Photography by Petti Anastasi

On the 2nd May 2009 I was fortunate enough to photograph Natasha and Corey McHatton in the Hunter Valley Winery area…..we had perferct weather and we visited 5 different locations in the Pokolbin area.

Natasha and Corey were married at the Lovedale Wedding Chapel in front of their family and friends…from there they all moved onto Peterson’s Champagne House for the Reception.

I spent 1.5 hours photographing their location shoot and their images have come up absolutely amazing….we utilised Wilderness Road for this shot in particular and it is amongst my favourite’s!!!

Congratulations to Corey & Natasha!!

Every bride wants to look glamorous in her wedding photographs. A professional photogarpher knows how to place you to look your best and what sort of poses are more appealing!! But what gives brides that flawless look….well….Makeup!!!

Always have your wedding makeup applied heavier than what you would normally wear. The camera needs heavier makeup to be able to pick up definition of the cheeks and eyes. Your lips also need to have colour on them……the nude lips look which is popular only works in the right lighting situations. Weddings are bsutling events which happen in all different lighting so having makeup on and colour is always going to bring out the best in you.

Here is Kristy on the morning of her wedding….Kristy’s make-up was heavy and striking and the camera loved her. Kristy & Dan were married at Treachery in Seals Rocks in a beautiful ceremony out amongst the cabins at Treachery….

After 10 year’s in the business of photography and 450+ wedding’s later I (Petti Anastasi) know which images become couple’s favourite’s…..they are always the one’s which I shoot when the couple are taking no notice…..It is like I steal a moment out of the day!!! Really I like to think of my images as many moments from the day creating a story which lasts a lifetime!!

It is important for me to get to know my client’s before the wedding day….If the bride and groom are relaxed with me then their wedding images will show more intimacy and emotion. I always am prepared for the unexpected as that is when the couple let their guard down and that’s when I start shooting!!!!

5 Thing’s Petti Anastasi say’s you should remember on your wedding day to help create candid images:

• Always have a smile on your face ( even a half smile ). Be aware that you are being followed all day by a photogarpher and you can be captured at any moment.
• Allow yourself to forget that their is a photographer snapping away ( but like Petti say’s be aware!)
• Relax into your location shoot and go with the flow so to speak….do what come’s naturally to you.
• Interact with your partner and don’t be shy to show your feelings.
• Don’t always look at the photographer…..the best wedding images are always when the couple are looking away from the lense!

Selecting a photographer can be a daunting task. So many couple’s are confused as to whether to go with a big photographic studio with multiple photographers or whether to seek a professional photographer who works for themselves. Couples ask “what is the difference”….

Well - there are pro’s and con’s for both sides…..big photographic studio’s can offer you a photographer at short notice due to the amount of photographers they have on their books but you are taking a gamble as to what your wedding photographs will look like as it depends on the photographer who turns up on the day.  Some studio’s show you alot of great work from various photographers, but they will not guaruntee you will get the photographer whose work you like best.

A wedding photgrapher who works for themselves is more flexible with what they can offer you…..also, when you visit to view their work you know you are looking at wedding photographs they personally took not a collection which was taken for the studio.

It all depends on what you want from your wedding photographs. Big wedding studio’s also have high expenses and they struggle to offer wedding photography to couple’s who have a budget to stick to…….that’s where a professional who works of their own may suit you better.

At the end of the day the most important thing to remember is that most good wedding photographers and wedding studio’s will provide you with a stunning wedding photographs. Ask yourself is it important for me to know my photographer and deal with them personally. Do you as a couple want a photographer with a more intimate approach to your wedding day? Do I like that particular photographer’s work…..am I viewing  wedding photographs they have taken? A wedding photographer who works for themselves has a reputation to uphold and has to be consistent with their work so they will usually offer you a more personlised service and will always work a little harder to make sure that your wedding photographs will be glamorous!

One last thing…..As a working professional photographer, Newcastle photographer Petti Anastasi has a little tip!!…..” always look for a professional who is part of an industry group….Being part of the Australian Institute of Professoinal Photography ( AIPP )  assures you as the customer that you are dealing with a proffesional studio and with a photographer whose ethics and standards are watched…..”

So you want your wedding ceremony to take place outside…..maybe at your favourite location on a beach or in a magical garden or vineyard. Sounds great doesn’t it but….what if the weather is a little ordinary!! Rain can dampen any couple’s plans of an outdoor ceremony or location shoot. To be able to plan your wedding photographs better it is important to have a wet weather plan. Petti Anastasi calls this “Plan B”. Awesome wedding photographs can only be created with time and if the weather is rainy and windy then new locations have to be found……having a plan cut’s out the frantic run around finding a location under cover for your wedding photographs, Have in mind a place indoors with lots of natural light coming in. Maybe you know of a building with a big awning or even a hotel room or hotel foyer?? Doorways with big doors always look effective in photographs. Oh and keep in mind…….some of the best images I have taken have been shot in wet weather so always expect the unexpected!!!

Every couple wants to have great photographs on their wedding day. To accomplish this it is important that you run on time!!!!!

To achieve great wedding photographs Newcastle photographer Petti Anastasi says…” time has to be on our side…to work out the best lighting in the current location and establish what shots will be done at that particular time, as well as leaving enough time to capture all the formalities as well as the more relaxed images”

To help with your planning remember:

• Make sure you leave ample time for hair and make-up to be done. If your hairdresser or make-up artist is not given enough time this affects the whole day. Petti Anastasi say’s……..”When your photographer arrives your hair and makeup must be finished….especially the brides!”
• Allow 20 minutes for getting into your dress….especially if it has a lace up back or tons of buttons!!!
• Have an itinerary of how the day will proceed….and stick to it!!
• Allow 15 - 20 minutes for formal family photographs.
• Keep in mind that travel time must be incorporated into how long your location shoot will go for. It is wise to use locations within close proximity of your Ceremony and Reception. 

Stick to the above guidelines and your photographer will have a better chance of getting plenty of images!!!

Everyone has a camera and happy snaps of family and friends are a must for every household. There is nothing better than taking photographs at a party, birthday or an event where your favourite people are at and looking back on these. They serve as captured moments in a lifetime and become treasured as time passes.Having family portraits done by a photographer has it’s place as well. Firstly - it gives you images of how your family was at a particular time…..like when you have little ones…that time is so precious and babies grow and change so quickly. How important does that image become in years to come? Also how often are you all as a family able to be in the photographs at any one time?

Newcastle photographer Petti Anastasi says ” A family portrait every so often is a must as it captures time which has passed and you never get that time back…..but when it is photographed families or children are shown as how they were at the time. Newcastle has so many beautiful locations for portraits to be done….we have beautiful beaches and great parks and rolling hills….portraits are a definate must for any family”

Photography By Petti

How do you know if a photographer is a “working professional photographer” and not someone who has purchased a camera and thought ” Hey - I might become a photographer”. Being a member of the AIPP assures you as the consumer that your chosen photographer works to the highest standard set by their industry peers and practices quality business practises and of course is artistically creative in the field of photography. 

Be sure to enlist a photographer that is part of the AIPP as they have met a strict criteria to be accepted as a member….that way you can rest easy that they will do the right thing by you and if they don’t….well….you have an industry body who you as the consumer can voice your opinion to!!!

So you are on the hunt for a wedding photographer….By now you have probably realised that the task can be confusing as no two photographers offer the same thing. How do I choose a wedding photographer who will give me what I want and can visualise the day as I see it?

Unless… you know exactly what you are looking for it can take months of searching. So, take 5 minutes and ask yourself-

How much do I value photography and what does it mean to me? …Do I want the whole day recorded including the Reception or just part of the day?

Am I confortable in front of the camera? Do I prefer to have a more informal approach to my wedding photography where I don’t really know I am being photogarpherd? Do we enjoy being in front of the camera? Do I want formal photographs of family and friends taken?

Do I want an “pre-wedding shoot” done prior to the wedding? Would I be more comfortable in front of the camera if we did this prior to the big day?

What type of location shoot do I want?…… Beachside? Manicured Grounds? old buildings? Indoors? Car Photo’s? all?

Do I want photographs showing the two of us only - a more intimate location shoot or do I want my bridal party to join me to mix it up a little?

After the wedding day what do I want? A Proof book? Album? Story-book? digital files? frame? canvas? …

Should I consider parent albums as a “thankyou” to our families?

Knowing your own answers to at least half of those questions will help you make the right choice for you and which photogarpher will suit you and your wedding!!

Photography By Petti

Make the most of your wedding photographer

This is a day that will never be repeated, so you need someone who can capture the best moments without cutting anyone’s head off or giving you ‘red eye’. It’s important to have a true professional photographer.

Relationships matter

Whoever you book to take your wedding photographs will be spending a substantial amount of time with you on the best day of your lives, so you must get on with him or her. ‘You should feel confident and relaxed in their presence. Even if they are the best photographer in the world, if you don’t feel comfortable it will be reflected in the final images.

Check the small print

Once you’ve found the perfect photographer, get your booking in writing. Check the small print and make sure you know exactly what you’re getting for your money. Always receive quote’s in writing and discuss all options and upgrades prior to the day. This will limit any hidden costs or surprises after the wedding!  

Decide what they should do

A good professional photographer will use his or her creative and technical skills to get the best results as quickly, smoothly and tactfully as possible, but discuss the role you want your photographer to take on your wedding day. Do you want him or her to control events or blend into the background? 

Know your budget

If your wedding photographs matter to you, skimping may not pay. ‘People often make the mistake of thinking that all photographers are the same, but the photographic quality and style can vary enormously. Petti Anastasi knows wedding photography is one area where you really do get what you pay for. ” I often hear where couple’s after the wedding say they were disappointed with their wedding portfolio and 9 times out of 10 it is because they went for the cheapest option.”

Details, Details, Details

You have spent a long time and gone to a great expense finding the right dress, creating the right look, designing the invitations, decorating, flower arrangements, applying the right look, etc, you’ll want these little details captured too. A good photographer will make a point of making sure they have captured as much as possible.

Finally, the best advice any couple can take is try and relax in front of the camera. If you’re not used to smiling and posing, grab a mirror and spend a few minutes practising until you find a smile or an expression you can live with. If you look and feel comfortable, your photos are bound to be awesome!