What are some wedding photo locations you recommend (melb)?
Question Asked: 11/10/2017
Wedding Date: 9/08/2018
Most Helpful Response
(12) · Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, servicing all of South East Queensland.
Posted: 26/06/2026
Answered by: 4 Experts
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As the photographers have mentioned, it really depends on your wedding day schedule and the location of your ceremony and reception. Have a chat to your photographer about places that are meaningful to you, as well as choosing places with a beautiful backdrop. For a list of our personal faves, check out our blog: http://www.iainandjo.com.au/best-wedding-photography-locations-melbourne/
To further what Madeleine Chiller has already suggested, there really are many differing locations in and around Melbourne that can work a treat for your wedding photography. But honestly it really depends on a couple of important factors. Firstly- where your ceremony and reception are located, and secondly, what your personal tastes are. You don't want to be spending too much time driving between locations- Melbourne traffic can be unforgiving and also- who wants to waste money on their photographer sitting in a car driving rather than recording beautiful images ;-P I always chat with my couples about locations which might have some kind of personal meaning to them. This is a good place to start when discussing locations with your photographer. What do you like to do as a couple? Where do you tend to hang out? Where did you meet? Where did he propose? Sometimes these kinds of questions can lead to some great and personally significant ideas for locations. I think my fellow photographers would agree that it is far easier for us to recommend locations not to utlise; locations that are notoriously busy such as the Brighton Beach Boxes and Pellegrini's Espresso Bar for example. Some locations require paid permits, such as Melbourne University and the Botanical Gardens, while others require written permission such as Victoria Barracks and Southbank. Many locations also have very strict rules regarding commercial photography such as the Royal Arcade in Melbourne. Keep in mind that while public parks and gardens are deemed 'public', they are in fact still private property- they are Crown land and hence require permits for professional photography. Often it is far easier (and cheaper!) to utilise privately arranged locations like bars and cafes, or funky shops and laneways. But do ensure you seek permission prior; don't just turn up somewhere and start shooting ;-p Most cafes and bars are quite accommodating :-)
(11) · Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley / Dandenong Ranges
Posted: 20/11/2017
Hey there how are you? Melbourne in itself lends to many different locations for wedding photography
graffiti laneways, gorgeous bars, car parks with city views and not to mention the inner city gardens
so many options so it really depends what style you are after.
Just one word of advice - try and group your locations close together - making sure you don't loose time traveling to the next spot!
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The other photographers have given you some brilliant practical advice, so I will add the angle we look for when we are actually shooting: light over location. A spot that looks gorgeous on Instagram at midday can be harsh and squinty when you are standing in it, so I would rather pick a slightly less famous laneway or garden that catches beautiful soft light at the time of day you will actually be there. Once you have your run sheet locked in, work backwards from when golden hour falls, because in Melbourne that shifts a lot between a summer and a winter wedding.
For variety without the driving, the area around Flinders Lane, AC/DC Lane and Hosier Lane gives you that classic Melbourne texture, and you are only a short walk from the river and Southbank if you want a city skyline as well. If you are after something greener and softer, the Fitzroy and Carlton Gardens or the grounds around the Royal Exhibition Building are stunning, just be aware, as Jennifer rightly flagged, that many of these are Crown land and need a permit for professional shoots, so it is worth us sorting that out together well before the day.
My honest tip is to choose two locations close together rather than four scattered across the city. You get far more usable, relaxed images when you are not clock watching in traffic, and you actually get to enjoy that little pocket of the day as a couple. Tell us where you met, where you got engaged or your favourite weekend cafe, because those personal spots almost always photograph with more warmth than the postcard locations everyone else uses.