Wedding Photographer

Richard Johnston

At Lonely Hunter, I only photograph a limited number of weddings each year and do book out quite far in advance.
Don't leave it until I'm are already booked before you decide to make an enquiry..

A Gunners Barracks Wedding in Mosman

Before Ashley & Steve’s Gunners Barracks wedding, I went out to the venue on my own to scope the location and build a game plan for the afternoon. This meant walking the grounds, checking the light, working out the order for which things would take place, deciding which backdrops I wanted for both full bridal party photo’s and just the bride and groom’s photos. As a Sydney wedding photographer, I believe it’s time well spent when there’s more good scenery than you could ever fit into one afternoon.

A Relationship Years in the Making

Ashley and Steve are both Police Officers who met back in 2012 working together at Mascot Station. They stayed close friends for seven years before finally starting to date in 2019. It’s the kind of story where the timing just needed to catch up with the friendship. Steve proposed during the 2020 COVID lockdown, on Good Friday. It happened with a coffee in hand while walking along the beach . It wasn’t over the top nor did it have to be, it was exactly the kind of low-key, genuine moment that suited them.

Why They Chose Gunners Barracks, Mosman

Ashley had been to Gunners Barracks years earlier for a high tea, a birthday gift she received from Steve, and it stuck with her. The tea room’s chandeliers, the greenery on the walk down, the harbour view, and the rustic sandstone courtyard. It’s a big part of why Gunners Barracks has become one of the most popular Mosman wedding venues, and it’s not hard to see why once you’ve spent a day there. For their wedding, they both wanted their Gunners Barracks wedding to feel intimate, relaxed, modern, and elegant, surrounded by their nearest and dearest.

The Sandstone Courtyard and Harbour Backdrop

The courtyard has a rustic, almost military-heritage vibe to it that photographs beautifully against formal wear. It’s a nice contrast that a lot of other Sydney harbourside wedding venues don’t have. Because George’s Head lookout is located just above the venue and is situated quite high in it’s elevation gives each couple who pick Gunners Barraick’s for their wedding day the opportunity to take some spectacular photos especially during sunset with the Sydney city, the harbour and Chowder Bay in the background. This means there’s no need to go looking for a scenic backdrop elsewhere in Mosman, it’s built into the venue itself, which ultimately results in more time with guests and less time travelling for portraits.

The Day Itself

The day itself started at The Albert Hotel in Mosman. It’s probably the best place to get ready in Mosman as it’s a beautiful boutique hotel that photographs well and it’s less than 10 minutes drive from the Gunner’s Barracks. On their day, Ashley wore a Pronovias gown from Fashions by Farina with Kurt Geiger shoes and a hairpiece by Viktoria Novak, her hair and makeup done by Gemma Nichols. Claire Belford ran a warm, personal and intimate ceremony that suited exactly what Ashley & Steve wanted for their day. On this occasion though, the couple had to be hold their ceremony a little later in the afternoon as stipulated by the venue which meant we didn’t have a great deal of time to work with when it came to their portraits and the fading light but we managed to make it work. Sometimes when times can be tight a first look can often be a great option but of course it’s not for everyone. Florals by Japonica also added some colour and softness to the ceremony courtyard which is surrounded by rigid sandstone walls. And to really make the night special, a delicious cake from ByGigi rounded out the reception, with Northern Beaches DJs keeping the night going.

What Made Their Day Work

What stood out most about Ashley & Steve’s Gunners Barracks wedding was how well it matched their vision. Ashley & Steve’s day is a good reminder that a Gunners Barracks wedding doesn’t need to be big or elaborate to feel like the best day of your life. Sometimes it’s just a handful of hours spent somewhere genuinely beautiful with the people who matter most. If that sounds like the kind of day you’re picturing, whether at Gunners Barracks or another one of the many Sydney wedding venues, I’d love to hear from you..

Have a scroll below to see how truely special Ashley & Steve’s wedding day was.