A wedding day is woven with threads of joy, anticipation, connection and love, each moment etched with significance and meaning. From the morning suspense and the tender exchange of vows, to the jubilant celebration that follows, it is a day that encapsulates the essence of happiness. It’s often a rare gathering of loved ones who’ve come from afar, and who may be making significant connections for the first time. Amidst the whirlwind of emotions, there's a profound sense of unity and belonging, a reminder that love is the greatest of all celebrations. Indeed, a wedding day is a testament to the enduring power of love.
Capturing your very special day with a relaxed and friendly attitude is how I roll. After all you’re likely to have enough on your plate as it is! I’ve been described as warm and playful, and it often comes as a surprise to the wedding pair that the couple shoot is one of the more easeful parts of the day. And actually it can be a lot of fun. too!
“I was quite nervous about doing the photoshoot because I usually feel super awkward having my photo taken and hardly ever like the outcome... but Chai's style was really disarming and I quickly felt relaxed. It actually ended up being surprisingly fun!” Rose O’Connor
I have a keen eye for spotting detail that gives your wedding its own flavour, and I bring with me a past in documentary photography that gives me an edge in doing just that. No two weddings are the same, and it will typically be the unique characteristics of your day that are best remembered in the future. Similarly no two couples share the same blend of quirks, passions, and idiosyncrasies that form the foundation of their bond. It's in the subtle glances exchanged across a crowded room, the shared laughter over inside jokes, and the unspoken understanding that transcends words that I’m passionate about capturing.
“We are floored, laughing, crying and reliving the best day of our lives through your EPIC photos!” - Emillie Passfield
Rest assured that I come well-equipped to make you look amazing. Kitted out with high-quality gear gives me a multitude of advantages that can significantly enhance the overall experience and outcome of the day, ensuring that precious moments are captured with clarity and precision.
I favour a natural style of editing photos for its ability to preserve the authenticity and timeless beauty of the day. By avoiding heavy filters and artificial enhancements, natural editing allows the true emotions, interactions, and atmosphere of the wedding day to shine through. Many of the weddings that I photograph include an outdoors element, and scenes are often at their best when natural colours are preserved. Furthermore, a natural editing style offers versatility, seamlessly adapting to different lighting conditions and settings while maintaining a consistent aesthetic appeal. Ultimately, its ability to capture the essence of the occasion and reflect your day’s unique story makes a natural style my choice for wedding photography.
As an added bonus you’ll receive some images in black ’n white (See packages below). I find that black and white photography adds a timeless and elegant dimension to a photo collection by enriching the narrative of the day with its classic allure. Monochrome is a simplification into contrast, texture, and emotion. The absence of colour strips away distractions and allows the focus to shift entirely onto the intricate interplay of light and shadow, the delicate nuances of expression, and the subtle details that might otherwise go unnoticed. This minimalist approach lends an air of sophistication and drama to the captured moments, imbuing them with a sense of timelessness that transcends fleeting trends. I find that black and white images compliment the full colour photos so well!
“I love how you’ve captured the taiao (natural world) around us and brought it into the moment… You were the perfect person to capture our day” - Angie Ispresent
Additional time and attention is given to editing the day’s most outstanding shots (eg: removing unwanted objects). This is at no extra charge. Once it’s all done I’ll upload the processed images and send you a link. Relax and be confident that you’ll have full access to all edited images. You’re welcome to share and print as many photos as you like without paying a cent more. Advice on the vital printing stage is given freely too.
Wedding packages:
Highlights - 3 hours eg: the ceremony + couple photo session: $950 + mileage. Includes editing, 10 black ’n white renditions, and images for download within 2 weeks)
Main bits - 6 hours eg: morning preparation, right up to the reception start: $1700 + mileage. Includes editing, 30 black ’n white renditions, and images for download within 2 weeks)
The kit ’n caboodle - 8 hours eg: morning preparation, right up to the 1st dance: $2150 + mileage. Includes editing, 60 black ’n white renditions, and images for download within 2 weeks)
Wedding albums
I also offer an affordable album design service, and am fairly flexible to work with your wants. A standard mockup example is attached here. This is best viewed on a larger screen.
