Sydnee’s 30th was one of those events that sets the tone from the moment you walk in. Held at Moana Hall on the corner of Hay Street and Barrack Street in the Perth CBD, the night was black tie, glamorous, and deliberately over the top in the best possible way – around 30 to 50 guests dressed to the nines, a roulette table running all evening where guests won tokens to trade at the bar, and a towering off white tiered cake that anchored the room.
The brief was paparazzi style. Direct flash, high contrast, that bold editorial look that has taken over birthday and event photography in the last couple of years. It suits a black tie crowd perfectly. When everyone in the room is dressed glamorously and the light hits them just right, direct flash stops being a limitation and starts being the whole point. The results feel more like a fashion shoot than a party recap, which is exactly what Sydnee wanted.
I covered the arrivals, the roulette table in full swing, candid moments between guests, the speeches, and the cake cutting – which with a cake that size was always going to be a good photo. The off white tiers against the dark venue made for a clean, striking image that needed very little else around it.
Birthday photography in Perth has shifted noticeably in the last few years. The paparazzi flash style in particular has gone from a niche request to something clients specifically ask for by name, and it works especially well for milestone parties where guests are dressed up and the venue has some character to it.
If you’re planning a 30th, 40th, or any milestone birthday in Perth and want photography that actually captures the energy of the night, take a look at our birthday photography page or get in touch directly.