"Love is beyond either condition: without spring, without autumn, it is always fresh." Rumi
To all our newly engaged couples. Congratulations! Be yourselves and create a wedding that truly reflects who you are together. We hope we inspire you and introduce you to the wonderful world of weddings.
a minute with
““It’s one thing to get one beautiful shot but shooting the whole day and creating a story of the day with beautiful shots - that really comes down to experience.”
”
I started my career in photo journalism working for a newspaper in South Africa during the apartheid.
Shortly after I realised I was inspired by shooting subjects and moved into fashion photography.
But it was while I was a guest at a wedding I noticed the photographer setting up lighting and getting the couples posing - it all looked very awkward. All I thought was there are so many moments that are happening around you and you are missing them! I realised that the skills I had learnt from working in photo journalism combined with the fashion work was a difference I could bring to capturing a weddding day. Candid, beautiful images but working with all the natural elements and moments of the day.
Telling the story of the day through beautiful photos - and that is the style we carry to this day. My favourite shots are always the ones they didn’t know were being taken.
A year before leaving South Africa I was asked to shoot Nelson Mandela’s grand daughters' wedding. This proved to be
a large and very historic wedding. Following this weddingI found myself with a reputation and quite a following - this reputation helped me when I moved to Australia in 1996 and started Blumenthal Photography, from my home.
What do you see as your point of difference?
Definitely experience! What people don’t realise is the wedding day only happens once and it happens quickly. You can’t control the timing and conditions, you have to be able to capture beautiful photos and deal with all the elements of
a wedding day - eg: weather changes and time constraints.
Today Blumenthal is not just me, it consists of a number of photographers who have been integral to the reputation we have built - so it doesn’t matter if it's me or one of the team - we all have the same style in the way we capture the day that is true to our brand. Particularly using natural light which is both flattering and soft, rather than harsh and flat.
I feel the definition or interpretation of ‘natural’ photography has been distorted over time - setting up natural shots is one thing but capturing a natural shot is very different. What you get is the feeling and emotion you could never reflect had you not been ready to shoot it.
Your top 3 pieces of advice for a couple when they considering their photography?
1 | Don’t just choose via social media go in and see the complete wedding from beginning to end.
2 | Make sure the style of photography reflects how your day is - eg. classic formal, natural beachy...
3 | Meet your actual photographer - it's so important you like them! You are going to spend the day together.
How would you describe your style?
Natural and classic something that never dates and is timeless.
Do you collect anything?
Old cameras and watches! I think the watches thing came from always watching time at a wedding.
Do you have artists, photographers or designers that inspires you?
Mario Testino - The Princess Diana portraits - those shots you could sense the natural emotion and the use of natural light.
Music on your playlist?
Anything latin!
When there is down time where’s your favourite place?
Anywhere with trees and is out of the city.
What don’t you leave home without?
Phone charger and water (oh and of course the phone)
Favourite cafe or restuarant?
The Italian Bondi, Sydney.
Favourite location for a photoshoot with couples?
That's easy - anywhere with nature and soft lighting - we love movement and photos that are shot through
a field or forest are quite amazing.
With all the weddings you’ve seen what's one story that makes you laugh?
I had a bride who wore the most incredible 9 inch heels and while shooting her next to the pool her heel broke and well you can guess where she ended up... yes she fell in the pool!
Travel - your favourite haunt and what is a must do?
Thailand in particular Koh Samui - the people are so friendly and spiritual.
On your wish list right now?
I want to take my family to Africa and experience the Safari and animals in their natural habitat.
The Atlantic Restaurant, Melbourne, Victoria
Photography Collections Photography
A proposal during Victoria’s lockdown 1.0 then came planning a wedding during a pandemic, but Christina and Christian knew exactly what was important to them and moved their date forward and created an intimate celebration with Melbourne’s city lights as their backdrop.
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The Great Hall, Sydney University, NSW
Photography by Jimmy Raper
Meeting on a sail boat whilst they were both travelling throgh Croatia, Marie and Dean planned their day as the fairytale way their relationship began. “Coming from big Italian and Maltese families it was stressful at times but I loved the creative elements – the styling, invitations, music, flowers! The best part was seeing all come together in the end – it was such a fairytale on the day!”
Astra, Falls Creek, Victoria
Photography by Wild Romantic Photography
Jazmine and Marcus love their winter sports and one of their favourite destinations together, it made the perfect backdrop for their wedding day. With the stunning white snow abundant they warmed guests hearts with every little detail.
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Love is definitely not cancelled for Louiline and Srinath. When international borders closed due to COVID, Srinath was studying in Australia. It meant he couldn’t travel home to Singapore and his love which he planned to propose to. Determined more than ever that the question couldn’t wait, he planned a surprise proposal virtually.
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Metropolis Events, Southbank, Victoria
Photography by White Vine Photography
Stephanie and Matthew celebrated with style, glamour and a few pit stops of fun along the way. From their stunning church ceremony within the historic Melbourne University grounds to an Italian card game in the cafe where their first date was. They ended the day sharing their culture and love under city lights at Metropolis Events on Melbourne’s Southbank.
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Fig Tree, Byron Bay, NSW
Photography by Van Middleton Photography
Emily and New both from Perth chose a coastal destination wedding. With the day beginning with a surf on iconic Byron Bay beach, Nev married Emily in an outdoor ceremony at Fig Tree Restaurant surrounded by family and friends. Emily’s mother was the celebrant and a highlight to their day.
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Ivy Ballroom, Sydney NSW
Photography by All Grown Up Weddings
Isabella and Michael exchanged vows in a Sydney historic church that Isabella’s parents married in and then made a glitter entrance to party the night away at Sydneys Ivy Ball Room. Details of love were scattered through the day that celebrated their love and their families.
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The Little White House, Emerald, Victoria
photography by Karon Photography
Everything was all set and ready to go for the 100 guest wedding in Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens and a month before their date the tragic news of Covid-19 hit. “We were now faced with the realisation that we had to completely change everything we had planned and worked so hard towards.” It turned into a perfectly imperfect wedding day that was meant to be.
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Photography by Matt Ashton
Kisha and Don spent nearly a year planning their perfect wedding but nature had other plans, with bushfires ravaging across Australia and their a pandemic they were forced to abandon all their plans and still had the best day ever!
