One of the most searched wedding phrases over the last few years is ‘rustic wedding photography’. And it’s not hard to wonder why! Rustic weddings have maintained their popularity because of the timelessness of the imagery and the countless options for beautiful backdrops.
Karen and Ben had originally contacted me to photograph their wedding back in 2019, but then Covid struck and Karen’s UK family were unable to travel. After a few date changes, they locked in 26th March 2023, their venue of choice was the amazing Cowbell Creek in Austinville. I had been there before but had never seen it so green and so beautiful, and in spite of a bit of British rain early in the proceedings, the day was a huge success!
I arrived early (as always!) and photographed the ‘nervous tension’ part of the day. Was the wedding going to be inside or out? Would the rain stop? Ben and his boys were there early, and Karen was impressively on time too!
With the rain radar looking busy, we opted for an indoor ceremony, which was of no consequence at a venue like Cowbell Creek as the Plan B is as amazing as the Plan A!
The ceremony had plenty of tears and was filled with emotion. With the rain abating I was able to take the bridal party around the property for some rustic wedding photos!
Cowbell Creek is the perfect venue for rustic wedding photography. There are limitless locations for photos, and I was like a kid in a sweet shop choosing the best options!
From animals:
To barns:
To trees:
And fields:
To everything in between!
And so to the barn for the reception. And what a reception space it is!
After all the months of planning, one thing you will never be able to control is a wet wedding! Although rain on your wedding day is not as ironic as Alanis Morissette would have you believe, it can, on occasion, hamper your best laid plans!
So what to do if you have a wet wedding?! My advice? Sing in the Rain!
And that’s precisely what Jessica and Harry did when the rain fell relentlessly on their wedding day! They say that rain is good luck; well if that’s the case these guys will have the greatest marriage of all time! Their wedding at Cedar Creek Lodges was fantastic. It was one of my faves! Yes it was wet but with rain comes clouds, and cloud cover gives amazing, softened light. Honest!
When it comes to the best outdoor photography conditions, an overcast sky wins hands down! There’s no squinting, harsh shadows or blown out backgrounds; and using an umbrella forces you to get up close and personal!
We managed to get some fantastic umbrella photos, and then headed indoors at Cedar Creek Lodges’ reception area for some awesome indoor shots, but there was one spot that Jessica was super keen to have some photos taken and the rain made that impossible!
The fallen tree at Cedar Creek is one of the best photo spots on Mt Tamborine but during wet weather it becomes slippy and dangerous and, on occasion, is under water and inaccessible!
Wedding Re-Shoot Photos:
So when I had another job at Cedar Creek a few months later, I emailed Jessica and asked if she wanted to get dressed up again and do a wedding re-shoot and get some photos on the tree! To say she was keen was an under-statement!
So if it does happen to rain on your parade, try not to stress! Wet wedding photos look amazing, and there’s always the possibility of a re-shoot! And think of the luck it will bring ;)!
“OMG you’re amazing! The photos are amazing! Thank you! So in love with them!”
They say that weddings are like your children: you should never have your favourite! But every now and again I will photograph a wedding that goes straight to the top of my faves! Jennifer and Bryan’s Sirromet Winery wedding was one of those weddings!
I had met Jennifer and Bryan on a family photo shoot earlier in the year (thank you Kylie for organising that!! I will be forever in your debt!) and they mentioned they were getting married at Sirromet Winery and asked if I was available. Sirromet is 7km from my house and is easily one of my favourite wedding photography venues so I jumped at the chance!
Jennifer and Bryan are such a gorgeous couple that you can’t help but fall in love with them! After getting ready in one of Sirromet’s posh Sanctuary glamping tents, we headed out for bride and groom photos!
Being a local means I know the best spots for Sirromet winery wedding photos! It was a truly gorgeous day and the loved up couple didn’t stop smiling!
The ceremony was to be held at the Laguna; one of my favourite places to photograph at Sirromet. The guests had started to arrive so I captured the ‘nervous tension’ phase of the day before Jennifer and Bryan’s arrival!
I was chuffed that Cheryl Landsberry was officiating that day! Cheryl is an awesome Brisbane bayside celebrant with whom I have worked several times! She always makes the ceremony personal and fun! You can check out Cheryl’s website here: https://cherylwedding.com/
The ceremony was one of the most emotional weddings I had ever photographed, with more than a few crying shots captured!;) I tend to join in with the tears but I get away with it, being hidden behind a camera!
One of the best things about a Sirromet Winery wedding is the different options you have for post-ceremony socialising! Jennifer and Bryan chose the cellar door for post-ceremony drinks, before heading into the barrel room for their reception.
From all accounts the night was a great success and dancing went into the small hours. Thank you for an amazing day MIL and FIL, and congratulations on the best wedding day ever!
If you are looking to capture those precious early days when your baby is at her tiniest, you need the best newborn photographer Brisbane! We have over ten years of experience photographing babies and newborns, and being parents ourselves, you know you are in good hands!
Our newborn photography packages include a 2-hour newborn photography session at your own home, and around 40-50 high resolution digital images. Coming to you means we reduce the stresses of moving a newborn to a new location, and being mobile means we bring our blankets, baskets and wraps to you! We always encourage having a few outfits on hand, as well as a handful of teddies and keepsakes to have in the photos – we love those personal touches!
Our newborn photography sessions generally start with some photos of Bub curled up in our blankets or wraps, but with any newborn shoot, flexibility is the key! If Bub is having a moment and needs Mum or Dad’s attention then we can do some family photos first and move onto the solo baby photos when Bub is settled!
The best newborn photographer will always welcome input and ideas. You are welcome to send through some example photos that you like the look of that we can recreate, and we are always welcome to the idea of heading outdoors for some family photographs too!
Our newborn photography packages start at $399.00 for a 2-hour session at your own home. Why not contact us to lock in your date and capture those precious early days!
One of the best parts of my job is that I get to work in a different place every day! And then sometimes I work in the same place, but it might have a new name! I had photographed at Tamborine Gardens before, but not since the rebrand to Shambala Estate. I love the venue; it has everything and is a one top venue with accommodation, several ceremony areas, and a fantastic reception room so I was excited to go back when Kristy and Mitch contacted me after I had photographed their friend’s wedding earlier that year!
I headed to the boys first, where I caught up with Amy, the ‘Best Woman’, whose wedding it was that I had photographed in 2021. The atmosphere was relaxed and fun, although Mitch, the soon-to-be-Groom, did insist on vacuuming in his undies!
From here I drove to Shambala Estate where the girls were getting ready in one of the cabins. Again the atmosphere was relaxed but busy. I love this part of the day and soaking up the ‘nervous excitement’!
Shambala Estate has some amazing spacious cabins to get ready in, with rainforest overlook, and tucked enough out of the way that your guests don’t get a sneak peek!
And being a Dad myself, Dad’s first view of his daughter always gets me! I love that raw emotion and love capturing that on the day.
One final tweak by the bridesmaids and I headed to the ceremony area where I met the wonderful Suzie Jones, wedding celebrant extraordinaire! Suzie was amazing at keeping everyone relaxed and calm and wonderful throughout the ceremony. You can check out her website here!
It was an amazingly emotional ceremony with plenty of tears and smiles
I also got to work with my favourite videographer, Bjorn Schmal, who is based on the mountain and is always an absolute dream to work with! He is always fits in with the couple, and we work together very well, not getting in each others way, and always making sure the couple get the best shots and footage. You can check out Bjorn’s work and website here! It was at this wedding that Bjorn kindly took the candid photo of me on the front page of this website! Thank you Bjorn!
And once Kristy and Mitch had kissed and swapped rings, we went to take some bridal party photos! Shambala Estate has a great depth of locations for wedding photos, and has some wet weather options too!
I always aim to get some posed photos that will look great on your wall, and also plenty of candid photos. These are always the ones that get mentioned and commented on and are generally most couple’s favourites!
And once the sun had set, it was reception time! The reception room at Shambala Estate is amazing and has a massive wow factor when you walk in! The mezzanine level also makes for a great entrance point for the bridal party and makes for a fantastic elevated perch for great reception photos!
Wedding Photographer
Like the ceremony, the reception was the perfect mixture of laughter and tears. Kirsty and Itch were asked to be Godparents, I burst into uncontrollable tears at Kristy’s daughters speech, we had a 60th birthday, and there was even handcuffs. Don’t ask!
Once the cake had been cut and dance moves were being busted, I headed back down the mountain wanting to do it all over again!
Welcome to Beaudesert State High School Formal official photos!
All of the below photos are available for order:
-One 7×5″ (13x18cm) print: $20 (includes postage)
-Five 7×5″ (13x18cm) prints: $50 (includes postage) – each additional photo is an additional $10
Other sizes are available, please contact us for costings
-A personalised 12×16″ (30x40cm) hardcover photo book with 20 pages (with your choice of single photo per page): $119.00 (includes postage) A 2nd identical book sent to the same address is $99.00
The below photos are low resolution – the photos you receive will be taken from the high resolution digital images and will not have a watermark or numbering!
Here at A Thousand Miles Photography, we love Ocean View Wedding Photography! It is such an amazing venue with so many beautiful photography locations! Add in a gorgeous couple, a fun wedding party, perfect weather and you have a wedding day like no other!
The day started with Shannon, the bride, and her ‘Bride Tribe’ in the Winemakers Cottage. Often at the start of a wedding day, the atmosphere can feel quite tense, but not here, not today! Everyone was very laid back and having fun! It’s the best way to be!
After a few hair and make up shots, Connor took me (the long way!) to see the Groom, Fergus, and his boys.
There is always more to photograph with the bride and her entourage (no offence boys!) so I headed back to see Shannon for the dress and final touch up shots!
I always love the pace of the getting ready photos; it’s like the calm before the storm of the ceremony and family photos! But a wedding day wouldn’t be a wedding day without a ceremony so I headed down to Ocean View Estate’s lakeside pagola, where the guests and the boys were waiting!
Wedding Photographer
Happily (for me!) Fergus shed a tear or ten, and Shannon beamed the whole way through the ceremony. Whenever there are kids involved, I, too, tend to shed a tear or two, and it was no different today when Connor handed over the rings.
The weather and the light was perfect, so after a few family photos and a fun group shot (helped immeasurably by Sam of I am Celebrant Sam – https://www.facebook.com/iamcelebrantsam), we headed to Ocean View Estates secret area for some amazing bridal party photos!
It’s no secret that the bridal party wedding photos are my favourite part of the day! The earlier parts of the day can be quite tense at times but once the ceremony has finished, everyone relaxes, and I get to be creative and have a laugh in the process!
And then from the outdoors to the indoors! The wedding reception is where the party kicks in and everyone can finally relax! Ocean View Estates has an amazing reception room, with old vines on the walls, and a great space for guests to relax and have fun!
I am always big on details at a wedding reception and love capturing all of those little pieces of importance that may be forgotten in 20 years!
And so to the festivities! No wedding reception is complete without speeches, a cake cutting and a first dance!
And once the party ramped up and the dancing began, I headed home down the mountain, having had an amazing day once again and remembering why I adore my job!
Elopement weddings are becoming an increasingly popular way for couples to say ‘I do’! Happily we specialise in elopement photography and elopement wedding photography!
D & G were one couple who made their wedding vows in the most personal way possible! Alone! Technically speaking you will always need a minimum of 5 people at a wedding (the couple, a celebrant, and 2 witnesses) but I am always happy to be a witness and to sign the paperwork for you! As I did this day!
We headed to New Farm park for D&G’s elopement wedding, where we met our celebrant and her husband – the 2nd witness! The vows were beautiful and intimate and were said by the flower arbours in the park gardens.
Elopement Photographer Brisbane
Following a beautiful and personal ceremony, we stayed in the park for some photos of the newlyweds. New Farm park is one of my favourite spots in Brisbane for elopement photography as there are heaps of amazing spots and backdrops for photos. We started by the arbour then headed to the Powerhouse for some urban chic!
It helped that it was a beautiful day and that we were there late in the afternoon when the sun is low and at its best. We call that the golden hour and makes the couple and the landscape glow!
If you are looking for elopement photography and elopement wedding photography packages, we would love to help! We photograph weddings 7 days a week and have a 2-hour weekend elopement photography package for $890, which includes your edited high resolution images and a chat beforehand to go through the plans!
We also have a midweek (Monday – Thursday) quickie option. A 1-hour midweek elopement is just $499.00!! For more information check out our wedding photography packages or feel free to contact us!
Congratulations on locking in a date and the best of luck with your elopement wedding plans! We look forward to hearing from you soon!
I love being a Redlands photographer! Firstly, the Redlands is an amazing place to live! Secondly being a Redlands photographer means you get to photograph in some of the best photography locations in SE QLD! And thirdly; I love my job!
So when Sam and Darcy asked me to get some updated photos for their tribe a few weeks ago I jumped at the chance! I photographed Sam and Darcy’s wedding a couple of years ago so knew the guys well – all except Tyler who has been born since the big day!
Redlands Photographer
We chose the Golden Hour (the last hour of the day when the sun is low and the light is gorgeous!) to do the photos, and opted for Raby Bay beaches as a location. It is such an amazing spot, with some greenery, plenty of sand, and amazing sunsets!
The kids all seemed to remember me which meant we hit the ground running and didn’t have any awkwardness at the start! We got some lovely photos amongst the greenery and in the trees then headed down to the break water rocks.
Sunsets are always unpredictable; clouds can work both ways and can either turn bright red and gorgeous or can block out the sun completely! Luckily we had the best of both worlds and had some shade but still ended up with amazing colours as the sun hit the horizon!
I always try and get some more natural photos towards the end of the shoot and just let kids be kids! Those candid, spontaneous photos always get the best comments and best reactions!
If you are looking for a Redlands Photographer, we would love to help! A half hour photo shoot in the mainland Redlands is $149, and an hour is $199, and your high resolution images are included! For more information visit our photography packages page!
I adore what I do for a living. I couldn’t do anything else! And the thing I love most about what I do is the unpredictability of it! Every day is different! And Lucy and Matt’s Trash the Dress anniversary shoot was one such day!
The guys had booked me in months in advance and luckily the weather on the day was perfect! We did the shoot at a friends place on acreage about 5 minutes from me in Sheldon. Amazingly both Lucy and Matt both fit easily into their wedding dress and suit that they had worn 10 years ago at their wedding! Impressive! There was a definite spark of excitement when I got there, from both the couple and myself!
We started with a couple of ‘calm before the storm’ photos of the guys looking elegant and clean!
And then the fun began!
I couldn’t stop laughing the whole time! It was so much fun! I actually had a full day of shoots that day and was covered in blue powder within seconds! I didn’t care! It’s not every day you get to take part in something as awesome as this!
I asked the guys what their thinking was behind the Trash the Dress shoot, and they said their wedding dress and suit had been in the wardrobe for ten years and they wanted to celebrate their ten year anniversary with some fun photos, which compliments their personalities perfectly! I think we nailed the brief!
By the end of the shoot whole trays of paint were being launched! I cant even imagine how long it took to soak the dress, or how many showers it took to get rid of all signs of paint, but I reckon with photos like these, it was well worth the effort!
Congratulations on ten years of married perfection! Here’s to the next decade!
