Some weddings stay with you not because they’re loud or elaborate — but because they’re honest.

Yumi and Shaw’s wedding at Redleaf Wollombi was one of those days.

Small, intimate, and deeply felt, it was a celebration shaped by vulnerability, connection, and the kind of quiet confidence that comes from knowing exactly what matters to you.

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A Calm Beginning, A Big Feeling

Before the wedding day, Shaw mentioned — almost apologetically — that he wasn’t great in photos.
“If we get three good ones,” he said, “I’ll be happy.”

It’s something I hear often. And almost always, it’s followed by a day that proves the opposite.

Yumi and Shaw had moved to Sydney from Perth, and many of their 43 guests had travelled across the country to be there. The atmosphere felt intentional from the very beginning — fewer people, deeper connections, and time to really be together.

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A First Look, Just for Them

They chose to do a first look, tucked away in the gardens.

It was an unusually warm spring day, so we found a quiet, shaded spot — just the two of them, the trees, and a little breathing room before everything began.

When they saw each other, the emotion came immediately.

Tears. Deep breaths. Hands reaching for one another.

It was incredibly moving to witness how open they were — how willing they were to let themselves feel everything, right there in front of me. That kind of trust is never taken lightly.

I knew then it was going to be a special day.

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A Ceremony Full of Feeling

The ceremony, officiated by Aniella Batten, carried that same emotional current.

Yumi’s vows were particularly powerful. One of my favourite moments from the entire day is Yumi standing there, tears streaming down her cheeks as she read them — completely present, completely herself.

Shaw was equally overcome, gently dabbing Yumi’s tears with a tissue as they stood together.

There was no rushing. No performative moments. Just real emotion, shared openly with the people who mattered most.

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Slow Time, Shared Space

After the ceremony, the pace softened even further.

Cocktails and canapés were served in the gardens, and because the guest list was small, the energy felt relaxed and unguarded. People lingered. Conversations stretched out. Laughter came easily.

Spending that time immersed among the guests allowed me to fade into the background — observing, anticipating, and capturing candid moments as they naturally unfolded.

These are the moments I love most.

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Golden Light and Gentle Portraits

As the sun dipped lower, we wandered the grounds for portraits.

Nothing forced. No big production. Just moving with the light as it turned warmer and softer, wrapping the gardens in gold.

Yumi and Shaw relaxed into it completely. The nervousness Shaw had mentioned earlier in the process had long disappeared — replaced by ease, closeness, and a quiet joy that showed in every frame.

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Dinner Under the Stars

The reception took place outdoors, with two long tables set beneath the stars in front of the homestead.

Pepis created a moment of food theatre, twirling pasta through a giant wheel of cheese before plating it for guests — a small detail that felt perfectly aligned with the atmosphere of the night. Warm, generous, and delicious.

Speeches were heartfelt and moving, often bringing Yumi and Shaw back to tears. They were a privilege to witness — the kind that remind you just how much love can be held in a small group of people.

There was no formal first dance planned. But when a friend picked up a guitar and began to play, encouragement from the guests drew Yumi and Shaw onto the floor anyway.

It felt spontaneous. Unscripted. Exactly right.

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Photographing Weddings at Redleaf

I’ve photographed several weddings at Redleaf, and days like this — intimate, emotional, unhurried — are a beautiful reminder of how versatile the space really is.

If you’re planning a wedding here and would like to see more celebrations I’ve photographed at Redleaf, you can explore my Redleaf wedding photographer guide, where I share real weddings and my approach to documenting them.

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A Quiet Kind of Magic

Yumi and Shaw’s wedding wasn’t about spectacle.

It was about presence.
About allowing emotion to surface.
About sharing something deeply personal with the people who had travelled so far to be there.

An absolute privilege to witness — and to photograph.