A couple hand in hand, laughing in a moody stone hall dark during their engagement shoot in Carriageworks, Sydney, NSW.
Mixed race, colourfully dressed couple laughing together against a bright blue wall at their engagement shoot, on the streets of Fitzroy, Melbourne, VIC.
A couple laughing together in a graffiti-covered bathroom at their engagement shoot, at Uncanny, Newtown, Sydney, NSW.
Newlyweds drinking Martinis and celebrating under disco balls at their wedding reception at Pom Pom in Adelaide, SA.
A bride and groom reclining with framed tomato and orange prints behind them at their wedding shoot, at Hello Alice, in Adelaide’s East End, SA.
A mixed race gay couple kissing at the bar during their engagement shoot, at The Trinity in Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW.
A lesbian couple in pink and red veils kissing in a leafy, sunlit laneway at their engagement shoot in Marrickville, Sydney, NSW.
A colourfully dressed gay couple holding bouquets and smiling at each other at their engagement shoot at the Glebe Hotel in Sydney, NSW.
Newly weds laughing through a confetti shower as guests cheer after their wedding ceremony in Marrickville, Sydney, NSW.
A couple holding hands in a dark, columned hall lit by dramatic light during their engagement shoot in Carriageworks, Sydney, NSW.
A man and woman kissing at a wedding, with the woman wearing a red veil and dress, and the man in a black suit indoor, with a curtain background, and a table with a cake in the foreground.
Two men kissing at a wedding reception with glasses of champagne and a blurred bar in the background.
A lesbian couple kissing in a bright, open-shelved kitchen on their wedding day at Allure Stradbroke resort on North Stradbroke Island, QLD.
A couple dressed in wedding attire leaning in close inside a grocery store aisle, with shelves stocked with canned goods and other products. The bride has curly blonde hair, tattoos, and is wearing a white dress, while the groom has dark hair and is wearing a black suit with pearl necklaces.
Close-up of a couple with dark skin dressed in vibrant pink clothing, standing closely and gazing into each other's eyes, surrounded by black and white foliage. The man wears large earrings, layered necklaces, and a pink robe, while the woman has braids, a pink dress, and tulle accents.
A couple holding hands at a wedding reception surrounded by falling confetti with a decorated arch in the background.
A couple smiling and embracing at a wedding. The woman is wearing a bright orange dress with yellow ruffled fabric, and the man is dressed in a colorful, patterned jacket with a yellow shirt. They are standing outside against a backdrop of blue brick wall and a pink sign.
Two men dressed in colorful, eccentric clothing and hats, sharing a drink with ice in a glass, in a lively setting with framed artwork on the wall behind them.
A lesbian couple in pink veils kissing in a leafy, sunlit laneway at their engagement shoot in Marrickville, Sydney, NSW.
Mads and Rob on their wedding day, at Hello Alice in Adelaide, SA. The groom wears an embroidered blue Reinar suit, the bride wears a sheer blue dress.

welcome to the world of wedding
photography done differently.

Hello my darlings, I’m Carly, I live in Sydney’s inner-west (but will travel, yes!) I’m a Queer ally, neuro-spicy literate, a lover of all people, and all things artistic, alternative and non-traditional. From festival weddings, to breweries, backyards, warehouses or whatever lights you up; I get a kick out of helping people reimagine norms and make magic doing things their way. My photography style is both emotive and creative. A documentary of all the candid goodness that unfolds on your day, whilst also playful, artful, cheeky and joy-filled. If you’re looking for a heart-led photographer whose work is real and raw; yet also knows how to beckon all the colour, fun and magic out of your community; you’re in luck my treasures.

As Seen In

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  • A dark, empty room with a table and a chair, dimly lit by a single window.
  • A city skyline at sunset with tall buildings and water in the foreground.
  • A black-and-white drawing of a bird, possibly a seagull, with its wings spread open.
  • A hand holding a pen, writing on a notepad with a laptop in the background.
  • Sorry, I can't see the image to describe it.
  • The image is completely black with no visible objects or details.
  • A black dog sitting on a blanket outdoors with a person in navy clothing and trees in the background.
  • A sheet of paper with financial charts, graphs, and notes.
  • Text that reads 'Apex Robotics' in black font on a white background.
  • Person with closed eyes, wearing a red textured jacket, pearl necklace, and earrings, inside a building with blurry background for a wedding reception in Sydney's Inner West
  • An elderly woman with grey hair smiling with eyes closed, dressed in a black top, purple and gold skirt, and a green scarf with a red pin, sitting outdoors at a wedding ceremony in Sydney's Blackburn gardens with other people and flowers around.
  • Two women hugging at a social gathering, smiling and holding a drink, with other people mingling in the background.
  • A man with a beard in beige pants and a light grey shirt is sitting on a chair, with a woman with red hair, tattoos, and wearing a red dress and a white veil sitting behind him, her arm resting on his shoulder. They are in an indoor setting with plants and a staircase in the background.
  • A young man with a black and white keffiyeh headscarf hugging an elderly woman, both with eyes closed, in an embrace in a warmly lit indoor setting. Another woman with blonde hair is visible on the right, holding white flowers.

Photo GalleRy

NICHES ARE FOR CAPITALISM. Your LOVE DOESN’T NEED A NICHE — IT CAN HAVE IT ALL.

I believe your photo gallery can be creative, fabulous and alive with cinema, whilst still being an authentic documentary of emotions and storytelling.

My couples come to me because I understand the ick with wedding photos, and have (literally) made it my business to create striking, fun-filled, photos brimming with life and colour - that actually feel like you.

My couples come to me because I deliver photos they can feeeeeeel. Photos that make them weep, giggle and squeal with joy. That catapult them back into magical moments with the people they love every time they look at them. And if you want the same, my darlings, you’re in the right place. But don’t take my word for it. Go take a stroll through this garden of galleries and see for yourself.

Full Gallery
Carly Sare, of Carlita Sari, in a warm hug with her friend, wrapped in a bright yellow boa, at their wedding in North Stradbroke Island, QLD.

Hello, I’m Carly

and I believe weddings belong to everyone. No one should get to gatekeep nor dictate how we celebrate love. It’s something ancient, sacred and innate to all of us…

humans have been gathering, ritualising and intentionally celebrating love since The beginning of time

And I’m so obsessed with permissing you to untangle from norms that don’t resonate, and reimagine your wedding in a way that feels uniquely, authentically you.. that I went and married 40 of my friends in my dream wedding as inspo! Read more on this and our ethos below.

Ethos
A woman in a patterned colourful headwrap carrying a tray of drinks at a wedding reception in Glebe, Sydney, NSW.
A group of diverse friends are hugging each other closely and smiling joyfully at a party or gathering indoors. The background is blurry with warm lighting and wall decorations.
A newlywed couple cheering with arms raised watch the world cup in a casual taco shop during their wedding shoot in Chippendale, Sydney, NSW.
A woman dances under blue and green lights on a smokey dancefloor at a wedding reception at Beaumont House in Adelaide, SA.
A woman laughing as she raises her arms to form a tunnel with guests at a wedding ceremony, so the newlyweds can pass through it.
A mixed race gay couple laughing and holding a vibrant bouquet of flowers on Hunter street in Sydney’s CBD during their engagement shoot.
Two women in saris exchanging silk garments at their children’s Indian wedding in Adelaide, SA.

The experience in their words

Featured
Clare & Kelly-anne

★★★★★

I never do reviews…it takes something pretty remarkable to prompt me; and I honestly can’t recommend Carly enough. I’m a photo-phobe, it was the part I was dreading most about our wedding. Yet somehow Carly and her magic made me LOVE it. The banter, the laughs, the warmth and the creativity is second to none! If you are looking for someone to trust to capture your special moments, who brings such a beautifully calm and cheeky chilled vibe with her wherever she goes.. look no further. Queer weddings, lesbian weddings, straight weddings, upside down weddings…Carly is your gal.

Read more →
Liam & Sam

★★★★★

We knew we wanted to get married, but a lot of what we saw in the wedding industry didn’t resonate with our vibe. We wanted a sick-ass party. With our people, minus the stiff formality. We were gunning for fabulousness; the elevated feels of a wedding, without all the wank. Think doof vibes but glamour. Ceremony in nature loaded with sass and silliness. After party in a cosy venue with DIY sound systems, friends on the decks,  deconstructed, decentralised roles, dance and performances, and as much community participation as possible. Carly was the dream wedding photographer for all of this. From planning, to hacks, to general human energy rad-ness. She’s lived, breathed, worked in these spaces and it shows. Her input was invaluable and the end result, the photos - made us cry. She’s not just your dream wedding photographer, she’s an essential ingredient in cultivating the love spell of your DREAMS. Bravo Carly. Chef’s kiss.

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Simone & Ghassan

★★★★★

Thank you Carly for being our dream wedding photographer! Not only were you responsive, attentive, thoughtful, organised and warm; you made planning our DIY, backyard-festival style wedding FUN and immediately understood the queer-friendly, alternative, playful and candid style of wedding photography we were looking for. The photos capture our energy, community and hearts perfectly. Your ability to find authentic moments and translate them into permanent memories is a SUPERPOWER! Thank you for also being such a calming and reassuring presence throughout the day, when things got a bit stressful (as they often do with weddings!), so we could just enjoy the amazing experience. We love you!

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Theresa & Jake

★★★★★

Carly is absolutely amazing. One of those few souls you meet in your life who are just extra special. She really takes the time to get to know you and your family and friends, and to make them all feel so seen and comfortable. Her photography skills are incredible. Her photos made me cry, they made me laugh and I think it takes someone very special and talented to create that and really bring the photographs back into real memories and emotions. She is just magical. Thank you Carly xx

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Manoli & Cat

★★★★★

Hiring Carly was hands down the best decision we made. Not just a wedding photographer with extraordinary talent, but your best friend in those moments when you need support the most. On the day people warmed to her instantly and their joy was palpable from afar. Carly has mastered the balance of giving direction where needed AND making people feel seen, supported and beautiful. 

The results are in the photographs. When we first received them we cried. She had captured so many truly magical moments. So vivid were the feelings in each, we were immediately transported back. We couldn’t be more thankful to Carly and couldn’t recommend her enough for your wedding, festival or party. She is an artist spreading the joy that the world needs. 

You’re the best, Carly!

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Suzana & Nuno

★★★★★

Where to begin? To describe our experience with Carly as incredible would simply be an understatement. On our wedding day, Carly’s energy was vivacious, her work was so professional and her benevolence radiated abundantly all day and night. Carly beautifully captured our special moments and went above and beyond to ensure we were ecstatic with the final wedding photographs. We couldn’t recommend her enough!

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Richard & Zain

★★★★★

If you are reading this, call or email Carly right now and book her! Carly was brilliant, so delightful, kind, fun, organised… and we were BLOWN AWAY with the magic moments and priceless, treasured memories she captured. Book this amazing lady for your wedding photography, and I can assure you will be delivered memories you’ll treasure the rest of your life. Carly, thank you so much from Zain and I from the bottom of our hearts. We are beyond stoked with what you delivered from our special day. Thank you thank you THANK YOU xox

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Angel & Raquel

★★★★★

We didn’t just want a wedding, we wanted full wedding festival. We wanted to really drop in with our people over multiple days and create an immersive experience. Carly’s background in the bush doof scene and her work in the Arts really spoke to us. That was before we met her. Her energy is contagious and inspiring and makes you feel that everything is not just going to be ok… it’s going to be fabulous! We saw what she did with her own wedding (marrying a tonne of her friends on her dream island in what can only be described as the best shroom trip you’ve ever been on) and we were like YES. We need a human who can help us create this, not only capture it. And holy macaroni did she excel on ALL fronts. Feeling forever blessed and obsessed with the outcome!

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Jacqui & Adam

★★★★★

Carly was an absolute dream to work with and we’re obsessed with our wedding photos! Carly was magical- unobtrusive and intuitive; she captured all of our special moments without us even noticing. She guided us in subtle ways to get the best angles which felt so incredibly natural. She can absolutely work a crowd and get people laughing and being their best selves. Honestly we could not be happier with our photos. Friends have even said they’re the best wedding photos they’ve ever seen 🥰

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Layth & Hannah

★★★★★

The VERY best wedding photographer ever! Carly has phenomenal talent. We have looked at our wedding photos a million times and never tire of it, the photos capture magical micro-moments you see more of everytime you revisit them. If you don’t want boring, generic, wedding photos, then Carlita Sari is the one for you. She’s also just an incredible person, generous and so authentically warm and open. Everyone loved her, even our dogs and the toddlers! She brought kindness and love to everyone and honestly it shows in the photos.

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Shirley & Ryan

★★★★★

Carly is truly magical 💫 She’s full of energy and warmth that creates wonderful excitement while also bringing a beautiful sense of calm; she’s one of those people that you feel completely at ease with straight away. We were blown away by the photos of our Sydney Wedding. They captured the energy, joy, and love of the big moments as well as all the incredible little candids and details; Carly somehow captured it all. We had so much fun with her, she’s a great communicator, organised, warm, trustworthy and always kind. We feel so grateful (& clever!)  to have booked her. She’s an artist who will wrap you and your loved ones in the warmest embrace. Thank you SO much Carly 💕

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Nadine & Richie

★★★★★

Carly is the most amazing wedding photographer; her ability to catch true and beautiful emotions is by far the best I have seen. We are so, so, so incredibly happy with our wedding photos! It was exactly what I wanted, raw, authentic moments, no poses, just beauty and realness.

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Nicola & Ryan

★★★★★

We had the most magical wedding and so much of that was to do with Carly! From the first phone call I knew we had to go with her. She’s so supportive through the whole process and had amazing tips and hacks for how to make our day run smoothly and allow us to just be with our people more, the thing that meant most to us. Perfect doesn’t even begin to describe the photos - we want to print them all! All our guests loved Carly too, including our young 8 and 6 year old neighbours who helped us get ready. You need Carly’s talent, magic and kindness to capture your special moments.

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Liv & Saurabh

★★★★★

Omg do yourself a solid and book Carly immediately! She photographed our celebration so candidly and beautifully. The photos are full of fun, joy, love, playfulness and allllll the emotions. Her understanding of light brings magic into each photograph and gives them an artistic quality. Not only is she oh so talented- she is an absolute delight of a person to work with. We will definitely use her again and could not recommend her highly enough.

Read more →
A wedding guest laughing under a tree in a gold robe and feather boa at his friends’ wedding near the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, NSW.
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An engaged couple dancing in a sunlit forest, wearing sequined outfits, during their engagement shoot in Sydney, NSW.
Morgan and Tom walking through falling confetti as guests line the lawn at their wedding, near Byron Bay, NSW.
A bride and groom firing bubble guns amidst a shower of bubbles at their wedding reception at Willie the Boatmen in St Peters, Sydney, NSW.
An engaged couple laughing at a pokie machine at their engagement shoot, at the botany hotel in Newtown, Sydney, NSW.
A lesbian couple in floral kimonos playing in the ocean surf at their wedding shoot, in Killcare, Sydney, NSW.

Creative ENGAGEMENT Shoots & arts/event photography

As well as photographing Weddings I also shoot for The Arts and offer Creative Engagement Sessions. My Arts clients include Opera Australia (of Sydney Opera House), Sydney Theatre Company, Marrugeku, Biennale of Sydney, Festival of Dangerous Ideas and more. The Creative Engagement sessions are a fun-flavoured opportunity to explore more artistic and editorial ideas outside of wedding photography. They can be as silly or delicious as you like! We go hunting for inspo in pop-culture references and (most importantly) your own story. Check them out below:

Creative Engagement Shoots
Arts & Events
A queer (same sex) couple drink pretend beers in a sunny backyard, towels on their heads, holding a hose for a playful maternity shoot in Sydney’s Inner West, NSW.
A first nations dancer mid-movement in a dramatic pose under stage light, for a Marrugeku production at Carriageworks, Sydney, NSW.
A woman in a vibrant pink outfit with a glowing neon heart and heart headpiece waits to march in the Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney, NSW.
A female dancer in a silver and green costume among costumed revellers at Sydney’s Mardi Gras Pride parade in Hyde Park.
The lead for Opera Australia’s production of Phantom of the Opera, holds the white phantom mask up to his face during a promo shoot on the steps of Sydney Opera House.
A lesbian couple kissing in a sunny backyard at golden hour, towels on their heads, at their engagement shoot in Sydney’s Inner West, NSW.
A lesbian couple in a backyard, one pouring a goon bag into the other's mouth for a creative hilarious engagement shoot in Sydney’s Inner West.
A couple share a tender near-kiss, one in a fur hat, the other in an embroidered cap and cloak, during their engagement shoot on the streets of Newtown, Sydney, NSW.
An engaged couple stand on a grand curved staircase against tall sheer curtains at The Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, during their engagement shoot.
A happy couple embrace each other, wrapped in tulle, festival outfits and a doof umbrella. They are enveloped in smoke for their engagement shoot in a laneway in Newtown, Sydney, NSW.
A bride pushes her groom in a shopping trolley down a suburban street for their grungey wedding photos, taken in Ashfield, Sydney, NSW.
An engaged couple wearing matching adidas tracksuits pose with their pet greyhound, by a chain-link fence, for their Indie Sleaze themed engagement shoot in Newtown, Sydney, NSW.
Two tattooed women sit on a kerb in an edgy street portrait, one exhaling smoke, during their same sex engagement shoot in Chippendale, Sydney, NSW.
An engaged couple wearing 70’s styled outfits cheers the camera with their drinks during a their engagement shoot at Astro’s Aracde bar in Newtown, Sydney, NSW.
A woman dressed in 70;s sequinned purple dress and green headband eats a slice of pizza during her engagement shoot in Astro’s Arcade Bar in Newtown, Sydney, NSW.
An engaged couple sharing a cocktail with two retro straws under red neon light for their engagement shoot. Shot at Astro’s arcade bar in Newtown, Sydney, NSW.
An engaged couple in eclectic vintage dress gazing at each other in warm amber light at their engagement on enmore road in Enmore, Sydney, NSW.
An engaged couple clinking cocktails and laughing across a table at Uncanny in Newtown, Sydney, during their engagement shoot.
An engaged couple posing in retro glamour outside a convenience store on King Street during their engagement shoot in Newtown, Sydney, NSW.
An ensemble of performers in pastel Baroque costumes and powdered wigs for Opera Australia’s production of Candide at the Sydney Opera House.