11 years and counting!

II photographed my first wedding in March 2014 — and nearly a decade later, I’m still deeply in love with what I do.

Before this, I worked as a lawyer, until I took a leap of faith and followed my dream of building a creative life on my own terms. It’s a decision I’ve never once regretted.

What I love most about this work is the people — getting to know them, hearing their stories, and witnessing the joy of their celebration. It’s an honour I never take for granted.

With many years of experience in the wedding industry, there’s very little I haven’t seen. Whatever unfolds on your day, you can trust that I’ll handle it with calm and care — so you can truly relax and be present, knowing everything is in safe hands.

My approach blends editorial photojournalism with a deep appreciation for beauty and art. Light is one of my greatest tools, and I often find myself quietly thrilled by the way it moves through a space — always chasing those moments where feeling and light come together just right.

I’m drawn to the unscripted — real emotions, subtle gestures, and human connection. With a calm presence and quiet intuition, I move gently through the day, capturing moments as they naturally unfold. Often, it’s the things you didn’t even realise were happening that become the most treasured images.

While I work mostly in an unobtrusive, documentary way, I’m always there when needed — offering gentle guidance to help you feel at ease and beautifully seen.

I approach every wedding as if I were part of it — blending in with your guests, feeling the emotions, and celebrating right alongside you. I’ll be just as excited to see you walk down the aisle, to hear the speeches, and to dance at the end of the night.

If you’re looking for someone to simply show up and do the job, we might not be the right fit. But if you’re after someone you can trust, who will support you and truly care — I’m all in.

I take time to get to know you and understand what matters most, so I can craft a visual story that feels honest, heartfelt, and entirely yours.

My Full Day package is $5,500 (8 hours coverage) and I also offer a 5 hour package for couples who are planning a more intimate day.

I can also build a custom package for you, so let’s chat and work out a plan that suits your day perfectly.

Weddings taking place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays require a minimum 5 hour booking.

I also offer elopement packages for weekday celebrations.

Just hit 'Contact', fill in my enquiry form and we can chat more.

Absolutely — nearly every couple I work with says the same thing. You won’t be asked to pose awkwardly or pretend to be anything you’re not.

My approach is relaxed and intuitive. I’ll offer gentle direction when it’s helpful, but mostly, I let the day unfold naturally. Some couples are affectionate, others more reserved — I simply adapt to you and capture what feels true.

You can focus on being present and celebrating, while I quietly document the moments that matter.

I’m a huge believer in quality over quantity and delivering a final gallery that is beautifully curated to tell your wedding day story perfectly.

For a typical 8 hour wedding day I deliver approximately 500 - 600 fully edited photos.

I personally edit each photo individually and I take my time to ensure you receive only the best.

Your final gallery will contain a selection of colour and black and white photos, with the majority of the collection being in colour.

Absolutely!

To get a sense of how a photographer captures an entire wedding day (not just those Instagram worthy moments!), it’s so important to view a full wedding gallery. When you choose to invest in a wedding photographer, you want to be able to trust that your entire wedding day will be captured with the highest skill and attention to detail.

If you would like to view a few of my wedding galleries please let me know and I will send you the links.

Don’t stress at all! I have a lot of experience behind me and I’ve shot weddings during some of the most rainy and stormy days. My job is to make it work by making plans with you ahead of time and a having back-up location for your couple photos.

I’ve found that couples who embrace the weather on their wedding day end up having the best time - they’re just happy to get married! Rainy and overcast days provide us with some of the most beautiful light and the most romantic images.

As much or as little as you want!

In recent years, I’ve found that most couples want to enjoy their wedding day with their guests, have a cocktail and relax after the ceremony. Most couples I work with don’t want to be whisked away for hours to take photos.

I can easily shoot your portraits in 30 minutes. Most of this time is spent with us going for a little wander, stopping in a few spots for photos and just having fun. This is also a perfect chance for you and your new husband/wife to take a breather and enjoy a bit of time to yourselves before heading to the reception.

And, if you have a wedding party, I suggest 15 minutes of photos with everyone before your couple portraits.

Most couples I work with book my 8 hour package as this allows them to have a complete visual story of their day. I usually spend a bit of time documenting the pre-ceremony preparations (the ‘getting ready’), and all the way into the reception and bit of the dance floor.

Couples planning a more intimate wedding and those wishing to have coverage from the ceremony onwards, my 5 hour package is ideal.

The great thing is, when you book me you don’t need to decide the hours of coverage straight away. As your day gets closer and you plan your run sheet, you’ll have a much better idea of how many hours you’ll need me for.

And I am flexible, as long as you’ve locked me in for your day, we can chat about the hours of coverage any time up to the wedding.

Some couples even extend my time by an hour or so just days before their wedding.

I’m happy to chat to you about coverage and walk you through how everything works. Just reach out via my Contact form and we can talk more.

My job is to make things look beautiful no matter the light or time of day. I can make anything work.

In an ideal world, couple photos are taken about an hour or two before sunset (the golden hour). However, not all wedding schedules allow for this which is totally fine. I can chat to you more about your timeline and come up with a plan that will work best for you.

Some couples also choose to have their couple photos taken before their ceremony which can work really well for autumn and winter weddings.

I can make any lighting situation work so please don’t stress too much.

Yes absolutely! I also think that albums are the best way to preserve your wedding day memories. I personally design each album (with you choosing the images you’d like included). My albums are completely customisable with so many cover colours and materials to choose from, ensuring you have a truly bespoke book that you can show to your loved ones and enjoy for many years to come. All albums are handmade using beautiful museum quality paper and your images are printed with archival inks that will not fade.

For more information, please click on ‘Albums’ in the main menu above or email me at sonja@sonjacphotography.com.au

Of course. Prior to your wedding day I will ask you to provide me with a list of the family groups you would like me to photograph. These photos will be taken after your ceremony (after you've had a few moments for congratulations and hugs). I will ensure that this part of your day is relaxed and pleasant. In fact, I am known for making this part of the day quick and easy!

No and I highly discourage this as it doesn't allow me to capture your day to the best of my ability. My way of working is very much documentary and photojournalistic. I am there to capture the real moments and interactions. I have been photographing weddings for almost 10 years so you can rest assured that I have all the important details covered. The only time I will ask for a list is for the family/group photos after the ceremony.

To secure your wedding date I require a non-refundable partial payment of $1,500 and a signed contract. Once that is done, your date is locked in.

Unfortunately no. I often receive multiple enquiries for the same date so I am unable to hold dates. The only way to ensure the date is yours is to reserve it by signing my contract and paying the booking fee.

You will receive a preview gallery within one week of your wedding day and your full wedding gallery will be ready within 8 weeks following your wedding day. Please note that full galleries for weddings taking place during October, November, December and early January might take a little longer to be delivered due to the Christmas and New Year holidays (allow up to 10 weeks). Couples getting married during these months will still receive their preview gallery within a week of their wedding.

I photograph with professional Canon mirrorless cameras and L-series lenses, known for their exceptional quality. My kit is always stocked with backups — from cameras and lenses to memory cards and batteries — so your images are safe, no matter what the day brings.

Yes, I personally edit all images I deliver to you. I don't outsource my editing because I want to retain the creative control over my work. My aim when editing your images is to present you with natural images that will last the test of time. I supply you with images in a mix of colour and black and white.

While I will fix up the odd little imperfections (i.e. removing a fly on your dress, an obvious pimple or cut etc) I do not heavily retouch images or do beauty retouching such as slimming etc. I believe that photographs of your wedding day should represent the real you and I find that natural photographs are always the most flattering and the ones that will stand the test of time. If there are some images you wish to have retouched I am always happy to refer you to a professional retoucher.

While I shoot most weddings on my own very comfortably there is an option to add on a second photographer to your package. The only time I will suggest the option of a second photographer is if there are time constraints on the day and I cannot be in two places at once or if you have a guest list of 150+. I prefer to shoot on my own so that I can give you my undivided attention and build a rapport with your loved ones and guests. I also feel that having one photographer on the day makes things a lot more relaxed for everyone involved.

I don’t offer discounts, as each wedding receives my full attention, time, and creative dedication. This commitment ensures you receive the highest quality and care for your special day.

Yes, absolutely! I aim to meet all my couples before their wedding day (usually a few weeks before the wedding). This is a casual catch up over a coffee so we can get to know each other, finalise the timeline for the day and discuss any last minute details. These meetings can also take place via video call.

I love spending time by the beach (I live in beautiful Coogee), taking my dog for walks, enjoying a coffee in a local cafe while people watching, going on walks with my husband and exploring Sydney's beaches and hidden bays.

I love art and history and learning how people lived in times before ours. What especially fascinates me is life and art in European royal courts - take me to an art gallery and I will spend hours looking at paintings and reading the artwork labels. The Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Versailles and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London are some of my favourites.

When I get a free weekend I love to either spend it by the beach or go for a drive out of Sydney - being in nature and especially near the coast is where I am the happiest.

I'm a quiet and introspective soul but once we get to know each other you'll probably feel like you've known me forever.

I also love to travel (I spent my early years living in a few different European countries!) and there are so many places in the world I am yet to see (the list just keeps growing).

My favourite destinations so far have been the Amalfi Coast and especially Positano and Anacapri, Rome, Port Douglas, Prague, Freycinet and last but absolutely not least, Hvar in Croatia.

For couples who haven’t booked yet, I don’t offer in-person meetings to ensure I can dedicate my full attention and time to couples who have committed to working with me. Rest assured, once you’re booked, I’ll meet with you—either in person or via video call - for us to connect, refine the timeline, and discuss the final details of your wedding day.