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.