duke gardens & chapel photographer - bella & steven's portrait session

Bella & Steven celebrated their Duke Chapel wedding this past weekend. Unfortunately, I was booked for their big day. But I was really pleased to get the chance to photograph their pre-wedding portrait session for them a few weeks back. This may seem quite a unique concept to us, but such sessions are quite popular in Bella and Steven’s home country of China.

From my standpoint, I love photographing couples. So this was a great chance for us to take our time away from the hectic schedule of the wedding day to relax, get to know each other and create some beautiful images on our schedule.

We met up at Duke Gardens and did a lap of some of my favourite spots away from the crowds. Of course, we also took some of the “greatest hits” of the Meyer Bridge (aka the ‘red bridge’), Roney Fountain and the flower gardens. I have shot at these places so many times, but I always try to do something different and put a new spin on things (pardon the pun – you’ll see). We then headed over to Duke Chapel and shot some images in the arcades as the sun set.

Here are just a few of my faves from Bella & Steven’s pre-wedding portrait session. Have a great week everyone!

A woman in a lace wedding gown stands amidst tall bamboo trees, captured by a Duke Chapel photographer. The monochrome image highlights the intricate details of her dress and the serene forest setting. Her gaze is directed at the camera, creating a peaceful, elegant scene.

A man in a suit stands confidently in a bamboo forest. The black and white image captures him amidst tall bamboo stalks, with fallen leaves covering the ground. The environment is serene and natural.

A couple in formal attire share an intimate moment among tall bamboo stalks, captured by a Duke Chapel photographer. The woman in a lace gown gently holds the man's hand, while he, in a suit, leans close to her. The scene is timelessly rendered in black and white.

A bride in a white lace wedding dress and a groom in a dark suit hold hands, gazing at each other on a sunlit path surrounded by green trees. Captured beautifully by their Duke Chapel photographer, this moment radiates love and serenity.

A bride in a fitted, long-sleeved lace wedding dress stands on a stone path surrounded by lush greenery. Sunlight filters through the trees, illuminating her dress and hair as she gracefully holds the edge of her gown. Captured by a skilled Duke Chapel photographer, this serene scene evokes timeless elegance.

A woman in a white lace wedding dress stands outdoors, smiling with one hand on her hip. Captured by the Duke Chapel photographer, the scene is set in a sunlit garden with lush greenery and a stone path.

A couple embraces in a lush garden, captured by a talented Duke Chapel photographer. The woman, in a white lace dress, gazes lovingly at the man in a blue suit. Sunlight filters through the trees, creating a warm, romantic atmosphere.

A couple in formal attire stands in a lush garden, captured by a talented Duke Chapel photographer. The man in a blue suit gently embraces the woman, who wears a long, white lace dress. They look content and peaceful, surrounded by greenery and soft sunlight.

A couple in wedding attire kisses on a wooden bridge painted red, surrounded by lush green foliage, as captured by a gifted Duke Chapel photographer. The bride wears a flowing white gown, and the groom is in a dark suit. The romantic setting is serene and picturesque.

A groom in a suit and a bride in a flowing white dress stand on a wooden bridge with vibrant red railings. Captured by a skilled Duke Chapel photographer, the bride's dress billows out elegantly as she twirls, surrounded by lush green foliage.

A couple stands by a tranquil pond with lush greenery in the background, captured by a talented Duke Chapel photographer. The woman, in a lace wedding dress, smiles at the camera while leaning on the man's shoulder. The man, wearing glasses and a suit, looks at her affectionately near a red bridge.

A black and white image of a bride and groom seated on a stone wall, captured by a Duke Chapel photographer. The bride, in a long, flowing gown, gently holds the groom's face as they smile at each other. Trees and garden elements frame the background.

A couple walks hand in hand through a lush garden, captured brilliantly by their Duke Chapel photographer. The man wears a dark suit, and the woman dazzles in a white lace wedding dress. Bright flowers and greenery surround them as they stroll along the tree-lined path under a clear sky.

A woman in a white lace and tulle wedding dress, captured beautifully by a Duke Chapel photographer, stands near a multi-tiered fountain in a park. With long sleeves and a V-neck, her hair is tied back as she smiles softly against the serene, tree-filled backdrop.

A bride in a white wedding gown stands atop a stone ledge beside a groom in a dark suit. Captured by their Duke Chapel photographer, they pose by a grand fountain embraced by lush greenery, as sunlight filters through the trees behind them.

A couple in wedding attire shares a kiss while seated on the edge of a stone fountain. Captured by a Duke Chapel photographer, water cascades from the ornate structure surrounded by lush greenery and trees, creating a romantic and serene atmosphere.

A bride and groom embrace tenderly in a lush garden setting. The bride wears a lace dress, and the groom is in a suit. The scene is captured in black and white, with soft focus on the couple and foliage in the background.

A couple stands in a historic arched corridor, captured by a skilled photographer. The man wears a blue suit while the woman dons a red dress, their intimate moment illuminated by soft lighting that highlights the elegance reminiscent of Duke Chapel's stone architecture.

A couple embraces tenderly in the soft, glowing sunlight near an old stone building, capturing a timeless moment through the lens of a skilled photographer. The man in a suit and glasses gently holds the woman, who wears a red dress, as they stand embraced by lush greenery like that of Duke Chapel.

A couple stands in the elegant stone corridor of Duke Chapel. The woman wears a red dress, and the man is in a grey suit. Captured by a talented photographer, they are illuminated by soft lighting, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere.

A woman in a red dress stands confidently in a stone archway, posed for a photographer capturing the elegance of Duke Chapel. With one hand on her hip and the other touching the historic wall, she complements a man in a suit who leans casually against an arch pillar.

A couple holding hands walks in front of a grand, ornate cathedral entrance, perfectly captured by their skilled photographer. The woman dazzles in a red dress, and the man is dapper in a dark suit. Intricate stone carvings and large decorative wooden doors echo the elegance of Duke Chapel.

A couple stands before the ornate Duke Chapel, captured perfectly by a skilled photographer. The man, in a dark suit, and the woman, in a red dress, exchange warm smiles that exude closeness and joy amid arched doorways and softly glowing lamps.

A silhouette of a couple embracing against a twilight sky, with trees and the iconic spires of Duke Chapel in the background, captures the essence beautifully through a photographer’s lens.

For this shoot, I used 2 main camera bodies: the Sony a1 paired with the FE 24mm f/ 1.4 GM, FE 50mm f/1.2 GM, FE 85mm f/1.4 and 135mm f/1.8mm lenses, and the Fujifilm GFX 50R with the Mitakon 65mm f/1.4. I also shot a roll of Fuji Pro 400H film on the Contax 645 with 80mm f/2 lens and some frames of Kodak Portra 400 with the Ricoh GR 1.