We'd like to wish our clients, both current and prospective, a very happy new year!

Our wonderful couples, together with their friends and families, made 2011 a fantastic year for Hargreaves Photography, with a record number of weddings and the most amazing trip to Canada to shoot a wedding in the Rockies.  We've met some genuinely fabulous people over the year and have been lucky enough to share their wedding days with them.

2012 is on target to be another great year, with wonderful weddings to look forward to and a couple of exciting new projects ready to launch early in the year.

Before our 2012 wedding photography season springs to life, I thought that I'd look back over our 2011 wedding photographs and share some of my favourite images that I've created  for our clients over the last year.

No more words, just photographs.  I hope you enjoy them........

Chantelle & Avedis were married in a beautifully simple ceremony surrounded by close family and friends at the BDM Registry at Chippendale, after which we stopped in at Pymont Point Park for some wedding portraits by stunning Sydney Harbour.

Unusually for me, I hadn't met Chantelle and Avedis in person before their wedding day and we only had around an hour together to make some beautiful images to remember their day by.

We just clicked on the day, and I think we worked well together to produce some striking wedding photographs.

Every once in a while, I get the opportunity to add a twist to the conventional. Most baby photos, including those that I shoot myself, naturally tend to focus on the baby. Cutesy images with a sleeping baby swaddled up and looking peaceful.

Recently I had the opportunity to shoot some alternative baby photos, images that reflect the interests of the parents as well as their new bundle of joy.

Mitchell's parents are huge V8 racing fans. Mum is a Ford fan and Dad goes for the Holden team, which must make for some lively debate when the race is on! Mitchell is stuck in-between for now. Wearing Ford colours, he lies on top of Dad's prized Mark Skaife Holden Racing wheel.

Lachlan is yet to hear Dad's guitar skills, but if the size of the amp is anything to go by, wherever he is when dad picks up his Gibson guitar, Lachlan is sure to hear it!

It's true, I'm behind on blogging my favourite photographs from recent weddings, but I do have a good excuse.

I've spent the last few weeks sitting on a jury at the Sydney Downing Centre, meaning that I have been working into the evenings to make sure that our clients still the same quick turnaround of their wedding images and beautiful albums that we're renowned for.

Now I'm back in the office, it's time to get on top of all those business tasks that I had to put to one side.

If you see a lot of posts over the next day or so, it's not that I've been shooting back to back weddings for the last couple of weeks, I'm just playing catch-up again!

I'm not spamming you, I promise

I don't think I could ever tire of shooting wedding photographs on Sydney Harbour.  I've been exploring the harbour for much of the 14 years that I've lived in Sydney, and just when I think that I've found all the picturesque wedding locations on Sydney Harbour, a couple tells me they have found another location for their wedding with a beautiful harbour setting.

The headland at Freshwater Beach, where Teresa and Stefan were married, provided stunning views of the harbour out to Sydney Heads, Manly Wharf and the amazing bushland views of Sydney Harbour National Park.

An early evening wedding made the most of the beautiful golden light of the setting sun and the pool at Freshwater Beach was perfect for some romantic shots of the new Mr & Mrs Mann.

Teresa & Stefan's reception was held at the very cool Artichoke Gallery Cafe in Manly.

Here at Hargreaves Photography we are in the middle of a significant upgrade to the look and feel of our blog to make it a friendlier place for our clients and visitors.

We are just putting the final touches to the design of the site, after which we will be uploading all of the old content and launching headlong into a massive blogging session to show you some of the stunning wedding photographs from recent weddings in Sydney and beyond.

Thanks for your patience while we go about the update, we really appreciate it.  In the meantime, if you'd like to see more photographs from recent weddings and portraits in Sydney, please take a look at our Client's page at the website, www.hargreavesphotography.com.au!

It would be safe to say that I love it when there are young children at weddings.  Inevitably I find myself sprawled on the ground capturing shots of the children having even more fun than the grown-ups.

At this recent wedding at Observatory Hill Sydney, Xavier shared the limelight with mum & dad, Marcela & John, but only after a sustained period of worm catching with a friend!

Marcela & John's guests had travelled from all over the globe to attend their big day and I couldn't have thought of a better way to showcase Sydney for the overseas visitors than a wedding on Observatory Hill with the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a backdrop.

Guests enjoyed a post-wedding ceremony drink at Cruise Bar, at the Overseas Passenger Terminal whilst we took advantage of the varied backdrops for some stunning wedding portraits in The Rocks.

Marcela & John's wedding reception was held at Waterfront Restaurant within the heritage-listed, 1839-built, Campbell's Stores, which overlook the Sydney Opera House and provide stunning views of Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

I recently had the huge pleasure of shooting some engagement portraits, for Jana & Jim, in and around Walsh Bay and The Rocks in Sydney.  Although this fun couple live in Sydney, later in the year, Jana & Jim will be heading overseas for their destination wedding in Canada.

The plan was to shoot some photographs that were subtly, yet unmistakably, Sydney and to create a engagement book in which their wedding guests could write notes, wishes and hints on their wedding day.

Jana & Jim were quickly at ease in front of the camera and we enjoyed a wonderful couple of hours searching out great light in a range of locations, both modern and heritage.  A hot and very sunny afternoon in Sydney posed a challenge in terms of lighting, which, as I hope the following images will show, was handled beautifully.

It would be understating things to say that Australia has been a bit wet recently, and my cameras and I have been part of a number of damp weddings.  What continues to amaze me is the cool and collected way that my brides (and grooms) have adjusted their plans, shrugged off the weather and continued to smile and laugh throughout their big days.  [Photographers actually like overcast days, the light is more even and we don't have to fight the shadows and squinting caused by harsh sunlight].

Annie & Gene's wedding day, at The Turpentine Tree in the Blue Mountains, was one of those typical damp mountain days with patches of cloud and rain rolling up the mountains.  Fortunately, The Turpentine Tree has both wet and dry options; under the breathtaking turpentine that dominates the landscape adjacent to the dam or in the stunning pergola.  The on-again, off-again rain forced a last minute relocation of the ceremony to the pergola and the owners, Paul and Gerhard, swung into action to set-up in the new location - something that they are obviously very practiced at!

Typically, the rain held off for the actual ceremony, throughout which the stunning bride smiled incessantly with not even a hint of nerves.  Guests enjoyed pre-dinner drinks in the marquee and rose garden, whilst Annie, Gene and I, together with the wedding party, explored the extensive gardens in the rain.

The wedding of Malin & Jonathan, on beautiful Freshwater Beach on Sydney's northern beaches, truly was an international affair.  Malin's family attended from Sweden, Jonathan's family flew in from France and a together with mixture of Australians, it made for a very lively reception!

After a week of solid rain and cold Sydney weather, it was a relief to see some blue skies on the morning of Malin and Jonathan's big day.  By lunchtime the temperatures had hit 30degrees and Freshwater Beach was full of sun and sea worshippers.

An outdoor wedding in full sun is always an interesting challenge from a photographer's perspective and the flashes were working overtime to fill in the shadows.

The cloudless blue skies provided a stunning backdrop to our formal photographs, which were shot around the ocean pool at Freshwater, a favourite spot for Malin and Jonathan [being just a few hundred metres from their home].

Kelly & Matt's Hunter Valley wedding was proof that rain doesn't mean that you can't get some beautiful wedding photographs.  Rain is said to be good luck for a bride on her wedding day.  If this is true then Kelly was blessed with buckets of luck; it really did pour ALL day.

Following some photographs of the bride and groom's preparations at the Crowne Plaza, Hunter Valley, Kelly & Matt were married at Peterson's Champagne House  by the fabulous Australian actress-turned-marriage celebrant, Jan Oxenbould.

After the ceremony, a slight lull in the rain allowed us to run out into the vineyards.  Umbrellas in hand, we grabbed these shots of Matt, Kelly and her bridesmaids before the rain returned in earnest for the rest of the night.

As always, you’ll find more photos from Kelly & Matt's big day in the clients area on our main website, www.hargreavesphotography.com.au.

The manicured landscaped displays at Eden Gardens in Sydney make for a wonderful backdrop for wedding photographs.  Being a garden centre combined with a wedding and conference venue, you really have the best of both worlds and, of course, there's never a shortage of flowers and plants to decorate your wedding and reception venues.

When Joanne & Geoffrey were married here, we were eager to explore the gardens to shoot some portraits in a range of diverse settings; from the impressive tower over looking the Long Lawn to the ultra-modern "egg-garden".  The location made for some stunning and unique wedding photographs - so varied that I struggled to select only a few favourites to share with you.

The last shot is one of my favourite garter shots.  Grooms-to-be might like to consider the possible pros and cons of the reverse-angle approach to garter removal before their big day!

Once I heard a little about Sophie & Drew’s wedding plans, I just knew I had to say yes when they asked me to be their wedding photographer.

Firstly, the wedding was held at one of the most stunning churches in Sydney, All Saints’ Anglican Church in Woollahra and I have been itching to shoot a wedding there.

Secondly, the bride’s father is the Minister at All Saints’ and would be marrying his daughter and new son-in-law.  Now I am always excited to be asked to be part of a couple's day just photographing the big event.  I can’t think of a larger honour for a father to be able to conduct his daughter's own wedding ceremony.

Thirdly, there was talk of beehives and old Cadillacs.  This was going to be a rocking retro wedding that was going to be great fun to shoot.

The venue, All Saints’ Anglican Church in Woollahra is one of most stunning churches in Sydney and, given its location and grandeur, has been home to some extraordinary Australian society weddings.  With its sandstone and stunning stained glass, the church is deservedly on the Register of the National Estate.

Sophie's gorgeous flower girl, Amelia, was helped down the aisle by mum, teddy and a Wiggles band-aid for good luck.  So cute!

I am yet to come across a bride who was more excited and smiley than Sophie was on her big day.  Sophie had a rare moment of quiet contemplation just inside the church, which I was quick to capture, but very other shot from the day shows Sophie’s beautiful beaming smile!

I had an absolute ball spending the day with Sophie, Drew and their families, so thanks for letting me share it with you all.  It’s a day that will stick with me for a long time!

You’ll find the rest of Sophie and Drew’s wedding photographs in the clients’ section at www.hargreavesphotography.com.au

I woke early this morning to a text message from Keegan & Rebecca, who were about to board a flight to start their Fijian honeymoon, to thank me for shooting their wedding at the weekend.

And it makes me think.  Thank me?  For the chance for me to be part of their most important of days.  To share in the laughter, and a few tears.  To be invited into some of Sydney’s most beautiful venues and to share parts of their day that even the guests don’t get so see.  To join in the party, and to do what I love to do most – shoot photographs.

Rebecca and Keegan’s big day took me on a whistle-stop tour of Sydney’s harbour suburbs – the boys got ready in the Harbourview hotel in North Sydney, the girls in the Sebel Pier One in Walsh Bay.  Then a dash across the bridge in pursuit of Rebecca’s London Taxi to their wedding ceremony at the Mosman Art Gallery.

After some photographs at beautiful Balmoral Beach, we raced across Sydney Harbour to a stunning reception at Wolfies in The Rocks.  All stunning locations in their own right, and a photographer’s dream when parcelled together!

As always, you’ll find more photos from Rebecca and Keegan’s big day in the clients area on our main website,www.hargreavesphotography.com.au.

Thank me?  Right.

It really is the other way around.

I really can’t thank my couples enough for inviting me into their lives, even for just one, very special, day.  It’s a huge privilege – an honour that I’ll be forever thankful for.

So, thank you Rebecca & Keegan – it is couples like you who are the reason why I just love my job!

Some reprieve from the recent Sydney rain brought out the crowds around The Rocks area whilst we were shooting some portraits with this lovely engaged couple, Iris & Matt. We had chosen the Argyle Stairs for the shoot, a well known historic site with a mix of old and new architecture in the background.

The stairs are also on the main pedestrian route from The Rocks to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and we experienced a steady stream of traffic, grabbing shots when we could. Iris and Matt were great about the constant interruptions and shared a laugh with the tourists, locals, treasure hunters and pub crawlers as they walked by!

Sydney blessed us with dry weather for the shoot, but the high-level overcast skies made for some fairly flat light which was countered by bringing out the softbox and a 580EXII flash remotely triggered using the always reliable and constantly impressive PocketWizard FlexTT5.  I must thank my assistant-for-the-day Sally (who happens to also be my beautiful wife) without whom the photographs wouldn’t have had the pop that they have.

As always, you’ll find more images from this shoot in the clients area on our website, www.hargreavesphotography.com.au.

Sydney provided another stunning winter day for the wedding of Krisztina and Manuel at the Mandalay in Lane Cove.

After some formal wedding photographs at the Shangri-La in The Rocks, Sydney, Krisztina and Manual travelled in style in a beautiful 1960 Mercedes 300d, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Mandalay in Lane Cove.

The Mandalay is a gorgeous venue for more formal shots of the bride and groom and their families.  The ante-room upstairs leads out onto a balcony over looking the landscaped gardens, and a timber staircase, with light streaming through its stained-glass windows, leads down to the reception venue proper.

The civil ceremony, by celebrant Sarah Tolmie, was held in the gardens and was followed by a blessing from Fr Felix.

Our best wishes and thanks go to Krisztina & Manuel!

As usual, you’ll find more images in the clients area on our website, www.hargreavesphotography.com.au.

One of the important skills of a wedding photographer is to use their photographic skills and creativity to make the most of a wedding or reception venue.  Some venues present photographic opportunities no matter which direction you point the lens.

The Verandahs at Terrara House Estate, near Berry, NSW is one such venue and I was thrilled when I learnt that Renee & Peter had chosen this venue for their wedding ceremony & venue.

This breathtaking property is set amongst fertile paddocks, which are home to the local dairy and equestrian industries, just 20minutes south of Berry.  Terrara House Estate is of great historic importance to the region, having been home to Archer, the winner of the 1861 and 1862 Melbourne Cup.

Wherever you are on the estate, there are stunning buildings, gardens and vistas.  Combine these views with the incredible details which are included in the wedding packages, and Terrara House is a wonderful place to consider for your wedding day.

Having the run of the property for the day, Renee & Peter prepared for their big day in the adjacent stables, before marrying in the gardens in the warmth of the September sun.

Guests enjoyed drinks and canapes in the gardens, whilst the newlyweds and I explored the estate, grabbing some natural and candid shots as we walked.  Renee & Peter’s reception was held in the splendour of the Marquee.

I had a wonderful time capturing Renee & Peter’s big day.  I was honoured to have been part of it all and excited about seeing all of the images I had created in this stunning setting.  As the Renee & Peter were farewelling their guests at the end of the evening, I couldn’t resist capturing just one more shot of Terrara House on a clear and star-lit night!

As always, you’ll find more photos from Renee & Peter’s big day in the clients area on our main website, www.hargreavesphotography.com.au.

In the week prior to Mee Lin & Willie’s wedding, I was paying very close attention to the weather forecast for Sydney Harbour.  As the big day approached, the Bureau of Meteorology was forecasting cyclonic conditions!!

By the time the big day arrived, Mee Lin and Willie’s prayers had been answered, with only a few showers during the day and a calm and warm evening on the harbour.

We were able to shoot the bridal and formal photographs in the Park Hyatt Sydney and around The Rocks, followed by the ceremony and reception aboard The Morpheus on stunning Sydney Harbour.  The staff at the Park Hyatt were amazing, opening up areas of the hotel that were closed to guests to enable some stunning shots in the Club Bar.

Mee Lin & Willie’s ceremony was beautiful and the boat was filled with the love and best wishes of their families and friends.

I had a great day shooting this fun filled wedding!  Thanks to Mee Lin & Willie for letting me be part of your day.

You’ll find some more of Mee Lin & Willie’s wedding photographs in the clients’ section of our website, www.hargreavesphotography.com.au