Maxine and Mo Wedding Photography @ Settlers Run Golf
Maxine and Mo are one of the most easy-going couples I have ever met, and I felt very lucky that they chose me as their Melbourne wedding photographer.
When we first met, Maxine and Mo told me that they were only meeting two wedding photographers. I was one of the candidates. They wanted to keep the decision simple and choose a photographer who felt like the right fit for them.
So I asked them, “What is your biggest concern when it comes to your wedding photography?” The lovely couple told me that they were getting married at Settlers Run Golf in Botanic Ridge, only around 30 minutes from the Mornington Peninsula. Their wedding was going to have a casual, rustic and relaxed atmosphere.
When it came to their wedding photos, they wanted nothing too cheesy or overly posed. They wanted chilled, natural and in-the-moment wedding photography.
Then they added, “By the way, we’re not very good at posing in front of cameras. Can you give us some direction on the wedding day?”
“No problem,” I confidently told them.
A few months later, their wedding day arrived.
I started at the couple’s home, capturing some getting-ready photographs. Just as they had described themselves during our first meeting, Maxine and Mo were incredibly easy-going and relaxed.
In fact, they looked extremely natural in front of my cameras.
To be honest, it was slightly beyond my expectations. Before the wedding, I had anticipated all sorts of situations and thought about different ways to help them feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the lens.
But my job turned out to be surprisingly easy.
I didn’t need to talk too much or give them much direction. They were already in a great mood and completely comfortable with each other. So I kept things low-key, interfered as little as possible, and simply allowed the day to unfold naturally.
That gave me the opportunity to capture the raw, genuine moments as they happened — which is exactly what I mean when I talk about candid wedding photography in Melbourne.
A Relaxed Ceremony at Settlers Run Golf
The wedding ceremony was also held at Settlers Run Golf.
The ceremony location was very convenient, right in front of the reception building, with a beautifully maintained lawn. To fit their rustic and relaxed wedding theme, the couple chose a triangular wooden arbour decorated with dried flowers.
A simple abstract-patterned carpet ran through the middle of the aisle, while rattan furniture — including chairs, a round side table and a fabric-cushioned lounge — was arranged around the ceremony area.
The combination was simple but distinctive, and it reflected the couple’s personal taste beautifully.
The celebrant created a very casual and relaxed atmosphere throughout the ceremony. Maxine and Mo exchanged rings, read their vows and shared their first kiss as husband and wife.
Afterwards, they sat together on a comfortable double rattan chair to sign their marriage certificate.
There was nothing overly formal about the ceremony. Everything felt very much like them.
Natural Wedding Photography Around the Golf Course
After the ceremony, Maxine and Mo didn’t have a bridal party. Instead, we spent some time taking intimate location photographs around the golf course.
The weather was perfect for photography. It was overcast, which created soft and even natural light without the harsh shadows that can sometimes come with direct sunlight.
We walked together around the grounds. They held hands, walked side by side and simply enjoyed being together.
At one point, I spotted an old gum tree near the driveway. I asked them to stand beside it, side by side, and look at each other.
The groom was completely engaged in conversation with his new wife. They were laughing and chatting naturally, and that gave me the opportunity to capture a series of authentic wedding photographs without forcing the moment.
For me, those are often the photographs that matter most.
They don't look like they were “posed” for a wedding photograph. They simply look like two people enjoying being together on their wedding day.
The Golf Buggy Money Shot
The couple were also very organised and had hired a golf buggy in advance.
They drove one golf buggy in front, while I followed behind in another.
Now, I’m definitely not a Formula One driver, but I discovered that I could steer the golf buggy with one hand while using the other hand to press the shutter button.
When I gave them a cue to have a kiss, I managed to capture the moment while driving behind them.
That was quite a money shot.
Of course, I have to give some credit to my decent camera, its precise autofocus and, perhaps most importantly, my surprisingly good golf buggy driving skills.
It was a perfect combination of timing, movement and a little bit of luck.
A Quiet Moment by the Pond
As we continued driving around the golf course, we discovered a small pond.
It was incredibly peaceful on the wedding day. There was almost no wind, so the surface of the water was beautifully still, reflecting the surrounding trees and sky like a mirror.
I immediately thought it would make a beautiful backdrop for their wedding photographs. I asked Maxine and Mo to stand beside the pond and share a quiet moment together. They moved closer, embraced and shared a kiss.
The still water, reflections and surrounding greenery created a completely different feeling from the earlier photographs.
It was quiet, intimate and romantic without feeling overly staged.
Sunset at Settlers Run Golf
Back at the reception, I continued photographing the key moments of the evening, including their first dance, cake cutting and speeches.
During a break in the reception, we were lucky enough to get a beautiful sunset over the lawn at Settlers Run Golf.
It was a perfect bonus to finish the day.
Looking back, what I enjoyed most about Maxine and Mo’s wedding was how naturally everything happened.
They didn’t need to perform for the camera. They simply enjoyed their wedding day, trusted me to guide them when necessary, and allowed me to document the moments as they naturally unfolded.
That is exactly the kind of wedding photography I love — relaxed, authentic and full of genuine moments.
And for a Melbourne wedding photographer, there are few things better than being given the freedom to simply observe, anticipate and capture those moments as they happen.
