AWESOME BYRON BAY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS ( AND PORTRAITS)

Hi, my name is Gaz. Ever grateful for living on the beautiful Byron coastline and being married to my loving wife Jacqui. We are both obsessed with making every wedding awesome You see, Jacqui is a fun Celebrant and I tell wedding stories (in pictures). Byron Bay is a top wedding destination but we happily travel interstate and overseas for special occasions.

I am the funnest of Byron Bay photographers you call when your wedding pictures mean the world to you. Yes, it has to be a fun experience and the vibe shows in the results.

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It’s such a buzz giving couples stunning images that tell their story. Whether it’s the emotions, the joy, the romantic moments or the little things that deserve preservation. Byron is so popular as a wedding destination. It is just so amazingly beautiful and photogenic.

THIS BYRON BAY PHOTOGRAPHERS RECENT PROJECTS

Aaron + Margo | Ewingsdale Hall Wedding

BYRON BAY

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James + Trish | Clarkes Beach | Byron Bay

BYRON BAY

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Bert + Fiona | Wategos Elopement

WATEGOS BEACH

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Craig + Lisa | New Brighton Beach

NEW BRIGHTON

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Brad + Rachel | Noosa Heads

SUNSHINE COAST

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We absolutely love the montage. It’s absolutely amazing. Thank you so much. You both made it so incredible for us ❤❤
Fiona Conway BRIGHTON Vic
We just received our wedding photos today and I just want to give a massive shout out to the photographer Gary Patterson . I have watched the slideshow about 15 times and just love it. If anyone wants a photographer for any occasion u have to get this man, he is the best in town!!! Cant thank you enough for capturing some great photos!!!!!.
BRIAN + SARA Ballina NSW
A big thank you for the beautiful photos, they are amazing!! There is one of myself, Chris and my sister laughing, It’s so sweet but none of us can remember what we are laughing about!!
CHRIS + SAARA
Thank you so much, we love the photos. Fun, professional and stress free from our initial contact with you and Jacqui to the beautiful packaging of our final photos. Thank you both for being such a great part of our day all of our guests felt so comfortable with you both – exactly the feeling we wanted on the day.
Craig and Venessa – The Solomons
We were absolutely delighted with Gary as the photographer at our recent wedding and we highly recommend him to any other bridal parties. Gary is an approachable, relaxed mannered guy who made all nerves on the day slip away. He produced beautiful photographs that are so true-to-life and we are incredibly happy with the results. We had a wonderful time and a big thank you Gary and Jacqui.
Dave & Kristine Lees Mangawhai NZ
Gaz was great! Unfortunately on the day of our wedding it poured rain! When the sun came out a few days later we met Gaz at a beautiful beach for some artsy photos just of my husband & myself. His lovely assistant (wife….aka the Champagne Celebrant) was even so kind as to bring some champers & nibbles for the occasion. No copyright rubbish. Highly recommend!
DAVE + PAM ELSTERNWICK VIC
Simply amazing photos, Gary asked what we would like and absolutely delivered, the photos are gorgeous capturing every moment of our beach wedding. We eloped and had no idea on the locations Gary completely put our mind at ease and made everything so easy. I am so glad we had Gary as our photographer and highly recommend him for any special occasion that you want captured.
DAVE + SAMMY GAWLER SA
What amazing photos Gary. ..everything that we asked for we got and more. Gary was excellent at interpreting what we wanted our wedding photos to capture. I would recommend his service to anyone wanting a easy and no fuss approach for your wedding day photographer. Gary made it about us and what we liked and didn’t like and we had our photos completed within a week. Thanks again Gary for a beautiful job.
DEAN + TARA South Ballina NSW
Fantastic work Gaz! So happy to have chosen you to be part of our special day!
GLENN + MELODIE BRISBANE Qld
Gary is the perfect wedding / elopement photographer his professional relaxed cool calm and collected approach made our photo shoot such a fun experience that contributed to our special day in such a positive way. His attention to detail and creative eye had us in the sand ,surf and turf it was great and the pictures speak for themselves his work is just beautiful. We are so grateful for the stunning images we have to look back on and share with our family’s they are priceless. 🙂
HAKAN + RILEY Kadıköy, Turkey
From our first conversation about what we wanted from our day, memories & moments, the resulting photos were beyond stunning. Gaz listened to what we wanted. I am thrilled with the resulting work. I would have no hesitation in 1. using Gaz again for another event or 2. recommending him to anyone.
HANNAH & KATE - Brisbane
Hi Gaz, Just wanted to say a massive ‘THANK YOU’. We can’t get over how beautifully you captured our moments – stunning. We loved your vibe too and you really put me at ease – THANK YOU! Can’t speak about you more highly! Really appreciate the turnaround too!!
JACK & JEN - Colchester U.K.
Thank you for making our special day so enjoyable and a memory we will never forget. Gary, you captured every moment. We truly appreciate all your love, laughter and support in making our wedding day so amazing. Cheers to the mad photographer.
Trish and James Toth xx PORT MELBOURNE
Thanks so much Gary. Just to say how much we love the photos – thanks so much for bringing them around! The photos are beautiful and I’ll be sending them all off to the guys to enjoy! Take care and speak soon!
JAN + ELAINE LENNOX EHAD NSW
Gaz well and truly managed to capture not only our beautiful day but special moments amongst our guests throughout the ceremony. Gary understood exactly what we wanted in our photos, and we are so grateful to have such wonderful memories. Thanks Gary for being part of our special day!
JAY + WENDY
Loving the photos but I’ll say it again 😉 they were amazing! Thanks so much Gary for making our wedding so perfect was even better than we imagined 🙂
KENNY + KIRSTY Toowoomba Qld
Gary did a perfect job. He created some amazing shots even though there were only a few people there we hardly noticed him moving around. He really got the vibe of the occasion into the pictures. We had the shots within a very short time really nicely presented. We can thoroughly recommend the quality of his work and of course he was a lovely person to have around on the day as well.
MARCO + KRISTEEN NTH BANGOWLAH NSW
Awesome preparation and planning by Gary meant the finished photos are something we will cherish for a lifetime. We have many memories of this day displayed in our home .
MATT + JODIE Lennox Head NSW
We just want to thank you so much for the beautiful photos you took of our elopement. You perfectly captured the mood of our relaxed, fun, family ceremony. We felt you really went out of your way to ensure you understood what it was we were wanting in these life-long mementos. Your relaxed, unobtrusive approach, even with a wayward 2yo to deal with!!, was just what we were looking for in a photographer…..you were definitely THE MAN!!
MAXI + LYNNE SURREY HILLS NSW
Oh my goodness Gaz, they are AMAZING!!!!! We can not thank you enough for our photographs - you guys are such a knock out team. Everyone of our guests commented on how fabulous you were. Thank you a million times over – Byron sunshine turned it on for us yesterday and you helped us bring it all together We’re still smiling
NAOMI & DAN xx - Heddon Greta NSW
Your photographs of our wedding are sensational and just stunning -although these words don’t do them justice! For two people that don’t like having their photo taken we had so much fun and felt completely at ease with you as our photographer. We wouldn’t change a thing! We feel so lucky to have had you capture, and be part of, our wedding. THANK YOU GAZ!!!!
NICK + JESS COOLUM BEACH Qld
Gaz produced us the most stunning suite of photos that were not posed or structured, he was able to find moments through the day we could not have remembered or even knew happened. He has an incredibly beautiful eye for finding the emotion in small things. Timeless, special photography!!
PHIL + CATERINA NORLUNGA SA
Gary fulfilled our requirement to make the most of us and the beautiful location. He’s a fantastic outdoor photographer and easily fitted into our beach wedding, and made the most of the sun between the showers. The photos are more than a memory and bring the day back to life.
PJ + GENEVIEVE Figtree Hill NSW
Hi Gary! We received our photos and WOW! Fantastic. You really captured not only the day but our personalities. Given the fact we eloped, photos were really important for us to pass onto our parents. We were so proud to show them off to everyone and got many comments on how stunning they were. Thank you Gary, you are a STAR!
SKYE + BRAD xo - Port Macquarie NSW
Celebrating the love… Just wanted to say a big thank you for everything to make such a Wonderful – Magnificent – Perfect Day for us both. It wouldn’t of been possible without Gary’s expertise. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
VERNON + MELESSA Carindale Qld

Byron Bay Photographers

I spent years shooting landscapes and took on industrial photo jobs but wanted to photograph people. And what could be more satisfying than covering a wedding day.

Weddings are fast paced. Taking on weddings meant I could create images that move people. There is the joy and the emotions but there would be no room for error.

A Diploma of Professional Photography was the lever to start a Byron Bay Photographers business. I started cheap but didn’t care so long as I was getting amongst it. Now I look back now and realise that I have had so much pleasure from a truly enjoyable journey.

The best bit is that there is plenty more to come!

Your Wish List is My Photo Mission

I love it when Brides and Grooms say that they felt so at ease and hardly noticed I was there. To get those candid shots the photographer has to make himself scarce. Nothing natural if the subject is uncomfortable.

To make sure I get the best result, I focus on finding out what couples have in mind. I want to achieve their dream, not mine. Every picture choice is personal so I can’t tell anyone else what they should like. There is a good reason why I provide so many images.

Couples then have choices. The story of your wedding day is your treasure trove. I provide two versions of each image according to your choice (e.g. raw colour, black & white, sepia, etc.) so that you really have a great Byron Bay Photographers experience.

Fabulous Photogenic Locations

Then there is the canvas.

We are so lucky with so many stunning venues around Byron, Broken Head, Lennox Head and Ballina. From white beaches to old farm buildings and tropical forests. All around the Northern Rivers NSW and Byron Bay, the country is rich in colour and form.

And did I mention the Byron Hinterland? So often there is a new venue or a laneway that is waiting to be discovered. There are the quaint villages of Bangalow, Federal, Eureka, The Channon, Newrybar, Binna Burra, Eltham, Clunes and many more within a stone’s throw.

For Byron Bay Photographers this is just magic. Every location a gem!

And yes, photo shoots are F U N !

But are you ready to take the lead in your very own show?

To do justice to Byron Bay Photographers, my job is to ensure you are at ease and chilled.

This is your day for enjoyment. An occasion to take time out and take pleasure in everything that is going on around you.

We are about recording those special moments, the emotions, the energy and the joy. The stars of the show have to be real people having a really fun time.

Whether it’s the wedding party looking to party or just the two of you, we will capture this once off day of your life. The day you and your partner want to remember.

Of course you will want to relive each moment.

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES A GREAT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPH?

The saying ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ comes to mind. If I show two people some wedding photos and asked them to rate the shots, they will rarely agree.

Some like arty effects, some like formality, some like dark moody images, some love the pastel cottage look. Then there are the photographic tricks we use such as utilising extreme depths of field. We can increase aperture to reduce focus to a short range or we can slow down shutter speed to see movement. then there is time lapse or distortion with wide angle or telephoto lenses.

There are so many filters and photographic gizmos that I can’t recall why I bought some of that gear. On top of that, a digital image can be modified using Photoshop to something totally different.

AGAIN, PERSONAL TASTE COMES INTO PLAY

It is OK to be fussy. I say it should be more than OK when you are paying someone to produce your wedding photos. It should be law. Your wedding photos must be just what you had in mind. After all, these wedding photos are for You to enjoy.

It doesn’t matter what anyone else likes. They can have their say when they get married.

The great advantage for Byron Bay Photographers is that we have so many magic locations. Beaches, headlands, rivers, waterfalls, streams, mountains, rainforest, gardens and plantations. So many great streets around Ballina, Byron Bay, Ewingsdale, Bangalow, Lennox Head – the list goes on. No wonder there are more than 1000 weddings and elopements in Byron Bay every year!

WHAT YOU WANT WITH YOUR BYRON BAY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS

MUST BE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC about creating images that tell the story of your wedding day

MUST MAKE SCARCE while quietly capturing those special moments

GOT TO BE A FULLY qualified professional photographer

MUST BE A LOCAL so knows all the best locations

CAN GUARANTEE early delivery of your wedding package

WILL COMMIT to deliver images to your taste – call and I will explain how I achieve this

IS EXPERIENCED with over 300 wedding shoots

CAN SAY that there has never been an unhappy Bride

ALWAYS HAPPY to deliver a wedding photography package to your budget

HAS AN enviable network of wedding contacts and local knowledge

ARRIVES early and leaves LATE

NEVER PRECIOUS and allows other guests to snap away

GIVES you the original images

You can look at an image for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life
Joan Miro
When people ask me what equipment I use – I tell them my eyes
Anonymous
What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce
Karl Lagerfeld
I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them
Diane Arbus
In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality
Alfred Stieglitz 1864 – 1946
Photography is the story I fail to put into words
Destin Sparks
It is better to click with people than click with shutter
Alfred Eisenstaedt

.......... erupting romance ...........
.......... romance erupting ..........

Photography helps people to see
Berenice Abbott 1898 – 1991
Photography is a love affair with life
Burk Uzzle 1938
I like to photograph anyone before they know what their best angles are
Ellen Van Unwerth 1954
Use a picture. It's worth a thousand words.
Arthur Brisbane 1911
Which of my photographs is my favourite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow
Imogen Cunningham 1883 – 1976

THE KODAK BOX BROWNIE

Well the results were not worth showing off about.

After Uni I got my hands on Dad’s Hanimex. He was not pleased but it lead me to buy my own TTL Pentax 35mm film camera. Photography became a serious hobby and there was a regular procession of lenses.

Then I got into dark room developing and printing. I could fill my evenings with processing black and white and beautiful rich colour Kodachromes. Creative, but not very family friendly.

As the family grew, so did my camera collection. My initial photographic sales were industrial. Not creative but a start.

A SPELL AS A HAWKER IN THE OUTBACK

turned my attention to portrait photography. Like many, I had always admired those incredible shots in National Geographic but felt a little confronted. The opportunity was in my face and it opened a new world of interactivity with the people.

Later when my wife became a Celebrant, she needed photos for her website. Wow! There was a steady string of weddings and this provided the perfect forum for praticing with people.

I could clearly see my way forward to joining Byron Bay Photographers. Now I could justify upgrading the camera gear and taking on some serious photographic education. The great thing is that my photography morphed into story telling through photos. Images are such a fantastic means of capturing the depth of feeling and relationships.

After 300+ weddings, my enthusiasm continues to grow and the feedback from happy newlyweds is so very, very pleasing.