Wildwood Cinematic - Capturing Timeless Love Stories in Sydney, Bowral, and the Hunter Valley!
Meet James, Your Skilled Wedding Cinematographer Since 2016
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! We know how important it is to find the perfect wedding videographer to document your special day. That's where James, our experienced and passionate cinematographer at Wildwood Cinematic, comes in. With his artistic eye and dedication to storytelling, he has been capturing unforgettable wedding moments since 2016.
Preserving the Magic of Your Wedding Day in Sydney, Bowral, and the Hunter Valley
At Wildwood Cinematic, we believe in capturing the magic and emotions that make your wedding day truly exceptional. Our goal is to create stunning cinematic films that transport you back to those cherished moments, allowing you to relive the love and joy every time you watch your wedding film.
Tailored Wedding Cinematography Services Just for You
Your wedding day is unique and deserves personalised attention. Whether you're exchanging vows in Sydney, celebrating in the beautiful landscapes of Bowral, or toasting in the vineyards of the Hunter Valley, we will tailor our wedding cinematography services to suit your style and preferences. We take pride in our attention to detail and ability to capture the candid, heartfelt moments that make your love story shine.
Experience the Artistry of Wildwood Cinematic
With years of experience, James and the Wildwood Cinematic team have mastered the art of capturing weddings. We combine technical expertise with a genuine passion for storytelling, ensuring that every frame is carefully crafted to showcase your love story in the most authentic and cinematic way possible. Let us tell your story through breathtaking visuals and captivating narratives.
Book Wildwood Cinematic for Your Sydney, Bowral, and Hunter Valley Wedding
We would be honored to be part of your special day. Contact Wildwood Cinematic today to discuss your wedding cinematography needs and secure your booking. Let's create an everlasting film that encapsulates the beauty and emotions of your wedding day, so you can relive those cherished memories for years to come.
INTERTWINING YOUR VOWS + SPEECHES
We believe the key to an amazing wedding film is when your speakers approach their speech from a storytelling perspective. Our most loved films are those with a strong storytelling element, which will take the viewer on a journey from start to finish.
Remember, the audio we capture from your wedding day will be the narrative for your wedding story, so choosing strong speakers and giving them a few small directions can go a long way. If your speakers do not include those emotional elements, it is impossible for us to create a wedding film with an emotional pull.
Letting your speakers know they will be recorded and that parts of their speech may make it into your wedding film will also help. This may give them a fresh perspective on their speech and what may or may not be appropriate for a wedding film that will be watched and re-watched for generations to come. A speech designed to embarrass the couple yields very little usable audio.
Secondly, choosing a celebrant that is professional and experienced, who invites the audience into your love story and gives a little bit of background into your relationship will definitely help set the tone. You should always hire a professional who also uses the proper gear required to run the ceremony. Check out our recommended vendors list for our top picks.
STEPS FOR WRITING A KILLER WEDDING SPEECH
Start by making a list of your three favourite qualities about the newlyweds, and use those as your starting point. To expand beyond that, you can ask yourself these questions as well:
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
Is there anyone speaking before or after you? If so, how will it affect the content of your speech?
What is the general tone you want to convey in your speech? Emotional? Joy? Funny?
What are some of your favourite memories with the newlyweds? These memories can be based on the individual getting married or them as a couple
What do you see when you envision their future with one another?
Is there any advice that you want to share?
When it’s time to start writing, use the following general outline to help create a great speech from beginning to end.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Tell everyone your name and a brief explanation of how and when you met the couple or how you’re related. Guests may or may not know not who you are, so a little context will go a long way.
ONE RELEVANT STORY
Choose one story that reflects the qualities you love most about the couple. This should be relatable, endearing, and appropriate. Make sure you have a point to the story so that you can seamlessly tie it into your speech at the end.
REMINISCE ABOUT THE DAY YOU MET THEIR PARTNER
Everyone in that room will likely have seen different pieces of the couple’s love story, so tell their story from your perspective. Talk about the day you met their significant other for the first time and the moment you realised this was the person they were going to marry.
TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT THEIR PARTNER
Although your main responsibility is to talk about one of the newlyweds, every speech should ultimately be about both of them. Tell their partner why they are the best choice for your friend and what qualities you love most about them.
TALK ABOUT YOUR HOPES FOR THEIR FUTURE AS A COUPLE
If you’re married, this is where you can insert your best piece(s) of advice for a healthy marriage. If you’re not married, wish them a long, happy, and healthy life together. Make your wishes and your advice personal to their relationship and end on a positive, optimistic, and heartfelt vision of their future.
END WITH A TOAST
Ending a speech can be just as challenging as starting it, which is why we recommend ending with a toast. Ask everyone to raise their glass and toast to the wonderful couple—and, in your own mind, to the killer speech you just gave!
DON’T GET DRUNK
We love a good open bar as much as the next person, but you don’t want to be slurring your words or drunkenly rambling in front of everyone.
IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU
It’s okay to be relatable by telling a story, but remember that this speech is about them. After you’ve introduced yourself, move on to talking about the newlyweds and their relationship.
HOW FAR IS TOO FAR
There’s nothing wrong with jokes. In fact, some of the best toasts and speeches inject humour throughout. However, don’t use crude language, tell inappropriate stories or mention past relationships. The moral of the story is if there’s even the slightest chance someone could feel uncomfortable about something you want to say, leave it out.
SHORT AND SWEET
We mentioned this earlier, but it’s an important one! Chances are there will be at least two other people giving speeches before or after you, so keep your speech to six minutes max. If you go any longer than that, the couple and their guests may start getting a little antsy. If you aren’t sure how long your speech will take, our next tip will help.
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
You practice for speeches for school and work, why should a wedding be any different? Rehearse your speech with a friend or in front of the mirror. It will help get some of the nerves out and allow you to make sure it all flows before the big moment.
Keep in mind that you’ll naturally speak more quickly when you’re handed the microphone, so as you’re practising make sure you remind yourself to slow down.
WRITE IT DOWN
With all the excitement and nerves of the day, there is a good chance you’ll blank out or forget parts of your speech. Even if you plan to memorise it, write it down and bring it with you just in case. Nobody will fault you for holding notes–just be sure to look up occasionally!
That’s it, a surefire way to have amazing content to work with for your wedding film!
xx The Wildwood Team
HOW TO BOOK YOUR FIRST WEDDING AS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER!
Booking your first wedding as a photographer can seem like such a hard thing to do. Wedding photography is not only a challenging genre, but a difficult market to break into. There will always be photographers offering their services for free and photographers with more experience than you. Don’t worry about that. If you are persistent, there are lots of ways to book your first wedding and then keep the clients rolling in.
I started shooting weddings because I knew I wanted to capture the magic of a couple’s most important day. I was willing to work for my clients, but booking your first wedding as a photographer isn’t easy. Still, it is possible if you know where to look for clients and how to build your portfolio. I’m going to share how I got started and some ways you can work toward booking your first wedding, too.
1.BUILD A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO
First thing is first, you need to gain some experience in shooting a wedding. This in itself is a different kettle of fish, the skills you require on a wedding day are completely different to what you require for a 30-minute family shoot. So, how do you gain experience? The first option is to maybe see if you can shoot the wedding of a friend or family member, that is a great way of gaining some experience. In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with shooting your first wedding for a small fee as long as you have the technical skill, equipment (including backup equipment), and a little bit of an idea about portraiture. Remember that even if you’re providing your photography services for a small price, you should know what you’re doing. It is such an important day for a couple, and you need to be able to deliver high-quality photos that you and your clients are proud to display.
Another idea could be second shooting, this is where you shoot alongside a professional photographer. The first wedding I ever shot was as a second shooter for an established wedding photographer based in Sydney. Depending on your experience this may not pay too well but you need to think of this as an investment. The first few weddings I second shoot I was paid $50 for 10 hours coverage and that pretty much covered my petrol to and from Sydney. How do you go about finding people to second shoot for? In my case, I had been shooting for many years before this and was getting general wedding enquiries via my website so I put a call out in a few Facebook groups that I was a part of and found an opportunity quite quickly. Initially, I wasn’t looking to build my portfolio but looking to see what it was like and a quickly realised this is what I wanted to do. I continued to second shoot for a few different photographers over the following two years until I felt ready to start booking weddings on my own. This worked for me and it was an amazing experience. The key to this method is being transparent with the primary shooter that you would like to use the images captured on the day for portfolio building and it is always a great I dear to have a contract inlace to help protect you down the track.
2. Network with other photographers to find opportunities
I have a friend who booked a few weddings through a local Facebook group for wedding photographers. It’s important to note that he had done some portfolio building by shooting couples’ photos with friends, so he had samples of his work that represented his photography style. You should definitely have a portfolio to show if you want to book your first wedding. Clients will want to see examples of your work and style before they pay you to capture one of the most important days of their lives.
3. Give away an engagement session to get your name out there
Giveaways work really well! Yes, you will do one session for free, but it can give you exposure and attract other clients. In the early years, I did do an engagement shoot giveaway — it not only created buzz, but also allowed me to stretch my creativity. With free sessions, there is no pressure and you can experiment and think outside the box.
4. Do a styled shoot to build your portfolio and your network
Styled shoots are a great way to build your portfolio and attract your ideal client. Use models and set up your shoot the way you’d want to shoot your perfect client. If you’re going to capture boho style weddings in breathtaking locations, contact your favourite dress designer or boutique as well as a make-up artist and hairstylist.
Networking is a big part of the wedding industry, and you will gain friends and potential referrals by creating opportunities to work together. Don’t be afraid to hear the word “no.” Most vendors will be happy to provide their services in exchange for your gorgeous photos, but if someone doesn’t want to participate, just move on to the next vendor on your list.
When you’re done with your styled shoot, you’ll have created the beginning of your referral network. This is a great way to establish your name and your business quickly.
5. Use social media to strategically reach clients
Social media is a big beast nowadays. If you don’t have good visibility on social media —Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. — there isn't much chance that clients can find you. You can also consider doing paid advertising and boost posts on social media for faster results. Or, run a few campaigns to see how it works for your business. The various social media channels and methods work differently for each business.
6. Blog often to help clients find you through SEO
Blogging is a big part of your online presence. Blog as often as you can — at least once a week. Some industry friends blog 2-3 times a week to help their SEO and to keep their content fresh for clients. Feature your sessions, weddings, publications, awards, tips for couples, and any other info including your keywords to allow your couples to find you. Don’t forget to name all your images with your keywords! It will help with SEO.
7. Be willing to pay for advertising to reach your target market
Print Advertising (in magazines, for example) seems to come to mind only after photographers have tried online reach. But advertising in print publications can be well worth it if you know your ideal client will be reading a specific magazine.
Online Directories are a great way to get backlinks to your website (which is great for SEO) and give you more exposure. There are plenty of free directories, but paid directories can work well for your business if they are on the first page of Google for your target keywords.
Google AdWords is a great way to get on the first page of Google.
On your website, make sure to target your location and main keywords. Have a great landing page with your best images, info about you and your style, and links to your portfolio, pricing and contact page. You can also include client testimonials to give future clients a feel for the type of services that you provide.
Make sure your website is easy to navigate with all the info that clients need to know before booking, including your location. Make it super easy for clients to contact you!
8. Participate in wedding shows that attract your ideal clients
Participating in wedding shows is a great way to find real wedding clients. It can also help you get a feel for the market, establish your brand and book your first wedding. Wedding shows can be a significant investment when you include payment for the site and all of your promotional materials, but they can be worth it if you do your research.
All shows have different target audiences. You need to find the wedding show that speaks to your brand and attracts your ideal clients. I once booked over ten clients from a small local wedding show, compared with only one booking from a bigger fair.
You also need to be well prepared — have a table, prints showcasing your work, business cards, flyers, albums, a screen for slideshows, etc. You’ll need to have at least one album with a full wedding, at least one big print or canvas, and business cards to attract clients.
9. Gain exposure by submitting images for publicatioN
You can start to actively look for opportunities to be featured. This can really help you book your first wedding as it creates a buzz around your work. It won’t give you a direct booking, but will help you gain exposure and add value to your business by improving your reputation. Publications and awards also help your clients trust you and your ability to create excellent quality work.
My best advice to help you book your first wedding is not to put all your effort into any one channel. Use all types of promotions and keep them going. Consistency is key. As soon as you take a break from your social media, blogging and promotional efforts, you will see a drop in your bookings. Keep working until you book your first wedding and beyond! Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy all those beautiful wedding days.
THE WILLOW
COLLECTION - $9,950
10 hours Video Coverage
Two Cinematographers
3-4 minute Highlight Film
15 minute Wedding Day Featurette Film
Full Length Ceremony Film
Full Length Speeches Film
1 minute Wedding Trailer
Fully Licensed Music
Online Delivery
REDLEAF, WOLLOMBI WEDDING VideoGRAPHER
Wow, what an incredible Hunter Valley Wedding Venue. Perfectly situated is Redleaf Wollombi. In short, it’s magnificent, luxury country retreat set on 100 acres only 3 km from the historic township of Wollombi and a short drive to Hunter Valley Wineries. With 10 acres of manicured gardens, this elegant Italian style villa is the perfect place for a weekend, week-long stay with your family and friends or the absolute perfect location for your Hunter Valley Wedding.
Secluded, peaceful, indulgent and private, it is an ideal setting for your family and friends to reside whilst enjoying the wineries of the Hunter Valley. Alternatively host an intimate wedding for 60 in the private Redleaf Garden Room or larger numbers with a marquee in the gardens the options are endless.
Redleaf is the perfect destination to enjoy all that the Hunter Valley offers.
Redleaf is the most beautiful setting for you to create your own special day.
Let’s talk about what makes Redleaf so special, not only do the team give you the entire property on which to create your own event, that includes the house with its beautiful accommodation, the stunning gardens, pool and extensive grounds. In addition, there is a building which used to be a restaurant – we sometimes refer to this as “The Garden Room”. It is a lovely building, surrounded by its own gardens and can comfortably hold 60 for a seated event or 80 for a stand up event. For larger events, a number of great options are available to establish marquees.
Don’t believe us, take a look at a recent photoshoot featured on Modern Weddings:
View TUSCAN INSPIRED COUNTRY WEDDING photoshoot
GETTING MARRIED AT REDLEAF WOLLOMBI WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
If you are considering a wedding at Redleaf Wollombi and are looking for the best Hunter Valley Wedding Videographer than look no further than husband and wife team at Wildwood. Please get in-touch via our contact page for our availability and pricing guide.
We are an experience Hunter Valley Wedding Team and would to chat through your wedding day plans.
