Kirsten Cunningham Photography

Totally normal. Most of my couples tell me this at our first chat, then end up saying I was one of the best parts of their day.

You won’t find stiff posing marathons or cheesy prompts here, and you’ll never be barked at, rushed or made to feel silly. I’ll give you easy, clear direction when it helps (where to stand, what to do with your hands, when to just look at each other), then step back and catch the real moments while you get on with celebrating.

Here’s the thing: how you feel in front of the camera shows up in every single frame. So my job isn’t just making you look good. It’s making sure you feel confident, beautiful and completely at ease, because that’s what you’ll see every time you look back.

You’re not the only ones, I promise. Divorced parents, a step-family, someone who isn’t speaking to someone else. I’ve seen it all and I handle it quietly. Let me know beforehand who should and shouldn’t be standing together, and I’ll plan the group photos so nobody gets awkwardly shuffled into the wrong spot in front of everyone. No fuss, no announcements, no drama. Just a smooth run of photos and a family that walks away thinking that went surprisingly well.

It depends less on your guest list and more on what you want to remember. Most couples land on eight hours, which comfortably covers getting ready, the ceremony, family photos, golden hour portraits and the first few hours of the party. Six works beautifully for smaller, tighter days. Ten is for the ones who want every last dance floor moment. Once you book, I send through sample runsheets and timelines from real weddings, so you can see exactly where the hours go and build a day that doesn’t feel rushed. No guesswork, no paying for time you don’t need. 6 hours coverage starts from $4950.

Work backwards from sunset. The best light of the day is the hour before the sun goes down, and that’s when I’ll steal you away briefly for portraits. Ideally your ceremony starts about two to three hours before sunset, giving you time for congratulations, family photos and a drink before we head out. In winter that can mean a 2pm ceremony, in summer closer to 4pm. It’s the single biggest thing you can do for your photos, and it costs nothing. I share timeline examples for every season to make it easy.

Totally up to you, and there’s no wrong answer. A first look gives you a private moment before the madness, settles the nerves and frees up time later so you can actually enjoy cocktail hour. Skipping it keeps that aisle reveal electric, and some couples wouldn’t trade it for anything. If you love the idea of a quiet moment but want to save the aisle, a first touch (back to back around a corner, holding hands, no peeking) is a beautiful middle ground. Have a think about how you want to feel, and we’ll build the day around it.

Brilliant. Kids are my secret weapon. I know how to get a shy flower girl giggling, keep a wriggly page boy in the frame and grab the shot before the meltdown hits. Kids get photographed first in group photos (before they’re tired and sticky), and I’ll keep them busy and involved so they actually enjoy it. Some of my all-time favourite frames are of little ones doing exactly what they weren’t supposed to.

Then we roll with it, and it’s often where the best photos happen. I scout backup spots at every venue (verandahs, sheds, barrel rooms, a big old tree) and always carry clear umbrellas. Rain, wind and moody skies make for incredibly editorial images, so I’ll never let a bit of weather wreck your mood. What matters most is that you two stay relaxed. A couple laughing under an umbrella beats a stressed couple in perfect sunshine every single time.

Usually because they aren’t planned properly. Before your wedding, we’ll write a short list together, in order, with names. On the day I call groups in quickly, have the next one waiting in the wings and keep everyone laughing so nobody wanders off to the bar. A big family group usually takes 15 minutes, tops. Ideally less than 10. Then you’re back with your guests with a drink in hand, not standing on a lawn while someone goes to check where Uncle Steve went.

It probably will, at least a little. Hair runs over, the bus is late, speeches go 20 minutes longer than anyone planned. I build buffer into every timeline I help with, and on the day I’m watching the clock so you don’t have to. If things slip, I’ll quietly reshuffle, chat to your coordinator or MC, and make sure the important stuff (golden hour portraits, family photos, your entrance) still happens. You’ll probably never know there was a hiccup. That’s kind of the point.

Yes absolutely. And I hope that one day that it is industry standard and I don’t have to make a point of it that I do!