In Conversation With Melbourne Wedding Photographer Kyra Boyer
Melbourne-based wedding photographer Kyra Boyer discovered her passion for wedding photography after moving to the city in 2015 and being captivated by the unique, creative celebrations set against the stunning Australian landscape. A lover of authentic, candid moments, Kyra’s style is all about capturing the emotions, connections, and vibrant personalities of her couples. With a calm demeanor and an eye for spontaneity, she ensures that every wedding she shoots is filled with joy and unforgettable memories.
Interview Alexander Ross
“…Authenticity is important to me, so nothing is staged or overly posed. I am more about the people than the things.”
What sparked your passion for wedding photography?
I’ve always been drawn to portrait and documentary photography. When I moved to Melbourne in 2015 and experienced the unique and wildly creative way that couples were getting married - all set amongst this gorgeous Australian landscape - I was hooked! I’m also a hopeless romantic, so it was the perfect storm.
How would you describe your photography style?
My photos are a jungle of emotions, movement, colour and connection. Authenticity is important to me, so nothing is staged or overly posed. I am more about the people than the things.
How do you approach getting to know a couple before their big day to ensure their personalities shine through in your photos?
I will always meet at least once with my couples, which gives me an insight into who they are right out of the gate! From there, it’s easy to piece together personalities from how they are planning their wedding and a questionnaire I send out before the big day. In addition to those things, my intuitive nature allows me to find something unique in every couple and bring it to life.
Describe a time when you captured an unplanned, candid moment that turned out to be a favourite for the couple.
A love a wayward veil! One memorable time the bride’s veil got caught up in a huge gust of wind and wrapped itself right around the couple so they were bound together in this cute little package. The whole series of photos from that moment are pure gold!
How do you handle the fast-paced and sometimes unpredictable nature of wedding days to ensure you get the perfect shots?
My default state of being is very calm and go-with-the-flow. It takes a lot to get me rattled, and ultimately I always keep in my mind that it’s the couples’ experience on the day that is paramount. I wholly embrace unpredictability, and even if you are getting married in a torrential downpour, I tend to look on the bright side of things. Cameras are built to shoot in fast-paced environments, so as long as I keep looking for the magic and shooting it, it all works out!
Can you share a funny or unexpected experience you've had while photographing a wedding?
I was photographing a wedding on a private property once that had a long driveway that peeled off from a bike track that ran along a river. By total accident, famous cyclist Cadel Evans took a wrong turn and ended up cycling onto the property - and the groom is one of his biggest fans! We got portraits with him and everything. Second to marrying the love of his life, meeting his idol was the best part of this groom’s wedding day.
Give us an example of 3 weddings you've recently captured that really sums up your style.
Carly’s wedding - Carly flew me to Stradbroke Island where she married 40 of her best friends in the most beautiful wedding ceremony on the beach. There were vows, speeches, blessings of beads, and a dress code that was met-gala-meets-mardi gras. It was an ode to platonic love - a reminder that all love is worth celebrating, not just romantic love.
Jack & Zak - Jack and Zak planned an oceanfront wedding that was full of colour and whimsy and musical theatre. (Maybe it’s my background in theatre, but I do tend to attract a lot of theatre people!) There was an abundance of emotions and sparkle, and those two things alone really sum up my style.
Kiki & Ange - These two fun-loving crazy fur baby mums had an intimate wedding with just 30 of their closest friends and family present. It wasn’t a quiet affair however, because Kiki and Ange like a party! There were Chinese Lion Dancers, Serbian dancing, wildly colourful and abundant florals, and lots of laughs. It was stylish, but loose! My ideal clients.
Recently I photographed a couple that were having a secret elopement with no guests present. When you're getting married however, you still do need to choose two witnesses. They didn't want to favour any of their friends or family members, so they asked me to be one of their witnesses and hired their other witness from AirTasker! The guy was lovely and didn't accept payment in the end, and said he had been hired for all sorts of jobs before but this was his first time as a witness! It was really special, and quite hilarious, to share this huge moment with a complete stranger.
What tips do you give couples to help them feel more comfortable and natural in front of the camera?
My first tip would be, let’s not talk about the camera. I really never mention my camera at all, so very quickly everyone forgets that it’s there! I relate to my couples as people, not subjects, we have a bit of a laugh, and I take some nice pics! Most people will naturally worry about being awkward in front of the camera, but at the end of the day, in my experience, everyone is so relieved that it was actually just fun - relaxing, even! I also incorporate music a lot of the time, which is an excellent distraction.
If you could photograph a wedding for any celebrity or historical figure, who would it be and why? What kind of shots would you want to capture?
Jonathan VanNess or Iris Apfel! I know the fashion would be wild for both, (most definitely there would be costume changes), and I just love how they each are so true to themselves and what they are about. Like all of my work, my shots would be about personality, punch, and unbridled joy. It would just be a damn good time, I reckon!
Find Kyra Boyer online by CLICKING HERE or follow on Instagram at @kyraboyerweddings
DISCLAIMER: We attempt to credit the original photographer/source of every image we use. However, in most circumstances, the images we use are provided by the brands spoken about, and we rely on them to inform us of the image source. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@theodoremagazine.com
More For You
