Capturing a story is no easy task – it takes planning, emotion and a special kind of soul to bring the magic to life. As you prepare to embark on one of life’s greatest journeys, your wedding deserves to be captured in a timeless way, creating memories you’ll cherish for decades to come. To help you craft the perfect wedding gallery, Western Australia Wedding & Bride’s Josephine Day collaborates with the creative force behind the lens, Annalise Crowdy, owner and photographer of Let’s Get Crowdy Co.
Swept up in the whirlwind of newlywed romance, Crowdy is all about keeping it authentic and real. Her business, Let’s Get Crowdy Co., specialises in bespoke wedding photography, infused with vibrant, relaxed and candid storytelling. Proudly focusing on connection over perfection, Crowdy’s seasoned experience allows her to have a deep understanding that every couple’s story is unique, deserved to be celebrated in its own special way. Rather than just an image, her photography embodies a direct reflection of the couple themselves – joyful, honest and full of heart.
Privileged to capture one’s most personal, vulnerable and once-in-a-lifetime day, Crowdy doesn’t take her work for granted, overwhelmed with the emotions that come with having her images transcend seamlessly over time. Printed and part of a cherished album, one that will be looked at for generations, it’s pretty rewarding work, right?
However, beyond her striking images, it’s the people that make her job the most inspiring, empowered to document their love and relationships in real time. “It’s the people and the connections that stay with me,” Crowdy details. “Every couple, every wedding, every story is different and being able to witness and document love in all its forms is something I never take for granted.”
Moments Made For You
“A great wedding album should feel like a story from start to finish, not just a series of pretty pictures, but a collection of honest, emotional moments that reflect exactly how it felt to be there,” Crowdy explains. Like a moment perfectly frozen in time, the emotions within your wedding images will be relived for years to come. If you think your wedding album is merely a selection of beautiful photographs, think again – it’s a careful curation of delicate moments that come together to tell a story, each one carrying its own aura and beauty.
So, what exactly does it take to curate such a sentimental piece?
It all begins with thoughtful, intentional photography. When it comes to choosing between posed portraits or candid shots, Crowdy insists that both have their place. “My approach is relaxed and intentional,” she says. “During portraits, I’ll guide you just enough to make you feel comfortable, but never overly staged. I focus on connection, getting you to interact with each other rather than on camera. That way even the “posed” shots feel natural, emotive and full of life.”
When curating a gallery, Crowdy highlights two essential, non-negotiable elements – emotional moments and connection shots. The tearful vows, nervous smiles, and warm embraces are the heart of the story. “These are the moments that hit you in the heart and bring you back every time you flip through your album,” she explains. Then come the connection shots – the glances, laughter and hand squeezes that make everything feel alive. “Lastly, I love capturing the celebration,” Crowdy adds. From the first speech to the final champagne pop, these perfectly imperfect moments mean everything.
Images That Inspire
Your wedding day passes in the blink of an eye, and that’s why your photographs are a serving reminder of the emotions that may have gone unnoticed in the whirlwind of celebration.
To capture these delicate moments, Crowdy seamlessly blends into the crowd, staying attuned to the energy of the day and shooting with intention. “I’m able to anticipate and capture these real, unscripted fragments of connection, the ones couples often discover for the first time when they look through their gallery – and that’s one of the most rewarding parts of what I do,” she explains. It’s these often-overlooked details that she encourages couples to include in their album, as they bring a sentimental touch and a gentle reminder of what truly matters. From a handwritten note or heirloom jewellery to the way a bouquet is tied, these subtle details weave the intimate story of the wedding day.
Crowdy also emphasises the importance of transitional moments – the deep breath before walking into the ceremony to the happy tears – because these fleeting instances often become the most treasured. To ensure each couple’s personality shines through, Crowdy takes time to connect with them from the very first meeting. “It’s about really getting to know the couple. I take the time to understand who they are, how they interact, what matters to them, and the energy they bring,” she states. When curating an album, she focuses on images that spark emotion – those that make couples laugh, cry and feel truly seen.
A Love Letter To Yourselves
When organising your wedding album, it’s essential to take the viewer on a journey that beautifully encapsulates the day from start to finish. To create a cohesive and fluid story, Crowdy suggests beginning by arranging images in chronological order – starting with the getting ready moments to set the scene, followed by the ceremony and reception. “This natural flow helps anyone flipping through the album relive the day as it happened,” she explains. To maintain visual rhythm and engagement, Crowdy recommends mixing wide shots that show the environment with close-ups that capture the emotion and intricate details.
She also reminds couples that less is more, suggesting around sixty carefully chosen images for a perfectly balanced album. A meaningful collection blends the big moments, small details and those in-between fragments to add depth and texture.
As you begin to craft your forever album, Crowdy offers one final piece of advice: “Trust your gut – the photos you keep coming back to are the ones that belong in your album.” She also emphasises the importance of working with the right photographer, as trust and ease allow true personalities to shine through every image. “Your photographer is there to tell your story, so trust the process, embrace the day and most importantly, enjoy every second of it.”
Photography by Let’s Get Crowdy Co.