Meet Florist & Stylist, Nadja!

Today you will meet Nadja - a florist & stylist and owner of Le Sans Souci. We have worked with lovely Nadja several times now. Every single time, Nadja takes the brief and works her own magic. Her creations bring joy, push boundaries, and make us excited to work with her again. Here are some recommendations we have when working with Nadja:

  • Firstly, just do it! Le Sans Souci for dreamy florals and exquisite styling.

  • Secondly, give Nadja creative control. We know this sounds scary and unpredictable… and what if it does not come together perfectly? When someone has as much experience as Nadja, works as carefully & mindfully, and lovingly creates unique, bespoke floral recipes each and every time, you could not be in better hands. We stand by this. How do we know? When we give Nadja a brief, we give her full creative control. Complete control. Our concepts are just to guide the overall direction. We could not have been happier with the result in every instance - trust in a creative is everything - and we are sure you will, too!

  • Refer to the first point <3

Here is the story behind Le Sans Souci. Thank you for sharing it with us, Nadja, and - as always - we cannot wait to work with you again in the very near future!

Nadja <3

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MY STORY … Nadja from Le Sans Souci

My name is Nadja, and I am from South-East Germany. I spent many years in Berlin where I was a frequent customer in flower shops; I had to check any new ones out as soon as they opened. Every one of them had their unique twist to their craftsmanship. Most of all, I loved the fragrance walking into a flower shop. A deep appreciation of blooms and greens, I guess, comes from my family roots. Grandma and Mum used to have unique flowering plants we cared for through the seasons; there was always a vase inside filled with blooms.

When I had the opportunity to do what I love most it was as meant to be. After finishing traditional floristry training in Qld, I took every opportunity to learn hands-on with established event florists and used distance workshops with English and American florists to learn. I love how techniques evolve constantly and become more sustainable. The beauty of floristry is that you never stop learning.

Sans Souci means ‘carefree’ or ‘no worries’ – as we take care of the LITTLE things, and you don’t have to worry.

I CREATE BEST … with loud music.

COLOUR TO ME IS … pure life and a language of its own which everyone can speak and understand.

I FIND MY INSPIRATION … all around me in nature. The light & shadow-effects in nature during different times of the day are amazing to watch.

CREATIVITY MEANS … letting my imagination flow. It actually calms me down and helped me personally to overcome anxiety.

CHOOSING BLOOMS IS LIKE … A kid in a candy store.

FLORA & FAUNA … Australian nature has an abundance of amazing textured greenery & unusual fauna which invite to foraging. Top-notch nursery blooms produced in Australia are ridiculous beautiful!

IDEAL MATERIAL COMBOS … are a balanced contrast to me where they bring the best features out in each other. Bouquets with Australian Native florals and dainty heirloom blooms with dreamy soft silk ribbons make me smile.

MY BEST DESIGN DECISION … to go bold & trust my instincts with large scale installations like a massive tall tree with flowers ‘growing’ 6m up the trunk. I love experimenting with colour and texture, letting fresh &amp; preserved organic materials merge together.

A LITTLE NOTE ON STYLING WITH FLORALS FOR YOUR BIG DAY … keep an open mind to possibilities when choosing florals with your florist or stylist. Blooms can create the perfect atmosphere at your venue. Set rules don’t really exist when it comes to what you can or can’t do on your wedding day. Nothing should stop you from achieving your vision. The best weddings I have been part of were team effort with my clients.

xx Nadja

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You will find Le Sans Souci here:

Bridal Shoot :: 50th Wedding Anniversary Inspiration in Brisbane, Australia

Last year, Hannah (model we have worked with/now friend) sent us a message that included this: “My grandparents are having their 50th wedding anniversary this year and my Nanna still has her dress (which is the same size as me). I was thinking of recreating the look with the same dress/makeup/hair/e.g and giving the photos to her as a present”. Of course, we jumped on board with both feet.

Images from this shoot were subsequently featured here:

Glamour & Grace

The following description of this shoot was eloquently written by Samantha from Roaring Twenties Bonnie’s Adventures:

“HEIRLOOM is a sentimental and evocative shoot, envisaged by model Hannah Hayes Sisson, atmospherically set amongst the lush greenery of Northey Street Parklands and lyrically captured by Poppy & Sage Photography.

As Hannah explained:

‘HEIRLOOM pays homage to the circle of life; encompassing both enduring and young love. This shoot celebrates two significant milestones for my family.

In essence it commemorates both the enduring love between my grandparents as they reach their Golden Wedding Anniversary. And as I wear this heirloom of my grandmother's wedding gown, it is also an opportunity for me to contemplate my future as I transition from adolescence into adulthood.’

HEIRLOOM incorporates exquisite elements that acknowledge Hannah's heritage. Revering past generations is the old world romance of Bonnie; the 1928 Chrysler from Roaring Twenties Vintage Car Hire. And what will become a treasured keepsake is the blush and lilac letterpress invite to Hannah's grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, handmade by Yesterday Creative Letterpress.

A soft mediative fall of rain evoked a mood ripe for introspection and growth. Amongst the soft dappled light is Rossetti Pre-Raphaelite beauty, petite Hannah with an enigmatic expression that holds both youth and optimism. Enhancing her natural beauty, Martha Lois Makeup has accentuated those perfect rosebud lips with a vibrant red hue. Chic styling by Catherine Clare created a centre parting that framed Hannah's face with a loose up-do at the rear, anchoring a fine detailed embroidered veil.

Hannah holds a nostalgic selection of lilies (also present in her grandmother's original bouquet) that has been re-imagined with delicate feathery textures by the talented Botanical Lab.

To finish celebrations is a three tier cake of marble with copper honeycomb motifs and hand-made icing succulent corsage, that combines timeless beauty with a modern contemporary touch of "Bride to be" cake topper by Molossi.

What does the next 50 years hold for Hannah?”

Model: Hannah Sisson @hannahhayessisson // website
Dress: Sew Master Fashions @sewmasterfashions // website
Cake topper: Molossi @molossidesigns // website
Car: Roaring Twenties Bonnie's Adventures @roaringtwentiesvintagecarhire // website
Stationery: Yesterday Creative Letterpress @yesterdaycreative // website
Ring: Kellies Antiques @kelliesantiques // website
Hair accessory: Forests of Wildflowers @forests_of_wildflowers // website
Florist: Botanical Lab @my.botanical.lab // website
Makeup: Martha Lois Makeup @marthalois_mua // website
Hair: Catherine Clare @catherine_hmua // website
Photography: Poppy & Sage Photography @poppyandsagephotography // website

We are grateful to each and every one of you!

Information :: Wedding Timeline Example

We addressed planning for the perfect lighting conditions for your wedding in this post:

Perfect Lighting Conditions

It seems that the next logical step would be to provide an example timeline based on the information we provided to make it easy to see our advice in action.

The timeline is based on an 8-hour booking. It is also based on the sun setting at approximately 6 pm in the evening. Different times of the year and sunsets would influence the way the timeline is structured.

We chose 8 hours as it is an average-sized booking and it is easy to pull things from this or add things to it.

Here it is:

  • Preparation: 12-1:30 pm (includes detail shots & individual portraits)

    • 1 hour 30 minutes

  • First Look: 1:30-2:30 pm (tip: take your time to appreciate each other - and the lull before the buzz that will be the rest of the day - and allow that preparation might be running behind; enjoy a quick champagne together to help calm nerves)

    • 1 hour

  • Ceremony: 2:30-4 pm (includes congratulations; we find that this part of the day can tend to be forgotten about but typically ends up going for longer than planned for and is ideal for capturing natural emotions from family and friend interactions)

    • 1 hour 30 minutes

  • Group Portraits: 4-4:45 pm

    • 45 minutes

  • Couple Portraits: 4:45-6 pm

    • 1 hour 15 minutes (allowing for travel to at least one location); try to plan around Golden Hour

  • Reception: 6-8 pm (including detail shots/speeches/cake cutting/dance)

    • 2 hours

Information :: How to Plan for the Perfect Light Conditions

Feel free to contact us with a timeline of your day. If you would like our input on lighting conditions, we would be more than happy to assist you with planning your day around optimal lighting. This is, perhaps, the most important conversation we can have with you as lighting is key.

The purpose of this post is to help our couples to choose the most flattering lighting conditions depending on time of day, location, time of year, and any other variables. We want to make planning your day around the best lighting possible as straightforward as we can. In addition, some consideration is better than no consideration! We love to talk lighting so feel free to reach out or organise a coffee (or chai or hot chocolate) to discuss the finer details of your timeline.

Furthermore, the more you have planned ahead for crucial aspects of the day - for example, lighting conditions & backup plans depending on weather - the more relaxed (fingers and toes crossed!) you will be on the day. Knowledge is power. The more you know what is going on (or, more importantly, the more the people you have trusted to keep everything on track - such as a planner, on-the-day coordinator, or family friend - know what is going on), the less likely you will be left floundering on the day trying to make big decisions as to what exactly to do next (hint: planners & on-the-day coordinators are worth their weight in gold - please trust us on this one and we are more than happy to recommend from our personal experience). We are all for spontaneity and creativity, but this is the thing: it is easier to discard the plans on the day and choose to go with the flow than it is to create a plan when things seem to be going off-course. Speaking of off-course, assume that the day will run slightly behind schedule and, that way, you will be well-prepared.

As they all say, the day will fly by. We are yet to meet anyone who has said that the day dragged for them and, I guess, that is a good thing! The more prepared you are, the more seamless the day will unfold - or that is the goal anyway.

For our own wedding, we chose midday for our ceremony. Why? Well, the short answer is that we had no idea. We said it out loud! Absolutely no idea. If we can help other couples make more informed decisions around their big day, we would be thrilled.

Weddings are about love & emotion & connection - & perfect lighting, if at all possible. <3

Examples of our work under different conditions

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First things first, here is some general background information:

Lighting conditions on the day & your personal wedding timeline are interconnected. They both impact each other. Given the choice, most photographers and couples choose soft light over harsh light. Early morning and later afternoon over midday. The harsher the light, the stronger the contrast and the heavier the shadows. Furthermore, due to the fact that softer light is very often more comfortable, you will feel more at ease under these conditions than the sweat, fatigue, dehydration, and so on, that can be typically experienced under harsh lighting conditions. Therefore, if you want to discuss your timeline to work around the best lighting on the day, we would be thrilled to help out.

Honestly, it is really hard to beat warm & golden light and playful lens flares. If we have to pick one ideal time of the day to work with, it is Golden Hour - just after sunrise or just before sunset. If the day is particularly cloudy (not a bad thing as an overcast sky works like a gigantic soft box and will provide the most amount of consistent lighting for the day), this will impact on golden hour (cloudy day = you might lose 30 minutes from your schedule for post-ceremony portraits during daylight hours).

We have separated the following information specific for weddings into the following sections:

  • Preparation

  • First Look

  • Ceremony

  • Group Portraits

  • Couple Portraits

  • Reception

Feel free to let us know if we need to factor in:

  • A Morning Ceremony; 10 am-3 pm (main tips here are to keep the sunlight behind you wherever possible and/or seek shade, such as a tree, tall building, and so on: #MinimisingSquinting and dark circles under the eyes and shadow moustaches - a thing that sure does happen when the sun is shining down on top of the head… one of those things you can’t unsee when you see it!)

  • Venue-Specific Restrictions*

  • Religious Elements

  • Cultural Elements

  • Extensive Travel Distances

  • People-Free Ceremony & Reception Location & Detail Shots

  • Creative Night-Time Portraits (sparklers, cityscapes, and so on)

    *Such as no flash in a dark church, for example

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Preparation:

Ideally, you want to plan for a light & well-lit room: so well-lit, if possible, that you do not need lights turned on. It is not uncommon for couples to book an Airbnb (or similar) to suit both the couples’ tastes and provide a clear & clean background for preparation (with all the space you desire). Of course, some couples choose homes sentimental to them, too, and we will work with whatever is important to you. At the end of the day, our suggestions are coming from a technical place of providing you with as stunning images as we possibly can. From there, you are free and welcome to work around your own unique priorities (like the comfort of Grandma’s home full of grounding memories for you on your big day!).

(Please let us know if you want detail shots to be factored in, too. We will make sure to find a suitable spot out of the way to work on some flat lays. Having a spare window for this part of the shoot is ideal.)

Key points:

  • Natural window light

    • Flattering and negates weird colour casts on skin!

    • Optimal for hair & makeup, too, to ensure that the final look is well-blended to suit your natural skin tones

    • Avoids mixed lighting situations: such as daylight + orange tungsten bulbs, tungsten + florescent - usually a bit blue-green - light, and so on

  • Clean, clear background

    • Will not detract from your beautiful shots

    • However, could also add to the storytelling if the location is important to you

  • Suggested locations: somewhere important to you (!), Airbnb or hotel suite (preferably one without no-smoking signs, outdated chairs, tourist brochures & questionable carpet in the background!)

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First Look:

The first look is typically jam-packed with emotion. If you have decided to do a first look, this is perhaps the part of the day to get “right” lighting-wise. Some suggestions for this part of the day would be a venue garden or an empty venue hallway (you want a shaded area with natural light, if possible).

  • Allow the emotion to be captured under the best possible circumstances

  • Suggested locations: somewhere important to you (!), venue garden or empty venue hallway

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Ceremony:

The key influencer for the lighting conditions for the ceremony will be location: ?church, ?garden, ?indoor, ?outdoor. The variables associated with both of these conditions are huge, so we are happy to chat about your individual circumstances.

  • A lot of variables so we will chat about your individual circumstances

  • Suggested locations: somewhere important to you (!)

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Group Portraits:

Group portraits are your call. Some couples want them. Some couples do not want them. We will take your lead. The biggest tip we can give for this part of the day is to have family members from both sides of the family to help pull together the people outlined on the shot list.

  • Have family members from both sides of the family pull together the guests

  • Suggested locations: somewhere important to you (!), ceremony site, venue garden, beach or park

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Couple Portraits:

Most couples want a mix of candid and posed. Creative and traditional. Fun & classic. We want you to have portraits (the part of the day that most couples seem to frame/look back on as time goes by) that you will only love more and more with the passing of time. A big part of the quality of the images will be lighting conditions so how about we sit down and chat about it. :)

  • Similar to the ceremony shots, there are a lot of variables for couple portraits - but try to make sure that golden hour is not overlooked during the planning phase!

  • Suggested locations: somewhere important to you (!), venue garden, beach or park

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Reception:

Aside from location & time of day, a lot will ride on the ambience/mood/tone of the reception. For example, if you have chosen to fill a cosy venue with romantic candlelight, we will not be moving around flashing and disrupting that ambience. If you have a long table with plenty of Italian string lighting draped over the top, we will not disrupt that relaxed atmosphere and, in fact, we will work delicately with the bokeh of the light in the background! So many options for lighting aside from flash. We aim to respect the vibe of your day and be mindful of how we meet the all-important balance that is not disrupting your day but, at the same time, not missing crucial moments/providing subpar images as a result.

  • Please feel free to talk to us about the ambience/mood/tone of your reception and that will help guide our approach to capturing it in the best possible light - while also being respectful & mindful

  • Suggested locations: somewhere important to you (!), well-designed cafe or restaurant or wedding venue (lots of window lighting &/or fixtures - for example, hanging chandeliers - that your day cannot do without)

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Example of an 8-hour timeline

We are all about transparency at Poppy & Sage Photography and we hope that sharing this information makes it easier and more straightforward to plan out your day around the best lighting conditions possible. <3




The Elephant in the Room :: Props

We love tackling the big questions around here so the topic for today is props: should you include them?

Props can:

  • provide a focal point/perspective

  • convey important information

  • contribute to storytelling/add context

  • provide unique elements/add character

  • unlock creativity/add drama

  • provide familiarity for the subject(s)/help the subject(s) to relax

However, props can be seen as cliché. Perhaps even cheap. Sometimes distracting or not cohesive.

Worst case: ruin the resulting photographs.

Our personal recommendation is this:

You do whatever you want to do.

We will work with your priorities.

We will tell your story your way.

(We might also mention that, in most cases, less is more but not at the expense of you not receiving the images you want.)

If you want to include fairy lights, we will recommend the perfect time of day at that time of the year for fairy light bokeh.

If you want some kind of a backdrop but you are feeling a bit lost (too deep into Pinterest) and want to bounce ideas off us, you are always welcome to reach out. Please do not feel shy.

Your first date was a picnic, and you would like to recreate that atmosphere? Sounds perfect!

You want some couple sparkler shots? We’re keen to work with you.

Smoke bombs are where it is at for both of you? Sign us up please. We love working with smoke bombs.

You want something fun and playful to do to maximise candid portraiture, so you want to incorporate a bubble blower? Fine.

You never quite know what to do with your hands and so you are considering holding a bouquet for the engagement shoot and want to know if it would look weird or not? Feel free to chat with us.

Finally, we are in no position to judge if you arrive at your shoot with props/include props in your wedding as here you will find Exhibits A & B:

We used props ourselves for our engagement shoot ;) Photography by Lady Jayde <3

We used props ourselves for our engagement shoot ;) Photography by Lady Jayde <3