Let’s summaries the year that was…
2017 was a really excellent year for me, honestly, I think that this year was extremely successful. I love photographing people on their day of nuptials. I relish that couples (whom I’ve met only a few times beforehand) allow me into their lives for that single, very intense, day in the sunshine. This year, I’ve really focused on the people who play a part surrounding the bride and groom – those involved on the day – to show the B&G and their family unit for who they are and how they interact. It’s about telling their story and their family’s story – remember, the concept of organic wedding photography? That’s the goal at the end of the day!

I think that a real key achievement for me this year was continuing to operate a small business. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy this aspect of professional photography. I enjoy it so much that I’ve encouraged about 25 people I know throughout the year to also consider opening a small business for themselves – not to quit their regular job because that wouldn’t necessarily be good advice – but to trial a small business by converting a hobby or passion into an income. Working for yourself is really inspiring, and I really think that its an experience everyone can learn from. Think of it at professional development!

The third major successful aspect of 2017 was my commitment to content creation. As a ‘service-oriented’ business, there are a ton of portals to get yourself out there, and with the abundance of advertising agencies who are gagging for your hard-earned moola, there are plenty of ways to burn through cash! I directed my energy into creating interesting content for future clients to read on the internet. The stories that I create online have really helped to demonstrate the friendships that I form with my existing clients, that in turn produce fun, interesting and unusual imagery; and develop the organic approach to wedding photography that I practice.

What am I grateful for?
There are numerous groups that I need to thank, for, without them, 2017 would have been far less awesome. I really need to thank my suppliers and vendors. Thank you to Canon CPS for maintaining my camera equipment so that I can stay in action – you saved my butt on an occasion or two! CPS offers top quality service to their clients, and after comparing this support arm with other manufacturers throughout the year, this is what separates Canon from other vendors. It’s the behind-the-scenes service that sets them apart.

A massive thank you to my print lab, framing, and album manufacturer – Queensberry. Based in the heart of sheep country (NZ bro!) the team across the Pacific enables me to provide a complete service to my clients. Their quality and attention to detail is really second to none and is the reason that my clients come back for additional products. I get a ton of positive feedback from couples who love their new artwork! QBY’s collection of products are unique, and my couples thank me time and time again for providing high-end results – where Queensberry forms an instrumental part.

Mostly, an enormous amount of gratitude goes to my wonderful clientele. My clients: brides, grooms, families, couples; I really appreciate that you have entrusted to me a very important role of recording a momentous day of your lives. I have so much fun at every opportunity I have to photograph people. A lot of work goes into the planning of a wedding day, and I really think that I, above all other vendors at a wedding, have the most fun out of anyone. I really cherish the opportunity the lovely couples that I’ve had the pleasure of working with this year – THANK YOU!

Where are the improvements for 2018?
I think that I need to continue to explore interaction. Although details are important on a wedding day, I think that by continuing on my organic wedding photography approach I can achieve the natural, emotional and more powerful imagery that you guys all want to see and receive. In 2018, I’m also going to start entering competitions. I have some cool ideas for a few collections that I’d like to enter into the 2018 AIPP and get some constructive criticism from some other professionals.

So, it’s onwards and upwards from here. From my family to yours, have a wonderful Christmas, and a prosperous New Year.

Cheers!

The post 2017: A Year in Review appeared first on Photographer Pete.

Back in 2016, I was hired to photograph Kristine and Shamus’ Berrima wedding reception (you can read about that wicked night over here). Something I recently found out, was that their wedding styling was so on point, that Kristine was asked by Richard Kemp from Eschalot Restaurant to continue working as wedding stylist for the venue’s other clientele.

Fast forward a year… I again made the trip south to photograph a garden engagement party in the Southern Highlands. To my amazement, the event was styled by Studio Spence. Although this might not have been a wedding reception, it’s amazing how an awesome wedding stylist such as Studio Spence developed this backyard into an awesome space for Rhiannon and Billy. This would have to be one of the best garden engagement party’s I have ever seen!

I turned up to catch the last of the daylight and walked into a fairly large backyard that had been completely transformed; with 2 rotisseries on the go; rolled blankets for warmth; a garden bar serving punch, wine and beer; a really awesome, custom designed cake made by Kristine with a watercolour icing design and custom laser cut cake topper (to match the font on the couple’s wedding invitations); 3 large half-cut drum fire pits with marshmallow dessert stand to go; and the whole space was covered with a false ceiling of coloured bunting and festoon lighting. But most amazing of all was an enormous wall-divider constructed out of recycled wooden pallets that kept the guest experience intimate. As Kristine recently posted on Instagram, “When you’re literally given a bare backyard you add colour, palettes and a whole lot of love”.

Kristine is a graphic designer by trade. She is based in Sydney’s inner west and has worked for Australia’s largest floral supplier as the sole in-house graphic designer before taking the leap in 2014 to start her own studio. Studio Spence offers a totally bespoke wedding styling experience to her clients. I thought I would give Kristine some airtime on this little blog of mine. If you’re looking for a wedding stylist in Sydney to assist with your wedding stationery or creating your dream reception, her contact details are available at the end of this post. I think I’ll let Kristine take over with a few lines to tell her story…

Pete: Let’s start with a broad question – how would you describe your design style?

Kristine: This really is a challenging question to answer as a wedding stylist. I would say my style is conceptual, eclectic and refined but it is mainly about my client and their vision. It is about being adventurous and thinking outside the box to create an event that truly reflects the couple in every detail.

Pete: Even more broad – What inspires you?

Kristine: Everyone I work with is so different and this in itself is really inspiring. Getting to know my client’s tastes, personalities, their story, and style guides my whole process. I also draw on a love of interiors, magazines, fashion, art, typography and nature to dream up an event that conveys real emotion and connections. I also have an unhealthy love of second hand and antique stores.

Pete: Where would someone find you on a Sunday morning?

Kristine: Sunday isn’t Sunday without breaky at a local cafe! I am a self-confessed coffee addict and if I can’t have eggs, sourdough and great coffee I feel like I’ve been robbed lol.

Pete: As a wedding stylist, what is the craziest design brief you have ever received? Was it this pallet wall?

Kristine: It was definitely a crazy brief but I loved every minute of it. As you mentioned it was held in a stock standard backyard. I had to start from scratch and create spaces within a space. We built two pallet walls, made chairs & bar tables and made 12 metres of colourful bunting. I did everything from conceptualising to executing the event, designing the invitations, making the cake, floral styling, cutting out the B + R letters with a jigsaw (I’m not afraid of a power tool!) and hand painting the signs. My husband is a carpenter by trade and I’m constantly roping him in to create unique pieces for clients so when I said I needed a pallet wall he was right onto it.

Pete: Where do most clients get bogged down when styling a wedding reception?

Kristine: There are hours and hours of work in planning, sourcing and executing a successful event. I would say people underestimate the time and end up jamming too much in at the last minute or relying too heavily on their friends and family to do the work. It’s always a good idea to consider hiring a professional who can expand on your vision and execute it down to every detail, leaving you and your guests to enjoy the day.

Pete: What would be one small piece of advice that you could give someone who is currently planning their wedding?

Kristine: Don’t lose sight of what the wedding is actually about: you and your partner’s commitment to each other. Focus on the feeling and emotion you want to invoke at your wedding and style your ideas around that. Ask yourself: what is the vibe we want to create – is it more of a formal or informal gathering? Is it a traditional, family-focused event or a laid back soiree? Start with emotion and build from there. Nowadays, a wedding is more of an expression of who you are rather than following a standard script. Don’t be afraid to think differently. Whatever you decide, it should always reflect your personalities as individuals and a couple.

If you’d like a wedding stylist for your wedding or special event, feel free to email Studio Spence on kristine@studiospence.com.au. If you’re planning a wedding in the Southern Highlands and want to chat wedding photography, drop me a line here.

The post FEATURE: STUDIO SPENCE – DESIGNER & WEDDING STYLIST appeared first on Photographer Pete.

You’ve probably seen some photographs from other wedding day celebrations, or your now married friends have informed you on how a first look schedule works. If you haven’t, here’s how it goes:

SCHEDULE: FIRST LOOK WEDDING DAY

1. You continue on a relatively normal morning of preparations – crack open the champagne/beer/scotch, hair and makeup (for the ladies), and have a great time with friends and family.
2. Once you are ready, and before you head to your ceremony, the groom awaits the arrival of his bride in a nice, preferably private, photogenic location.
3. The bride arrives to meet her groom, and the two of you take a moment together to enjoy each other’s company for the first time on your wedding day.
4. Once the bride and groom have had a moment together and are ready; we take a walk together to capture some photographs of you guys (and your bridal party). We can spend as long or as little as you like. We can also head to another location of your choice for a few more photographs. Of course; drinks, nibbles and banter are standard, along with time to relax.
5. After your photographs, we head on to your ceremony for your nuptials. We can take some family photographs after your ceremony so that your parents and guests have an opportunity for some Kodak moments.
6. Here is a key difference from a traditional wedding schedule: After your ceremony, you enjoy some canapés or drinks with your guests, and then stay the rest of the evening together with your family and friends at your reception.

A first look wedding schedule is considered non-traditional, and hence it doesn’t suit every couple. In fact, most families with traditional preferences (i.e. the bride and groom meeting at the altar for the first time) are more likely to steer away from this concept – which is great (you are in the majority!). I don’t recommend a first look schedule to everyone. The purpose of this blog post is to bring the concept of a first look into the discussion space because a first look wedding can help solve an issue that appears at increasing numbers of my client meetings.

A little context…

When I sit down with new clients for a coffee and a chat, we start to discuss their wedding day plans. We talk about their ceremony, their reception and also their thoughts on location photography. I ask questions about cultural traditions to understand the couple in front of me, and what their wedding day means to their wider family.

When we start deliberating over location photography, someone usually asks “do you think that this is enough time for our wedding photos?”. Before I can respond, the other person modestly adds “I don’t want to spend too much time away from our wedding guests”. Hence, here is a dilemma that couples face when adhering to traditional wedding day timelines.

The issue with a traditional wedding day agenda is that there is commonly a time period between the ceremony and reception, where the couple and bridal party leave their guests to take photographs. Everyone’s been to that wedding where there was a 2 or 3-hour gap between the ceremony and reception. Whilst the happily married couple are off having fun with their photographer, their wedding guests have no idea of what to do with themselves.

Although it’s the guests that need to fill this time with an activity, my couples are increasingly wanting to address this at client meetings. Remember when your auntie and uncle married 10 years ago? At their wedding, you sat around twiddling your thumbs for 2 hours whilst they went off to take photographs. Now that you are having your day in the sunshine, you do not desire this experience for your guests. Brides and grooms these days want to offer their guests an awesome overall memorable wedding day – and this time gap interferes with the guest experience.

So how can a first look wedding day schedule give us more time with our guests? 

A first look wedding day schedule can bring about some advantages, which I have highlighted below:

1. There is no time gap between your ceremony and reception for location photography. This means that you and your wedding guests have a seamless experience together – straight from your ceremony to your reception.
2. Some guests (who may have travelled from afar) want to spend as much time with you as possible. Your mid-wedding day photography session might detract from time that your guests have to celebrate with you. A first look will maximise engagement time between you and your families.
3. Your wedding guests won’t need to find something to do during your photo session. They won’t need to go home and then come back. Your parents needn’t host your guests at their house to pass the time.

The above logistical advantages to a first look wedding offer benefits in addition to the below considerations:

1. By having your location photography earlier in the day, you are fresher than if you took photographs after your ceremony. This can be favourable if you are having a summer wedding.
2. There is perhaps more privacy for the bride and groom at a location we choose for a first look. If you are shy, a first look wedding schedule might allow you to enjoy each other without the prying eyes of other bystanders.

Some final thoughts…

Whilst a first look wedding schedule is not for everyone, I do recommend that you consider it for the benefits that this alternative timeline can provide you. In particular, I think that a first look schedule can really benefit a smaller wedding. The negative effect of a time gap between your ceremony and reception tends to get amplified with respect to the guest experience at intimate weddings. As smaller weddings tend to be more personal, the intimacy can disappear quickly if the bride and groom vanish.

This blog post is just some food for thought. If you are considering a first look wedding and would like some feedback on your timeline, drop me an email here, or leave a note below.

Cheers,

Pete.

The post How Can a First Look Wedding Give us More Time With Our Guests? appeared first on Photographer Pete.

Just quietly, I think that there is a small issue in the photographer-client relationship space. I think that the problem stems from the value proposition that is promoted by some photography studios. I am aware that there are a tonne (literally thousands) of wedding and portrait photographers in this wide world, and that each photographer has their applicable costs and fees. However, I think that sometimes the artfulness of photography gets left out of the equation. Everyone knows that photography is an art art-form, but sometimes when money and fees are brought into consideration the artfulness or creativity of a photographer can get left behind in the selection process. As a result, the value (hint: packaged inclusions) gets considered first, and some people perhaps overlook a more significant consideration when choosing a wedding photographer.

Thus, I feel that there is an opportunity here to provide some guidance to the masses. You – the brides and grooms of Sydney – might want some help! So here are my top tips on how to choose a wedding photographer, and how to choose a photographer that will make you smile every time you look back at your wedding photographs.

Of course, being a wedding and portrait photographer myself, I have a bias in this discussion, but I feel comfortable in recommending you away from me if I do not suit your style.

How do I choose a wedding photographer?

This question is difficult to give a direct answer to, simply because there is such an abundance of wedding photographers out there. There are loads of styles, packages, price ranges, and personalities to choose from. Further, Uncle Bob and his DSLR camera are available, keen, and cheap (free!).

Let me start with this: Don’t ask Uncle Bob to photograph your wedding. There – I said it. Don’t ask a family member or friend to photograph your wedding. There are many reasons…

Uncle Bob might be decent with his camera. But is he experienced under pressure? Has he been to enough weddings to expect what happens next? There are so many subtle aspects to a wedding that make for the best photo opportunities and memories, that are easily missed by those who are not expecting them. Emotion, reactions of parents and family members, subtle looks that the bride and groom give each other during the ceremony and speeches, not to mention the shy couple who’s’ first kiss lasts literally just a split-second. Genuine emotion only occurs once.

Uncle Bob is also a guest. You want your family and friends to relax and have fun on your wedding day. The day is about celebrating you as a couple, so let them celebrate you! You would be surprised at how often photographers run around in a sweat photographing a wedding day. We need to be all over it! Whilst your guests can watch from afar under a shady tree, your photographer cannot.

This is a difficult point to write; but what if Uncle Bob makes a mistake? What if Uncle Bob misses your first kiss? Does Uncle Bob know how to manage family members whilst taking your formal family photographs? If Uncle Bob makes an error it could be quite upsetting which might test family relations after your wedding (we’ve heard the stories!). Our job as professionals is to get it right and to get it right every time. This is important to consider when you choose a wedding photographer because most people get married once!

To help address the primary topic, let’s address this first: What makes a good wedding photographer?

A good wedding photographer is technically capable. A great wedding photographer can understand light, and they can ‘paint’ with light. An awesome photographer uses their tools to create photographs that are meaningful, and tell a story of you on your wedding day. Importantly, the best wedding photographer can get it right ‘in-camera’ every time, and they are there when they need to be – they have the experience to know what to expect, and can get the shot they need when the moment occurs to tell your story.

Generally, a good photograph is created by lighting a subject properly and framing the subject in a good location with an interesting composition. Photoshop and other tools are available to aid in enhancing good photographs, but you cannot create a good photograph without nailing three fundamental concepts – light, location, and composition.

So, how do you choose a wedding photographer – and select the best wedding photographer for your wedding?

At the end of the day, there can be quite a few similarities between wedding and portrait photographers, so the photographer’s individual style, story-telling ability, and personality comprise the main differences. Remember the above proposition – photography is an art-form. You need to know that the photographer’s style represents you as a bride and groom and that they can work well with you to document moments from your wedding day that are captured timelessly.

Consider this:

Although perhaps hard to stomach, it’s worth paying a little more for a photographer that you like, rather than skimping a little to get a second-rate photographer ‘that will do’. The reason is simple: after your wedding day, the dress and suit are in storage, the cake is eaten, the wedding cars have driven off… the only things that are left are your memories and the memories that you re-live through your wedding photographs. When you choose a wedding photographer it is important to keep this in mind.

Browse through your prospective photographer’s portfolio. Most wedding photographers have sample galleries online. Decide if you like their photographs. Do you like the way that they represent their wedding couples in the photographs? What do you think of their composition and framing? What about the colour grading in the photographs – do you like the editing that is applied to their sample images? Do you think that their wedding photographs are a timeless representation of that couple?

A key difference between wedding photographers – is how well they can tell the story of a couple and their wedding through the use of the photographic medium. Most couples will probably display about two to three of their favourite wedding photographs on their wall, and if your photographer can tell your story in those photographs then you’re on to a winner!

A small, be important consideration – How well does your potential photographer’s personality fit with you and your wedding plans? Does your photographer You will probably be able to understand most of the above criteria before meeting with your photographer, so I suggest that when you meet in person that you ask questions to help you understand their personality. Do you think that they will be fun to work with? Do think that they will have fun with you on your wedding day?

Here’s a big one – Do you think that you would want to see yourself in your potential photographer’s images hanging above your fireplace, in ten years time? Remember, your wedding day is just a snapshot of the commencement your lives together… you want to look back at this day through these photographs and remember that you had a really awesome wedding!

So finally, some advice:

When you choose a wedding photographer my suggestion is to look around on your prospective photographer’s website and ask yourself some questions in relation to the above considerations (light, location, composition, experience, style and how much you like their work). Find out how your chosen photographer works with their clients. Please ensure that you meet with them at the time of booking (which is why I insist on meeting my clients for a coffee!), and also speak to them at least once before your wedding day to clarifying your wedding schedule.

So, I hope I have been of some help to you in making this tough decision easier…

Good luck, and all the best for your wedding day!

The post How To Choose A Wedding Photographer appeared first on Photographer Pete.

Since 2008 I have worked for successful commercial corporate businesses and contributed to online photography and media publications. More recently I became a member of the wedding photography team at GM Photographics on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. GM Photographics is owned by Canon Master Photographer Graham Monro. At GM Photographics we produce stunning wedding photographs for couples across Sydney and NSW every weekend. To say that I am super excited to continually work with GM is an understatement! It is an honour to work with Graham and the team.

For a long time, I had thought of what it would be like running my own small business – working for myself and my own clients. In 2016 I took a leap into establishing my own Portrait and Wedding Photography Studio based in Cremorne on Sydney’s Lower North Shore – building something for myself as opposed to building a brand for someone else.

The beginning…

In May of 2016, I established a studio under my own name. So, why did I choose the name ‘Photographer Pete? I wanted a name that was memorable, simple and clean, yet most of all a brand name that represented me as a person. Most photographers in the business are named “First-name Last-name Photography”, which seems common, boring and over-done. ‘Photographer Pete’ is simple, straightforward, approachable and direct. In many photography businesses, clients are dealing with an individual photographer; so why not name my studio as such?

So what, or who, is Photographer Pete? Who is the person behind the lens?

Photographer Pete is a Wedding and Portrait Photographer based in Cremorne on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. It is run by Peter Hawke – say hello to me on Facebook or Instagram!

So in review, what did 2016 bring? What did I learn?

2016 featured a few ups and downs, but mostly, it showcased the upward potential of what my small wedding and portrait photography business has ahead.

In 2016, I photographed numerous memorable weddings; some of which were in the worst of conditions (remember the June 2016 storms?), and some were spectacular (think Sarah + Alex, Jessica + Paul and Leanne + Nick) as well as some amazing portrait sessions (thinking of Amy + Chris’ sunrise session at Longreef Beach).

I was super delighted to photograph the wedding of my old school friend Mathew and (his now wife) Lauren. I documented many elopements in and around the stunning Sydney Harbour, met many super cool couples, held numerous consultations with brides and grooms, and above all, had more fun in 7 months on my own than over the last 6 years put together.

In the commercial world (which I occasionally dip my toes into) I covered conferences (including cosmetic brand Nucerity and the tech week that was Australian Utility Week) and completed a large landscape photography contract for the newly amalgamated Eastern Beaches Council – You’ll probably see some of my landscape photographs around the internet when you search for public spaces in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs including Milk Beach, Strickland House, Hermit Bay Beach, and Bondi Pavilion to name a few.

But surely the most significant: I was a member of a 3 band team that completed the ENORMOUS e-commerce photography contract for the entire Woolworths supermarket store catalogue; some 80,000 photographs across 26,000 grocery products ranging from fresh fruit to deodorant, bottles of Coca-Cola and cosmetics! I’m not going to lie – that was a massive job!

I learnt that running a business is just as important that the photography itself. I need to be a web developer, SEO expert, marketing guru, social media manager and an accountant just as successfully as a photographer. Client relations and customer service, of course, must come above all else.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank a few groups and individuals. Firstly, all my family and friends – without your amazing level of support and encouragement, I would not be where I am today. Secondly, to my partner Jesamina; without your patience, this wouldn’t be possible. And thirdly, and certainly mostly, to the super awesome and fantastic couples that I’ve worked with throughout the year – I owe an enormous amount of gratitude. Without your support, this studio would simply not exist. I look forward to what lies ahead in 2017; to future meetings, consultations and opportunities.

So with this said: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and many thanks to all those who follow, support, and encouraged me along the way. You guys are awesome….

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