A moment in time with Sarah Garton from Mint Photography

Amid the whirlwind of wedding planning — venues, florals, playlists, and place cards — it’s easy to forget the one thing you’ll actually hold onto after the day: your photos. The way your mum looked at you before you walked down the aisle. The tears during your vows. The wild, blurry dance floor shots. Enter Sarah Garton, owner and head photographer of Mint Photography, based in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

With a background in Fine Art and a love for documentary storytelling, Sarah captures weddings not just as events, but as rich, emotional narratives. Her photos aren’t just beautiful: they feel like something. Something lived, something remembered.

From art school to aisle-side

Sarah’s journey into weddings started with a camera in one hand and a fine art degree in the other. After graduating from the National Art School with a major in photography, she spent years honing her craft in Sydney’s top studios before taking the leap into business ownership in 2009.

“I’ll never forget my first booking,” she recalls. “It was for a wedding at the then ‘new’ Sergeants Mess in Mosman, and I just thought: this couple wants me to capture their wedding day?” She laughs, still a little amazed. That same year, her work was published in Real Weddings magazine. “It cemented my belief in myself and in what I was building.”

Fifteen years on, Sarah is still doing what she loves at Mint Photography. “Sometimes I pinch myself. I get to do this for a living.”

An eye for light, composition, and real moments

Sarah’s style is rooted in her fine art background, blending classic photographic principles with a love of documentary storytelling. “I’m always drawn to composition, light, and depth of field: they work so beautifully together,” she explains. 

Her photos have that elusive mix of structure and spontaneity: technically strong, yet emotionally rich. It’s not just about what the moment looked like, but what it felt like.

Your calm in the chaos

Weddings are full of emotion, and Sarah is right there in it with you. “Sometimes I find myself wiping away tears during the vows,” she admits. But it’s not just her eye for storytelling that couples rave about. It’s the way she steps into so many roles throughout the day: timekeeper, therapist, and yes, even honorary bridesmaid.

“I’m the one who calms the nerves before the ceremony, keeps things running smoothly, and somehow manages to blend in while capturing every moment. I genuinely enjoy myself at every wedding. My couples give me bear hugs at the end of the night and tell me how easy I made it all feel.”

The moment that stays with her

Of all the weddings she’s photographed, one moment stands out. “The bride and groom had just made their entrance into the reception. The room was buzzing with clapping, arms in the air. Then they took the mic and said together: ‘We’re having a baby!’ The whole room erupted. There were cheers, tears, massive hugs. It was magic.” Sarah says she replays that moment like a mini video in her mind.

Sarah’s advice? Ditch the endless photos and enjoy the canapé hour.

If you’re the kind of couple that doesn’t want to disappear for hours during the cocktail hour, Sarah’s your girl.

“We don’t need hours for the wedding party photos. You’ve invited these people to celebrate with you, so spend that time with them. Go with the flow and be present. The best images always come when you’re just being yourselves.”

And when it’s time to hit the dance floor…

Sarah’s seen the songs that get people moving. Her top two?

• “Mr. Brightside” – The Killers (no surprises here)
• “Dancing Queen” – ABBA (because it’s a must)

Reach out to Sarah at Mint Photography

Looking for a photographer who’ll cry during your vows, fix your train, and deliver the kind of photos that feel like memories? Speak to Sarah at Mint Photography today and see why couples all across Sydney and beyond trust her to catch every moment that matters.