Category: Wedding

Last weekend I shot Emma and Nic’s wedding at the always incredible, Goonoo Goonoo Station. The week leading up to this wedding was stressful for Emma & Nick to say the least. A covid outbreak was starting to on fold in Sydney. Emma & Nic were already in Tamworth but many of their guest were from Sydney and were caught in the lockdown including one of Nic’s groomsmen. Fast forward till the eve of their wedding more restrictions for another of Emma’s bridesmaids who had to leave straight away to avoid lockdown in QLD.

For Nic and Emma not having three of their bridal party present was really hard. But a positive they were able to invite guests whom they previously couldn’t due to numbers.

So Saturday of their wedding started off perfectly. I turned up at Emmas parents house which was a dream to photograph in. Emma’s dress was so perfect for her, so unique. Her dress who was designed by Lilli Marcs of Paddington. The train was made of this incredible lace that was also detachable for the reception- a perfect idea.

Emma & Nic had their ceremony out in the gardens of “The church” at Goonoo Goonoo station. Simple elegant and Vanessa Dobson did a fabulous job, as usual for the ceremony.

Nic and Emma did not want to be away from their guests too long for bridal photos so we chose to do all their location photos on the lawn and surrounds near the reception centre. The sunset and light for this afternoon was incredible. Half-way through this shoot again another covid change happened. Andrea the events organizer at Goonoo Goonoo station informed us that dancing at weddings in NSW was to be restricted to the bridal party only from 6PM. So with some discussion Nic and Emma decided they would dance from 5pm-6pm with all their guests then have their dinner. This was so so good. You could feel the electricity and fun on the dance floor. never have I been at a wedding where the dance floor was so electric at sun-down! This just showed how great Emma & Nic, their guests and Goonoo Goonoo Stations espresso Martini cocktails were!!

All I can say is Nic & Emma were so relaxed about all these changes. They just took everything in their stride. Cardboard cut-outs for their bridal party who couldn’t make it, dancing their heart out from 5-6pm. Also for Goonoo Goonoo Station and their team also just working with these changes, pushing back dinner to accommodate this as well- fabulous!

Thanks guys for such a great day!! I just adore your photos!

Emma & Nic had some incredible suppliers to help them for their day.

Flowers- Designer bunches

Dress- Lilli Marcs Paddington

Hair- Larissa Barden

Makeup- Ainslea Warner

Band- Uptown

Celebrant- Vanessa Dobson

A few weeks ago after shooting another fabulous wedding on Saturday my husband & I travelled down to Sydney for a Sunday wedding. Amelia & Jason first contacted me when good friends Alan & Tosha who had been at other weddings I had photographed at recommended me. After chatting on the phone a few times, plans changing due to Covid it was so good to finally meet Jason, Amelia & their family & friends.

This day flowed so easily from the boys getting ready to Amelia’s amazing parents house – for the getting ready pics I had one perfect day

Jason & Amelia were planning an indoor ceremony but decided with covid they wanted an outdoor ceremony. Having booked Ottimo house for their reception they decided to have it all in one place.

Ottimo house was incredible. I have never photographed there. But to have your ceremony, reception & photo locations all in one spot makes it very easy.

So after the ceremony & family pics we headed up the hill with the bridal party. I just love photographing a wedding with a big bridal party that love to have fun & get “amongst it”. We put on music & before we knew it the sun was setting & our photos were done.

This location & day was perfect as you will see by the pics. Jason & Amelia are just the most sweetest couple. Seeing them interact, laugh & pause for a moment to watch their first setting sun together as husband & wife was magical.

The reception was incredible full of life, laugh & culture. Great speeches & great dancing.

I had too many amazing pics to choose from so good luck in picking a fav. Thanks for asking me to be part of your special day.

As a Tamworth NSW wedding photographer I just adore meeting couples like Isaiah & Beth. As soon as I met these guys I walked away thinking they were so special & their wedding will be too. As we chatted over coffee, they told me how it would be impossible for Isaiah’s parents to travel to Australia due to Covid.

Like so many covid weddings this year so many family & friends haven’t been able to make weddings. But this one really broke my heart. Isaiah sat there & told me how close he was to his mum & dad but also how special they were. Yes Isaiah & Beth did everything so his mum & dad could be present for this day. So 3am Texas time Isaiah’s family & friends watched & participated via zoom. As you will see I was also able to get a shot of both of them on screen at the same time.

The day was absolutely incredible.This was one special wedding. They were just so in love. They also have a strong faith in God & this was highlighted throughout their day. So many of their guests felt the same as them too. All united on one day.

The day was incredibly windy so instead of going straight to Tangaratta Vineyards I decided to take the bridal party to a more secluded location out of the wind. We then did last light at Tangaratta. Both locations were magical as you will see.

Working beside me for the day was Matt from Day one films. What a great team we made filming & photographing ideas together it was so easy & so relaxed. His video was also incredible! Thanks Matt

Thanks guys for an amazing day

cheers Karissa

Amazing hair & makeup –Plush Tamworth

Reception – Tangaratta Vineyard

A wedding in Foster at the beach is amazing but when you add in that you know the couples family & cant wait to party & photograph this cute couple it makes my wedding photography just that bit better.

I first met Shania & her family in Cambodia over 4 years when were were on a construction project together. Fast forward a few years Shania & her family all moved over to Cambodia. Since then her parents Mick & Kate have become such good friends.

Even though they lived in Siem Reap & I was in Phnom Penh we caught up when we could. Back in January this year Shania her family & Jay visited & stayed. I also knew Jay’s parents but really got to know them as a couple that week.

Fast forward through to covid when most Ex-pats have returned back to Australia I get a call from these guys saying they were engaged. Planning a wedding in Covid with so many restrictions has been insane! But as I know in Australia we have had it pretty good compared to the rest of the world.

So fast forward to Shania & Jay’s day. Their parents Kate & Mick & Gena & Tim put in so much work with their families. Having a marquee wedding reception on a good friend’s property, Pete & Jen not far from Seal rocks was the ideal location. Long golden grass, beautiful gardens & a cute vintage shed. They all put so much work into all the details which was just so beautiful.

We had endless locations in Foster & on our way to the farm. Too many locations being my biggest hassle on the day, so yes not really a hassle.

I just adore these photos. Such a range of locations from beach to tree-lined roadways, long golden incredible grass, funky vintage sheds to cliff on headlands. Yes I had the pick.

My mouth was so sore from smiling & laughing so much. Yes we had that much fun.The bridal party & all their guests were just relaxed & . Jay’s blue-steel after 400+ weddings I must say has trumped them all. Him & his groomsmen have totally nailed it.

Good luck in choosing a favourite, hense the amount of photos in this post!!

Cake -Tyasha Papadpoulos ( AMAZING!!)- Also another good mate from Cambo!

Hair -Cait Connolly

Maddison Hinckley @ Vanity Skin & Beauty

Cheers Karissa

On the weekend I came back from Cambodia to Chris & Taylors wedding on the outskirts of Tamworth. Chris & Taylor first contacted me last year when they started planning their wedding. They spoke to friends down the road Holly ( from the https://www.thegoodgiftco.com.au/) & Ben who I photographed a few years ago for their wedding in the hunter. Taylor loved her photos so she knew when she was planning her wedding she asked Holly who her Tamworth wedding photographer was.

Chris & Taylor had their ceremony & reception on Chris’s family farm on the outskirts of Duri. This place was just spectacular. I visited last year in the thick of the drought & it was still gorgeous but upon returning this month with endless green grass & full dams- this place looked incredible.

We were also lucky with dark moody storm clouds throughout the day that made their photos looks incredible.

I always meet up with my couples the week of the wedding to go through everything. As we drove around the family property I was overwhelmed with how many incredible locations they had to choose from. Yes they had too many. But as I explained to Chris & Taylor if they were happy lets make the final decision on the day for locations. I explained we didn’t know weather wise if we would have full sun, overcast, a little rain, sunset or no sunset. Their response was we honestly have no idea we totally trust you & cant see what you do photography wise -so you tell us- we totally trust you!. Thank you so much guys. So based on the light, weather & timing we chose the locations below.

What also made Taylor & Chris’s day so perfect was their bridal party, their family & friends. The bridal party were happy, up for anything & joked around all day. Also as many weddings today there is divorced parents. Sometimes this can be difficult but I was so impressed how all the parents at this wedding whether together or not, they were their for their kids & their happiness. Such a beautiful thing to see. Good country weddings like this truly stand out & leave such a beautiful impression on me when you are a Tamworth wedding photographer who does see so many weddings.

Chris & Taylor had so many amazing suppliers that helped them on their day they are below

Flowers-Botanique New England

Angus Lane -Religious Marriage celbrant

Marquee & décor hire –Gold Event Hire

Make-up- Kim Newsome Pure Beauty

Hair- Wild Orchid hair & beauty

Rings- Danny Designer Jeweller

Thanks again guys for such an incredible day.

cheers Karissa

I started shooting Srey Tey & Rith’s wedding photos two weeks ago. Yes, after shooting 400+ weddings I did my first ever pre-wedding shoot, that wasn’t shot on the actual wedding day. Yes it was shot in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. & I really can’t believe it has taken so long to do this.

I know pre-wedding shoots are very popular in asia. I thought the reason, so they could have multiple out-fit changes. Whilst this is true for some couples this wasn’t the case for Rith & Dey. To them for their wedding day they wanted amazing photographs but also wanted to spend quality time with friends and family. Not feeling so rushed & on a tight schedule.

Rith & Dey wanted to feel relaxed, chilled with their friends on location spending time with their close friends & with each other & giving all their energy to this before the wedding. Then on their wedding day concentrating on the ceremony, their commitment to each other & having quality time with friends & family. They also got to photograph at amazing locations without any time restraints. Time and again I have couples in rural Australia say they would love photos at their family farm, it would mean so much to them but sadly it is just too far or not possible Or “I adore this location but it is too far to travel back to the reception so we will have to forget it. Yes this is a personal choice & certainly not one for everyone. As there is many other factors involved but for Tey & Rith it was perfect. So if this is something you would like to consider for your wedding or even just you as a couple ( do your bridal party photos at the wedding) lets chat!

My verdict for pre-wedding photography is a huge thumbs up. Yes the bride has to have hair & make-up done especially for this. Some couples might say “oh but was it lacking the emotion not being on your wedding day?… definitely not for this couple & for their friends it was incredible!- we had an absolute blast.

Rith & Tey trusted me completely. They wanted me to find locations that were natural & not too staged. Sometimes Cambodian wedding photography is a lot of posing with friends & family. Whilst they wanted this on their wedding day they just wanted a more natural approach for their location photos. We were able to get this in their pre-wedding photographs

So a few days before I jumped on my motorbike & went on a scout around Phnom Penh for the perfect location. Not far from my house I found amazing locations- A plant nursery full of yellow potted flowers. This place was SPECTACULAR- Just endless potted yellow flowers as far as the eye could see & with a golden Cambodian sunset it was exactly how I pictured it! eeeek it was incredible!!

Fast forward two weeks to their weddings day it was just such a easy, beautiful day. At Cambodian weddings when the bride walks down the aisle everyone claps…which I just love! Another great idea I had never seen before Rith & Tey cut their wedding cake but they also cut the cake & served the cake to their parents. It looked so thoughtful & respectful to the ones that they loved the most. A gorgeous way of showing appreciation to your parents.

So many close- friends helped so much to make this wedding not only a success but a warm friendly, happy, emotion & so so smiley wedding. They had their friend Bong Phil give one of the best marriage talks I have ever heard ,friends Dakou & Steph, Stephanie & Sakha helped Tey & Rith get ready on the day, friends Mizaho & Nori ( & their helpers) did gorgeous flower arrangements & organised decorations etc. At Their reception at Dyvith Hotel many friends organised entertainment, singing and dancing for the couple.

Dey & Rith chose the Dyvith hotel for their reception. As a foreigner you are told in Cambodia to be wary of “food at weddings” but this place was just perfect. Super clean, amazing friendly staff & the food was delicious! A fabulous venue!

A few of Tey’s best friends organised a large framed print from their pre-wedding shoot. After singing a beautiful song the girls gave the print to them which bought Tey to tears.

Thank you so much Tey & Rith for letting me capture these incredible images. These images will hold a special place in my heart forever.

Karissa xx