Sandra and Leigh were married at Seacliff House, Gerringong, on the NSW South Coast. We caught the best of it at dusk, when the light went soft and pink over the hills and the ocean sat quiet behind the house.
I photograph weddings the way they actually happen. Unposed, close, and led by the two people in front of me.
Getting ready
Leigh got ready inside, black tie, quiet, the timber rooms holding that warm end-of-afternoon light. Sandra's bouquet was simple, white roses tied with a satin bow, her rings catching the last of the sun. Small things, but they're the ones you forget if no one stops for them.
A moment indoors
There was a moment indoors before we went out. The two of them close in a timber doorway, the ocean framed in the glass behind them, a silhouette against the last of the light. Neither of them performing for the camera. Just standing there together.
Portraits in the hills
Then we walked out into the paddocks behind the house. Seacliff sits high enough that you get both at once, the ocean on one side and the green Gerringong hills rolling away on the other. Sandra in an off-shoulder satin gown, Leigh in black tie, the two of them almost kissing while the sky turned over. At one point they just took off hand in hand up the hill, laughing, and I let them run.
Why Seacliff House photographs well
Seacliff House gives you two backdrops in one place, the coastline and the hinterland, and light that turns beautiful at the end of the day. The house itself has clean, warm interiors that suit getting ready, and the open land behind it means portraits never feel crowded or staged. It's a natural fit for a documentary approach, because there's room to move and the setting does the work. If you're planning your own day here, I've written more on photographing a Seacliff House wedding.
Planning a documentary wedding at Seacliff House
If Sandra and Leigh's day has you picturing your own, a few things are worth knowing about photographing a wedding here. Seacliff House sits above Gerringong on the NSW South Coast, with the ocean on one side and the green hinterland hills on the other, so you're never short of a backdrop. The light is at its best late in the day, when it softens and turns pink over the water, so it's worth protecting a short window near sunset for portraits.
A few things I'd gently suggest for a relaxed, documentary day here:
Protect fifteen or twenty unhurried minutes for portraits as the light drops.
Use both backdrops, the coastline and the paddocks behind the house, for variety in one place.
Get ready somewhere with good natural light so the morning photographs as well as the evening.
Then let the day run. The less staged it is, the more it looks like you.
FAQ
Where is Seacliff House?
It's at Gerringong, on the NSW South Coast, around two hours south of Sydney and close to Kiama and Berry.
What style are these photos?
Documentary, unposed and led by what's actually happening. I follow the day rather than staging it, so the photos feel like the day felt.
Do you photograph weddings across the whole South Coast?
Yes. As well as Gerringong, I regularly photograph weddings across Kiama, Berry, Kangaroo Valley, the Southern Highlands and Sydney.
How do I check if my date is free?
The easiest way is to get in touch with your date and venue, and I'll come straight back to you.
Stories told as they happen. Planning your own Seacliff House wedding? I'd love to hear about your day. Collections start at $3,500.
See more in my wedding portfolio, or get in touch about your day.