Brisbane’s best wedding photographer

Brisbane’s best wedding photographer has now been decided. After a week of voting, our readers have crowned a new winner! See the list.

A shot by Kirsty Hellmech Photography

We put the call out to our readers to nominate Brisbane’s best wedding photographer, and after hundreds of responses we narrowed the list down to a group of finalists.

We can now reveal, as voted by our readers, Brisbane’s best wedding photographer of 2023!

A shot by Kirsty Hellmech Photography

Who is Brisbane’s best wedding photographer?

First place: Kirsty Hellmech Photography

Second place: Tayla Jayne Photography

Third place: Wild Valley Photography

4. Hawthorne Creative Media

5. Dee Pauline Photography

6. Frankly Photography

7. Eric Wang Photography

8. Inc Mill Photography

9. Wylde Folk Studio

10. Ingrid Coles Photo

We asked our first place winner a little about their business and what they offer.

What sets your business apart from the competition?

“I’m detail-oriented, I see the little things that some people might miss. For example a locket pinned to the side of the brides flowers, that holds photos of her parents who are no longer with us. Or the gemstones in the brides ring that were from a grandmothers pendant … little things like that. I take a journalistic approach to the photos I take. I take photos of everything, and most times take the same photo twice or three times to make sure I get that perfect photo, one that I can be proud of presenting to the couple. The couple will miss most things on their wedding day, and it’s nice for them to look through the photos afterwards and say oh wow, I remember that! Or, oh gosh when did that happen!? One of my favourite things about a wedding, is when the bride walks in, and the groom sees his future wife for the first time in her dress, that look on his face is priceless, the emotion of the day is incredible at that moment.”

A shot by Kirsty Hellmech Photography

“I’m told I have a calming effect on people, and it’s especially helpful on wedding days when stress and emotions are running high. Brides have enough to worry about on their day, so it’s nice to have someone talk with them and help them calm their nerves. I believe that’s what sets me apart, and it’s the reason why I have people return to me after their weddings, to have their family photos taken, or when they start their family I get to meet their new baby when I take the baby’s first photos. One particular couple, I have been there for their engagement, wedding, baby’s birth, cake smash for 1st birthday, and then I took photos of the bride’s parents vow renewal! I love hearing back from them and seeing their family grow from year to year! There’s nothing better as a photographer, than going to a clients home and seeing your work adorning the walls. It’s quite a humbling feeling.”

A shot by Kirsty Hellmech Photography

We asked some of the finalists to tell us what makes their business unique.

What would you like Brisbane to know about your business?

Kirsty Hellmech Photography

“I guess that I’m not just a wedding photographer. I’m a storm chaser, I am also a family and portrait photographer, and in the years before Covid, I was an accredited sports photographer taking photos from the sidelines at the Sunnybank Senior Rugby Club, QLD Reds and Wallabies games. There’s nothing too big or small for me, I’m willing and able to tackle most things. I don’t think there’s ever been a single thing I haven’t been able to do after giving it a try. I will go that extra mile to make my clients happy, because I love to see the smile on their faces when they see their photos for the first time!”

A shot by Kirsty Hellmech Photography

Tayla Jayne Photography

“I’m a wedding and elopement photographer for all kinds of love and my goal is to create memorable images that truly reflect my couple’s personalities. I absolutely love shooting weddings because I don’t think you can beat seeing people on their most special day surrounded by all their loved ones. It’s all about celebrating love, and the incredible energy that is created is just contagious!”

A shot by Tayla Jane Photography

Hawthorne Creative Media

“What sets us apart would have to be our affordability without compromising quality. We also love to give brides hands-on information to help them prepare for their big day through our podcast, ‘Things They Don’t Tell You When You Get Married’ and we base our content on real life wedding experiences. Both Alex and myself as the directors/owners have come out of a business background so our philosophy is very client centred in the fact that we are always looking for ways to make the wedding process easier for them which in turn always means better photos!”

A shot by Hawthorne Creative Media

Dee Pauline Photography

“Dee Pauline Photography is here to capture those precious moments and turn them into everlasting memories. We believe that everyone deserves to have these moments captured in a beautiful way, which is why we have such affordable pricing. My photographs are filled with nothing but love, and supporting my business means supporting my family. I hope you enjoy my images, and they bring a smile to your face, just like they do to mine.”

A shot by Dee Pauline Photography

Frankly Photography

“Frankly Photography has a range of different packages from micro elopements to full coverage and it even has its own photo booth, which is super fun for all guests at the reception! We believe every wedding is unique because it’s about telling that couples story in their way. We’re unobtrusive, we try to blend in with your guests letting you be in the moment so when you reflect on your day you don’t remember what the photographer made you do, but what the day felt like. We absolutely love it when couples ask us back to document their newborn baby, their extended family shoots, host their works photo booth and so on.”

A shot by Frankly Photography

Eric Wang Photography

“I’ve been photographing weddings full-time for 6 years now, and photographed my first wedding in 2012, so I have a bit of experience with weddings. I’ve seen a lot, and I’ve been to a lot of venues, so I have a lot of versatility and flexibility when it comes to the chaos of a wedding day. I’m also really chill and easygoing as a person – I treat my couples like friends – so my photography experience is relaxed and stress-free and I help people be comfortable in front of the camera.”

A shot by Eric Wang Photography

Inc Mill Photography

“Although based in country South East Queensland I am just as comfortable working inner city as I am on dusty backroads and Gold Coast beaches. I’m a professionally trained full-time photographer who is passionate about people and their stories. I love to photograph moments and mountains with equal enthusiasm and will always search for golden light even if it’s sneaking through skyscrapers or just peeking over the horizon line of the Great Dividing Range. With 100s and 100s of wedding in the bag there is not much that fazes me. My greatest joy is documenting love stories and families who are smitten with each other and excited for the lives they are building together. I will travel anywhere in the world to document love. I adore 35mm film and medium format film so much that my second photographer Drew shoots exclusively on both for each wedding we pair for.”

A shot by Inc Mill Photography

Wylde Folk Studio

“Wylde Folk Wedding captures weddings regularly between Byron, Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast. Our work has been published in Polka Dot Bride, To the aisle and The Bride’s Tree and we are the preferred vendors of Sirromet Winery and Tiffanys Maleny.”

A shot by Wylde Folk Studio

What is the Best of Brisbane?

Every year Best of Brisbane helps readers share and discover the incredible businesses in our community. It works in three stages:

1. We put out an initial call for nominations over a two-day period. This happens on our various social media accounts as well as in the comments below.

2. After nominations close we open the voting stage on our website. The businesses that received the highest amount of nominations will progress to the voting stage. The voting stage runs for one week.

3. Once voting has closed a winner will be announced on our website usually a few days after the voting stage concludes. At the same time we will also announce up to nine other businesses with the highest amount of votes in the poll.