5 minutes with... Sydney Wedding Photographer Lilli Kad Photography

It’s the mindful ‘being in the moment’ aspect of working with film which Sydney Wedding Photographer LILLI KAD PHOTOGRAPHY loves the most. It allows her to slow the process down and focus on crafting beautiful artwork with each frame, rather than quick firing the shutter to capture the scene over and over in the hopes of getting a few cracker shots. Describing her style as natural and romantic, filled with light and emotion, Kerstin is in love with the silent moments, delicate details, stunning scenery and she’s forever chasing light. We’re smitten with her beautiful work and we’re pretty sure you will be too. Read on to find our more about the girl behind the camera.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER? Definitely not something I would have seen coming to be honest. I knew that I loved portraiture. I could never just take pictures of landscape or a building without envisioning some kind of human element in it. Experimenting with underwater photography and conceptual photography, I have always loved the drama of adding stunning gowns or flowers to my shoots. After having done a few weddings for friends, I realised pretty soon, that weddings have all those elements combined with the addition of being in the middle of the most romantic day of a couple’s life. It was a sensation I haven’t experienced before and I was hooked.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR PATH TO GET THERE: As mentioned really not a thing I envisioned doing, much to what other people might want to hear from a “typical” wedding photographer. In fact, after my very first wedding, I swore to my hubby that I would never do that again. I was very inexperienced, had no help and got literally thrown into the deep end. Fast forward three years and I found myself in a similar situation again, just this time I have had a few weddings under my belt and had grown as a photographer in general. The fact that clients flew me to Melbourne to do the job, was an added bonus. That wedding was not just amazing relaxed and a lot of fun to shoot, it was also the one that made me emotional at speeches, made me laugh when the groom and the bride saw each other for the first time and just overall left me with a very good feeling and with an amazing set of friends. Something happened that day and even though I can’t quite put my finger on the exact thing that made me fall in love with weddings, I knew that I had to pursue this passion no matter what. It’s been an amazing roller coaster so far and I love every moment of it.

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE IMAGE WITH US AND TELL US WHY: The below “Storms at Lindis” would be my all-time favourite image. That image reflects everything I love about film. The grain and slight blur of movement makes this image raw and real. Her pose and look holds so much emotion. It’s the perfect combination of colour that film produces, drama and emotion in one shot.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WEDDINGS? Besides the fact that weddings are so individual these days and people really get creative with locations and styling (sometimes a true feast for a keen photographer’s eye), First and foremost I am a photographer that loves amazing architecture, stunning scenery, all the finely thought out details of the day and blending these elements with the human element of true emotions. It’s the main reason why I have become a wedding photographer.

CAN YOU RECALL YOUR FAVOURITE WEDDING EXPERIENCE? Oh there are so many its hard to point out just one. I am lucky to get to experience the intimate moments before the “I dos” and the “in-betweens”. Besides the fact that most of my clients have become good friends, I love it when I get to travel to amazing destinations all over the world. My prime goal is to not just give my clients good images of the day but create artwork they will treasure for a very long time. The best experiences so far, I had with couples that are up for some adventure like tracking to hilltops and to remote beaches to get amazing images.

ASIDE FROM FAMILY & FRIENDS, THREE THINGS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: I am not a very materialistic person and can live without a lot of things. The one thing that has been a constant element of reflection, pleasure and relaxation is the ocean. I would go so far as to say that I cannot live without being close to the ocean. Freedom is also very important to me so the second thing would have to be my car. The third thing is something very small but necessary for me, is fresh ginger and lemon tea! I have to have it everywhere I go, every day. Its my “coffee”.

Have you noticed how I didn’t even mention my camera? That’s cause the camera is like a limb/extension of my body and part of me hahaha.

WHERE WOULD WE FIND YOU ON A SUNDAY MORNING? Routine isn’t my kind of thing so this is a hard question, as I would seldom do the same thing every Sunday. The one thing I like to do on a Sunday is go to the fresh fruit and veg market very early in the morning, followed by a long trail run listening to really loud (too loud really) music.

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND YOUR IDEAL DAY OFF? Photography makes every day an adventure with lots of travel, meeting different people and no day is the same. Therefore, my ideal day off would have to be very uneventful. Waking up early, going for a trail run with my hubby (yes I love running, in case you haven’t noticed) finishing it off with a swim in the ocean and a breakfast in our favourite café. Then just relaxing for the rest of the day. It’s all about the little things in life!

We’re delighted to have LILLI KAD PHOTOGRAPHY in the Magnolia Rouge Vendor Guide. If you’re a fan of her fine art style, you can see her full portfolio here.