Evan Bailey of Evan Bailey Photography voted best in South Australia

After walking away from his craft early on, SA’s best wedding photographer reveals what reignited his passion and how to capture someone’s special day. See some of his best work.

From being too nervous to eat before his first wedding, to being crowned the best in the state, South Australia’s best wedding photography has shone a light into what makes his pics tick.

Fresh off being voted number one in The Messenger poll, Evan Bailey, of Evan Bailey Photography, recalled walking away from the industry early on before making the decision to pick the camera back up.

“It was one of my favourite subjects in high school,” Mr Bailey said.

“My parents encouraged me to study something after taking a gap year and I just found myself taking a lot of photos at the time.”

Evan Bailey of Evan Bailey Photography named SA's best wedding photographer. Pic: Supplied

Enrolling in the South Australian School of Arts, majoring in photography and completing his honours, by the time 2009 came around Mr Bailey decided to go down a different path.

“I walked away from it, I didn’t know what I wanted to do … I thought I wanted to be a commercial photographer but I didn’t find my feet there.”

Evan Bailey says it's an privilege to capture people's special days for a living. Pic: Supplied

After exploring other fields, Mr Bailey said his wife Kate encouraged him to pick the lens back up and explore the world of wedding photography.

“I noticed by that point that wedding photography was no longer the clichéd medium I thought that it was - photographers were doing some really cool stuff.

“I assisted some really good photographers in Adelaide and built up my confidence.”

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing with Mr Bailey recalling how he was ‘too nervous’ to eat a day out from his first shoot, now seeing it as a term of endearment.

Evan Bailey says it's an privilege to capture people's special days for a living. Pic: Supplied

“I couldn’t eat anything from about the day before because I was so nervous,” he laughed.

“I still get nervous before every wedding but it’s because I want to do a good job, it’s important to never become complacent with anything.”

When asked about how he picks what moments to capture on ones special day, Mr Bailey said it comes down basic understanding within yourself.

“It’s their day ultimately but it is a very intuitive job and once you trust and back yourself you will begin to find those little moments that are worth capturing.

“There are thousands of moments across the entire day and your making choices all the time and that’s what I love, just being able to put your all in and having the privilege of telling their story.”

Evan Bailey says it's an privilege to capture people's special days for a living. Pic: Supplied