchs to wisk you away following a ceremony. Most people have their wedding ceremony down the end of the park near a circular area. Not a huge range of photo locations within the park itself, but hop on a boat or water taxi and you have the whole of Sydney Harbour to choose from. Check with local council to book and gain wedding permission.
Neilsen Park Woollahra Google maps	Neilsen Park is a popular place for relaxing and getting back to nature, so if you can beat the crowds it makes a fantastic wedding photo location. The long avenue from the main gate (see opposite photo) has interesting lines, the beach is small but can be used when crowds are low, and there are a couple of out crops to take some shots looking over Sydney Harbour.
Manly Beach Manly, Northern Beaches Google maps	Manly Beach is an good location for wedding photos, but it can often be crowded, especially over summer, so pick your spot well!
Dawes Point Park The Rocks Google maps	Dawes Point Park is right at the end of the Rocks, underneath the Harbour Bridge and so it has a number of views towards the Opera House, Luna Park, and the Harbour. Quite a popular place for shots looking up the Harbour Bridge, but is usually very shady in the afternoon.
Observatory Hill The Rocks Google maps	The outlook from Observatory Hill is wonderful, but there are plenty of other shots to be had in this area of the Rocks. The stone and trees of the park can be used for some great wedding photos, and there are often a few less people around.
Shelley Beach Manly, Northern Beaches Google maps	Shelley Beach is a private and sheltered beach away from the bustle of Manly's main beach. It's a very popular place for an outdoor wedding, with most held under the palm trees on the far side of Shelley Beach. The best (and closest!) place for your reception is Le Kiosk, right on the walk way although there isnt great space for a large wedding. Great locations nearby are Shelley Headland, the rocks above the car park, Shelley Beach itself, and the walk way back to Manly.
Federal Park Balmain Google maps	Federal Park is a stones throw from Sydney CBD and can be a good photo location to do a breif stop over on the way to the city or Rocks area. The city skyline is impressive and the tall towers of the Anzac Bridge makes for a great photo back drop.

Tips on choosing a photographer

Choosing A Wedding Photographer

Shopping for a wedding photographer is not the same as selecting your wedding dress or bridal bouquet... you can’t see the pictures until after your wedding.

For many too often, price ends up being the primary deciding factor, which isn't always the best decision as there are no second chances.

Your wedding memories will be captured through the eyes, heart and talent of your wedding photographer... remember the old adage " you get what you pay for!".

Some guidelines to help you select the photographer that is right for you....

Begin by asking friends and relatives for recommendations. People who’ve had positive experiences with photographers are always happy to show you their wedding photographs and give referrals. It's equally important to find out if the bride and groom enjoyed working with the photographer.

Look through our professional wedding photographer galleries and view their impressive portfolios. You'll save yourself lots of time by pre-qualifying wedding photographers by looking at their comprehensive online portfolios before any meetings.

Mark those that you like as your favourites and send email enquiries to them to get key pieces of information from them such as:

• whether they are available on your wedding day
• what type of photography they specialise in (traditional, candid, photo-journalism, combination, film or digital etc)
• what packages they offer and their prices
  

Make appointments with the photographers who respond to you, to view their wedding portfolios and discuss YOUR requirements. These meetings should include both the bride and the groom. Consider asking your parents to come along if they are paying for the wedding photographer's services. Make sure you are prepared and write down all your questions before you meet and take notes during the meetings.

Questions To Ask Your Wedding Photographer

There are many questions that you can ask your wedding photographer. The experienced professional photographers will provide you with clear explanations about their services prior to any questions are even asked. If not, here are some you can ask:

• how long they been in the 'wedding' photography business?
• what is their philosophy to photographing weddings?
• what is their wedding photography style...traditional, photo-journalistic, mixed?
• how they will make your wedding photographs unique and personal to you?
• what is their coverage...what are the costs of the various levels of coverage (ceremony / location / reception)?
• do they provide guarantees for their services and / or photographs?
• do they have a backup?
• will they be shooting your pictures personally?...if not, ask to see the work of the actual wedding photographer and meet with them before the day
• are there any extra fees such as travel?
• what is their overtime fee?
• will they use film or digital?
• who will you be dealing with after the wedding?
• how will you be shown the pictures for selection after the wedding? (electronically / proofs / contact sheets / online gallery etc.).
• will you work together to select the final pictures?
• how can it be simplified so that friends and family can order re-prints directly?
• how long until the selection prints are available?
• what is the cost for duplicate prints, albums, folios, enlargements, thank you cards, etc.? Are the proofs for sale?
• what is their payment policy?

When you’ve narrowed down your list to one or two wedding photographers, ask them to show you a complete photo coverage of a recent wedding to give you a much better indication as to what you can expect, rather than a collection of their best shots from different weddings.

Things To Look For In A Wedding Photographer

Examine the photographer's work carefully...take note of the little things:

• do the photos or album tell a story of the entire wedding day or just a series of pictures?
• is there a good mixture of portraits and groups?
• has the photographer captured facial expressions well?
• do the photos capture the detail of the faces and dresses, or is there too much background detail?
  

Carefully examine whether the photographer successfully captures individual characteristics and personalities and brings the wedding photo's to life. Do they look natural or artificially posed?.

Be Comfortable With Your Wedding Photographer

Finally, your wedding photographer will be an integral part of one of the most important days of your life, (sometimes even getting you a glass of water or helping you with your dress) so make sure you choose someone that has a relaxed and friendly personality and most of all, you feel comfortable with.

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Centennial Park Stroll

Sarah & Adam chose the to celebrate their day in the newly renovated Centennial park Kiosk. The ceremony was held in the Greek Orthodox church in Newcastle St RoseBay which held sentimental value for them as both sets of parents had married in this very church. These pictures
were taken around Centennial Park which is very near to the Fenelon Gallerie at 48 Clovelly Rd. Randwick next door to Centennial Park Bike Hire. A week later my wife and I and our almost two year old son hired a four wheel bike to circle the park. No gears so two laps was enough. I love the park and it always has a calming influence on me whenever I walk through its gates.
Best regards
neil

A Balmy Bondi afternoon

Helen & Julian picked a perfect day on March 7th to exchange their vows at Marks Park above Bondi Beach. The white chairs contrasted beautifully against the still blue ocean with only a hint of breeze to move the brides veil gently across her face. We wandered along the coastal walk taking photos as they happened and also stopping at some select places. After stopping by the scate bowl the couple had the reception at Ravisis to complete the Bondi experience.
kind regards
neil fenelon