E+M- Fremantle wedding on Film and Digital

I have been photographing film at weddings in Perth and worldwide for about 5 years now and every time that email with the film scans hits my inbox I still get butterflies!

If you have wanted to try photography using film here’s a few little tips:

1- Start on an automatic film camera.

My favourite 35 mm camera is the Manolta Mac-tele. This camera is a beast, I recently dropped mine at a wedding and completely smashed it (it was such a sad moment) but the camera still works, incredible! If you have been shooting film for a while and your up for more or a challenge then the Pentax k-1000 is my favourite manual camera. They have inbuilt light metres inside so you wont need to carry around a light metre as long as it is working.

2- Don’t worry about buying expensive film.

When shooting 35mm film I usually shoot on Kodak portra 400 or Fuji 400h (which is now discontinued so I won’t be for long) but I have recently found that Kodak Ultra max is just as beautiful and is half the price. You can get this from Big W so you wont need to worry about getting slogged with massive shipping costs.

3- Send your film to the right lab!

The lab who scans your images makes 1000% of the difference to the look of the images. I love PhotoVision in the US but in Australia a few favourite’s are Lazarus lab or Atkins pro lab.

4- Think about your image before you take it. Composition, lighting and the subject.

Whether you’re using an iPhone, camera or film camera you can take a really great image if you consider these three things. Film works best with lots of light or if its dark you’ll need a flash. Take your time, sometimes counting down before taking the image can help with less eyes closed as every image costs money.

For Marco and Emmelie’s wedding at their home in Fremantle, Perth I photographed using 120mm film, 35mm film and digital. Every wedding I photograph I use both film and digital to capture the day. I use 120mm film because its professional grade and is high quality but I shoot 35mm for filler shots or for every day photos of my little one at home as its cheaper, you get more photos from the roll and you can use an auto film camera so you can take photos without thinking too hard.

Em and Marco’s day was so perfect, here’s Ems sweet words after receiving her full gallery- “Hi lovely Amelia, Wow wow wow, thank you so much for your beautiful photos. We have just shared them with our families and we are all absolutely in awe! You captured the day and the happiness so perfectly! So special to have the filmies too, thank you. We have been recommending you to friends - so glad we chose you.”

Millie at 14 days

Little Millie was completely awake and ready to party for our newborn photoshoot. At 14 days old newborns are often much more awake that the first week but the photo’s captured are just as beautiful.

Maternity bump session at Trigg beach

It’s pretty incredible what our bodies can do right? Maternity sessions are one of my favourites because it reminds me how incredible we are as women and how beautiful and incredible our bodies are. These guys were totally loved up during their maternity session at Trigg beach in Perth’s northern suburbs, so excited to meet their little one. Make sure you scroll to the bottom to see Gabbi’s beautiful baby bump in the summer sun.

As a family portrait photographer, I strive to capture natural, candid moments that reflect the essence of this super special time in life.

Make sure you scroll to the bottom to see the lovely bump shots right at the end of the session.

R+S- Winthrop Hall Wedding reception

WINTHROP HALL WEDDING AT UWA, PERTH

This Winthrop hall wedding reception at UWA in Perth absolutely blew me away. Located on the grass with the Tropical grove behind them and Winthrop hall in perfect view, it was the perfect unique perth venue for a night I will never forget. Perth wedding planners; Confetti co events did a spectacular job co-ordinating and planning Rach and Scott’s wedding day which was dripping head to toe with florals from Signature floral design. If you have the ability I 100% recommend Confetti and co events to help plan your day.

Rachel and Scott’s wedding day was a perfectly warm summers day so the night couldn’t have had a better vibe. One way to add the good vibes at your ceremony or reception is live music. Which is exactly what Proof the band did. Proof the band played live acoustic at their ceremony located at Bishop’s Road reserve and then the full band played at their reception at Winthrop hall in UWA.

I photographed Rach and Scott’s day using a combination of medium format film (the film stock I used was fuji 400h) and also digital photography, something I do for all weddings. My team and I also captured Rachel and Scott’s wedding videography. I love capturing both video and photography, the positive to having both is the wedding film (video) looks similar to the photos.

Rach wore two wedding gowns, the first was her mums made by her late grandma and the second was a Galia Lahav wedding gown from Perth bridal store Dion for Brides. I love it when my couples incorporate sentimental or heirloom pieces into their day, what a special way to remember her grandma.

Below is Rach and Scott’s highlight wedding film captured along side photography.

Rach and Scott chose to add colour to their day by choosing bright and vibrant florals from Perth florist Signature floral design. Feast your eyes blow on these incredible flowers.

Perth doesn’t have many ceremony locations with a water front view of the river but Bishop’s Road reserve in Dailkeith is one with the most spectacular view. Signature floral design spruced it up with the most wonderful florals. Im always a huge live music at weddings and Proof the band is a favourite.

Is this not the prettiest reception venue in Perth ever? Winthrop hall at UWA is probably one of my favourite and unique open air venues. It was the perfect night under the starts with the Tropical grove and Winthrop hall in the background, it couldn’t have been a more beautiful location made even prettier by wedding planners and stylists Confetti and co events.

Wedding vendors:

Ceremony location: Bishop’s Road Reserve

Reception venue: Winthrop Hall, UWA Perth

Photography and Videography wedding film: Amelia Claire Photography

Planners and stylists: Confetti and co event's wedding planners

Perth florist: Signature floral design

Gowns: Ceremony gown made by nan

Reception gown Galia Lahav from Perth bridal store Dion for Brides

Makeup: Gloss Plus

Hair: Hair by Gabrielle and Bonnie Louise styling

Celebrant: Megan Knox

Catering: Ultimo event catering

Reception furniture hire: Hire society event hire

Live music at ceremony and Reception: Proof the band.

Four ways to make sure your family session is a success

I photographed Ash and Georgia’s wedding a few years ago in this very field in Perth so it was so lovely to be back at Yellagonga National park in Perth meeting their two little ones photographing their new family. What a beautiful family, they were relaxed and seemed to just be enjoying the new season together while I snapped away in the background taking photos.

Family photography sessions can seem overwhelming and stressful sometimes I know! You have to get the whole family there, work around nap times, make sure everyone is fed, happy and clean! It’s a big deal! So here are a few little tips to make your family session less stressful and fun so you can get those natural beautiful candid shots where everyone is truly having fun and you will have beautiful memories to look back on for ever.

1. Go with the flow and be present with your loves.

Sometimes there will be tears, sometimes tantrums, but most of the time that will pass and the kids will get on with having a great time in nature. Let them explore, let them be free and we will get beautiful candid photo’s to remember this crazy beautiful time in your lives.

2. Choose a location where the kids can be themselves and have fun.

Choose a location that you enjoy, that’s fits you guys as a family. If you love the beach please choose the beach and watch everyone come to life, running and getting their toes wet. A field or park are also great options with lots to explore and space to run and be free.

3. Choose colours and outfits that dont date.

Bring your outfits with you and change once you get to the location. Neutrals are great for this. Dont match but choose complimentary colours and patterns. Youll be more likely to look back on these in ten years and still love them.

4. Make sure everyone is well fed.

We all get hangry when we are hungry right! Well fed bubba’s (even if they are tired) will make things a lot easier.

At the end of the day, being present and enjoying the time with your loves is what is most important and ill be in the background snapping away and capturing memories for you to treasure for a lifetime.

The kids are wearing outfits by Marlow and Mae and Soll the label.