Elopement at Paddington Reservoir Gardens in Sydney, Australia

Manda & David

A few months ago I was delighted to get an enquiry from our beautiful bride Manda. Her and her Fiance David were planning on having a small intimate ceremony for their wedding followed by a sunset photo session.

The wedding photography was originally going to take place on the Cape banks fire trail in La Parouse. I had scouted it out prior to the day ad was in awe of the photographic possibilities. However, come October and La Nina was in full swing in Sydney. Lucky for us, we had another gorgeous location in our back pocket: Paddington Reservoir Gardens in Sydney

I was extremely excited to finally meet this gorgeous couple. They were married only a few hours prior at Burnham Grove estate in Cawdor (another amazing wedding venue) and were now joining me for their official portraits. They arrived a little wet, but with big grins on their faces. David explained how he was excited to “get soaked” for the perfect wedding photos. It was at this moment I knew this was going to be an awesome wedding photography session.

Sydney’s Best Wet Weather Photography Location

Imagine this… You’ve been planning the perfect wedding for months and you find out a week prior that it’s 100% going to rain. Should you panic? In my experience, you definitely shouldn’t.

All you’re wedding vendors (including your venue) have dealt with rain on a regular basis and we all have plans for dealing with it. It can definitely present some logistical challenges on the day, but nothing that can’t be worked through. It’s said that rain is a sign of good luck on your wedding day and I have to agree.

Some of the best weddings I’ve shot have been in the rain. Those stormy clouds act light a giant softbox in the sky, which creates soft, moody and flattering lighting. Couple this with a gorgeous location like Paddington Reservoir Gardens and man, you’ve got a winner!

Paddington Reservoir Gardens is one of Sydney’s best photo locations for weddings. The Garden is located underneath Sydney’s Oxford street in Paddington. The reservoir was a source of Sydney’s water in the 19th century but is now listed as a heritage-listed public park. Whilst the reservoir underwent a few transformations since its role as a reservoir it reached its current photogenic state in 2009.

One of the reasons Paddington Reservoir is perfect for wedding photography in Sydney is the mixed shelter/exposure. There are plenty of areas to rest and put your belongings safe from the rain. In contrast, when you feel like ducking out for a brief shower you have the opportunity to do without getting too saturated.

Our Lord and Saviour: The Clear Umbrella

My session with Manda & David was extremely fun. They didn’t mind walking in the rain especially when they had clear umbrellas. Since the onset of La Nina, one of the best investments I’ve made for my business is a bulk set of clear umbrellas. They ensure that the wedding photos are magical and most importantly, doable.

For the majority of the session, Manda & David walked hand in hand with those umbrellas and the result; Stunning wedding photos. They walked to various spots within the reservoir whilst I worked all the angles I could.

By the end of our wedding photography session at Paddington Reservoir Gardens, we had over 300 gallery-worthy photographs. This couple’s love for each other coupled with the gorgeous scenery of Paddington Reservoir made for one of the most beautiful elopement galleries I’ve produced.

Testimonial

“If you're looking for a photographer who knows how to take gorgeous photos, Hayley is perfect. Our session with Hayley was fun, light-hearted, and felt just like hanging out with an old friend. Highly recommended!” - Manda & David