In Conversation with Wedding Photographer Tamara Little
Tamara Little, a wedding photographer based in Melbourne, specialises in cultivating close connections with couples. By nurturing trust, she creates authentic, true-to-self images that capture the essence of each couple. Tamara's method includes personally getting to know her clients, ensuring their comfort in front of the camera, and skillfully capturing the raw, candid moments that uniquely define a wedding day.
Interview Alexander Ross
“The small in-between moments are really the big moments. These raw and real moments are really what makes a difference. It’s important to be intuitive, to try and anticipate moments before they even happen, to be at the ready and capture these in an unobtrusive way...”
Tell us a little bit about your journey into the world of wedding photography...
Wedding photography came to me later in life. I was never one of those kids who had a passion for photography or was given a camera at an early age. But I was obsessed with imagery. I would always stare as the photos that adorned people's walls and I loved flipping through my grandmother’s photo albums and looking at the grainy photos contained within. I would always wonder about the story and marvel at how the world had changed in such a short time since the image was taken. Beyond school, I never really found my career calling. I enrolled in the Photography Studies college and studied at night after work. I did the first unit before falling pregnant with my son. Back in those days, we were still working in the darkroom (I am showing my age here - haha!) It was advised not to continue due to the unknown potential chemicals in the dark room. My photography journey took a back seat and finally, 10 years later, I picked it back up again, this time, doing an online course. This gave me the basic understanding of how photography worked. I proceeded slowly, vouching never to get into wedding photography! After photographing a few very casual weddings, however, I realised what an exhilarating and amazing opportunity it is to capture someone’s special day! Having now photographed hundreds of weddings, I haven’t looked back.
How would you describe your style of wedding photography?
Most of the couples that choose me are drawn to my natural style. Whilst it is a little overused term, I have a passion for authenticity and capturing the couples personalities. I love to ensure a mix of romantic and introspective images with fun and energetic but this must be true to the couple. I have been experimenting lately with some images that are a little more editorial in their feel and that’s been resonating really well with my couples. I like to throw in a touch of quirkiness also and have been known to do things a little out of the ordinary like photographing a bride in a bath or experimenting with harsh light.
How do you approach getting to know the couples you work with and how does this personal connection impact the quality of the wedding photography?
This step is really important to gain trust and rapport, not only for the couples I am working with but for me also. I gain an intimate understanding of their needs and desires. I do this through meetings with them, preferably face to face as well as frequent contact points throughout the process so they feel supported and guided through the whole process. I also send them a “Wedding experience” guide soon after booking with lots of tips, tricks and suggested timelines. On the day, it feels like we are old friends, and they can really be themselves. This in turn results in authentic images that are really true to them.
What steps do you take to make couples feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera, especially when they may not be used to being photographed professionally?
Not feeling comfortable in front of the camera is the number one concern for most of my couples. The touch points I mentioned above goes a long way to alleviating this concern as we know each other really well on the day and it feels like we are just old friends hanging out. I interact with my couples on the day, asking questions, telling (bad) jokes and often they are so absorbed in what they are doing, they forget all about being photographed. I give lots of positive reinforcement when I can see something is really working and offer gentle guidance, small changes in body language can really make a big difference.
How do you capture candid and emotional moments between the couple and their guests, and what do you believe makes these moments so important in wedding photography?
The small in-between moments are really the big moments. These raw and real moments are really what makes a difference. It’s important to be intuitive, to try and anticipate moments before they even happen, to be at the ready and capture these in an unobtrusive way. I not only blend in (often guests think that I’m a friend of the couple, not a paid supplier) but also let the day unfold naturally and beautifully without interrupting the flow of what’s happening around me.
Do you have any favourite locations or settings that you recommend to couples for their engagement or pre-wedding photoshoots? What makes these places special for capturing meaningful moments?
I think it’s important that the couple choose somewhere that is special to them. Perhaps it was where they got engaged, maybe it’s somewhere they love to explore on the weekends, maybe it’s a place they’ve always been meaning to get to but haven’t yet. The Dandenong ranges, in and around the city, St Kilda and the couple's own home are some of my favourite locations. Golden hour (that is the hour before sunset) will always be best for the most dreamy golden light!
Some couples have specific requests or creative ideas. How do you incorporate their input and preferences into your photography while maintaining your style?
I would say the vast majority of my couples do leave the creative direction up to me however it’s always a collaboration of ideas. I welcome new and fresh ideas and perspectives. Perhaps they have thought of something that I haven’t and that’s a good thing! Some couples want only natural and candid images whilst others are up for something a bit more editorial. Some are adventurous and will be up for anything and others are a little more reserved. I take time to get to know what they want and incorporate that into the day.
After the wedding day, what is your process for delivering final images to the couple and how do you ensure that they are satisfied with the results?
Within 48 hours of the wedding, they are supplied with a little sneak peek of images. This is a little taste of what is to come. The final gallery is delivered about 3 - 4 weeks later. I keep my couples updated on my progress and deliver all my images via a downloadable link that they can share with their family and friends. The day is curated beautifully and divided up into the different parts of the day so aesthetically pleasing. I usually deliver about 100 photos per hour of shooting. I always ask for feedback at the end of the process.
Where are you based and what areas are you available to shoot weddings?
I am based in Eltham. I am very lucky to live in a very green and leafy part of Melbourne where the country meets the city. It’s the gateway to the Yarra Valley and everything it has to offer, whilst only 30 minutes into the city. I am available everywhere to shoot weddings but the majority of the weddings I capture are within Melbourne or regional Victoria.
And finally, your number piece of wedding planning advice?
Think really carefully about your vision before you get underway and start booking venues and vendors. Try not to feel the overwhelm by organising the big things first before taking a break and then moving on to the smaller things. Above all, remember why you are doing this, it’s to marry your soul mate, the love of your life and nothing else really matters!
Tamara Little Photography can be found online at tamaralittlephotography.com.au or on Instagram at @tamaralittle_photography
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.
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